Rich in culture, music, and lush greenery, Shillong is always awake even in silence. Held at Ward’s Lake in Shillong, Meghalaya, the third edition of the Shillong Literary Festival last month brimmed over with poignant discussions over culture, language, and more. There was something for every visitor, from local cuisine stalls, and Meghalaya’s handicrafts to poetry. It was a culture hub that saw an eclectic mix of authors and speakers coming together to launch their books and share some interesting anecdotes on the rich cultural heritage of the state.
The event had more than 30 sessions with over 70 authors, speakers and poets who covered a wide range of topics, starting from storytelling, book launches, photography, journalism, folk traditions, poetry and much more. The list of speakers included Naveen Kishore (director and author), Jeyamohan (Indian writer and literary critic), Janice Pariat (author and poet), Sam Miller, Ambar Chatterjee, Kevin Johnson; Ambarish Satwik, Kyntiewbor War, among others.
The festival was inaugurated by Meghalaya’s tourism minister, Paul Lyngdoh and commissioner and secretary Vijay Kumar D. Chief minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma attended the event’s closing day. “This is the third edition of the lit fest. The programme was started off on a small scale and it took time to figure out how to make it a calendar fest in the coming years. Through the years we’re seeing it grow each year.
Author Sam Miller in conversation with poet Janice Pariat in a session titled 'Migrants: The Story of us All' after the former's latest book. The author explores how migration is an age-old concept and instrumental in shaping society. How humans are innately migratory beings like land mammals, and how permanent settlements and houses are a very recent development. Controversial and important at the same time, the book and the author challenge a lot of existing concepts of society and how often immigrants and migrants are treated.
(L-R) Chief minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma and tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh at the closing ceremony
Critically acclaimed Tamil and Malayalam language writer Jeyamohan spoke to Ramkumar about his book The Abyss or Ezhaam Ulagam. A book with 287 pages completed in seven days, penned down from deep anguish. It deep-dives into Hindu mythology and according to the book, there are seven underworlds. The story about a begging cartel is a heart-wrenching one. He reflected on class disparity and the existing societal disbalance at the session. “I don’t read any of the translations of my books,” he said. “But I feel I opt for the translations so that the message I have for people reaches everyone universally,” he added. When Ramkumar asked Jeyamohan about the mention of a beggar’s relationship with a dog he, said, “A dog is the only permanent companion to a lonely person. They need their unconditional love and need a companion through their journey.