DIMAPUR, January 9 (MExN): The White Owl Literature Festival and Book Fair, a two-day celebration of literature, culture, and community is set to take place on February 9-10, at the Zone Niathu by The Park in Chümoukedima. This literature festival is collaboration between The White Owl Book Lounge, Penguin Random House India, and Cambridge University Press. The festival has been designed around the theme ‘Echoes of Narratives’.
In an update, Viketuno Rio, Festival Director and proprietor of The White Owl said, “The White Owl Literature Festival is my most ambitious venture. A vision that started with the book lounge now sees fruition in the form of a grand literary event.”
Rio said, “Nagaland, along with the other northeastern states of India, is a vibrant tapestry of storytelling. Literature, oral and now written, has kept us grounded in our roots and given us the ability to collaborate with other strengths. Penguin and Cambridge University Press, as partners, will enable this one-of-a-kind event in the region to reach out to a wider audience and invite new and fresh interest in the Northeast.”
For the first time, Nagaland will be inundated with bestselling and illustrious authors and prominent personalities such as Vivek Shanbagh, Taslima Nasrin, Sarnath Banerjee, Durjoy Dutta, Viju B, Vasudha Rai, Nikhil Gulati, and Lavanya Karthik, to name a few. Representing the local voice at the festival are eminent authors such as Mmhonlumo Kikon, Avinuo Kire, Shelmi Sankhil, and many more, it added.
Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO, India, SEA, and MENA, Penguin Random House said, “This is the first time that Penguin is organizing a literature festival in the Northeast. Our publishing house has been actively curating a powerful portfolio of writing from the region and we take immense pride in our list of books and voices that we publish. This festival is a perfect way to pay homage to one of the richest literary hubs in our country.”
Arun Rajamani, Managing Director, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, South Asia said, “we are excited to partner with The White Owl Literature Festival in Nagaland, which we see as an important initiative not only for the state of Nagaland but also for the entire northeast region- To encourage more literary work, foster academic research, and empower more thought leaders from this region to address global problems such as climate change.”
The White Owl Literature Festival also hosts Nagaland’s first book fair. It is the perfect showcase for publishers and distributors from across the country to present and sell their diverse collection of books covering a variety of genres to readers of all ages. For younger audience, the festival will host workshops and dedicated play areas, creating an interactive and educational space for children. The festival aims to foster a love for literature and learning from an early age, the release stated.
In addition to literary delights, attendees can immerse themselves in cultural performances and indulge in an eclectic food service, adding a sensory dimension to the overall festival experience, it added.
The entry fee is Rs 50. For school and college students with official student identification, the entry will be free.