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10th edition of Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob to unfold from
15 November 2024
A Decade of Celebrating Bangla Sahitya
Kolkata, 12 November 2024: The 10th edition of India’s premier Bengali literary festival, Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob (ABSU), curated by Oxford Bookstores, is set to take place from 15 to 17 November at the iconic century-old Oxford Bookstore, Park Street. This three-day literary extravaganza will bring together renowned names in Bengali literature and culture to delve into various aspects of “Bangaliaana” (Bengali culture) and literature.
Announcing the tenth, glorious edition of the Utsob, Swagat Sengupta, Festival Director and CEO of Oxford Bookstores, said, “We are honoured to celebrate a decade of literary excellence with the Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob [ABSU]. This milestone 10th edition will feature 14 expertly curated sessions exploring diverse themes, from children’s literature to politics, cinema, poetry, sports, and the centenary celebrations of prominent Bengali literary figures. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our patrons and audiences, who have helped us strengthen and promote Bengali language and culture. This year, we will offer an immersive on-ground experience and global accessibility through live streaming on Facebook and YouTube.”
Conceptualized in 2015, ABSU has become a platform to celebrate Bengali literature through insightful discussions. The 2024 edition will feature a diverse line-up of speakers, including authors, poets, directors, actors, journalists, bureaucrats, researchers, academicians, musicians, cultural icons, and literary award winners. The festival will also shine a spotlight on emerging voices in Bengali writing while continuing its tradition of honouring global literary figures.
Eminent Speakers and Partners of ABSU
The 10th edition of ABSU will host a plethora of Bengali litterateurs and eminent personalities like Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Subodh Sarkar, Pracheta Gupta, Anjan Dutt, Anupam Roy, Satabdi Roy, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Bhagirath Misra, Aveek Majumder, Sudhangshu Dey, Tapan Bandyopadhyay, Dr. Swati Guha, Kiran Dutta, Alokprasad Chattopadhyay, Siladitya Sen, Gautam Bhattacharya, Dipanwita Ray, Rupak Saha, Anima Brahma, Caesar Bagchi, Hindol Bhattacharya and Shyamali Acharya among others.
To contribute to the success of the 10th edition of ABSU, K. C. Das, Saptapadi and Cha Bar will support the festival as Refreshment Partners. Shabdabaaji, Surojit-O-Bondhura Kobita Club, Counter Culture and Dipanjan Ghosh Entertainment are also on-board as Session Partners of the festival.
About Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob (ABSU): Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob (ABSU), India’s first Bangla Literary Festival (i.e. Utsob in Bangla) created by the century old Oxford Bookstores in 2015, honours the rich literary tradition of the Bangla language. The objective of ABSU, a prized initiative of Oxford Bookstores, is to make Bangla literature increasingly visible and accessible, build an audience for Bangla books and create a culture of readership and familiarization with Bangla language among the youth. An interactive platform bringing together voices of contemporary Bangla Literature from the national and international stage, ABSU showcases all aspects of Bangla literature and literary expression and their impact on various art forms. ABSU is committed to the journey of Bengali Literature which is both exciting and exhilarating and have hosted eminent personalities over the years to grace the festival. They include renowned authors like Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Nabaneeta Dev Sen, Pabitra Sarkar, Samaresh Majumdar, Sankha Ghosh, Pracheta Gupta, Ranjan Bandhopadhyay, Sanjib Chattopadhaya, Saikat Mukhopadhyay, Anjan Dutt, Anindo Chattopadhay, Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, Srijato, Binod Ghoshal, Himadrikishore Dasgupta, Anish Deb, Krishnendu Mukherjee and Subodh Sarkar; film Directors like Suman Mukhopadhyay, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and Arindam Sil; Bengali musicians Nachiketa, Surojit Chatterjee, Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta, Rupam Islam; Actors Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Barun Chandra, Parambrata Chatterjee, Chandan Sen, Kheyali Dastidar and Sohini Sengupta. The festival has also attracted prominent literary personalities from Bangladesh like Selina Hossain, Imdadul Haq Milan and Sadat Hossain.
About Oxford Bookstore: Established in 1919, Oxford Bookstore is one of the oldest heritage bookstores in the nation. It is India’s only bookstore to curate multiple literary festivals like Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, Apeejay Bangla Sahitya Utsob, and Hindi Sahitya Utsav. The Oxford Bookstore not only offers book lovers access to the very best books and ambience but also India’s first-of-its-kind tea boutique, Cha Bar. At Oxford Bookstores, success is measured by the smiles on millions of happy readers that the brand has served over the last 100 years. Each time you walk into our iconic store in Kolkata, its old-world charm leaves you enchanted and desiring for more. Our fleet of ‘happy to help’ knowledgeable booksellers and conversant hosts work round the clock to bring to our vendees world-class reading experience. Be it through our books or our fine teas we abide by the brand’s motto – Much more than a bookstore – at every Bookstore. To know more about Oxford
Bookstore log on to www.oxfordbookstore.com
