Source: Manipur Mail
Imphal, January 08:
Writers in north eastern states of the country echoed for their inability in exposing the rich literature of the region to the outside world.
Attending the week-long academic cum discussion session of the writers cum translators of the country here at the India International centre (IIC) in the national capital of the country, most of the writers of the north eastern part of the country felt that 'they hardly get chances to get exposure to the literature of the world'.
"We have not had the chance to expose ourselves, even though we do have the rich literature since long ago" Khoiren Meitei, a short story writer in Manipur told this correspondent here on Thursday.
The special session of the north east writers with the writers from rest of the country held on the fourth day of the Katha Utsav was chaired by Enakshi Chaterjee and led the discussion by the noted writer and Padmashree Indira Goswami of Assam.
On the other hand Mitra Phukan, a classical vocalist and a writer from Assam commending the status of literature in Assam exhorted the need to expose it to the other parts of the globe.
Echoing the same sentiment, Ms Mamang Dai of Arunachal Pradesh, Esterine Iralu of Nagaland, Bijoykumar Tayenjam of Manipur also dwelt at length about the potentiality of literature in their own states.
Interestingly, Ms Mamang Dai informed the gathering that the literature in her state is presently in oral forms only.
Week long writers Utsav at the India International Centre (IIC) concluded on Wednesday evening with a valedictory function attended by the Katha Churamani awardee Sundrara Ramaswamy and Geeta Dharmarajan Executive Director of Katha, an NGO cum publishing house in Delhi in the dais.
Five Manipur writers including two lady translators were also honoured Katha awards for the year 2003 on the concluding session of the Katha Utsav (Katha festival).
The two writers are Kengba Yengkhom and Khoisnam Dhiren of Kakching in Thoubal district of Manipur while the two lady translators are Anjulika Thingnam, a researcher and journalist and Pravabati Chingangbam, a Ph D in theoretical physics from Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi.
Editor of Manipur based daily Naharolgi Thoudang Khoirom Loyalakpa was also honoured with Katha award for the journal and journal editor.
Another 19 writers, translators and journal editors across the country were also honoured during the valedictory session.