Students of the Presidency School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (PSOLAS), Presidency University, Bengaluru, participated in the third edition of alèy – MAHE Lit. Fest 2026, held on 24 and 25 September 2026 at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal.

Organised by the Department of Languages and Literature, Manipal Institute of Liberal Arts and Humanities, MAHE, the two-day literary festival was centred on the theme “Waves of Hope.” The event brought together writers, translators, activists, performers, students and literary enthusiasts, creating a vibrant platform for conversations on literature, culture and contemporary social realities.

Throughout the festival, PSOLAS students participated in literary conversations, performances, creative engagements and interactive sessions. These experiences offered them an opportunity to encounter literature beyond the classroom and engage with diverse perspectives on storytelling, identity, publishing, activism and society.

A significant highlight of the visit was the opportunity to engage with acclaimed literary voices such as Benyamin, Urvashi Butalia and Gogu Shyamala, among several other writers and cultural practitioners. Their sessions encouraged students to reflect on the relationship between literature and lived experience and on the possibilities of writing as a means of expression, critique and social engagement.

The visit provided students with valuable exposure to the wider literary and cultural landscape while encouraging intellectual exchange, curiosity and creative expression. By participating in platforms such as alèy – MAHE Lit. Fest, PSOLAS continues to promote experiential learning and enable students to connect classroom learning with contemporary literary and cultural practices.