Tue Feb 04 22:29:13 IST 2025: ## Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters to Explore ‘Currents of Change’
**Thiruvananthapuram, February 4, 2025** – The sixth edition of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) will open in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, focusing on the theme “Currents of Change.” The four-day festival, held at Kanakakkunnu, will feature over 520 speakers, including 50 international participants, across 295 sessions in 12 venues.
The festival aims to foster open dialogue on significant global and national issues. Discussions will cover challenges facing India, Kerala’s role in national discourse, and the position of South India within the national narrative. High-profile speakers include former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Beyond politics, the festival will encompass a wide range of topics, including literature, society, science, sports, films, and social media. A significant number of international speakers will hail from Central and Eastern Europe and the Far East, with a notable presence from Ukraine to discuss the ongoing war. The festival organizers emphasize diversity, plurality, and change as its core principles.
Children will also be engaged with dedicated sessions and activities in ‘Alphaverse,’ while ‘Ka Corner’ will offer workshops on cartooning, calligraphy, and live art. A bookstore will be available, along with book releases, signings, and opportunities to meet authors. Evening entertainment will include performances by renowned artists such as Shweta Mohan, When Chai Met Toast, and Avial, alongside folk performances. The festival will officially begin with a flag-hoisting ceremony on Wednesday, followed by cultural programmes including a tribute to Ustad Zakir Hussain. The Chief Minister will preside over the closing ceremony on Sunday.
First Piper 