GUWAHATI, NOV 15: The third Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival (PLF) 2025 commenced on Friday (14 November 2025) at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra premises, marking the beginning of a literary journey themed ‘In Search of Roots’.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session, internationally acclaimed author Shefali Baidya appreciated the festival’s evolving trajectory and its mission to reconnect younger generations with their cultural and intellectual heritage. Opening her remarks in Assamese, she invoked the timeless songs of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, highlighting the linguistic and cultural richness of the far-eastern region of Bharat.
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Distinguished litterateur Nanda Singh Barkola, who attended as the chief guest, spoke about India’s growing global stature while painting a vivid portrait of the nation’s cultural heritage. Reflecting the festival’s theme, he referred to Bhupen-da’s iconic song ‘Karbi Anglong Oti Numoliya’, encouraging a return to pre-Sankari traditions to rediscover forgotten literary roots. The session was also addressed by Lt. General (Retd.) Rana Pratap Kalita, chairman of the organizing body—Sankardev Education and Research Foundation—and PLF president Phanindra Kumar Dev Choudhury.
The festival’s first panel discussion, titled ‘Transformation and Expansion of Assamese Lyric Literature: From the Nineties to the Present Era’, was moderated by lyricist and composer Gautam Sharma, with cultural personalities Tarun Kalita, Diganta Bharati, and Ibason Lal Baruah as panelists. They expressed cautious optimism about the future of Assamese as a living language.
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The first day of the three-day Litfest concluded with a vibrant poetry recital featuring 14 emerging and established poets presenting their self-composed works. A special highlight of the inaugural function was the release of the festival’s official magazine, ‘Pragjyoti’. Earlier in the day, attendees paid floral tributes to Assam’s cultural icons—Sudhakantha Bhupen Hazarika, Pranar Shilpi Zubeen Garg, and flute maestro Deepak Sharma.
(Nava Thakuria is a senior Indian journalist who contributes to various media outlets including print and digital platforms of India and across the world.)
