The Ministry of Education, in association with the Ministry of External Afairs successfully concluded the 2nd Biennial SCO Young Authors’ Conference from 25–26 September 2025 in New Delhi, with the National Book Trust (NBT), India (under the Ministry of Education) as the implementing Agency.
The Valedictory Session brought the two-day conference to a close with reflections on the central theme “Dynamics of Creative Spaces in the Digital Age.”
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education underlined the civilisational connection among the SCO Member States through shared literature and culture. He stressed on the need to embrace books as a tool of learning, while keeping up with the advancements of technology.
Alok A Dimri, India’s SCO National Coordinator and Additional Secretary (SCO), Ministry of External Afairs, also addressed the gathering, commending the spirit of collaboration among youth.
Minara Rakhanova, Advisor, SCO Secretariat, addressed the session, lauding India’s eforts in supporting young creative talent and encouraging continued cultural exchange and cooperation among member states. Professor Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, National Book Trust, India delivered the welcome address, congratulating the authors for sharing diverse perspectives in the conference.
A few young authors participating in the conference shared their experiences, highlighting the significance of the platform in fostering dialogue and creative exchange across SCO nations. The proceedings concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT-India. Kumar Vikram, Chief Editor and Joint Director, NBT, India moderated the valedictory Session. It may be recalled that the conference was inaugurated by Minister of State for External Afairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh opened on 25th September 2025, who highlighted the fact that SCO is not only a political and economic grouping, but also a very dynamic platform for cultural engagement. During the two day event, the participants in the conference deliberated on the transformative impact of digitalisation on literature, cinema, music, art, culture, radio and television.
The first session on Writing and Publishing, chaired by Milind Sudhakar Marathe and moderated by Kumar Vikram, explored the digitalisation of literary cultures and the reconfiguration of authorship. Zhan Zhicai (China) highlighted digitalisation’s potential for cultural exchange in his video message, Javlon Jovliyev (Uzbekistan) shared his thoughts on the evolving practices in Uzbek literature, and Anna Babina (Russia) discussed AI as a tool that cannot replace human creativity. From India, Saloni Mittal of Penguin Random House emphasised the continued importance of traditional publishing in ensuring quality.
The second session on Music, chaired by Dr Sonu Saini and moderated by Professor Ranjana Banerjee, examined the transformation of music practices. Avinash Kumar (India) traced the journey of classical music from the Samveda to modern platforms, while Dr Somya Gurucharan cautioned against the misuse of AI while recognising its creative potential. Shurat Orif (Uzbekistan) highlighted how the digital age is revitalising folk traditions and strengthening cultural values.
The third session on Cinema, moderated by Prof. Manju Rani Hara, presented cinema as a cultural prism. Aakriti Kohli (India) outlined Indian cinema’s evolution from silent films to streaming, Faridoddin Faridasr (Iran) ofered a historical perspective on Iranian cinema, and Swaroop Sardeshmukh (India) examined cinema as a reflection of social change. Discussants Aditi Singh, Ahmad Ishtiaque, and Nawa Fatima sparked a discourse on the role of AI and algorithm-driven content. Prof. Marathe concluded by emphasising that cinema mirrors India’s changing consciousness and that parallel cinema must be recognised alongside mainstream Bollywood.
The fourth session on Art and Culture, chaired by Elena Ramizova and moderated by Subir Dey, focused on artistic expression and cultural representation in the digital age. Speakers included Debaroti Chakraborty (India), who addressed pedagogy and artistic expression; Artem Ragimov (Russia), who spoke about the accessibility and democratisation of content; and Simer Preet Sokhi (India), who highlighted archiving and digitising practices in India. Discussants Vaishali Gahlyan and Srisha Sarkar deepened the dialogue. The session also highlighted India’s achievements under the NEP 2020 and Gyan Bharat Mission, where over 44 lakh manuscripts have already been digitised.
The fifth literary session on Radio, chaired by Shri Yuvraj Malik and moderated by Prof. Ranjana Saxena, explored “The Resurgence of Oral Cultures in the Age of Podcasting.” Xu Han (China) highlighted digital platforms as bridges for cultural exchange, Sayak Pal (India) traced the rise of podcasts during the pandemic, and Anna Babina (Russia) discussed their growth in Russia.
Discussants added perspectives on authenticity, cultural identity, and ethical responsibility, while Shri Malik connected the revival of oral formats to India’s traditions.