India, April 10 -- India's Art, Culture, and Literature Take Center Stage

BHUBANESWAR: The 11th edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), recently held in Bhubaneswar, cast a spotlight on the rich literary and cultural ties between India-particularly Odisha-and Southeast Asia. Over the course of three days, the festival became a confluence of intellectual and creative exchange, delving deep into the shared heritage and historical connections that date back to the ancient mercantile sea routes linking Kalinga to regions such as Java, Sumatra, Bali (Indonesia), Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

This year, a significant emphasis was placed on the literary and cultural identity of Southeast Asia. Discussions range...