What makes a great teacher — knowledge, ideas or the ability to tell a compelling story? Speaking to The New Indian Express on the sidelines of the Odisha Literature Festival 2026, Rishikar Krishnan, Vice President – Corporate Marketing & Brand, Aditya Birla Group, reflects on Day 1 of OLF and its connection with Teachers’ Day. Describing a day filled with writers, thinkers and speakers, Krishnan says some of the best teachers are actually storytellers.
He also shares the session that stayed with him the most — the inaugural session featuring Odisha Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. From the Governor’s way of thinking and speaking to his ability to connect different ideas, Krishnan calls the session engaging, informative and eye-opening. As OLF 2026 moves into Day 2, hear Rishikar Krishnan’s reflections on the festival, storytelling and the ideas that stayed with him. Watch the full video for more from OLF 2026.