Shillong, Nov 12: Booker Prize-winning author Kiran Desai has described her interaction with readers in Shillong as particularly meaningful, saying the Northeast’s hills, mountains and forests offered immense creative inspiration for writers and artists.
Speaking on the sidelines of the sixth Shillong Literary Festival, Desai, author of “The Inheritance of Loss” and “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny”, said she felt a strong connection with the region’s landscape and was keen to learn more about its literary traditions.
Describing herself as an eager student of the region’s literature, she also highlighted the importance of literary festivals in bringing indigenous writing to wider audiences and creating opportunities for meaningful human connections.
She said book festivals reminded readers that engaging with literature was not merely a solitary pursuit but also an opportunity to become part of a larger community.
Reflecting on the enduring relevance of fiction, Desai said literature could explore personal experiences and emotions that journalism could not always capture.
“Journalism cannot express, but fiction can,” she said, explaining that fiction could challenge journalistic accounts, national narratives and historical interpretations by bringing individual experiences into focus.
She added that fiction could enter private spaces that journalism could not reach, including how people across cultures understand love, death and other spiritual aspects of life.
While keeping her next literary project under wraps, Desai acknowledged the creative possibilities offered by the Northeast’s landscape.
‘Steadily grown in 6 years’
While inaugurating the festival on Thursday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said it has steadily grown into a platform for literature, creativity and cultural exchange.
Sangma said it was encouraging to see how far the festival had come since its inception six years ago.
What began as an idea amid uncertainties has evolved into an important platform celebrating literature, creativity and new ideas, he said.
He said the festival was part of a larger vision to provide young people with opportunities to discover their talents, express themselves and interact with creative minds from across the world.
The Chief Minister expressed hope the festival would reach more cities and eventually gain a presence on international platforms.
He also wished the authors, artists, organisers and participants success, saying the event should continue to inspire young people and nurture a lasting interest in literature and creativity.
First organised in November 2021, the Shillong Literary Festival was conceived as part of the Meghalaya government’s efforts to promote literature, arts, culture and creative expression.
Sangma inaugurated the inaugural edition on November 25, 2021, at Ward’s Lake in the presence of Japan’s Ambassador to India, Satoshi Suzuki.
Since its launch, the festival has sought to bring together writers, poets, journalists, publishers and readers from the Northeast and other parts of the country, while encouraging a reading and writing culture among young people.
Ward’s Lake has remained the festival’s principal venue, with the event expanding over the years to include author interactions, literary discussions, book launches, poetry readings, theatre, music and live art.
The sixth edition, being held from November 12 to 14, continues this tradition while seeking to give greater visibility to the region’s literary voices and storytelling traditions of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities.
A key initiative this year is First Bloom: Discovering New Writing from the Northeast, which aims to identify and encourage emerging writers in fiction and narrative non-fiction from the region.
The festival’s growing ambition is to position Shillong as an important literary destination, bringing writers and readers together while creating wider opportunities for Northeast India’s emerging literary talent.
