Itanagar, Nov 20: The 7th edition of the Arunachal Literature Festival (ALF), themed “Building Bridges through Literature”, was inaugurated this evening at the Dorjee Khandu Convention Centre here, marking the beginning of a three-day celebration of literature, culture and creativity. The event promises to be a vibrant confluence of regional, national and international literary voices.
Organised by the Department of Information & Public Relations in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS), this annual premier literary event has brought together renowned authors, poets, translators, storytellers, scholars, artists and readers from across India and abroad, along with aspiring writers from the state, thus providing a platform to participants from diverse literary traditions - reflecting ALF's commitment to promoting the rich literary landscape of Arunachal Pradesh, while fostering dialogue between cultures and disciplines.
Inaugurating the festival, State Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta described literature as the soul of society that preserves identity and cultural memory. Calling the festival “a celebration of imagination and the power of words,” he praised the growing participation of young and first-time writers, especially students and women. He emphasised that a society is shaped not just by development, but by the strength of its ideas and the stories it tells.
Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s rich heritage of oral traditions, folk songs, myths and legends, Gupta expressed optimism over the rise of a new generation of writers who are carrying forward ancestral narratives while embracing modern platforms. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to preserving linguistic and cultural diversity, strengthening libraries, and promoting reading habits among students.
Festival Advisor and Padma Shri awardee Mamang Dai spoke about the festival’s growth over the years and the healing power of literature, stating that “in times of crisis, literature comes to the rescue.”
Earlier, in her welcome address, Festival Nodal Officer Higio Zarngam highlighted the festival's renewed digital commitment after a six year hiatus, noting that this outreach is crucial to take literature physical boundaries, reaffirming that “literature belongs to everyone”.
The inaugural session was attended by Commissioner to the Chief Minister, Sonam Chombay, Commissioner (Planning) Ankur Garg, Secretary Industry & Skill Development Bullo Mamu, Secretary IPR Nyali Ete, and members of APLS.
Key highlights included the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, screening of the ALF promotional video, release of the books Tagin Proverbs by Er Lardik Kare and Himbitach: Tale of a Transcended Beauty by Lopa Rebi Kojum (illustrated by Tomar Tomsai Nayam), a folk dance performance by IPR staff, and an ‘In Conversation with the Author’ session featuring Sonam Chombay on his book “In Between the Blurry Lines”, moderated by senior journalist Ranju Dodum.
The three-day festival will feature sessions across three venues—Namdapha Hall, Pakke Hall and the Children’s Corner—with author interactions, poetry readings, panel discussions, storytelling, workshops and children’s activities.
International participants include Japanese author Mami Yamada, Bhutanese writer and SAARC Literature Award winner Kunzang Choden, and Maria Gil Burman, Director of Instituto Cervantes, who will speak on the role of Hispanic literature in India.