Mumbai 16 th November 2025 ( TGN): The seventh edition of Vishwarang—India’s premier global festival celebrating the richness of Indian languages, arts, and culture—commenced its cultural journey with a two-day curtain-raiser event, ‘Aarambh – Vishwarang Mumbai 2025’, held at the Green Technology Auditorium, University of Mumbai. The festival brought together a vibrant confluence of literary dialogue, artistic expression, and cultural reflection, spotlighting India’s linguistic diversity and creative heritage.
The event was inaugurated by Shri Santosh Choubey, Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University and Director of Vishwarang Foundation. Distinguished guests included Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, Dr. Karuna Shankar Upadhyay, Dr. Vijay Singh, and Shri Krishna Prakash, Additional Director General of Maharashtra Police.
The proceedings began with a soulful invocation (Manglacharan) by Dr. Suruchi Mehta, setting a spiritually resonant tone for the festival. In his address, Shri Krishna Prakash emphasized the deep cultural identity embedded in Indian languages, while Shri Choubey highlighted Vishwarang’s growing role in taking Indian languages and arts to global platforms.
Dialogues on Language, Literature, and Cultural Continuity
The festival featured thought-provoking sessions on the interconnectedness of Indian languages, the evolution of Hindi short stories, and the vibrancy of multilingual poetry. Eminent literary voices such as Om Thanvi, Suryabala, A. Aravindakshan, and Santosh Choubey shared their insights. Special editions of Vishwarang Samvad and Vanmali Katha were also launched during the event.
Performing Arts and Theatrical Legacy
Day one featured a captivating cultural performance by the University of Mumbai’s Department of Performing Arts, offering audiences a rich tapestry of Indian folk and classical traditions through music, dance, and drama. A dedicated theatre session brought together veteran theatre practitioners Waman Kendre, Jayant Deshmukh, Preeta Madhur, and Akhilendra Mishra, who reflected on stagecraft, performance, and the enduring legacy of the late Habib Tanvir. The session also marked the release of Rang Samvad – Habib Tanvir Edition.
Cinema and Science Communication in Indian Languages
A special panel explored cinema’s role in shaping linguistic and cultural narratives, featuring Purushottam Agrawal, Ashok Mishra, Anang Desai, Rumi Jaffery, Ajay Brahmatmaj, Salim Arif, and Chhaya Ganguly. The cinema-focused edition of Vishwarang Samvad was unveiled during this session.
Another key session, chaired by Shri Santosh Choubey, addressed the role of Indian languages in science communication. Speakers included Krishna Kumar Mishra, Manish Mohan Gore, Ramashankar, Sameer Ganguly, Narendra Deshmukh, Dr. Kulwant Singh, and Rita Kumar. The November 2025 edition of Electroniki Aapke Liye, edited by Dr. Vinita Choubey, was also released.
Centenary Tribute to Dharmveer Bharti
A special session commemorated the birth centenary of literary icon Dharmveer Bharti. Speakers included Mrs. Pushpa Bharti, Vishwanath Sachdev, Hari Mridul, Harish Pathak, and Prof. Santosh Choubey. The 189th edition of Gunahon Ka Devta was ceremonially launched as a tribute to his enduring legacy.
A Beginning in Folk Rhythms, and a Grand Announcement for Bhopal
The festival concluded with a spirited folk performance by the University of Mumbai’s Academy of Folk Arts, infusing the space with cultural vitality. In his closing remarks, Shri Santosh Choubey emphasized that this was not a conclusion, but a beginning—a renewed commitment to the celebration of Indian languages and arts. He formally announced the upcoming grand edition of Vishwarang Bhopal, scheduled to take place on 27, 28, and 29 November 2025.
