Kerala's sleepy town to host international literary festival

At a time when literary festivals and cultural gatherings were cornered by big cities and cultural capitals, Chengannur, a sleepy town in Alappuzha district, is getting ready to host an international writers' meet for the third consecutive year.
Kerala State Youth Welfare Board, in association with PAMPA (People for Performing Arts and More), an art-cum- -cultural outfit, will organise the third edition of South India Writers' Ensemble (SIWE) there next month with an aim to popularise literary festivals in towns and villages.
Prominent writers from various Indian states and abroad are expected to participate in the two-day conference beginning on July 24, the organisers said.

The meet's main objective is to expose people of small towns and periphery villages to such celebrations of art and culture, said noted Kannada poet and theatre person Kanaka Hama Vishnunath, one of the founder members of PAMPA.
"Art, literature, music and dance are integral parts of our diverse culture, glimpses of which are experienced in festivals and other events. But these events cater to big cities and cultural capitals, leaving people in the smaller towns and villages completely unexposed to such celebrations," she told PTI.
The literature of the north-eastern part of the country is the focus of the festival this year, she said.

Noted writers from north-east who are expected to participate include Kynpham Singh, Nitoo Das, Anupama Basumathiri, Ananya S Guha, Streamlet D Kahar, Dhruba Hazarika, Mitra Phukan, JhanaviBarua, Robin S Ngangom, Jiban Narah, Apurba Saikia, Mamang Dai and Vishu Rita Krocha.
"Besides writers from Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, some authors from United States and Germany have also confirmed their participation," Kanaka, also the wife of Chengannur MLA P C Vishnunath, said.