Assam: 4th Kokrajhar Literary Festival Concludes, Fostering Global Literary Exchange

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: The 4th Kokrajhar Literary Festival, held at Bodofa Cultural Complex in Kokrajhar, under the patronization of the government of BTR, concluded today rejuvenating the poets, authors, storytellers and publishers from different parts of India and abroad. The literary festival had a positive outcome bridging each other in sharing thoughts and ideas.

The Kokrajhar Literary Festival becomes a landmark platform for the litterateurs of Bodoland and various states of India and abroad. Authors and poets of Japan, Denmark, Estonia, Korea, and different Indian cities were overwhelmed to participate in the festival and expressed their wonderful experiences with the local writers, poets, artistes, and musicians in Kokrajhar. Authors Claus Ankarson of Denmark, Miwa Sukuraki of Japan, and Sung IL Kim of South Korea, while sharing their experiences with media persons, said that they had visited similar literary programmes in different parts of India but the literary festival in Kokrajhar is something different where they have seen unique culture and traditions, rich cultural heritage, and wonderful ethnic foods of the Bodos whose hospitality was enduring. They said that they have shared their thoughts and expressions with all authors, poets, and storytellers. They also said that the successful hosting of 4th Kokrajhar Literary Festival has built a bridge among them where they got an opportunity to get together to share not only thoughts, ideas, and creativities but also love and respect among all. They hoped that they would come back to Bodoland with their creativity next year.

Noted local poets, Vergin Jecova Mashahary and Jwngsar Narzary, said that they were elated to meet the renowned authors and litterateurs from the different states of India and abroad as this platform has allowed the writers to express their inner feelings, creative thoughts, and build peace at heart. They said that literature had no jurisdiction with endless creativities and it is very important to continue to promote positive gesture, positive thinking and to create a congenial atmosphere among all human kind. They further said that the get-together of the local writers and from abroad brought broader sense and perspective among them besides giving them new experiences.

There was recitation of poems among the poets in different Indian languages along with English and all sessions were chaired by eminent academicians and writers of different communities. Besides, there were discussions of different aspects, storytelling, and showcasing of traditional dance and music of local indigenous communities.

Sharing her experience,  Dr Yutika Narzary, HoD of Botany, Bodoland University, said that the Kokrajhar Lit Fest, 2025, was an unique opportunity for her to meet esteemed Jnanpith awardees and internationally acclaimed authors, who shared insights into their literary works. “Over the course of these three days, I had the privilege of listening to thought-provoking discussions on the political turmoil faced by the Sri Lankan Tamils, the experiences of Konkani writers under the Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, the symbolic significance of Acacia trees in Japan, the Tibetan struggle, South Korean fantasy, and climate fiction, among other topics,” she said, adding that festivals like these facilitate the exchange of knowledge and give exposure to diverse perspectives from around the world.

The 4th Kokrajhar Literary Festival was also a testament for the Bodo writers and poets to learn new areas of the literary world and get connected to the world litterateurs to enrich and develop Bodo literature. The organizers of the festival conveyed their heartfelt thanks to the government of BTR for giving such a landmark opportunity to the poets and authors to get connected among each other and share their inner feelings.

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