Turkish Ambassador Highlights Cultural Heritage at Shillong Literary Festival 2024 | Shillong News – Times of India
Shillong: The three-day Shillong Literary Festival 2024 concluded in the city on Wednesday, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of literature lovers and writers from across the country. The festival drew more than 15,000 enthusiasts.
In his keynote address during the closing ceremony, Turkey’s Ambassador to India Fırat Sunel, a distinguished diplomat and accomplished novelist, said, “Literature is a vessel that carries the voices of all who came before us. It allows us to hear voices that have been marginalised and silenced in official histories. With the forgotten folklore project in Shillong, Meghalaya has shown its commitment for protection of its cultural heritage”.
He lauded the musical talent the state holds and invited locals musicians to perform in Turkey.
State tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh said the 4th Shillong Literary Festival has been the most successful edition of the festival so far.
The concluding day of the festival opened with ‘The Lighthouse Family’, a candid conversation with Ambassador Sunel, moderated by Cyril VD Diengdoh, director of Meghalaya tourism department.
Asked as to how he manages diplomacy and literature together, he said, “As a diplomat you meet a lot of people. You don’t need to run behind the story. The story comes to you”.
A conversation between writers Samrat Choudhury and Mitra Phukan was also hosted on the last day of the event.
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The Shillong Literary Festival 2024 concluded successfully, drawing over 15,000 attendees. Turkish Ambassador to India, Frat Sunel, praised Meghalaya’s commitment to cultural preservation through its folklore project. The festival featured engaging discussions, including a conversation with Ambassador Sunel on balancing diplomacy and writing, where he shared insights into his creative process.
The Shillong Literary Festival returned to Meghalaya’s capital, featuring renowned authors like Vikram Seth and Shobhaa De. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma inaugurated the event, emphasizing its role in promoting local writers and inspiring youth to embrace literature.
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