Bestselling author Amish Tripathi on Monday called for a return to civil, open-minded debate while revisiting history, warning against ideological echo chambers that are hollowing out public discourse in India.
Tripathi was speaking at the curtain-raiser event of the 17th Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) at Oxford Bookstore, where he participated in a session titled The Thrill of the Legend where he was in conversation with Priyadarshinee Guha. The event marked the formal announcement of AKLF 2026, scheduled to be held from January 9 to 11 at the historic Alipore Museum.
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Addressing concerns around ideological polarisation, Amish Tripathi said India’s long tradition of reasoned disagreement has been replaced by a confrontational culture driven by extremes on both sides.
“Questioning is good, as long as it is done with manners. In our ancient approach to debate, you speak the truth but speak it with love. If you cannot speak with love, stay silent,” he said.
Tripathi also criticised the influence of television debates and social media, saying disagreements today resemble “gladiatorial contests” rather than discussions. “Some of our TV debates are so loud you can hear them even if you switch the TV off,” he remarked.
Warning against ideological echo chambers
The author stated that intellectual growth depends on exposure to opposing viewpoints, something he believes is increasingly missing from public conversations. “Leftists listen only to leftists. Rightists listen only to the right. This does not grow your brain,” he said, adding that resistance is essential for thinking. “Muscles grow against resistance. Even the brain grows against resistance.”
Tripathi said he consciously reads historians and scholars he strongly disagrees with to challenge his own assumptions. Citing historians like Niall Ferguson and David Starkey, he said engaging with opposing scholarship was necessary, even when views clash sharply.
He cautioned against hardliners on both ends of the political spectrum. “Indians need to protect ourselves from both the left-wing and right-wing extremists. They feed each other,” he said.
Confidence in India’s trajectory
Despite his concerns, Tripathi expressed faith in the Indian public and the country’s broader direction. Referring to rapid socio-economic changes over the past three decades, he said turbulence was inevitable during periods of transformation.
“Whenever there is churning, there will be some poison. But the trajectory is sound,” he said, adding that his confidence stemmed from the scale of progress India has witnessed.
Tripathi also linked contemporary debates on history to the legacy of colonial frameworks that shaped how Indian civilisation has been understood. Reclaiming intellectual independence, he said, required disagreement but without hostility. “Good manners alone can build relationships,” he said.
AKLF 2026 to open in January
The curtain-raiser event also unveiled details of the 17th edition of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, which will feature a wide range of writers, thinkers, artists and public figures across literature, politics, cinema, history and culture. The festival will take place across venues including Alipore Museum, Oxford Bookstore and The Park, Kolkata.
Sharing her thoughts at the curtain raiser, Priti Paul, Director, Apeejay Surrendra Group, stated that, “As we unveil the curtain raiser for the 17th edition of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, we are reminded once again of the enduring spirit of creativity and dialogue that has defined AKLF since its inception."
She further said, "This year holds special significance as we host this edition at the historic Alipore Museum—an iconic space that mirrors our commitment to preserving heritage while nurturing contemporary thought. Over the years, AKLF has grown into much more than a literary festival; it has become a living testament to Kolkata’s cultural heartbeat, a meeting ground where diverse voices spark meaningful conversations and new ideas take flight. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to fostering an inclusive, vibrant and forward-looking platform that celebrates the transformative power of literature and the city that continues to inspire us.”
AKLF Director Anjum Katyal said the 2026 edition would focus strongly on themes of gender, history, wellness and translation, while keeping readers and books at the heart of the festival.
