Siliguri ( 24 March) : At the ‘Siliguri Literature Festival’ organized by the Siliguri Literary Society,the Honorable Vice-Chancellor of West Bengal Hindi University, Professor Nandini Sahu, delivered her address as a distinguished invited speaker. During the ceremony, she engaged in discussions with fellow scholars regarding the significant challenges of modern times, sharing her insights particularly on the intersection of technology, ethics, and the humanities.
In her address, Professor Sahu focused on the proper and improper use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by young researchers. She emphasized the challenges of maintaining intellectual purity and academic integrity in the era of ‘Digital Humanities’ and ‘Post-Truth.’ Detailed discussions also took place regarding gender equality and contemporary literature.
A highlight of the festival was its inclusive approach, providing an equal platform for people across different languages, generations, and regions to voice their perspectives. Cultural performances by children captivated the audience, reflecting the festival’s commitment to fostering a connection with literature and culture right from childhood.
During the event, the renowned scholar Sanyukta Dasgupta honored Professor Sahu. On this occasion, Professor Sahu presented her poetry collection, ‘Medusa,’ to the festival organizer Subrata Dutta, who praised the work immensely.
Showcasing India’s linguistic diversity, the fair featured glimpses of eight different languages. Among these, the ‘Toto’ language—which is on the verge of extinction—caught Professor Sahu’s special attention. She expressed her intent to conduct research on this language in the future.
Organizers Subrata Dutta and Dr. Sudipto Chatterjee deserve congratulations for this successful event, having performed the commendable task of bringing scholarship, creativity, and society onto a single platform. At the conclusion of the program, several virtuous individuals who have provided new direction to society were honored for their special contributions.Apart from Professor Nandini Sahu, Vice-Chancellor of the Hindi University, the other invited speakers at the Siliguri Literature Festival were: Professor Sanjukta Dasgupta, Yashodhara Roy Chowdhury, Dr. Nishi Pulugurtha, Dr. Nabanita Sengupta, Agni Roy, Radheshyam Lekali from Nepal, Dr. Sangmu Lepcha, Amar Bania Lohoro, Dr. Sujata, Dr. Ajay Shaw, Dr. Latika Joshi, Dr. T.K. Chatterjee, Dr. Kaushik Joardar, scholar Dr. Kaushik Goswami, Dr. Soumyadeep Ghosh, and Dr. Sunita Gurung.
