Reviving Tales of the Soil & Soul: An Important Gathering in North East India
In the heart of Kaziranga, Assam, a significant event took place on December 24-25, 2025. The Assam Forum of the Indigenous Society for the Promotion of English Language and Literature (iSPELL) organized an Authors Retreat at Wild Grass Resort. This event, a collaboration with WissenMonk, Guwahati, Timbuktoo, and Storylines, aimed to preserve and document inter-generational conversations and family narratives.
Celebrating Indigenous Literature and Culture
The retreat brought together poets, writers, and academics from across Assam, as well as faculty members from various institutions. The two-day programme began with an evening session featuring poetry readings and songs, followed by a workshop titled "Stories from the Soil & Soul" conducted by Aparna Raman, founder of Timbuktoo Publishing and Storylines.
Raman's workshop focused on artistic explorations using thread, art, and paper folding as metaphors for healing and meaning-making. The participants engaged in conversations about neighbourhoods, cultural rituals, natural medicine, and changing geographies, aiming to preserve these narratives for future generations.
Releasing the Third Anthology and Honoring Distinguished Guests
The event also marked the release of the iSPELL Assam Forum's third anthology, "Silhouettes in the Yonder," edited by Sangeeta Dey (Roy), Neetu Gupta, and Shweta Sur, and published by WissenMonk. The formal session was moderated by writer, poet, and teacher Sangeeta Dey (Roy).
Meenakshi Goswami, National Awardee Teacher 2022, retired principal, and patron of the iSPELL Assam Forum, and Neeta Lagachu (Taye), writer and head and associate professor in the Department of English at CKB Commerce College, Jorhat, attended the event as distinguished guests.
Implications for North East India and Beyond
This retreat is significant not only for Assam but also for the broader Indian context. By focusing on indigenous literature and culture, it highlights the richness and diversity of the region's narratives. Furthermore, the emphasis on inter-generational conversations and memory preservation is crucial in a rapidly changing world.
As we move forward, it is essential to continue supporting such initiatives that celebrate our roots, nurture our creativity, and help us understand our past to shape our future.