Javed Akhtar set to grace SOA Literary Festival; to be felicitated with top honour

Bhubaneswar, Nov 27: Legendary poet, lyricist, writer, and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar is set to visit Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University on Saturday, where he will be conferred with the inaugural SOA Sahitya Samman 2025. Akhtar will attend the opening ceremony of the two-day 3rd SOA Literary Festival, scheduled to begin on November 29 at the SOA auditorium. The event will be inaugurated by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati.

The SOA Sahitya Samman, introduced this year, aims to honour distinguished litterateurs annually for their outstanding contributions to literature. Akhtar, expressing his joy in a video message, said he was delighted to participate in the festival and appreciated the university for hosting such a significant literary gathering. He also extended his congratulations to the organizers and participants.

Javed Akhtar comes from a celebrated lineage of writers spanning seven generations. Over his illustrious career, he has received five National Film Awards and a record 15 Filmfare Awards. He has been honoured with prestigious national awards including the Padma Shri (1999), Padma Bhushan (2007), and the Sahitya Akademi Award (2014). His acclaimed poetry collections Tarkash and Lava remain among the most popular works in contemporary Hindi literature and have been translated into multiple Indian and international languages.