Shillong: The scenic Ward’s Lake became the focal point of excitement this morning as the 4th edition of the Shillong Literary Fest commenced with notable authors Vikram Seth, Shobhaa De, Jerry Pinto, and Kynpham S Nongkynrh, among others, gracing the event.
The three-day festival began at 10:30 AM and was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. Sangma emphasized that the event aligns with the government’s commitment to providing platforms for the youth to engage in their passions.
Speaking at the festival, Vikram Seth, author of A Suitable Boy, shared his recent travels across all six northeastern states, stating that skipping Meghalaya was not an option for him.
“Shillong is called the Scotland of the East, but I think this does not do it justice, especially with the cherry blossoms in bloom. It should be called the Kyoto of the West instead. It’s just wonderful to be here,” Seth said, praising the region’s beauty.
Seth also expressed amazement at the Khasi monoliths he visited the day before, noting that their global obscurity was regrettable.
“I have never seen anything like them, not even Stonehenge. It’s astonishing that they are not world-famous. It’s embarrassing that people in mainland India don’t know about many of these sites in Meghalaya and the other northeastern states,” Seth remarked.
D. Vijay Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Tourism Department, described the festival as a space to read, listen, and exchange ideas. He thanked the Chief Minister for his commitment to ensuring the festival’s continuity, expressing hope that it would gain greater prominence and become a significant platform for literary work nationally and internationally.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, guest of honor, highlighted the importance of such events for nurturing talent.
“There may be talent, but without forums like these, many young people might not receive the support needed to pursue their passions. This festival will provide the platform for them to explore and build upon their interests,” Lyngdoh stated.
Chief Guest Conrad Sangma acknowledged the efforts of the team that has worked behind the scenes over the past four years to establish and sustain the Shillong Literary Fest.
“We have worked tirelessly to make this a calendar event not just for the state but one that could potentially reach the national and international level. When we started, we never expected to shape it into the festival we see today. This achievement is due to the hard work of everyone involved. This is just the beginning, and we plan to make it much larger in the coming years,” said Sangma.
The Chief Minister further emphasized that the Shillong Literary Fest provides a platform for emerging writers.
“For years, many people with talent and interest lacked a platform. We hope this festival encourages writers from across the world, the country, and our own state to come forward and share their thoughts, ideas, and passions. The goal is to foster interest among students and youth, developing a reading and writing culture. This practice should start early and become an essential part of what we aim to achieve as a state,” he added.
Sangma noted that Meghalaya has a youthful population and stressed the importance of investing in their development.
“We want our young people to pursue their passions in any field they are keen on. This festival is part of a broader initiative by our government, and we will continue to invest heavily in the youth in the coming days,” the CM said.
The Chief Minister also pointed out the need for better documentation of local history.
“There is a lack of support and interest in documenting our history. We hope this festival will inspire our youth to research and document their heritage. This initiative is part of a broader scholarship program, under which we are supporting 50 research fellows. We will increase funding for these research programs in the near future,” Sangma stated.
The opening ceremony of the Shillong Literary Fest attracted a large crowd of students, readers, writers, and literary enthusiasts who gathered to immerse themselves in the festival’s vibrant atmosphere.
Also Read: Mizoram: Student body urges centre to relocate Mizoram’s quota seats amid Manipur violence