Katha Shivir is an annual residential programme at Parivartan, Bihar, that brings together writers, artists, journalists, and thinkers to engage with a central theme each year. While the programme retains its core identity as Katha Shivir, each edition is shaped by a distinct thematic focus—guiding the nature of inquiry, conversation, and creative output.
Set within a rural context, Katha Shivir offers participants an immersive environment to engage with lived realities beyond urban frameworks. Through field visits, conversations, shared discussions, and independent work, participants are encouraged to respond to the theme in ways that are reflective, critical, and deeply personal.
Over the course of the residency, participants develop original pieces of writing or creative work informed by their experiences and observations. These works are often brought together in a collective publication, extending the life of the Shivir into a broader public discourse.
Katha Shivir is not structured as a conventional workshop or training programme. Instead, it functions as a space for sustained thinking—one that values slowness, attentiveness, and dialogue. With each edition, the programme opens new questions while remaining grounded in its commitment to storytelling, inquiry, and engagement with the complexities of contemporary India.