CM Dhami, Justice DY Chandrachud, Nandita Das, Shefali Shah, Shobhaa De, Adil Hussain, Jaya Kishori, Vishal & Rekha Bhardwaj, Usha Uthup and more to hold sessions across three days
12th November 2025, Dehradun : The Dehradun Literature Festival (DDLF) today announced its 7th edition at a city press conference, with Founder of DDLF Samraant Virmani sharing that the festival will be held from 14th to 16th November at Doon International School, City Campus. This year’s theme, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – Voices of Unity, reflects the festival’s vision to build a space where people speak with courage, listen with care, and celebrate diversity in ideas, representation and creative expression. Continuing its tradition of cross-vertical programming, the festival, which is open for all, once again brings together literature, cinema, music, food, culture, history and performance, welcoming audiences across ages.
The three-day edition features some of India’s most celebrated authors, artists, thinkers and performers. Justice DY Chandrachud will lead two major sessions, including “Justice, Democracy and the Idea of India” and “We the Students of India – A Dialogue on Democracy.” Ruskin Bond will deliver the keynote address through online medium on the opening day during the inauguration. Other prominent names include Adil Hussain, Divya Prakash Dubey, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan, Roopa Pai, Abhay K., Anamika, Narayani Basu, Sam Dalrymple, Shobhaa De, Rujuta Diwekar, Jaya Kishori, Suvir Saran, Swaroop Sampat Rawal, Nandita Das, Leena Yadav, Vishal Bhardwaj, Shefali Shah, Sumana Roy and Malini Awasthi. Musicians Osho Jain, Vedi Sinha, Buland Himalay, Nikhil Saklani and Usha Uthup will add a vibrant performance dimension to the festival.
Speaking during the press conference, Samraant Virmani, Founder of DDLF, said, “DDLF has grown into a platform that invites dialogue, empathy and shared creativity. With the theme Voices of Unity, we’re celebrating the power of stories to bring people together. This year, we also want to inspire the youth to step out of the digital world of mobiles and computers and experience the real world — the world of ideas, books and human connection. That’s why we’ve consciously decided not to stream the festival on digital platforms like YouTube or Instagram, encouraging young people to be physically present and truly immerse themselves in the spirit of literature. Every year, our aim is to ensure that a wide range of viewpoints, disciplines and voices find space at the festival, making it a community celebration for Dehradun and beyond.”
Adding further, Samraant said, “The festival will also host a special session with Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami, who will join author Venu Agrahari Dhingra for the launch of her book Leading Ladies – The New Wave of Female Politicians in India, followed by an engaging discussion on women in public leadership.”
With the opening day falling on Children’s Day, the festival has curated a special slate of children’s programming, including ‘Above Rhyme, Beyond Reason’ with Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan, Roopa Pai, and Vaishali Shroff; a session on power of stories and spontaneous creations by Divya Prakash Dubey titled Kahaani Junction; and an important session with the ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ team, ‘Apna Apna Normal’, focusing on acceptance, belonging and embracing one’s individuality. Workshops for young audiences, including Tiny Thinkers and Character Lab, will also run through the festival.
Festival Director Saumya Kulshreshtha added, “This year’s programming is layered with history, cinema, music, poetry, food, environment, personal narratives and global conversations. The goal is simple: that every person who walks into DDLF finds something that resonates deeply.”
“With book launches, meet-and-greet sessions, interactive workshops, author conversations, musical evenings and experiences across literature and culture, the 7th edition of DDLF promises to be one of its most vibrant yet, offering the people of Dehradun an expansive festival of ideas, storytelling and artistic exchange”, added Festival Director Saumya Kulshreshtha.
Marking 25 years of Uttarakhand, DDLF 2025 brings a strong focus on the cultural soul of the state. Folk traditions from Almora, Pithoragarh and Dehradun will be showcased through ‘Sound of Women – Folk Music of Uttarakhand’, music by Nikhil Saklani, and a rich line-up of regional art, poetry and dialogues across multiple stages.
During the press conference, HS Mann, Director, Doon International School, noted, “Hosting DDLF at the City Campus is a wonderful opportunity for students and the community to engage with some of the finest minds and voices of our time. Literature comes alive in festivals like this, making learning exciting far beyond the classroom.”
This year also marks the introduction of the Guardians of Himalayas Award, instituted on the completion of Uttarakhand’s 25 years. The award recognises individuals and organisations working at the grassroots for environmental conservation. Speaking about the honour, Akshay Jain, presenter of the award, said, “The Himalayas are our shared responsibility. Through this award, we hope to acknowledge those who are doing immense, often unseen, work to protect the ecology of Uttarakhand.”
Alongside this new recognition, the festival will continue to present its two distinguished annual honours: the Shivani – Iron Lady of the Hills Award, presented by Frontier Jewellers, and the Ruskin Bond Literary Award. At the announcement, Anshuman Kapoor, Frontier Jewellers, said, “The Shivani Award celebrates courage and creative strength. We are proud to support a recognition that honours women whose voices inspire.”
