Translation festival kicks off in Silchar

 FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, Jan 16: Minimalist Studios in association with Rotaract Club of Silchar and Dainik Samayik Prasanga Group of Publications organized the three day literary event, Anuvad, the first edition of translation festival in the premises of Children’ Park in Jail Road area of the town here today. Arjun Choudhury, assistant professor, Department of English, Gurucharan College, said that the event is not just meant to translate literary works from one language to another but is essentially a platform for cultural exchange. A photography exhibition was also held on the occasion.

 The event is divided into four segments comprising literature, drama, photography and film and visual art forms. It is a first of its kind initiative to have been organized in Barak Valley. Around 80 people participated on the first day of the event. Dr. Anya S Guha, renowned poet and senior faculty in IGNOU, New Delhi, delivered the third Professor Purushottam Lal Memorial Lecture. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Guha, who origilly hails from Shillong, said Professor Purushottam Lal was not just a teacher, poet or translator but an institution himself.

 Prof. Guha said Purushottam Lal devoted his life to publish works of Indian authors in English language. Lal contributed immensely in the development of Indian writing in English. Speaking about poetry of northeast India, Prof. Guha said poets from the region can be termed as romantics, in love with the hills, hamlets and valleys that they were born and brought up in. Belonging to different linguistic groups, the poets brought a new dimension to poetry. Through their works, they spoke about their tive lands, the state machinery and the rising militancy in the region.

 Prof. Guha further said they spoke about the turbulent times. He said presently, a number of poets are writing good poetry. The first thing about good poetry is anonymity, yet something which people can easily relate to. He paid his tribute to Professor Purushottam Lal. A book launch of ‘Erotext’ by Sudip Sen was also held on the occasion. Others present in the programme included Prof. Rumi qvi, faculty in Jamia Miliya Islamia University, banita Kanungo, faculty, Department of Geography, Assam University (Diphu Campus), Taimur Raza Choudhury, editor, Dainik Samayik Prasanga, Jyos Hussain Choudhury, author, Debjani Sarma as well as well-known translators V Ramaswami, Shasi Kumar and Asmita Boral.