By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 21: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday opened the second day of the Shillong Literary Festival 2025 by announcing the expansion of the Chief Minister’s Research Grant.
The expansion will let 75 scholars receive support to study the histories, origins, and cultural narratives of the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes.
He said a dedicated research team is already engaged in documenting the linguistic and cultural roots of the three communities, a project he described as central to preserving Meghalaya’s identity.
The Chief Minister’s address set the tone for a day filled with literary activities, policy updates, and cultural performances.
Reflecting on the festival’s journey, Sangma noted its growth from a “small gathering” into a major intellectual platform. He said the government is considering a writing competition to encourage young writers and to embed writing more deeply into the State’s cultural life.
He outlined the ongoing transformation of Ward’s Lake, which will include a laser installation depicting the State’s history and permanent arenas to sustain cultural programming throughout the year.
The day featured several book launches, including River Traveller: Journeys of the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, Wad ia ka Malade (Khasi), European Writing in the Khasi Hills, BSF and Meghalaya: Through the Lens of a Border Man, and From Isolation to Integration: Geopolitics of India’s Northeast.
A key highlight was the session “Life Beyond the Metro,” where actors and filmmakers Vinay Pathak, Dominic Sangma, and Rajat Kapoor joined Shahana Chatterjee to discuss shifting geographies in cinema and digital storytelling.
Dominic spoke about the influence of oral traditions and provided updates on his ongoing trilogy. Kapoor, reflecting on the struggles of independent films, remarked, “The spirit of filmmaking is alive, but where is the audience?”
Pathak expressed gratitude for the festival and enthusiasm about upcoming collaborations.
Garo poetry resonated across the venue with stirring performances by Prince S.R. Marak, Sengsime A. Sangma, Jakmatchi M. Sangma, Rhinkle Mrong, and Fivebilson R. Marak.
Other sessions brought diverse themes to the fore. Anita Agnihotri and Sanjoy Hazarika explored rivers as living cultural landscapes, Jamling Norgay recounted Everest experiences and raised concerns about overcrowding, Patricia Mukhim examined Northeast geopolitics, and discussions ranged from oral storytelling and war reporting to under-represented narratives and the craft of writing a second novel.
