The three-day Literature Festival and Book Fair, organized by The White Owl in partnership with Penguin, concluded on Wednesday, featuring discussions on climate change, storytelling, and indigenous knowledge.
The final day included a series of engaging sessions, culminating in a reflection on the importance of literature and cinema in preserving cultural identity and addressing global challenges.
The first session of the final day, presented by People Like Us Create (PLUC), focused on climate innovation at the grassroots level. Moderated by Atoho Jakhalu, director of Climate Studies and Knowledge Solutions Centre, government of Nagaland, the discussion featured Tamseel Hussain, Founder & CEO of PLUC, and Shashank Vira, founding partner of The Hearth Advisors.
Tamseel Hussain shared insights from his book Climate Underdogs: Chapter India, which highlights grassroots climate innovators. He emphasized the role of storytelling in inspiring action, noting that “underdogs” have the potential to address global climate challenges.
As a UN Entertainment and Culture Steering Committee member from India, Hussain stressed the importance of using new media, including cinema and social platforms, to raise awareness. He also advocated for integrating grassroots innovations into policy processes, emphasizing that community-led storytelling can drive greater behavioral change.
Shashank Vira introduced Pani, Pahar, an initiative that uses water as a metaphor to address climate issues with a focus on mitigation. He highlighted the importance of minimizing waste in water and energy usage, drawing from indigenous knowledge systems.
Vira also discussed the challenges of scaling climate solutions, stressing that while local solutions like river clean-ups are essential, they must be complemented by broader mitigation efforts to address climate change effectively.
The second major session, moderated by Abu Metha, advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and chairman of the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), explored storytelling through literature and film. The panel featured documentary filmmaker Nilanjan Bhattacharya and writer-director Thejavituo Rio.
Bhattacharya reflected on his journey from fiction to documentary filmmaking, highlighting his focus on indigenous cultures and food sustainability. His work explores the intersection of traditional food practices and environmental conservation, emphasizing techniques like fermentation as sustainable, energy-efficient food preservation methods.
He also noted that while the rise of OTT platforms has created opportunities for new filmmakers, traditional industries like Bengali cinema face existential crises due to changing consumer habits.
Thejavituo Rio shared his evolution from writing rap lyrics to directing films, discussing his short film Ade on a Sunday, inspired by his childhood experiences. He spoke about the cultural transitions in Naga society, balancing traditionalism with modern influences.
He also introduced his upcoming feature film, which will be shot in Nagaland with a mix of local and external actors. Rio emphasized the importance of training local filmmakers and providing hands-on experience in film production to build a sustainable film industry in the region.
Other discussions on the final day included: Nature as Narrative: Landscapes, Cities, and Time in Literature – Featuring Daribha Lyndem, Avinuo Kire, and Mamang Dai, moderated by Rita Krocha. The Story Behind the Books– Featuring Sohini Mitra, Deepthi Talwar, Gurveen Chadha, and Sayoni Basu, moderated by Pallavi Narayan.
‘Write’ Your Way into the Industry: Academic and Professional Journeys Through Writing – Presented by Ashoka University, featuring Anju Jayraj and Jyotirmoy Talukdar, moderated by Deepthi Talwar. Voices from Home and the Way Forward – A session by Writers Collective Kohima featuring Naga authors and Dr. Kevileno Sakhrie.
Other highlights of the program included workshops titled writing Nonsense Verse with Partner Institute, Tetso College at Grey zone with Anushka Ravishankar, ‘Skin Care Master Class by Beauty Barn at the Town Hall’ with Toinali Chophi, a book launch at the Town Hall by Brainerd Prince and Workshops with Partner Institute, Maple Tree School at the White Owl Lounge with Lavanya Kartik.
Session for Children on the topic ‘Exploring Inclusivity through Stories’, for 6-8 years session on ‘When Adil Speaks Words Dance’ with Lavanya Karthik, ‘Hands of Inclusion learning Sign Language together’ with Vilivi Sheqi and ‘Everyone’s Storytime: Storytelling Circle’ with Kevi Z Kevichusa and Molona Wati Longchar.
For 9-12 years session on ‘Hands of Inclusion: Learning Sign Language together’ with Vilivi Sheqi Swu, ‘One Story, Many Voice: Storytelling Circle’ with Kevi Z Kevichusa and Molona Wati Longchar and ‘Dream with the Dreamer, with Author -Illustrator Lavanya Karthik.
For 13-16 years old session on, ‘Are you ‘in’ or ‘out’?:’ With author ZarinVirji, ‘Who Am I?:’ with Hannah Lalhlanpuii and Huthuka Sumi and ‘Hands of Inclusion: Learning Sign Language together’ with Vilivi Sheqi Swu.
The festival successfully brought together authors, filmmakers, climate innovators, and literature enthusiasts, fostering conversations on crucial global and local issues. The event underscored the power of storytelling in driving change, whether through books, cinema, or grassroots activism.