Ashok Kumar Bal: Fostering cross-cultural dialogues between Nepal and South Asia

The Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival was recently held in Kathmandu, celebrating the shared literary and cultural traditions of Nepal, India, and South Asia over two days. An extension of the Kalinga Literary Festival, originally founded in Bhubaneswar, India, the event aimed to foster cross-cultural dialogue and promote the exploration of art, literature, and heritage across borders. In this context, ApEx spoke with Ashok Kumar Bal, CEO of the Kalinga Literary Festival. Excerpts:

As the CEO of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), what are your key responsibilities?

As Patron and CEO of KLF, I oversee the planning and execution of the various festivals we organize throughout the year. My responsibilities include resource mobilization, session planning, logistics, and coordination with speakers, organizations, and the press. While it’s primarily a team effort, my role focuses on oversight, advice, and overall coordination. This year, our team in Nepal did an excellent job in organizing the Kathmandu KLF.

From your perspective, how successful was the latest Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival?

The 3rd Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival was a tremendous success. The two-day event featured over 60 sessions, with a strong emphasis on Nepali literature, art, and culture. The enthusiastic response from the audience and their active engagement were particularly encouraging. We were especially pleased to see the large turnout of young students from colleges and universities in Kathmandu. Their participation means a lot to us, and we are committed to doing even better in the next edition of the festival.

In what ways does the Kalinga Literary Festival promote literature, arts, and culture in the South Asian region?

The Kalinga Literary Festival stands out from similar events by fostering cross-border and cross-civilizational partnerships. These collaborations are vital for nurturing a global culture of peace, understanding, and sustainable development. Our mission began three years ago, with Kathmandu as the stepping stone. Nepal’s long-standing traditions of wisdom, enlightenment, and resilience align with KLF's vision to unite people through the power of literature and the arts. This year’s theme, ‘Nepal—The Gateway to Asian Art, Culture, and Literature,’ reflected this goal. The KLF in Kathmandu is more than just an event—it continues a centuries-old dialogue reaffirming shared values and aspirations between India and Nepal.

Do you have plans to organize the Kalinga Literary Festival in other parts of South Asia?

Yes, as part of our South Asian initiative, we’re encouraged by the success of our Kathmandu festival over the past three years. We plan to expand to other locations, such as Bali and Colombo, with which we share ancient cultural bonds.

How can Nepal’s literature and arts community benefit from the Kalinga Literary Festival?

KLF serves as an excellent platform for dialogue and exchange between writers, poets, authors, and artists from India, Nepal, and gradually, the broader South Asian region. Nepalese students, in particular, stand to gain from these cultural and literary interactions. We’ve been inviting Nepali writers, poets, and artists to participate in KLF events in Bhubaneswar, and over time, this exchange will be mutually beneficial, fostering greater connection, communication, and collaboration.