Jaipur: Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma delivered the inaugural address at the Jaipur Literature Festival on 15 January. As the face of the government of Rajasthan, Sharma welcomed the panellists, literature lovers, and media personnel.
Sharma recalled the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had once said that whenever you go for a programme, you should not give a bouquet, but a book because while flowers wilt away, a book lasts forever. “A book is a mirror of literature. It is a vision. It is a call for a cultural revolution,” he said.
With the sun high in the sky, the CM said that Rajasthan is not just a land of forts and palaces. “It is a fertile land of literature, music and art. Where the lamp of creativity has been burning for centuries,” he said.
Rajasthan, a rich and cultural melting pot of artists, writers and religious poets across centuries, has remained an epitome of Indian multiplicity.
“From the Amer fort to the Hawa Mahal, the story of every stone is different. Rajasthan is a land of courage, strength and devotion. It is a land of Maharaja Pratap and Maharaja Suraj Mal. It is a land of sacrifice and devotion. It is the land of Mirabai. It is a land of motherhood, which has given itself up to her daughters,” the CM said.
He went on to say how Prithviraj Raso, widely considered one of the earliest Hindi poems, is an example of Rajasthan’s traditional poetry.
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An opportunity for the youth
Stressing the importance of the largest literary festival being held in Jaipur, the CM said that when such a large literary assembly is held in a cultural city like Jaipur, it becomes a unique assembly of tradition and modernity.
“Writers from all over the country are inspired by the works of the Rajasthani legends, by their writing and their thoughts. It is a wonderful opportunity for our youth,” he said.
He encouraged the audience to take full advantage of the next few days, to participate in discussions and ask questions, to make literature a part of life.
He ended his speech by urging the writers and the younger generation to write something meaningful, something with thought and feeling. “Literature attains immortality. It should be meaningful,” Sharma said.
ThePrint is a media partner for the Jaipur Literature Festival 2026.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)