Pragjyotishpur Festival Celebrates Assam’s Literary Roots and Cultural Depth
The Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival 2025 recently concluded with a celebration of Assam’s rich literary and cultural heritage. Organised by the Sankardeva Education and Research Foundation, the event centred on the theme In Search of Roots, aiming to bridge contemporary creativity with the ancient legacy of Pragjyotishpur. The festival brought together writers, researchers, and thinkers to explore Assamese identity through literature, theatre, and translation.
The festival opened with an inaugural address by noted litterateur Nanda Singh Barkola. He encouraged attendees to delve into pre-Sankari traditions, arguing that these early influences remain vital to understanding Assamese culture today.
Internationally acclaimed author Shefali Vaidya delivered the keynote, weaving references to Bhupen Hazarika’s music into her discussion. She highlighted how the region’s linguistic and cultural distinctiveness continues to shape India’s eastern frontier.
Several sessions examined Assamese literature’s evolution. One panel traced the transformation of lyric poetry from the 1990s to the present, noting its resilience amid globalisation and digital change. Another explored the success of Assamese translated works, stressing the need for translations that remain faithful to the original while fostering cross-cultural dialogue. A third discussion mapped the journey of Assamese theatre, from the ritualistic Ankiya Bhawana to the travelling Bhramyaman tradition.
Nature writing also took centre stage, with Soumyadeep Dutta distinguishing between Western environmental literature and Bharatiya perspectives on nature. His talk expanded the festival’s exploration of how regional traditions interpret the natural world.
At the valedictory ceremony, two figures were honoured for their contributions. Tiwa researcher and cultural chronicler Maneswar Dewri received the PLF-25 award for his decades-long work documenting the Tiwa community. Meanwhile, emerging short-story writer Srotashwini Tamuli was recognised for her promising literary voice.
The festival reinforced the enduring connection between Assam’s literary present and its ancient roots. By spotlighting translation, theatre, and nature writing, it underscored the region’s cultural depth. The awards for Dewri and Tamuli further highlighted the event’s commitment to preserving tradition while nurturing new talent.
