Art, literature share certain intrinsic characteristics, says Goa Governor

Governor of Goa discusses the interconnectedness of art and literature at Festival of Letters 2025 in New Delhi.

Art and literature are not separate entities. Rather, they share certain intrinsic characteristics, Governor of Goa and author P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said in New Delhi on Thursday.

He was speaking while chairing a session on the topic, “Shared Spaces Between Literature and Other Art Forms”, at the Festival of Letters 2025 organized by the Sahitya Akademi

The theme, “Shared Spaces Between Literature and Other Art Forms”, embodies the very essence of human creativity. Literature, as an art, does not exist in isolation. It has always been in conversation with other art forms or activities such as music, painting, theatre, cinema and even modern digital media, he said.

“These intersections form a rich relationship that deepens our understanding of both individual art forms and their combined power to evoke emotions, convey messages and shape culture,” he said.

Mr. Pillai laid emphasis on the profound connection between various art forms, particularly literature, and their ability to foster a collective human experience.

Citing the example of late M.S. Subbulakshmi’s concert at the United Nations, he said that art and literature have the potential to transcend boundaries and convey the message of global harmony.

He said that great meaning can be found in simple expressions and gave examples of cartoons carrying more meaning than long news articles in newspapers.