Book sniffing can be new alternative for Dendrite: Poet at Dibrugarh University Lit Fest

A CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH:  Books and Dendrite! Can they be alternatives to each other? Apparently no, but such a comparison was drawn at the international literary festival underway at Dibrugarh University in Upper Assam.

The topic of discussion was 'Flip side of Amazon: Small book shops, big vision' where writers and publishers expressed the declining reading habits of people and the impact of online book sales on traditional bookstores.

Aizawl-based book cafe owner Vanlalruata Ralte said that independent booksellers like him are not solely business-oriented like Amazon but are 'passionate about books.' "The fire to keep my bookstore running continues to burn in my heart," he said. He lamented that 'customers' often visit the shop, take selfies with books and return empty handed!

Once, he said that, a young man was going around the bookshelves and stealthily sniffing the books for hours! It was shocking for Ralte, as he had never witnessed such a thing. The incident amused the panel of writers and publishers as well. Then came a weird, yet thought provoking suggestion from Shillong-based eminent poet Robin Ngangom, who was sitting in the audience.

"Book sniffing can be a new alternative to Dendrite," said Ngangom, also a Professor in North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. Ngangom's comment also passed across the message as to how deeply the society has been impacted by the problem of substance abuse.

Earlier, participating in the session, Imphal-based bookseller Martin Thokchom told his story of how he still remains hopeful amid the multiple crises such as COVID-19 and Manipur conflicts. He said that the recent violence prompted an entire community to leave his town, reducing the number of buyers. He urged readers to set aside the conflict and come together through reading.

Making his point, Pradipta Sankar Hazarika, Managing Director of Dibrugarh-based leading publishing house Baani Mandir, said, "I believe buying books from a store is an emotion; it allows us to experience the freshness of books first hand." However, he admitted that his bookstore primarily survives on study-oriented books and the occasional sales at book fairs.

Over 120 writers from around 25 countries are participating in the four-day Dibrugarh University International Literary Festival which kicked off on February 5. Africa being the festival theme, several writers from African nations are participating in the over 50 literary sessions scheduled in the four-day literary extravaganza. Noted poet and Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh is also scheduled to take part in a session titled 'Poetic Echoes of the North East' on Saturday.

The festival, started last year in a joint effort between Foundation for Culture, Arts & Literature (FOCAL) and Dibrugarh University, is the first-of-its-kind convergence of global authors in eastern Assam.

Also Read: Dhubri: 70-Year-Old Businessman Sita Ram Agarwala Missing Since 2015, Still Untraced

Also Watch: