The second day of the Art and Literature Festival, currently ongoing in Kaakarbhitta, Jhapa, saw discussions on topics ranging from the current status of art-writing to tradition of criticism in the country. 

The day kicked off with a discussion titled Kala, Lekhan ra Prakashan where artist-journalists Keshab Raj Khanal and Devendra Thumkeli talked with journalist Mohan Kaji about the coverage of arts in the mainstream media outlets. The discussion pivoted around how the news concerning arts is not given the importance they deserve. 

Meanwhile, in another session titled Artist as Entrepreneur, artist-educator Sujan Chitrakar engaged in a discussion with Shanti Sharma, Raj Basu, Chhiten Sherpa on the commercialisation of the arts. 

The session was followed by a political discussion, titled Nepali Samaj ma Barga ra Barna, wherein leaders Ghamshyam Bhusal and Aahuti engaged in a discussion with journalist Basanta Basnet about the representation, or lack thereof, of minority voices in the country’s governance system. 

Another discussion—Bhasa ko Rajniti-saw a conversation between journalist Kedar Sharma, and authors Chandra Kishor and Rajan Mukarung. In this discussion moderated by Damodhar Dungel, the panelists agreed that anarchy in language should be kept in check despite the very nature of language being dynamic. 

The fest also saw an hour-long speech by author CK Lal on the topic Intellectual Tradition in South Asia where he discussed about how the intellectual tradition in the region is being plagued by the hunger for power. 

Other issues discussed at the second day of the fest were Nepali Sahitya ko Patra Bidhan; the trend of foreign employment and its manifold impacts on the society; and English language in Nepali literature. 

The second day of the fest ended with a slam poetry recitation and screening of the documentary Mira, which tells the story of the making of Mira Rai.