AMU Literary Festival 2026 Begins with Inaugural Ceremony
AMU Literary Festival 2026 Begins with Inaugural Ceremony
ALIGARH, April 5: The Aligarh Muslim University Literary Festival 2026 commenced with an inaugural ceremony at the Kennedy Auditorium, Cultural Education Centre (CEC), bringing together academicians, students and literary enthusiasts.
The programme was graced by Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Mohd. Mohsin Khan as Chief Guest and Dean Students’ Welfare Prof. Mohd. Athar Ansari as Guest of Honour. Prof. Mohd. Rizwan Khan, Coordinator, CEC, was also present along with Dr. Mansoor Alam Siddiqui, President, University Debating and Literary Club (UDLC), Dr. Ghufran Ahmad, Mentor, UDLC, and faculty members.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mohd. Mohsin Khan reflected on the rich legacy of the Cultural Education Centre and recalled his student days, highlighting how the training and intellectual grooming provided by the CEC play a crucial role in shaping well-rounded personalities. He remarked that students associated with such platforms develop confidence, clarity of thought and communication skills that help them stand out and excel in diverse fields. Emphasising the need to uphold the dignity and legacy of AMU, he urged students to carry forward its core values of free enquiry and mutual respect.
Prof. Mohd. Athar Ansari highlighted the importance of literary festivals in fostering intellectual growth and cultural diversity, noting that such platforms encourage dialogue, critical thinking and creative expression among students, thereby enriching campus life.
Prof. Mohd. Rizwan Khan described the festival as “a celebration of literary voices and meaningful dialogue,” and said that the CEC continues to serve as a vibrant space for nurturing ideas, debate and intellectual engagement. He urged students to actively participate, listen with openness and contribute to a culture of thoughtful exchange and respectful disagreement.
Dr. Mansoor Alam Siddiqui outlined the vision of the festival, stressing the need to create spaces for meaningful intellectual engagement, while Dr. Ghufran Ahmad, drawing on the ideas of Allama Iqbal, emphasised the importance of listening and effective communication in contemporary times.
Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Syed Faheem Ahmad, Secretary, UDLC, set the tone for the event by highlighting the significance of the festival as a platform for student expression and intellectual engagement.
A highlight of the inaugural session was the release of the festival newsletter “Pre-LitLetter,” edited by Aliya Akbar, Rahat Ul Aien and Zainab Faiza Islam.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Amna Asim.
The festival will continue over the next two days, featuring a series of literary events, discussions and competitions.
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Aligarh Muslim University