Literature Live! 360@Campus Festival 2026
26-October-2026
XIC hosted Literature Live! 360@Campus Festival 2026, bringing together writers, journalists and cultural voices for an engaging session on literature, failure and the realities of field reporting.
The event, hosted on 26 October, was attended by Donna Duffy, Deputy Consul General, and celebrated author and poet Susannah Dickey from Derry, Northern Ireland as well as Disha Mullick, Meera Devi and Nazni Rizvi from Khabar Lahariya.
Dickey opened the session with a candid conversation on failure and its place in personal and creative growth. She noted that setbacks often redirect people towards paths they may not have otherwise considered, encouraging students to treat failure as part of the process rather than an endpoint. Her remark, “fail again, fail better,” captured the spirit of the discussion. Combining wit with honest reflection, she spoke about the difficult truths that shape creative work and everyday life, making the session both thought-provoking and relatable.
Following her talk, a film screening was held for the audience. The screening added a visual dimension to the programme and allowed students to engage with storytelling beyond the written word.
The final segment featured journalists from Khabar Lahariya, a women-led rural news organisation, with Meera Devi serving as Managing Editor and Nazni Rizvi as Chief Reporter.
The speakers shared their experiences as women journalists working in the field, discussing the daily challenges they encounter and the lessons they have learnt through their reporting. Their conversation highlighted the importance of persistence, community-based journalism, and the need to bring underrepresented voices into public conversation. The session was inspiring and gave students a closer look at the realities of journalism beyond newsrooms and headlines.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, acknowledging the guests for their time, insights and meaningful interaction with students. The festival offered a valuable space for reflection, dialogue and learning, leaving the audience with much to think about.
by Natasha Toner (JR)