Agra .For the first time, Agra hosted the two-day Taj Sahitya Utsav-2025. On the second day, January 12, 2025, the event witnessed six captivating sessions with the participation of various poets, eminent personalities, and distinguished officials. The event was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Shri S.P. Singh Baghel, who lit the ceremonial lamp.
Session 1: Panel Discussion on Women Empowerment – Steps Toward a New Vision
The second day began with an inspiring session focused on women empowerment. The discussion shed light on the social, political, and cultural contributions of women. Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Union Cabinet Minister, highlighted government initiatives to empower women. Dr. Rajshree Singh, IPS, shared her experiences, emphasizing that education and awareness are the foundation of societal change. Dr. Kumar Manoj also expressed his views on empowering women.
Session 2: Honoring Timeless Legends – A Tribute to Literary Heritage
This session celebrated timeless personalities in literature and history. It delved into the essence of classic literary works. Filmmaker and author Shri Suraj Tiwari discussed the deep connection between cinema and literature, describing films as mirrors of their era’s literary landscape. The session explored the works of luminaries like Tulsidas, Premchand, and Mahadevi Verma. The presence of renowned social worker Dr. Beena Lawania added grace to the event.
Session 3: Gulistan Sarvbhasha – A Festival of Linguistic Diversity
The session commenced with Ruchi Chaturvedi’s devotional poetry in Braj Bhasha, followed by Mamta Sikarwar’s soulful Bundelkhandi song celebrating the land and life. Renowned actress Baljeet Kaur recited Punjabi verses, expressing admiration for Amitabh Bachchan’s vibrant personality. Sapna Soni presented Rajasthan’s culture through her Rajasthani song, and Chandni Pandey captivated the audience with a love poem. Sarla Mishra moved everyone with an emotional Hindi composition. The session beautifully highlighted India’s linguistic and cultural richness, hosted by Shri Pankaj Sharma.
Session 4: Talking Books – The Importance of Literature
Participants included Dr. Rajshree Singh (IPS), former IAS officer Shri Pradeep Bhatnagar, Dr. Sangeeta Bhatnagar, and Shri Ramendra Mohan Tripathi. The session was moderated by Shri Piyush Pandey. Dr. Rajshree Singh discussed the challenges of policing, while Dr. Sangeeta Bhatnagar introduced her books on Mathura’s culinary and cultural heritage. Shri Ramendra Mohan Tripathi shared deep life insights through poetry, and Shri Pradeep Bhatnagar recounted pivotal moments from his administrative career.
Session 5: Sitare Zameen Par – An Evening Dedicated to Poetry
This memorable evening session, presided over by renowned poet and writer B.P. Singh Milind, enchanted the audience with heartfelt poetry on patriotism, love, and societal issues. Esteemed poets such as Shri Pankaj Abhiraj, Shri Vipin Maheshwari, Dr. Shubham Tyagi, Preeti Tripathi, Shekhar Tripathi, Prashant Dev, and Ranjita Singh presented their compositions, leaving the audience spellbound.
Session 6: Literary Gems of Taj City
This session showcased the talent of Agra’s prominent poets and authors. Esteemed personalities like Padam Gautam, Amir Ahmed, Shashank Prabhakar, Saleem Ahmed Itavi, Saloni Rana, Diksha Reesal Gupta, and Padam Gautam delighted the audience with their brilliant performances.
Closing Session: Honoring Literary Contributions
The event concluded with a ceremony to honor writers who made invaluable contributions to literature through their books. The awardees included students, youth, and senior citizens, all of whom expressed gratitude to GD Goenka Public School for recognizing their literary creations. It was a moment of pride for all.
Acknowledgments for the Event’s Success
The event’s patron was Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Vice Chairman of GD Goenka Public School, Agra. The dedicated efforts of the organizing team were commendable.
Coordinator: Pawan Agri
Co-convenor: Puneet Vashishtha
Adviser: Pankaj Sharma
PRO: Gajendra Singh
Mentors: Narayan Das Agarwal, Som Thakur, Kanta Prasad Agarwal
Patrons: Jitendra Chauhan, Puran Dawar, Squadron Leader A.K. Singh, Suresh Chand Garg, Santosh Sharma, Kuldeep Thakur
The Taj Sahitya Utsav not only gave Agra a unique identity but also marked the beginning of a new tradition in the fields of literature, art, and culture. It will continue to inspire literary enthusiasts and artists for years to come.
