Sixth Edition of Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob Goes Global

The sixth edition of the Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob curated by Oxford Bookstores and in association with Prabha Khaitan Foundation will stream LIVE on Social Media Platforms on January 15 and 16.

With the rising popularity of Social Media content and OTT platforms due to its worldwide reach, India’s first and only Bangla Literary Festival this year will transcend geographical boundaries and go digital, making it possible for the viewers to listen and interact with stalwarts of Bengali literature from the comforts of their homes.

Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob was conceptualized in 2015 at Oxford Bookstores. In subsequent years with growing interest in Bangla literature and enthusiastic participation of the audience, the festival moved to Apeejay Lawns and then to the heart of Bangla Literature, the abode of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Jorasankho Thakurbari.

Debashis Mukhopadhyay

ABSU inaugurated its unique theme song composed by the renowned Surojit Chatterjee in 2019. Going by the motto-digital is the new local- ABSU21 will be held online keeping in mind the ease of access, the broadening of participation, the availability of viewing the sessions at convenience and interacting with the delegates while observing health and safety norms.

The year 2020 has seen milestones with the birth centenary of Oscar Winning Filmmaker Satyajit Ray and the demise of legendary actor and writer Soumitra Chattopadhyay. Spread over two days with eight enriching discussions, the Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob pays a tribute to the two icons apart from discussions on digitization of content, literature for the teens, evolution of sports writing and the occult in contemporary writings and much more.

Prasenjit Dasgupta

This edition will also highlight new and upcoming voices from the world of Bangla writing while continuing with its legacy of celebrating literary voices from both the Bengals.

Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob 2021 include Ray researcher and journalist Debashis Mukhopadhyay; sports journalist Sabyasachi Sarkar; authors Prasenjit Dasgupta, Sayantani Putatunda and Sirsho Bandhopadhyay; writers Binod Ghosal and Debarati Mukhopadhyay; theatre artiste, Poulami Bose; Interdisciplinary artiste Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee; and writer Sadat Hossain from Bangladesh to name a few.