This February, Delhi is set to witness the Northeast culture and its spirit through the Brahmaputra Literature Festival organised by Adharxila Trust, an exceptional literary and cultural experience set to take place from February 6 to 8 at the New Delhi World Book Fair in Pragati Maidan.
The three-day event is part of the National Trust’s ‘Festivals of Festivals’ initiative that will showcase the literature and culture of the Northeast community, making the festivals more appealing to visitors.
Bringing together 42 speakers across 12 sessions, the programme aims to give a window into the region's rich literary history, art, and traditions that make the Northeast region unique.
The programme is curated to serve all age groups and varied interests as they include fiction and poetry to engaging discussions on children’s literature, graphic novels, music, and food. The programme promises something for every literature enthusiast. Highlights include panels such as The Others: Stories by Women and the Queer Community and The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music: Documenting Music in the Region.
Key speakers in the panel discussion include award-winning author and journalist Arup Kumar Dutta, writer, translator, columnist, and trained Shastriya Sangeet vocalist Mitra Phukan, writer and artist Parismita Singh, award winning Assamese poet and writer Rita Chowdhury, acclaimed and award-winning writer Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih, each bringing their unique perspective to the table.
The three-day festival will conclude on a musical note with a performance at The Amphitheatre, Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, by poet, singer, songwriter, and academic Maitrayee Patar, a well-known Assamese writer and a prominent figure of new-age music. Her songs will celebrate the spirit of her land and people and the beloved Brahmaputra river.
Brahmaputra Literature Festival
The Brahmaputra Literature Festival (BLF), organised by the Adharxila Trust, Assam, aims to celebrate the finest writing and culture of Assam and the Northeast region. The main aim of the festival is to establish a meaningful connection between the Northeast and the rest of India, as well as with countries across borders and the global literary and publishing communities.
Through the fest, Adharxila Trust is trying to give the Assamese as well as the greater Northeast region literature and culture the acknowledgement it deserves and establish it in the mainstream culture. The gestival will be held every February in Assam, establishing itself as an annual landmark event in the literary calendar of the state.
Rita Chowdhury, Founder & Director, of Brahmaputra Literature Festival, Adharxila Trust, Assam, says, “It has been a dream for me to organise and bring a literary festival to Assam that sets the standards in terms of curation and inclusion. In 2012, when I inaugurated my Trust - Adharxila, I had made this announcement, which saw fruition in the festival’s earlier avatar during my role as the Director of the National Book Trust and presently under the aegis of my Trust”.
“Giving a platform to established and new voices, it will showcase the best that our state, region and country has to offer while building bridges within the country and internationally; through literature, writing, dialogue and sharing of perspectives,” she explains.
Brahmaputra Literature Festival is not just a festival, it is a celebration of the Northeast region's spirit and a ground to bridge the gap with the hinterland. For those eager to experience the heart of the reason that is often represented, these three festivals, rich with literary itinerary can be an experience not to be missed.