Tezpur Literature Festival kicks off in Tezpur

CORRESPONDENT

TEZPUR: The first ever festival of words at Tezpur, Tezpur LitFest' 22 kicked off on Friday with a three-day colourful programme at NERIWALM campus with participation of renowned authors from the State and outside,

The programme was inaugurated with the lighting of lamp by former president of Axam Xahitya Xabha, Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora. After the welcome address by Deba Kumar Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur and chairman of the organizing committee and chief guest of the programme, Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora delivered his inaugural address.

In his address, Dr Bora said that Litfest was very essential to connect the younger generation with the authors. Writers must try to gather the ideas since ideas are a must for a writer at the very outset of starting his journey. During his speech, he elaborated the story behind his novelette 'China Juddhor Malita'. Madhurjya Baruah, Chief General Manager, OIL, urged all to work for upgrading the Tezpur Litfest upto the national and international level in his speech.

Pramod Kalita, secretary of the Assam Publication Board, also addressed the gathering. Professor Ramesh Chandra Deka, Vice Chancellor, Cotton University attending the programme as keynote speaker amidst his thought-provoking speech spoke about the works on preservation of Sanchipat and the first Ph.D holder of the state, Radhikaram Dhekial Phookan.

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion entitled 'Challenging Confirmation Bias: Blurring Boundaries' where renowned author Mitra Phukan, Mamang Dai, Dhruba Hazarika and Ankush Saikia were present and shared their views. The first day's programme concluded with Zarir Hussain's 'In Conversation' with Rajat Kapoor'.

The second day's programme includes Heritage Tour of Tezpur, interactive keynote session with Dr Anuradha Sarma Pujari, panel discussion on 'Directions of Contemporary Axomiya Writings: Samprotik Axomiya Xahityar Gatipath'. Eminent authors Yeshe Dorje Thongchi, Arindam Borkotoky, Nang Ajanta Buragohain and Dr Mausumi Borkotoky will take part in the discussion to be moderated by Dr Sanjeev Pol Deka, said Joyshree Bhuyan, executive chairperson of the organizing committee. She also said that there will be a 'Meet the Author(s)' programme thereafter with popular writer Sarmistha Pritam, and 'Plenary Session' with participation of author Mamang Dai.

In the 'Meet the Author' and book launch programme, Mitra Phukan will take part as author along with Yeshe Dorje Thongchi as chief guest and Himen Sarma and Bhupen Saikia as guests of honour. A panel discussion on the subject 'Literature in Times of Crisis' will take place thereafter. Renowned authors, including Dhruba Hazarika, Mitra Phukan, Janice Pariat and Antar Atreya will participate in the programme which will be moderated by Dr Hemjyoti Medhi. The second day's programme will conclude with 'Laugh Lines with Pankaj Thapa: Contemporary Times Through Cartoons'.

The concluding day's programme on December 11 will start with an interactive session on creative writing with Janice Pariat and a panel discussion on 'What Do We Read?' with participation of school students from various schools of Tezpur.

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