Bharat Shakti
“Bharat Shakti”, a Mantra from Sri Aurobindo’s book Renaissance in India has been the overarching guiding principle of Pondy Lit est. Since its first edition in 2018, we at PLF, have been consistent in giving our platform to scholars, historians, writers, economists, scientists and members of our armed forces, all of impeccable integrity and contributors to nation building, so that our audience gets a holistic experience being sahridyas of such patriotic humanists. PLF in addition also critically examines the problems that the nation faces and makes the audience aware of them, also presenting possible pathways to solution.
We aim to facilitate a meeting ground of the best of Indian tradition: our history and historiography to our spiritual and scientific heritage to art forms and narrative building to strategic thinking and defence infrastructure. This is a Manthan and a Yajna done by the best minds of India today. Our mission is to inspire and educate, energise and enlighten and in this co-creation learn and enrich ourselves to give better every year.
In these short years PLF has created a unique niche in the ecosystem of flourishing lit-fests all over India. The most important aspect of our mission that makes us unique is our constant and consistent efforts to generate more light than heat, more meaning than noise. Our platform is not to generate controversies and debates but meaningful conversations and heartful dialogues. We have faced challenges from formidable forces of negativity and cancel culture. We have successfully withstood them because we believe in our values. We are here to instill in our adherents the discernment and dissemination of knowledge backed by thorough research, expertise and authentic experience. Our patriotism is intense because with Sri Aurobindo and Subramanya Bharati we believe that India standing high is not for Herself but for bringing immortal Amrit to all humanity.
This year, marks three important milestones : 100 years of Harappa, 100 years of Hindu consolidation and Operation Sindoor : the new war doctrine and PLF 2025 will explore the immense wealth of knowledge, political maturity and Indic Revival that has emerged since our civilization began over 5000 years ago through book talks, panel discussions and sidelines interviews.
Organizers

Alo Sud
director
Speakers

Prof. Anand Ranganathan
Scientist SCMM
Author, Political Commentator

Alo Pal
Festival Director PLF

Aravindan Neelakandan
Contributing Editor, Swarajya
Author

Deep Halder
Journalist
Author

Air Marshal Diptendu Chowdhury (Retd.)
(Retd.) as Commandant National Defence College

Dr. Jappen Oberoi
Epigraphist, Numismatist
Head: Research and Projects FIHCR

Jataayu
Tamizh Scholar
Exponent of Hindu Thought

Lt. Gen. Johnson Mathew (Retd.)
(Retd.) as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff 2025

Prof. Kausik Gangopadhyay
Economist, Professor-IIM,Kozhicode
Author

Prof. Malini Bhattacharjee
Political Scientist, Author
Associate Professor Azim Premji University

Mani Venkatesan
Writer

NANDINI SENGUPTA
Journalist and Author

Dr. Niraj Rai
Group Head, Ancient DNA Lab
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences

Dr. Pranjal Garg
Assistant Prof. Dept Of History
History, Culture and Archaeology

Rahul Shivshankar
Author
Consulting Editor Network 18

Ranjan Mitter
Secretary
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture
West Bengal

Lt. Gen. Satish Dua (Retd.)
(Retd.) as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff 2018, Author

Prof. Saumya Dey
Professor, Rishihood University
Author

Prof. Shailja Singh
Scientist, Special Center for Molecular Medicine (SCMM)

Shiv Aroor
Managing Editor, NDTV
Author

Dr. Uday Kulkarni
Surgeon Commander Indian Navy
Historian

Prof. Vijay Sathe
Vertebrate Palaeontologist and Archaeozoologist

Adv. Vishnu Jain
Lawyer (Advocate on Record)
Supreme Court of India
Social Media