A four-day literary festival organised by the Sunni Students Federation (SSF) concluded at Perinthalmanna on Sunday (July 12, 2026). It hosted literary discussions, public debates, and cultural programmes centred on media, literature and contemporary social issues.Addressing the inaugural session, Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha called for independent media free from political and economic influence, saying such independence was essential to protect public interest and democratic accountability.He said journalism needed sustainable financial models, including public-supported and crowd-funded initiatives, to reduce dependence on interests that could influence editorial decisions.Highlighting the challenges posed by the rapid growth of digital platforms, Mr. Sinha said the abundance of online information had made fact-checking more important than ever.Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar inaugurated a social health summit held as part of the festival in solidarity with the State government’s Operation Toofan. SSF leader Mushtaq Saqafi administered a solidarity pledge.The festival featured literary sessions and discussions at the Kathabook cultural venue, with writers, academics and public intellectuals participating.In the overall championship, Areekode division secured first place, followed by Pulikkal and Manjeri West divisions. Kerala Muslim Jamaat general secretary Syed Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari inaugurated the valedictory session. Published - July 12, 2026 08:44 pm IST