Ilam Literature Festival on March 14, 15

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 7: The 4th Ilam Literature Festival is all set to be held in Ilam Bazaar of Ilam district on March 14 and 15.

A press statement released by Prakash Thamsuhang, chair of the Festival, on Thursday, read that many authors, artistes, intellectuals and politicians from Nepal, India and Bangladesh will participate in the two-day festival.

Under the slogan of 'Literature for Tourism', the two-day festival will include more than 20 sessions. "Prof. Anand Kumar from India will deliver the keynote speech on Democracy and Environment," read the statement. 

Anand Kumar is the former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and chair professor of Goa University.

Organised by Ilam Municipality, Literature, Art and Music Foundation of Ilam and Ilam Sahitya Samaj in association with the Nepal Academy, Nepal Fine Art Academy and Red Panda Network, the festival will consist of many sessions on literature, commerce, environment, music, culture and politics.

Khagendra Sangraula will speak on his bygone days with journalist Deepak Sapkota. Krishna Khanal, Narayan Kaji Shrestha 'Prakash', Gagan Kumar Thapa, and Gokarna Bista are scheduled to speak on the topic 'Politics: Optimism or Pessimism'.

Poet Hangyug Agyat will speak on the beauty of the village while Tikaram Yatri, Ani Chhoing Dolma and Min Dolma will discuss the session 'Art and Spirituality.' 

Likewise, journalist Phanindra Sangam will discuss with poets Shrawan Mukarung, Mishra Baijanti and Avaya Shrestha in the session 'Poetic Sense and Effect'. 

Journalist Raman Paudel will talk with Prithvi Subba Gurung, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, on the issue of social media while singer Prakash Saput will speak on caste-based discrimination.

Similarly, Ken Subedi is scheduled to moderate the session ' Embodying Diversity in South Asia Through Translation' in which Gaurang Chandra Mohanta, Shahed Kayes, both from Bangladesh, and Chandra Gurung from Nepal will take part. Moreover, Pradip Meyangbo will talk to Arjun Mabuhang and Sandhya Subba on 'Mundhum and Environment'.

Basanta Basnet, Srijana Pokhrel, Giriraj Baskota, Chhabilal Khatiwada, Bishnu Kafle, Prabin Khaling, Tika Chhetri, Yogendraman Shrestha, Krishna Paudel, Gayatri Thegim, Bishnu Bishwas, Asha Uparkoti, Milan Tamli, Premika Rana Magar, Shankar Tiwari, Krishna Baral, Shailendra Adhikari and Deepa Dahal will speak on different topics.

Similarly, other participants include Navaraj Parajuli, Madhuraj Kerung, Shiva Rijal, Komal Phuyal, Rajan Mukarung, Naresh Kangmang Rai, Dewan Kirati, Munaraj Sherma, Mahendra Birahi and others. Shanaz Parveen, Anjuman Ara, Lovely Yesmin from Bangladesh and others will join poetry recitation.

According to Festival chair Thamsuhang, the Festival will include Ilam Poetry Concert, a Ghazal symposium and others. 

It is informed that Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture, Badri Pandey, will inaugurate the Festival.

"We believe that we can promote tourism through art and literature," chair Thamsuhang said. The festival will be held at Gautam Buddha Conference Hall in Ilam Bazaar.