Kokrajhar: The two-day Bodoland ArtLit Festival 2018 came to an end on Sunday with a mesmerizing cultural performance and open plenary where several distinguished dignitaries participated. The festival was organized by National Institute of Bodology, NERSWN NGO and National Foundation for India, New Delhi with support from Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan and several other individual donors at the Kokrajhar Music and Fine Arts College with the purpose to celebrate the art and literature of the region.
The festival was inaugurated by distinguished writer and public intellectual Prof. Udayon Misra, former Head of Department of English at Dibrugarh University. It was followed by painting and sculpture exhibition put up by local artists, painter and sculptors, a panel discussion on ‘Medium of Art and Culture for Social Change’ which was chaired by Dr. Anil Boro. The gathering was addressed by Prof. Janak Jhankar Narzary, former professor at the Visva Bharati University, Shanti Niketan and Dr. Jayanta Vishnu Das, a professor at Tezpur Central University.
This was followed by a multi-lingual poetry recitation where more than hundred poets recited their poems. Tagore Literary Awardee and former president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Brajendra Kumar Brahma, Janathan Tudu, Dr. Ulka Mandal, Ms. Bhagirathi Ray, Dr. Manju Pande, Sahitya Academy Awardee UG Brahma and others created a poetic atmosphere by reciting their melodious poems.
One of the highlights of the day was an impressive play performed by Lwrgi Theater Group titled Abaari, a play based on the first short story of the Bodos written by Ishan Mwchahary.
The second and final day of the Bodoland ArtLit Festival 2018 too started on a very positive note. It began with the panel discussion on an important topic ‘Contemporary Subaltern Literary Trend in India and Beyond’, chaired by Prof. Surath Narzary and the fully packed audience was addressed by Rashmi Narzary, writer-columnist and Sahitya Akademi Award winner for her story book His Share of Sky and Dr. Zothanchhingi Kyangte, who teaches English Literature at Bodoland University.
Several key participants took part in the discussion adding to the richness of the festival. This was followed by cultural exchange programme where in cultural troops from different ethnic community performed.
Also Read: Assam News