Kozhikode emerges as India's first UNESCO City of literature | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a historic moment on October 31, Kerala’s vibrant city, Kozhikode, secured its position as the first UNESCO City of Literature in India.

The prestigious title was officially conferred upon Kozhikode by UNESCO, acknowledging the city’s outstanding contributions to literature and media.

Joining 55 other newly selected creative cities, Kozhikode stood out for its rich literary heritage and sustained efforts over the past two years.

Expressing her excitement, Kozhikode Corporation Mayor Beena Philip hailed the City of Literature recognition as a remarkable testament to the city’s excellence.

She credited this achievement to the collaborative endeavours of numerous individuals and the corporation’s dedicated initiatives.

As the newly crowned City of Literature, Kozhikode aims to embark on innovative projects to further promote literary arts within the community.

This accolade aligns seamlessly with the city’s history of hosting literary gatherings, including the renowned Kerala Literature Festival.

World Cities Day saw the induction of 55 cities into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, all recognized for their commitment to integrating culture and creativity into their development strategies.

UNESCO Director-General bestowed the titles, expanding the Network to encompass 350 cities across over a hundred countries.

In the Indian context, Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh earned a spot in the Creative Cities Network for its contributions to the field of music.

These cities, spanning diverse creative fields such as crafts, folk art etc. share a collective commitment to fostering creativity.

The newly designated cities will collaborate within the network to enhance their resilience against evolving challenges like climate change, rapid urbanization etc.

With 68% of the world’s population projected to inhabit urban areas by 2050, these cities play a crucial role in shaping innovative and human-centric urban planning practices.

The newly designated Creative Cities are poised to contribute significantly to the global conversation on cultural resilience and creativity in the face of future challenges.

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