Two-day literary meet at the Reading Room “Words Across Mountains: Literature, Community, and Futures”

A two day literary meet was held in the Reading Room at Dumigaon, South Sikkim by the DG Reading Room Resource and Education Foundation in collaboration with the Education Department of Sikkim from 11th to 12th October 2025. The purpose of the gathering was to celebrate and explore the rich literary traditions of our region, fostering dialogue between local voices and writes from the Eastern Himalayas and beyond.
A total of ten students participated in the event from the Nepali and English Departments of Sikkim Government College, Namchi along with two teachers from the college. Two students shared their poetry as a part of the open mic session at the end.
The student delegates were invited from various institutions from South Sikkim, varying at levels from senior secondary schools to post-graduate studies.
The event began at 10am with welcome session honoring guest writers from Sikkim, Darjeeling and the neighbouring regions. The attendees were introduced to the DG Reading Room Resource and Education Foundation, highlighting its role in nurturing literary culture in the Eastern Himalayas.
The meet featured a book launch of “GANJU LAMA, VC Sikkim’s hero in War and Peace,” written by Anuradha Sharma, illustrated by Pankaj Thapa, and published by Foothills Publishing, a publishing house founded by Lekha Rai.
A panel discussion focused on “Why books matter” was held, featuring writers like Robin Ngangon, Dhurba Hazarika, and Chetan Raj Shrestha. It featured insightful perspectives from both speakers and the audience. The interactive session encouraged greater audience engagement and fostered discussions on the relevance of literature.
An additional panel included guest writers who read excerpts from their own works varying from poems, haiikyu, and short stories, enriching the event with diverse literary styles and thematic interests.
After the lunch break, the student delegates took the stage to present their works as a part of the open mic session. This portion of the meet provided young writers to share their voices and creativity, receiving feedback and encouragement from established authors and attendees.
The event celebrated literary diversity, intergenerational dialogue, and community engagement, contributing meaningfully to the region’s literary ecosystem.