The third edition of the Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival (PLF) 2025 concluded on 16 November with two Assamese writers being felicitated at the valedictory function held at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati. PLF president Phanindra Kumar Dev Choudhury, chief guest Dr Apurba Kumar Saikia and a large gathering of authors, critics, journalists and literature enthusiasts were present. The annual festival, which began on 14 November, set out on a literary exploration with the mission of reconnecting Assam’s younger generation with the region’s rich literary heritage.
Tiwa scholar, researcher and essayist Maneswar Dewri, along with emerging short-story writer Srotashwini Tamuli, received the PLF Awards 2025. Dewri, who has contributed to Assamese literature as well as cultural and historical research for several decades, expressed gratitude for the recognition. Reflecting on his work on the Tiwa community’s identity amidst significant challenges, he noted that many of his publications document events from western Assam which may aid scholars and historians in writing a comprehensive history of the region. Srotashwini, the author of the Assamese story collection Jalkhar and a research scholar at Birangana Sati Sadhani State University, said the award at an early stage of her literary career had strengthened her sense of responsibility towards creative writing.
Addressing the closing session, Sahitya Akademi awardee Dr Saikia appreciated the three-day festival’s theme, In Search of Roots, which highlighted the history, culture and languages of the land once known as Pragjyotishpur (later the Kamrup kingdom, whose capital was located in present-day Guwahati). He expressed satisfaction that the festival generated enthusiasm among budding writers, translators, journalists, theatre and film professionals, and literature lovers. He hoped the PLF would soon emerge as a major literary festival in India.
An analytical discussion titled The Creative World of Novelist Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya: An Exploratory Journey, featuring Akademi award-winning writer Anuradha Sarma Pujari, storyteller Pranjal Sharma Basishtha, researcher Smritirekha Bhuyan and media columnist Rupam Barua, offered insights into the works of the Gyanpeeth awardee, considered among India’s finest novelists.
Another significant session featured a discussion on nature literature led by conservationist writer Soumyadeep Dutta, who explained how writing on nature can help nurture society. A keen admirer of Gautam Buddha’s teachings, Dutta distinguished between Western green writing—largely human-centric—and the nature literature of Bharat, which embraces all living beings.
A reflective discussion on Assamese translated literature brought together Akademi (translation) awardees Bipul Deuri and Diganta Biswa Sarma, along with writer-translator Dr Nayanjyoti Sharma. Speaking at the session Transcending Language Boundaries: The Triumphant Journey of Assamese Translated Literature, Biswa Sarma observed that an honest translation is increasingly regarded as an original literary creation. He stressed that Sanskrit, though not widely spoken, must be preserved so that Indian regional languages continue to be enriched. Nayanjyoti discussed the challenges and opportunities in translating Assamese works into other languages and vice versa.
The festival opened with an address by distinguished litterateur Nanda Singh Barkola, who spoke about India’s rising global stature while highlighting its rich cultural heritage. Aligning with the festival’s theme, Barkola—also a senior police officer—referred to Bhupen Hazarika’s iconic song Karbi Anglong Oti Numoliya… and encouraged a return to pre-Sankari traditions to rediscover forgotten literary roots. Internationally acclaimed author Shefali Vaidya, delivering the keynote address and opening in Asomiya, praised the festival’s efforts to reconnect younger generations with their cultural and intellectual inheritance. She invoked Bhupen Hazarika’s timeless songs to underscore the linguistic and cultural richness of the region.
Chairman of the organising committee (Sankardeva Education and Research Foundation) Lt Gen (Retd) Rana Pratap Kalita and Pragjyotishpur University vice-chancellor Smriti Kumar Sinha were also present. Highlights of the inaugural day included the release of the souvenir Pragjyoti, edited by Hemchandra Doley, and floral tributes to three Assamese cultural icons—Sudhakantha Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Pranar Shilpi Zubeen Garg and flute maestro Deepak Sharma.
The second day featured four engaging sessions, including an interaction with actor and playwright Prithwiraj Rabha, who discussed the life, philosophy and struggles of his father, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha. In a reflective session moderated by writer-technocrat Nayanjyoti Bhattacharyya, legislator Rabha traced his father’s extraordinary journey from a brilliant student to a revered artist and revolutionary thinker. He said Kalaguru dedicated his life to three masters—Sri Krishna, Srimanta Sankardeva and Leonardo da Vinci—while recounting stories from his father’s personal, artistic and ideological world.
A panel discussion on Assamese Language, Literature and Journalism: Growth and Expansion drew the attention of young journalists. Veteran scribes Dilip Chandan, Bedabrata Dev Mishra, Nava Thakuria and Bidyut Kumar Bhuyan highlighted the challenges facing print journalism. They agreed that traditional journalism, while nurturing the native language, may regain readership as audiences experience digital fatigue with electronic and online media.
In another session on Evolution of Assamese Performing Arts: From Ankiya Bhawana to Bhramyman, cultural personalities Kripal Kalita, Pakija Begum, Pankaj Jyoti Bhuyan and Hillal Kumar Pathak discussed the challenges and potential of Assamese theatre. They acknowledged the contributions of mobile theatre groups and noted that Assamese theatre is yet to establish a distinct tradition of its own.
The festival’s first panel discussion, Transformation and Evolution of Assamese Lyric Literature: From the Nineties to the Present Era, moderated by lyricist and composer Gautam Sharma, featured Tarun Kalita, Diganta Bharati and Ibason Lal Baruah. They offered cautious optimism about the future of the Assamese language, supported by vibrant literary activity. Two multilingual Kavya Kaveri poetry sessions saw poets perform their own works in various languages. PLF general secretary Bikram Kalita, along with Kishor Shivam, Hirakjyoti Sarma, Pramod Kalita and Bhaskarjyoti Sarma, thanked all participants for their contributions to a festival marked by lively discussions and a strong presence of authors, translators, artists, critics and literature lovers.
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The writer is a senior journalist based in Assam
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