The New Nation - Internet Edition

Literature is the voice of a nation, and an easy flow of publications between two countries goes a long way in stimulating a greater understanding of each other's joys and pains.

Between India and Bangladesh, in spite of a healthy interest in each other's writers and their writings, there are glitches, which prevent a smooth exchange of books.

The India-Bangladesh Festival of books and writers has, therefore, planned to gbring writers, publishers and academics with the hope that it can act as a platform for working out the modalities for an easier exchange of books and ideas.

The festival has been designed in two parts. The first three days at Independent University, Bangladesh comprises of academic sessions with the participation of writers, academics and publishers. It is hoped that each session will provide a multiple perspective, and that writers, translators, academics, publishers and reviewers according to their respective fields of practice will address the issues in question in diverse ways. The second part of the festival, at the Central Public Library, intends to draw a more public participation and includes book readings from the writings of both Indian and Bangladeshi writers. It also includes sessions between publishers and booksellers of both the countries to discuss various issues related to publishing. Both venues will have book stalls with publications from both India and Bangladesh. Book readings have also been scheduled at a few bookshops in Dhaka.

The Festival is an initiative of the Indo Bangia Cultural Initiative, supported by the High Commission of India, Dhaka. The Independent University, Bangladesh is the academic partner. The Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh is the co-organizer for the sessions at the Central Public Library.

It is hoped that this event will be the first of many more such India-Bangladesh get-togethers of writers, publishers, academics - and all those who love books.