Meghalaya: Literary luminaries shine at Shillong Lit Fest as crowd surges past 6,000 on Day 2

The picturesque Ward’s Lake in Shillong came alive as the second day of the three-day Shillong Literary Festival drew an even larger crowd than its opening day. With over 6,000 attendees—surpassing the first day’s 3,500—the festival thrived on Tuesday, a day when Ward’s Lake is typically closed to the public, underscoring the event's magnetic appeal.

The day commenced with an invigorating panel on the interplay between culture, heritage, and literature, featuring notable writers Sanjoy Hazarika, Ankush Saikia, Ramona Sangma, Hannah Lalhlanpui, and Dr. Madeline Y Tham. The discussion also spotlighted the Meghalaya Listing Document, a milestone project led by The Meghalayan Age Limited (MAL) in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). This 650-page catalog, an unprecedented endeavor, encapsulates the tangible and intangible heritage of Meghalaya, emphasizing Shillong's unique cultural essence.

Unveiled by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on the festival's opening day, the document marks the state’s dedication to safeguarding its heritage. Ramona Sangma highlighted the inclusion of 20 culturally significant sites in the Garo Hills, such as the Mission Hospital and the DC’s residence in West Garo Hills. In total, more than 300 heritage structures across the state have been documented.

The next session featured Ram Kumar, secretary of health and family welfare, and author Anita Agnihotri, who presented her book A Touch of Salt. This poignant work explores the often-overlooked narrative of the Agariyas, salt pan laborers in the Rann of Kutch who endure harsh conditions without basic amenities for their families.

A compelling conversation on literary translations followed, involving Yeshe Dorjee Thangchi, an esteemed Arunachali writer who authors primarily in Assamese, and Dr. Moushami Kandali, with Dr. Moushumi Chakraborty moderating. Thangchi delved into his choice of Assamese for his writing, tracing Arunachal Pradesh’s historical and cultural bonds with Assam. Kandali shared insights into her collection The Black Magic Woman, which has gained traction through translations in national and international languages.

Discussions on indigenous narratives took center stage with contributions from Bikash Roy Debbarma, Anil Kr Boro, and Basan Marak, facilitated by Dr. Streamlet Dkhar. Budding poet Avner Pariat later launched his new collection of poems and spoke with Sasanbha Lytan on the significance of choosing Khasi over English for his work, emphasizing the importance of nurturing one's native language.

Authors Abie Alexander and Dr. Benedict Hynniewta introduced their book, The Chicken Who Flew into Canada, in a conversation with Saloni Verma. This was followed by a session dedicated to poetry, where poets Madhu Raghavendra and Nabina Das shared their creative journeys with Dr. Lalnunsanga Ralte while reciting passages from their works.

The day concluded with the festival’s most anticipated session: a dialogue between renowned writer Shobhaa De and Patricia Mukhim, editor of The Shillong Times, moderated by Shahana Chaterjee. Their reflections on post-Independence life captivated the audience, eliciting applause as they recounted personal stories and addressed themes of women empowerment. De expressed her gratitude, calling the Shillong Literary Fest “the prettiest lit fest in the entire world.”