The Guwahati Literature Festival (GLF) 2026 concluded on October 10 at The Belasian, NRB City Mall, Six Mile, Guwahati, bringing together writers, artists, academics and social workers for discussions on literature, technology, cultural heritage and social responsibility.
Chief guest Dr Kuladhar Saikia, writer and former Assam Director General of Police, highlighted the importance of storytelling in preserving human experiences, emotions and culture across generations.
Expressing concern over the future of Assamese in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), Saikia called for collective efforts to strengthen the language’s digital resources. He said the absence of Assamese words and expressions from online repositories could affect how AI systems recognise and use the language. He also suggested introducing incentives to encourage reading and called for the festival to expand in the coming years.
Writer Mayur Bora, in his inaugural address, spoke about the role of literature and art in capturing human experiences. Referring to the floods in Sivasagar and Charaideo, he stressed the need to connect literary and cultural discussions with pressing social concerns.
The festival honoured Padma Shri Rongbong Terang with the Dhrupadi Asomiya Bhasha Award 2026. Sculptor and painter Biren Singha received the GLF Ghanashyam Khanikar Kalaratna Award 2026, while writer Sibani Borah was presented with the GLF Nathan Brown Literature Award 2026. The GLF Dadhichi Award 2026 was conferred collectively on Assam’s teaching community for its contribution to education and society.
A panel discussion titled ‘Literature, Creativity and AI’ explored human creativity, the future of literature and the position of Assamese in the digital world. Writer and critic Arindam Borkataki, publisher Raktim Thakuria and Aakhor AI co-founder Kabyanil Talukdar participated in the discussion, moderated by writer and journalist Nasreen Habib.
Another key session, ‘Post-Flood Sivasagar and Charaideo-What’s Next?’, examined long-term rehabilitation, education, mental health support, livelihood restoration and community participation in flood-affected areas. Speakers emphasised that recovery efforts must extend beyond immediate relief to planned, sustained rehabilitation.
Students of Gyanjyoti Academy Higher Secondary School, Sivasagar, performed Watermark, a play based on the Assam floods. Adrika Priyam Borah, popularly known as Nupur, also presented a musical performance.
Several individuals and institutions were felicitated for their contributions to literature, art, culture, journalism, education, environmental conservation and the preservation of indigenous heritage and oral traditions.
The festival concluded by bringing together literary and cultural discussions with contemporary concerns, including technological change and the long-term recovery of flood-affected communities.
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