Godrej Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2026 was inaugurated on 23rd October at its foreverhome-by-the-sea, the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA). As is tradition, the 17th edition began with “For The Love of the Word - the Anil Dharker Session,” in memory of the Founder of the Festival, featuring the launch of Three Masters by renowned screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar. The book is a collection of timeless dohas from three of India’s great philosopher-poets - Kabir, Rahim, and Vrind. Javed Saab explored the depth and beauty of this rich poetic tradition, which continues to resonate across centuries, with eminent translator Sumantra Ghosal, who rendered the book into English. Some excerpts:  One of the dohas they read was by Kabir.
  
“बड़ा हुआ तो क्य़ा हुआ, जैसे पेड खजूर। पंथी को छ़ाय़ा नहीं, फल ल़ागे अतत दूर ॥”  

Quoting this Kabir doha about what makes a person significant, Javed Akhtar said, “What makes you a big person? Your contribution to the world. Your contribution towards society. What have you given? You have an interval from nothingness to nothingness that is called life. What have you contributed to this human society? When he [Kabir] gives an example of the date tree, he says, despite it being big and tall it doesn't give shade to people and the fruit is so far above. It is applicable to people too. People who have given shadow and fruit, they are remembered.”