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I
was privileged to be invited to attend the first ever Kaziranga
Literary Festival organized by the Department of Tourism,
Govt of Assam, in conjunction with the Tourism Festival,
‘Rongali’, in Guwahati on 29 and 30 January 2016. The Literary
Festival was held in collaboration with the North East Writers’
Forum (NEWF) in association with Libri d’Aqua and supported
by FREED (Force for Rural Empowerment and Economic
Development).
28 January, PM:
Dinner hosted by the Department of Tourism
for all the members of NEWF, Libri d’Aqua and FREED at Hotel
Brahmaputra Ashok, where writers, filmmakers and bureaucrats
got acquainted in an informal environment.
29 January, AM: a)
Inauguration of the Kaziranga Literary
Festival with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Chief
Secretary of Assam – Mr V.K. Pipersenia; His Excellency the Vice
Ambassador from Italy – Mr Gianluca Grandi; President of Libri
d’Aqua – Dr Vera Slopej; eminent Italian writer and filmmaker –
Mr Sergio Scapagnini; Economist and member of Libri d’Aqua –
Mr Federico Raimondi Slepoi.
AM: b)
Speeches followed by an interactive session on the
importance of Children’s Literature, moderated by the President
of NEWF, Mr Arup Kumar Dutta, author of ‘Chai Garam’.
PM:
Dinner at the historic Guwahati Club.
30 January, AM:
A panel discussion on ‘My India – A View’ held
at Cotton College.The panelists expressed their individual visions
of India most eloquently, clearly presenting our country’s many
dimensions and facets.
PM: a)
‘Book Adda’ on ‘Relevance of Thought on Non-violence’
at the venue of the ‘Rongali’ tourism festival, moderated brilliantly
by Dr Ananya Shankar Guha – Regional Director, IGNOU
Meghalaya.
PM: b)
Ferry ride to an ‘island’ on the Brahmaputra River, where
poets from the northeastern states read or recited their original
poems on Love.This session, moderated by Shrutimala Duara and
Robin Singh, was followed by a mesmerizing performance of
Indian classical music. Dinner was served on the ferry before we
returned to the mainland, singing evergreen favourites (including
an impromptu rendering of ‘Strangers in the Night’ by Signor
Scapagnini and yours truly!) and dancing to Bihu numbers, in
which the Italian guests sportingly joined in.
July 2016 31
~ Sarita Dasgupta
Impressions - Kaziranga Literary
Festival, 29 & 30 January 2016
with Dr Vera Slepoj & Sergio Scapagnini
with Senior Bureaucrats & Guests
with Tikhor, SAG Mascot
with Samir Tanti, AVLA Recipient 2012
Mitra Phukan: ‘My India - A View’
Dr Guha moderates the ‘Book Adda’
The Appreciative Audience
Love Poems by the Brahmaputra
Inaugural Session
H.E. Mr Gianluca Grandi &Writers of the Northeast
After the Inaugural Session...