A CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH: The Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival (DUILF) concluded its second edition today, marking a significant milestone in Northeast India’s literary landscape by bringing together around 120 distinguished authors from 23 countries at the university located in the easternmost part of the country.
Addressing the concluding event, which had Africa as a central theme, Guinea-Bisauan author Abdulai Sila said, “We have special feelings about Indians. There are Indians everywhere in Africa. Referring to the commonalities between Indians and Africans, Sila said he felt particularly happy about the students of Dibrugarh University learning more about Africa through the sessions.
He also appreciated the students and faculty of the university for their enthusiastic participation in the 50 sessions held in the four-day festival jointly organised by Foundation of Culture, Arts and Literature (FOCAL) and Dibrugarh University.
In her address, UK author Ann Morgan, who also featured in the festival’s first edition last year, said that she was enlightened to come back to the university this year again. She termed the festival as ‘truly international’ due to active involvement of the students of Dibrugarh University in such intellectual exercise. Referring to the wide representation of authors at the festival she said, “Such level-playing field is rarely seen in some so-called international literary festivals.”
FOCAL trustee Kalyan Chakravarty, also a Principal Secretary to Government of Assam, said, “Perhaps it’s the only university hosting a literature festival at this scale.” Appreciating the university students for enlivening the sessions with their presence and interaction, the senior bureaucrat also mentioned that the Assam Government has declared 2025 as a Year of Reading and has been supporting various libraries as part of the initiative. “FOCAL will remain committed to take this movement further,” he said.
In his address, Prof Surajit Borkotokey of the university said that the university has left no stone unturned in making the festival a success and taking utmost care of the guests. He also pointed out the inclusive nature of the university having as many as 40 international students, most from African nations.
FOCAL trustees, including Chakravarthy, Padma Bhushan awardee filmmaker Jahnu Baruah, retired IAS officer VB Pyarelal, noted author Dhruba Hazarika, Dibrugarh University Registrar Paramananda Sonowal, and FOCAL trustee and festival chief coordinator Rahul Jain felicitated the author delegates at the function.
An exhilarating performance of Sattriya dance by noted dancer Usharani Baishya left the audience spellbound at the function. Another couple of enlivening performances of fusion music by students of Dibrugarh University and African students studying in the university, and a Bihu performance marked the end of the festival.
Earlier, the final day crystallized the festival’s theme of ‘Bridging Worlds Through Words’ with critical discussions on translation, security, and creative expression. In a groundbreaking session, Turkish diplomat-author Firat Sunel and Uzbek writer Hamid Ismailov engaged with South African novelist Shubnum Khan in ‘The Angst of Writers Across Continents,’ addressing the intersection of literature with political upheaval and cultural displacement. In the festival’s culminating session ‘Shyam Benegal: A Tribute,’ International acclaimed Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua, in conversation with Vivek Menezes and Arjun Sengupta, provided rare insights into how regional storytelling has evolved from written words to visual narratives.
A pioneering panel featuring former police chiefs Jayanto Narayan Choudhury and Meeran Chadha Borwankar explored the delicate balance between security narratives and creative freedom, drawing parallels between law enforcement experiences and literary expression. The session attracted significant attention from policy researchers and creative writers alike.
The festival broke new ground with its ‘Military Literature’ focus, featuring Lt Gen (Retd) Konsam Himalay Singh and Lt Gen (Retd) Rana Pratap Kalita, providing unprecedented insights into leadership and conflict through a literary lens. Their sessions drew over 2,000 attendees, including defence personnel and civilians.
Distinguished linguist Gaston Dorren’s analysis of endangered languages and their literary heritage, alongside Assamese literary giant Kuladhar Saikia, highlighted the urgent need for preserving linguistic diversity through literature. This session resulted in the announcement of a new translation initiative for endangered languages of Northeast India.
“DUILF 2025 has exceeded expectations in fostering literary dialogue between Northeast India and the global community,” said Jiten Hazarika, Vice-Chancellor of Dibrugarh University. The success of DUILF 2025 has not only put Dibrugarh University on the global literary map but also created a sustainable model for promoting regional literature while fostering international culture exchange.
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