Dibrugarh: The much-anticipated second edition of Assam’s Dibrugarh University Literature Festival (DU Litfest) began on Wednesday, drawing writers from around the world.
The four-day event, which brings together novelists, poets, essayists, critics, and travelogue writers, features participants from over 25 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The festival, which is a joint initiative between the Foundation for Culture, Arts & Literature (FOCAL) and Dibrugarh University, is a first-of-its-kind gathering in eastern Assam.
Around 120 esteemed authors and literary figures are expected to share their experiences, discuss ideas, and engage in enriching discussions during the event.
At the inaugural ceremony held at Rang Ghar auditorium, 84-year-old explorer-writer Tete-Michel Kpomassie captivated the audience with his life story.
Kpomassie, who hails from Togo, West Africa, recounted his eight-year journey to Greenland, sharing how he worked across multiple European countries before ultimately reaching his destination.
His adventure, which included living with indigenous Greenlandic people, was documented in his book An African in Greenland.
Kpomassie also highlighted the importance of understanding local cultural contexts, sharing his own misunderstanding of the term “igloo,” which in Greenlandic simply means house, not an ice structure as he had assumed.
In his welcome address, Dibrugarh University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jatin Hazarika expressed his gratitude to FOCAL and its trustees for their efforts in organizing the event.
He also acknowledged the festival’s timely occurrence during the university’s diamond jubilee celebrations, aligning with the spirit of the National Education Policy 2022, which emphasizes art and culture.
Prof. Hazarika further shared that the university had received the prestigious Multidisciplinary Education and Research University (MERU) recognition under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).
Sahitya Akademi Award winner and former Dibrugarh University professor Dr. Nagen Saikia discussed the importance of understanding the fleeting nature of human life.
Drawing from Samuel Beckett’s iconic play Waiting for Godot, Dr. Saikia explored how God remains an invisible figure in many religions while stressing the enduring nature of the human spirit amid material change.
FOCAL trustee and former bureaucrat VB Pyarelal encouraged the students and scholars present to make the most of the festival’s numerous sessions.
He emphasised the opportunity for intellectual growth provided by the more than 50 literary discussions scheduled throughout the event.
Notable figures such as renowned filmmaker Jahnu Baruah, eminent writer Dhruba Hazarika, festival chief coordinator Rahul Jain, and university Registrar Paramananda Sonowal were also present at the inauguration.
The day’s proceedings included seven engaging literary sessions held at five different venues.
One of the highlights was a session titled “It’s Time for Africa: Perspectives on the Continent, People, and Literature” held at Rang Ghar auditorium. With Africa as the central theme of this year’s festival, several writers from African nations are participating in various sessions.
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In celebration of the African theme, a documentary created by Dibrugarh University students and faculty showcased various aspects of the continent, from its rich cultural heritage to its technological advancements.
The opening ceremony concluded with a vibrant cultural performance by African students from the university, leaving the audience enthralled.
The festival promises to be an exciting and thought-provoking event, offering a platform for intellectual exchange and cross-cultural dialogue among global literary voices.
