Kozhikode doesn’t wake up to silence. It wakes up to the rustle of newspapers, the quiet hum of libraries opening their doors, and conversations shaped by books. Long before it earned global attention, this coastal city in Kerala had already built a life around words, ideas, and storytelling.
Often called the City of Literature, Kozhikode has a deep-rooted connection with reading and writing that stretches back generations. Books are not treated as luxury items here; they are part of everyday life. People read widely, discuss freely, and write with a strong sense of society, culture, and human experience. This shared love for literature can be seen everywhere, from old libraries and busy bookshops to literary gatherings that bring together writers and readers of all ages.
Over the years, the city has shaped and supported many influential voices in Malayalam literature. Writers from Kozhikode have captured emotions, social realities, politics and cultural values in ways that still resonate today. Their stories feel close to life, making them relevant across time, and many of these works continue to be studied in classrooms.
Kozhikode’s literary strength also comes from its long history as a centre of learning. From royal times through colonial rule and into modern India, the city grew into an important hub for printing and publishing. Early newspapers and magazines played a big role in spreading ideas, encouraging debate, and building a reading public that valued knowledge.
In 2023, this lifelong relationship with literature received international recognition when UNESCO named Kozhikode India’s first City of Literature. The honour reflected not just the city’s past, but its living culture of books, publishing, translations, and regular literary activity that keeps literature open and accessible to everyone.
Today, Kozhikode’s libraries, publishers, and reading spaces continue to welcome students, writers, teachers, and senior citizens alike. Fiction, non-fiction, academic works, and translations flow steadily from the city, ensuring that stories and ideas remain within reach. In Kozhikode, literature isn’t preserved behind glass—it is lived, shared, and carried forward every single day.
