Shillong, May 9: The Shillong Literary Festival 2026 – New Delhi Prelude commenced with an enthusiastic response at Bikaner House on Friday, bringing together distinguished personalities from literature, cinema, journalism, governance, and the creative arts ahead of the main festival scheduled in Shillong from November 12 to 14.
Organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, the two-day prelude seeks to strengthen Meghalaya’s cultural footprint at the national level while positioning the state as a major destination for literature, music, arts, and culture-driven tourism.
One of the key highlights of the opening day was a conversation between Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and senior journalist Shekhar Gupta. The discussion revolved around governance, entrepreneurship, aspirations of the youth, sustainable tourism, and the changing identity of the Northeast.
Speaking about the evolution of the festival, Sangma said the event had gradually transformed into a recognised national cultural platform. He noted that the Delhi prelude was intended to introduce the festival to a broader audience across the country and expressed optimism that it would eventually gain global recognition.
Commissioner and Secretary of the Meghalaya Tourism Department, Dr Vijay Kumar D, said the festival serves as a platform to celebrate Meghalaya’s literary, cinematic, musical, and cultural traditions while amplifying voices from the Northeast on a larger stage.
The inaugural sessions also featured noted filmmakers Dominic Sangma and Pradip Kurbah in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Suparna Sharma, discussing the growth of cinema in the Northeast and the challenges encountered by independent filmmakers.
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah drew significant attention during a literary reading session titled The Elephant and the Tragopan, where he presented excerpts from Beastly Tales from Here and There by Vikram Seth along with stories by James Thurber.
The festival also highlighted Khasi and Garo literary traditions through readings by Prof. Streamlet Dkhar and Dr Crystal Cornelious D Marak, showcasing indigenous literature, oral storytelling traditions, and linguistic heritage from Meghalaya.
The second day of the prelude will feature discussions on Northeast literature, ecology, food, identity, and translation, with speakers including Shobhaa De, Namita Gokhale, Sanjoy Hazarika and Patricia Mukhim.
The opening evening concluded with performances under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Program, turning the venue into a celebration of Meghalaya’s music, creativity, and cultural identity.
