The 11th edition of India’s premier Bengali literary festival, Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob (ABSU), kicked off with a colorful celebration of words, ideas, and culture. Renowned historian, author, and Indologist Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, together with Oxford Bookstore’s CEO and event Director Swagat Sengupta, officially inaugurated the event at the Oxford Bookstore.

Following the inauguration, Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri led a lively and interactive discussion on Indian mythology. The Bengali version of the book Krishna: Living with Alzheimer’s was also released on the opening day. It was organized in collaboration with the Krishna Trust and was graced by actor, dramatist, film director, and West Bengal Government Minister for Education, Bratya Basu.

There will be a wide range of talks and debates throughout the future sessions of the 11th edition of ABSU.

The second day of ABSU included many stimulating discussions covering a variety of topics, such as women’s literature, publishing, politics, poetry, and film. Engaging word games and debates with school children that combined enjoyment with literary discovery kicked off the day. A centennial celebration of dramatist Badal Sircar, which featured Anjan Dutt speaking alongside Samik Bandyopadhyay, was one of the day’s two main attractions. Additionally, Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Sanjoy Mukhopadhyay discussed the cinematic legacy of filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak during his centennial celebration.

Human & Emotion Learning hosted a session on the “Role of Women in Modern Education and Literature” during the day. Renowned poet Srijato was one of the speakers who explored the connections between verse, ideology, and modern discourse. Another important meeting examined the development of book publishing with professionals from the field, such as Sudhanshu Shekhar Dey of Dey’s Publishing and other top publishers, who discussed how the publishing environment has changed over time. Anindya Chatterjee, a musician and writer, also took the stage for a solo session during which he gave fans a glimpse into his world as an author by sharing insights on his literary journey and writings.

Day 3 will feature a dynamic mix of engaging and lighthearted sessions. Day 3 will start with a creative Bengali word game organized in partnership with Shabdabaaji. This will be followed by an interesting poetry session presented in partnership with Kobita Club. Through a musical performance, Shyamali Acharya and Parama Dasgupta will honor renowned composer and musician Salil Chowdhury on his 100th birthday. A fascinating discussion on mystery and terror in Bengali literature, including Aparajita Dasgupta, Mir Afsar Ali, and other eminent discussants, will also be part of the day’s schedule. Renowned director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, seasoned actor Shankar Chakraborty, and other prominent figures from the industry will participate in an enlightening conversation on the development of Bengali cinema after the festival’s conclusion.

To ensure that the essence of Bangla literature reaches audiences worldwide, every session will be LIVE broadcast on the festival’s YouTube channel.

The line-up of speakers and cultural figures at this year includes Anindya Chatterjee, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Anjan Dutt, Aparajita Dasgupta, Aveek Majumder, Bratya Basu, Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee, Mir Afsar Ali, Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Samik Bandyopadhyay, Sanjoy Mukhopadhyay, Shankar Chakraborty, Shiladitya Sen, Shyamali Acharya, Srijato, Subarna Basu, Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey and Yashodhara Ray Chaudhuri.

Priyanka Dutta