From social media and mother tongue to radio and Gen Z stories, ideas take centre stage at Udeesha Lit Fest Day 3

BAREILLY: Discussions on journalism in the age of social media, the fading relevance of mother tongues, the evolving world of radio and the creative dilemmas of Gen Z writers dominated sessions at the ongoing Udeesha Literature Festival in Moradabad on Friday.A session on social media and journalism, moderated by Anjum Sharma, explored how digital platforms have transformed news consumption. Speakers likened social media to fire -- a powerful tool that still needs to be controlled. Drawing a parallel, it was said that just as mankind took centuries to learn how to harness fire, society is still learning to manage the influence of social media responsibly. Concerns were also raised over children being exposed to technology before learning how to use it meaningfully, either at school or at home.

The panel agreed that the real crisis is not shrinking attention spans but declining content quality, stressing that strong content still commands time and trust.Another session, ‘Mati, Boli aur Manush’, featuring Vashisht Anup, Jaykant Singh and Balchandra Tripathi, focused on language as identity. Speakers warned that regional languages are being lost to convenience and westernisation, reducing cultural diversity.

Viewing mother tongues through stereotypical lenses, they said, risks pushing society towards a single, monotonous language, erasing cultural roots.Earlier, a discussion on ‘Akashvani aur FM ki Badalti Duniya’ examined the journey from traditional radio to FM and digital platforms. Speakers Rehan Ghazal and Ritu Rajput highlighted how radio has adapted through interaction, credibility and experimentation, envisioning its future as a blend of technology and creativity.The day concluded with ‘Gen Z Ki Kahaniyan’, where author Chetan Bhagat spoke candidly about writing, class representation and creativity. He said he writes in simple language because storytelling does not require complexity to be effective. Advising aspiring writers, Bhagat suggested balancing passion with practical career choices, adding that ideas worth expressing should be written regardless of commercial success.Udeesha Sahityotsav, running till January 26, will host writers, poets, musicians, theatre artists, journalists and thinkers from across the country. The programme includes sessions on poetry, storytelling, theatre, journalism, mental health, social media, artificial intelligence and contemporary social issues, along with musical and cultural performances each evening.The festival also features a book fair, art and photo galleries, folk performances, food festival and live sand art installations by Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik.Moradabad Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said the event is being organised with an aim to promote cultural dialogue and provide a platform for both established and emerging voices, while showcasing Moradabad’s literary and artistic heritage at a national level.