OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: In a bid to provide the perfect ambience to writers, artistes, researchers, and creative minds in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has proposed the establishment of a 'Writers' Village' in the state. Khandu made this announcement during the valedictory function of the three-day Arunachal Literature Festival (ALF) here on Saturday night. The chief minister said that the village, to be established in a suitable place in the state, would be a resort in the laps of nature where writers and artists can push their creative pursuits in peace and solitude.
Khandu revealed that the 'project' was on his mind for quite some time and said that the occasion was the perfect time to announce it. "Arunachal has some of the best locations where the mind roams free, hearts beat in perfect rhythm, and the soul is at total peace. Writers and artists just need such an ambience to perfect their art. We will offer it," he said. According to the chief minister, the writers' village would be a perfect resort with all basic facilities at some remote location, where writers can stay for weeks and months fine-tuning their creative pursuits. "I would like to invite all creative minds to avail themselves of this facility," he said.
The ALF is being attended by more than fifty renowned and budding authors and poets from across the country, including those from Arunachal Pradesh. Some of the big names this year are Anand Neelakanthan, Kavita Kane, Preethi Shenoy, Asgar Wajahat, Mahesh Dattani, Janice Pariat, and Anuja Chandramouli. "Literature is a reflection of humanity and a way for us to understand each other. By listening to the voice of another person, we can begin to figure out how that individual thinks. I believe that literature is important because of its purpose, and in a society that is increasingly detached from human interaction, novels create a conversation," Khandu said. The chief minister was all praise for the state's Information and Public Relations department for organizing the festival annually since 2018 in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS), headed by renowned authors like Padmashrees Y. D. Thongchi and Mamang Dai.
Acknowledging that the festival is growing with each passing year, Khandu suggested that the festival should travel across the state and not stay confined to the state capital. He assured the enhancement of funds for organising the festival on a rotational basis across the state starting next year. Khandu reiterated his stance on the significance of preserving local dialects and languages. He said that the younger generation ought to learn and speak in their native tongues naturally. "It is our responsibility to teach our kids our mother tongue, and it's the responsibility of our kids to take it forward. We must always remember that cultural erosion begins when the use of local dialects gets disrupted," he said. The state government, he informed, has successfully introduced several tribe dialects into the syllabus of primary-level schools, and work is on to do the same for the remaining tribes.
The chief minister expressed optimism that the ALF would successfully ignite young minds to not only read literature but also write it. "Literature helps us to unlock our minds and perceptions of the world and allows us to see outside the box. With this, we begin to reflect, ask questions, and understand better. Meanwhile, reading literature gives us knowledge about history, religion, customs, and traditions and provides us with the opportunity to understand customs and beliefs other than our own. Literature helps us to understand other systems of living around the world," Khandu added.
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