Fourth Shillong Literary Festival kicks off at Ward’s Lake
Shillong, Nov 18: In what can be a move to shift the state’s economy more towards tourism, the state government has decided to invest a whooping ₹4,000 crore to develop tourism infrastructure, including hotels, homestays, and other amenities.
Chief minister Conrad K Sangma made the announcement which inaugurating fourth edition of the Shillong Literary Festival attended by prominent literary figures Shobhaa De and Vikram Seth among others, at Ward’s Lake, Shillong on Monday.
Referring to holding the recently-concluded Cherry Blossom Festival and more in que, the chief minister said, “These festivals are investments in our people, uplifting them in various ways, particularly through tourism.”
The primary goals of the literary festival are to provide a platform for Meghalaya’s writers to showcase their talent, foster collaboration with authors from across the country and the world, and inspire young people to embrace the art of reading and writing.
“We have encouraged schools to participate, as this can spark curiosity among students and nurture their creative potential,” Sangma added.
Exphasising the government’s efforts to address youth-related challenges through initiatives like the literary festival, he said, “Meghalaya has a younger population compared to the rest of the country. We are working to ensure that reading and writing become integral to youth development activities.”
He also highlighted the significance of literature as a medium for documenting and researching the state’s rich cultural heritage.
He discussed the CM’s Scholars Program, which supports 50 research scholars in documenting various aspects of Meghalaya’s culture and society.
