Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival explores storytelling, publishing and conservation on Day 2

HEMIKA NAG

GANGTOK,: The second day of Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival at White Memorial Hall and Orchidarium here brought together writers, poets, publishers, filmmakers, theatre practitioners and conservationists for a series of engaging discussions exploring the power of language, the art of storytelling, the publishing industry and the urgent need to protect the region’s cultural and ecological heritage.

The day featured conversations on oral traditions and translation, children’s literature, crime and horror writing, the evolving landscape of publishing, folklore and biodiversity conservation. Each session also included interactive elements and question-and-answer segments, encouraging audiences to engage directly with the speakers. Alongside the literary sessions, a series of indoor workshops offered participants opportunities to explore illustration, theatre, prose writing and expressive arts.

The day began with a session, titled “In Other Words: Across Languages”, featuring poet and cultural theorist Ranjit Hoskote and author Sandhya Subba in conversation with Arundhati Nath of Teamwork Arts. The discussion centred on oral lore, the complexities of translation and the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge for future generations.

Subba, who has authored five published works, spoke about her journey from research to writing, describing how she became a writer almost inadvertently through her work as a researcher. She highlighted the urgency of documenting oral histories, particularly the Yakthung Mundum tradition, and emphasised their value as a cultural bridge for younger generations. These narratives, she noted, carry cautionary lessons and ecological knowledge that remain relevant to contemporary society.

Hoskote reflected on the process of transferring oral narratives into written form and the political dimensions of translation. “Translation for me is always a political act,” he said, cautioning against rigid notions of identity and cultural belonging. “Tragedy of modernity is that we're trying to confine ourselves into a rigid, hard-edged identity,” he observed.

The speakers also examined the technical challenges of translation, including the responsibility to communicate an original message while preserving its cultural nuances. Subba pointed out that certain concepts cannot be translated directly into English, making contextualisation and footnotes essential tools for retaining the depth and beauty of the original meaning. The conversation further explored the evolution of Urdu, the diversity of South Asian cultures and the ways in which ideas of linguistic purity can obscure the histories and interactions that shape languages.

Emphasising the importance of looking inward for knowledge and inspiration, Subba shared a message for young people: “In our culture we have everything that we are learning from outside.” The session underscored the empowering potential of indigenous narratives and the need to preserve them through documentation, translation and continued engagement.

Another session, “Tiny Tales, Tall Stories”, turned the spotlight towards children's literature and the power of imagination. Author Anuradha Sharma and Charmi Chheda, theatre director, filmmaker and founder of Snow Leopard Theatre in Bhutan, spoke with Puneeta Roy, founder of Yuva Ekta Foundation.

Chheda reflected on her longstanding affinity for storytelling and imagination, discussing Donkula, a book based on a true story about a bull that grows up among dogs and gradually adopts their behaviour. Intended for both children and adults, the book also carries a charitable purpose, with 100 per cent of its profits going to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). A theatrical adaptation of the story is currently in development.

Sharma discussed the process behind writing the biography of Ganju Lama, drawing on her varied experiences as a journalist and mother. She stressed the importance of making regional history accessible to children, advocating for more non-fiction children's books that introduce young readers to the heroes and significant figures of their own region. By presenting facts through an engaging, story-driven approach, she said, authors can make history more accessible and meaningful. The conversation also touched upon the role of personal experience in storytelling and the place of artificial intelligence in creative work, with Chheda expressing the view that AI has no place in art.

Following the lunch break, the festival resumed with “A Stranger in the Mist”, a discussion on the craft of crime and horror writing. Satyajit Sarna, a writer and lawyer specialising in human rights and environmental law, joined Bengali author and statistician Sakyajit Bhattacharya, who has written nine novels, in conversation with writer, columnist and podcaster Sandip Roy.

The session examined the enduring appeal of crime and horror fiction, exploring how writers construct suspense, develop unexpected twists and delve into the psychological complexities of their characters. The conversation highlighted the genre's ability to probe the darker corners of the human mind while keeping readers engaged through tension, atmosphere and uncertainty.

The publishing industry took centre stage in “Alchemy of Publishing: What Makes a Story?”, featuring publisher Anurag Basnet and writer Kanishka Gupta in conversation with bookseller and publisher Raman Shresta. The speakers examined what makes a story compelling, how publishers identify narratives that resonate with readers and the strategies involved in turning manuscripts into books that matter.

The discussion also addressed the relevance of books in an increasingly digital world, the impact of artificial intelligence on publishing and the continuing challenges of curation and accessibility. Practical insights into the publishing process offered aspiring writers and readers a closer look at the decisions and intricacies involved in bringing a book to the public.

Writing

Folklore and cultural memory took centre stage at “Once Upon a Hilltop: Folktales and Folklore,” where writer Sandhya Subba and author Subi Taba engaged in a conversation with Professor Rosy Chamling on the journeys of stories across landscapes and generations.

The discussion explored how folk narratives shape beliefs, nurture imagination and preserve the collective memory of communities, highlighting their enduring relevance in a rapidly changing world.

The day's programme also turned towards the natural world with “The Wild Pulse”, featuring conservation biologist and author Neha Sinha, American author Stephen Alter and writer and environmental defender Yuvan Aves in conversation with journalist Pema Wangchuk Dorjee. Through stories and striking imagery, the speakers explored the importance of conserving biodiversity and protecting the Himalayan environment. The discussion emphasised that safeguarding the mountains and their ecosystems is not merely a conservation concern, but a matter closely connected to survival, wonder and humanity's place in the natural world.

Beyond the main sessions, White Memorial Hall hosted several workshops that allowed participants to engage with different creative practices. Ujjain Dutta led “The Studio: Illustrations Workshop”, exploring the visual dimensions of storytelling. Charmi Chheda’s session, “In the Moment: Exploring Buddhist/Himalayan Theatre and Performance Techniques”, offered participants an opportunity to engage with regional performance traditions. Author Chetan Raj Shrestha’s session on “The Craft of Prose” focused on the practice of writing, while Puneeta Roy conducted an expressive arts workshop centred on self-exploration and identity, which was titled “Finding Me: A Search for Identity, a Search for Self”.

Across its diverse sessions, the second day of the Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival highlighted the interconnectedness of literature, culture, identity and the environment. From preserving indigenous oral traditions and bringing regional heroes to younger readers to examining the future of publishing and advocating for biodiversity, the discussions reinforced the role of storytelling as a means of documenting heritage, questioning contemporary realities and imagining a more culturally and ecologically conscious future.