CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The grand inauguration of ‘Arambh – Vishvarang Mumbai 2025’ took place at the Green Technology Auditorium, University of Mumbai. The two-day event began with Mangalacharan by Dr. Suruchi Mohta, creating an atmosphere of devotion, peace, and positivity throughout the auditorium.

The program was inaugurated by Santosh Choubey, Director of Vishvarang and Vice-Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University, Bhopal.

The chief guest was Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai. The guests of honor included Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor of Scope Global Skills University, Dr. Karuna Shankar Upadhyay, Head of Hindi Department at Scope Global Skills University, Dr. Vijay Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Scope Global Skills University, and the special guest was Krishna Prakash, Additional Director General of Police and Director of Force One, Maharashtra.

Krishna Prakash, the special guest, expressed his views, saying, “The roots of Indian civilization lie in our languages—every dialect, every word defines our identity. When we respect our languages, we keep our past, traditions, and cultural essence alive.” He further added, “Vishvarang is not just a literary festival; it symbolizes an India that connects with its roots while engaging in dialogue with the world.”

Santosh Choubey, Director of Vishvarang and Vice-Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University, said, “Vishvarang aims to bring the diverse colors of Indian languages, arts, and culture onto a shared platform. Its launch in Mumbai signifies that Indian creativity and sensitivity are not limited to a single language or region but represent the collective consciousness of the entire nation.”

Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor of Scope Global Skills University, stated, “This event serves as an inspiration for the youth. Through the coordination of language, creativity, and skills, India’s new generation is creating with a global perspective while remaining connected to its roots.”

Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University, added, “Mumbai University always welcomes initiatives that unite Indian languages and cultures. Vishvarang has established a new tradition of cultural coordination and academic dialogue in this regard.”

Following the inauguration, a discussion session on “Interconnection and Coordination in Indian Languages” was organized, featuring poets and storytellers from various languages such as A. Arvindakshan (Hindi/Malayalam), Om Thanvi (Hindi), Santosh Choubey (Hindi), Chandrakant Bhonjal (Marathi), Laxman Gaikwad (Marathi), and Dr. Karuna Shankar Upadhyay (Hindi). The session was chaired by Jawahar Karnavat, during which the “Vishvarang Dialogue – South Indian Language Edition” was launched.

Senior journalist and critic Om Thanvi shared his thoughts on “Critique and Vision of Hindi Language,” saying, “Language is not just a medium of communication but an expansion of vision—and Hindi is the most vibrant language in this regard.”

A discussion on “The Landscape of Hindi Storytelling in the New Century” featured writers like Suryabala, Santosh Choubey, Dhirendra Asthana, Manoj Roopra, Mukesh Verma, and Oma Sharma. The session was moderated by Kunal Singh, who also launched the “Vanmali Katha – November-December 2025 Edition.”

Renowned storyteller Suryabala said, “Stories of the new century are not merely narratives of events but document the struggles of evolving human beings. Today’s stories recognize the pulse of our times and inspire readers to self-reflection.”

Two multilingual poetry recitations were held:

The first session, chaired by Vijay Kumar, featured Santosh Choubey, Vinod Das, Badrinarayan, Suman Keshari, Savita Bhargava, Chitra Desai, Sulbha Kore, and Mihir Chitre. The session was conducted by Abha Bodhisattva.

The second session, chaired by A. Arvindakshan, featured Rajesh Reddy, Prafull Shiledar, Liladhar Mandloi, Balram Gumasta, Kamal Bora, Bodhisattva, and Kamalakar Bhatt. The session was conducted by Sulbha Kore, who also highlighted the International Hindi Mission’s effort to reach over one crore people worldwide through Hindi learning programs.

The day concluded with a vibrant cultural performance by the Folk Art Academy of Mumbai University, hosted by Jyoti Raghuvanshi, which showcased a spectacular blend of art, language, and cultural sensitivity. The audience appreciated this lively confluence of Indian art, language, and culture.

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