The vibrant literary and cultural landscape of North-East India took centre stage at Echoes of North East, a two-day regional literature festival curated by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation and supported by Oil India Limited in association with Gauhati University. Held on 6 and 7 February 2026 at the Gauhati University campus, the festival brought together writers, poets, scholars, and readers in a celebration of the region’s diverse voices, histories, and creative traditions.
Conceived as a platform to foster meaningful dialogue and highlight the richness of North-Eastern literature, the festival explored themes of language, identity, memory, ecology, and storytelling through a thoughtfully curated series of discussions, readings, and poetry sessions. Over two days, participants engaged with ideas that reflected both the uniqueness of the region and its connections to broader literary and cultural conversations.
The inaugural session set the tone for a festival rooted in reflection, exchange, and discovery. Subsequent discussions examined a range of subjects central to the literary fabric of the North-East. Sessions such as Women’s Voices in North-Eastern Indian Literature, North East Literature in English, and Necessity of Mother Tongue explored questions of representation, linguistic diversity, and the role of literature in preserving cultural identities.
Poetry remained a powerful presence throughout the festival. Sessions including Hills That Speak: Nature as Voice in North-East Poetry and Rivers, Rain, and Roots: Ecology in North-Eastern Poems brought together poets and audiences in conversations about landscape, belonging, and environmental consciousness. Through verse and discussion, participants reflected on the profound relationship between the people of the region and the natural world that shapes their lives and stories.
The second day continued the exploration of literary expression and cultural memory through sessions such as My Literary Inspirations, Telling Our Own Stories: Voices from the North-East, and Myth, Legend, and History in North-Eastern Writing. These conversations underscored the importance of reclaiming narratives, documenting lived experiences, and preserving oral and written traditions for future generations. The sessions also encouraged audiences to consider how literature serves as a bridge between personal memory and collective history.
A distinguished line-up of authors, poets, and academicians enriched the festival through their insights and creative contributions. Among those who participated were Dhrubojyoti Bora, N. Kiran Kumar Singh, Dkhar Streamlet, Jyotirmoy Prodhani, Satyakam Borthakur, Kairi Mog Choudhary, and Ponung Ering Angu, alongside several other noted scholars and literary voices from across the region. Their readings, presentations, and discussions offered audiences a deeper understanding of the literary traditions and contemporary concerns of North-East India.
Throughout the festival, students, scholars, and literature enthusiasts actively engaged with speakers, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and exchange. The enthusiasm of the audiences reflected a growing interest in regional literature and the stories that emerge from diverse cultural landscapes.
As the festival concluded, it reaffirmed the Prabha Khaitan Foundation’s belief in literature as a powerful medium for dialogue, empathy, and social connection. More importantly, Echoes of North East highlighted the importance of bringing regional voices into wider literary conversations, ensuring that the stories, languages, and perspectives of the North-East continue to receive the attention and appreciation they deserve.
The Echoes of North East Festival was organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation in association with Oil India Limited and Gauhati University
