Shillong Literary Festival Opens at Ward’s Lake With Booker Laureates and Global Lineup

The fifth edition foregrounds Khasi and Garo voices alongside international names to grow the Northeast’s premier literary gathering.

Overview

The three-day program runs Nov. 20–22 and brings together about 60 writers, poets, filmmakers, and thinkers from India and abroad.
International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq and Ikigai co-author Francesc Miralles attended the opening, with curator Malavika Banerjee outlining an emphasis on thoughtful conversations.
A marquee session on “Scaling Mount UPSC” features mountaineer Jamling Tenzing Norgay and a panel of senior IAS and IPS officers led by Finance Ministry official Sajjan Yadav.
The lineup includes 2022 Booker winner Shehan Karunatilaka and young writer Sam Dalrymple, whose recent book Shattered Lands is drawing attention.
Regional programming showcases Khasi and Garo literature and features local and national cultural figures, including filmmaker Dominic Sangma, actors Rajat Kapoor and Vinay Pathak, and drummer Gino Banks.