Kailasahar, Dec 25: The two-day Second Atal Poetry and Literature Festival 2024 was inaugurated today at the historic Unakoti Art Site by Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy. Highlighting the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the minister stated that Vajpayee was a visionary leader who launched transformative initiatives like the Antyodaya Yojana, which uplifted rural communities and continues to benefit the nation.
Minister Roy also praised Vajpayee’s poetic prowess, emphasizing how his poetry inspired a dream of a prosperous India. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is working toward achieving Vajpayee’s vision of a developed India by 2047.
The festival, spanning December 25 and 26, will feature multilingual poetry recitals and seminars on various literary topics. Poet Milan Kanti Dutta was honored with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lifetime Achievement Award, which includes a shawl, a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, and a citation.
Scheduled activities include a seminar on literary themes tomorrow, along with poetry recitations in Bengali, Kokborok, Manipuri, and Chakma languages. Yesterday, a colorful procession marked the beginning of the celebrations across Kailashahar.
Addressing the inauguration, Minister for SC Welfare Sudhangshu Das described Vajpayee as a source of inspiration and a model of ethical politics. He highlighted Vajpayee’s unparalleled contributions to rural development and education through initiatives like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
Sahitya Akademi awardee Diganta Bishwasharma from Assam, speaking at the event, referred to Vajpayee as the poet of his generation and urged efforts to introduce Vajpayee’s literary works to younger audiences.
Kokborok poet S. Gambhini noted the underrepresentation of Vajpayee’s poetry compared to his political achievements and applauded the festival for addressing this gap. Subrata Chakraborty, Vice-Chairman of the State Cultural Advisory Committee, called Vajpayee a Bhishma-like figure in Indian politics and a multifaceted personality.
The event also featured the screening of a documentary on Vajpayee’s life and the release of a commemorative souvenir. Minister Tinku Roy unveiled a translated collection of Vajpayee’s poetry by author Manojit Dhar.
Other notable attendees included District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma, Chairperson of Kailashahar Municipality Chapala Rani Debroy, and Unakoti Zilla Parishad Chairperson Amolendu Das. Writers and poets from West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and across Tripura also participated in the festival.
The festival, organized by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, celebrates the literary legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his enduring impact on Indian politics, poetry, and society.
