Random Thoughts
Oh Shillong!
There is going to be a literary and creative arts festival in Shillong in October, November 2012. There will be motivational speakers such as Chetan Bhagat and M.J. Akbar, artists, painters and creative writers such as the poet Sudeep. Also, in the loop will be writers from North East India.
The entire programme lasting for four days is being organised by a book store, Book Mark Sahaki and the Government of Meghalaya, in celebration of the Year Of The Youth. This promises a creative week for the youth of the state, who will get exposure to big time writers, photographers, novelists and painters.
I think this is a very well conceived idea, where the youth can interact and benefit. And, adults can lead them on . Side by side, as an adjunct there will be a book fair for our book lovers. In the months of May and June Book Mark Sahaki had organised creative workshops for school and college students as a prelude and trendsetter. The response was very good, there were creative writing workshops, painting workshops, counselling workshops and a workshop on Citizen Journalism.
This meet too will be a blend of the creative and the vocational, such as Counselling and Choral Recitation. This promises a lot of fun and creativity. Shillong has been a hub of cultural life, it deserves such fun filled events.
To be held in the Aurobindo Ashram, with its sprawling campus, an idyllic setting creativity will blend with perfect natural settings, and meditative poise. Shillong has always been the epicentre of academic life in North East India. Students from most of the states of this region, come here to study to form the basis of purposeful careers. There was a time when even students from West Bengal would come here, to pursue higher education. The music scene in Shillong is well known, with its immense talent for this art, the youth have other literary and aesthetic proclivities as well. There are brilliant poets here, as well as amazing musicians and singers.
The Shillong Chamber Choir, which is now of international repute, is the outcome of years of devotion, and tenacity. It is a wonderful product of a culture for whom, music is the food of love...There are other choir groups as well, and individual singers such as Lou Majaw are legendary. One just has listen to church choirs to understand and hear, the natural effusion of music here. There are poets who write in the most lyrical vein- breathing sheer music in words.
This festival will I am sure be a tribute to the kind of creative people, administrators, painters, musicians, novelists and poets which this little town has replenished over the years and through its history.And it is education which has contributed to this efflorescence of culture.
25-Sep-2012
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Ananya S Guha
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