Ailynti Nongbri
Author of ‘Ka Buit Pyndonkam u Leslie Hardinge Pde ha ka Nobel u Moo-Iong’ (Ri Khasi Book Agency, 2019) and advocate for Khasi folklore and language revival.
Meet the Speakers
Alfidarie Kharsyntiew
Actor in Khasi films (Ka Snam Ka Ud, Ngam Banse); director of documentary Ki Mawbynna; co-director of Wad Shyiengkrung.
Alfidarie Kharsyntiew
Dr. Amanda Tongper
Poet and scholar, teaches English at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong. Her work appears in Muse India, ‘We Come from Mist: Writings from Meghalaya’ (Zubaan, 2023).
Dr. Amanda Tongper
Anita Agnihotri
A poet and author born in Kolkata, her recent novel 'Labanakto' has been translated by Arunava Sinha and published by Penguin Random House as 'A Touch of Salt'.
Anita Agnihotri
Ankur Das
IAS officer from the 2022 batch, Assam-Meghalaya cadre, with a strong interest in social entrepreneurship and community-driven change.
Ankur Das
Ankush Saikia
Author of ‘The Forest Beneath the Mountains’; winner of the Outlook/Picador-India non-fiction writing competition in 2005.
Ankush Saikia
Anthony Durpui
Teacher from Saipung, Meghalaya, passionate translator who helps share the Biate community’s folk tales through TFFP.
Anthony Durpui
Anurag Banerjee
Shillong- and Mumbai-based photographer/writer; works include ‘I’m Not Here’ and ‘The Songs of Our People’.
Anurag Banerjee
Arupa Patangia Kalita
Novelist & short-story writer; author of ‘Mariam Austin Othoba Hira Barua’, ‘Felanee’, and ‘Ayananta’; Sahitya Akademi awardee.
Arupa Patangia Kalita
Banu Mushtaq
Kannada language writer whose book 'Heart Lamp: Selected Stories' won the International Booker Prize 2025.
Banu Mushtaq
Bandarilin Bairo
Assistant Professor in the Department of Khasi at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, and a member of the Khasi Authors’ Society.
Bandarilin Bairo
Dr. Barbara S. Sangma
Author of 'String in a Lute' (2019) and 'A·chik Theatre: A Case for Indian Folk Theatre' (2016).
Dr. Barbara S. Sangma
Basilica Nongpluh
Presenter at Akashvani Shillong (All India Radio) and has presented papers in Khasi and English.
Basilica Nongpluh
Brian Daly Kharpran
Author of 'Caves for the Uninitiated', the State’s first renowned speleologist, awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2022.
Brian Daly Kharpran
Brian Wallang
Headmaster of K.C. Secondary School and recipient of the National Teacher Award (2007) for his contributions to education.
Brian Wallang
Dr. Colnat B. Marak
Assistant Professor at Don Bosco College, Tura; author, editor, and Vice-President of the A·chik Literature Society, specializing in folklore studies.
Dr. Colnat B. Marak
Cyril V.D. Diengdoh
IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, leading key departments with legal expertise and a commitment to effective, visionary governance.
Cyril V.D. Diengdoh
Daniel Ebor Challam
Economist, educator, and archivist, exploring the intersections of economics, culture, and memory through his writing and collections.
Daniel Ebor Challam
David R. Syiemlieh
Historian; author of ‘British Administration in Meghalaya: Policy and Pattern’ and ‘Layers of History: Essays on the Khasi-Jaintias’.
David R. Syiemlieh
Davis N.R. Marak
Officer of the Indian Police Service from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre (2008), currently serving as Meghalaya's Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Eastern Range.
Davis N.R. Marak
Dennis Laishram
Delhi-based illustrator who explores folk culture and mythology, translating timeless narratives into contemporary visual art.
Dennis Laishram
Desmond Kharmawphlang
Author of 'The Dying of the Light', a poignant exploration of love and loss, longlisted for the 2025 Commonwealth Writers' Prize.
Desmond Kharmawphlang
Deval Tibrewalla
Entrepreneur and CEO of Hotel Polo Towers Group, leading Northeast India’s largest and fastest-growing hospitality chain.
Deval Tibrewalla
Dr. Dokatchi Ch. Marak
Associate Professor of Garo at NEHU Tura, poet, researcher, and active contributor to literary societies.
Dr. Dokatchi Ch. Marak
Dominic Sangma
Award-winning filmmaker; debut feature Ma.Ama (2018) won the National Award for Best Garo Film; Best Cinematography at Shanghai.
Dominic Sangma
Dr. Dorothy R. Marak
Author of 'Tingtot Ripamchi' Volumes 1 and 2; co-authored 'Garo Linguistics' and contributed to the Peoples Linguistics Survey of India (PLSI).
Dr. Dorothy R. Marak
Ellerine Diengdoh
Faculty member at Saint Mary’s College, Shillong, specializes in popular music studies and translates significant works of Khasi literature.
Ellerine Diengdoh
Dr. Etawanda Saiborne
Associate Professor at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, exploring Khasi folklore through sound, video, and film studies, focusing on preserving indigenous cultural knowledge.
Dr. Etawanda Saiborne
Fivebilson R. Marak
Poet from Meghalaya, known for original poetry and live readings.
Fivebilson R. Marak
Francesc Miralles
Renowned Spanish author best known for co-authoring the international best seller 'Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life' with Hector Garcia.
Francesc Miralles
Freddie Majaw
Assistant professor at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, he is a researcher and creative professional passionate about film, cinema, and video game studies.
Freddie Majaw
Gladinia Pyrtuh
Self-taught illustrator from Shillong, illustrated five books with TFFP.
Gladinia Pyrtuh
Glenn C. Kharkongor
Pediatrician, writer, and birder exploring Northeast history and culture.
Glenn C. Kharkongor
Hoihnu Hauzel
Founder of Northeast Odyssey; author of ‘The Essential Northeast Cookbook’ (Penguin).
Hoihnu Hauzel
Jakmatchi M. Sangma
Assistant Professor at St. Anthony's College in Shillong, poet, and editor of Ku·riping, a biannual Garo-language magazine.
Jakmatchi M. Sangma
Jamling Tenzing Norgay
The Climbing Leader for the IMAX documentary Everest, he wrote 'Touching My Father's Soul: A Sherpa's Journey to the Top of Everest' reflecting on his relationship with his father and his 1996 ascent.
Jamling Tenzing Norgay
Janice Pariat
Her book ‘Boats on Land’ won the Sahitya Akademi Young Writer Award and a Crossword Book Award.
Janice Pariat
Jemimah Marak
Founder of The 100 Story House (Garo Hills); author of ‘Kimbe in Balpakram’ (Pratham Books).
Jemimah Marak
Jessica S. Lyngdoh
Soprano singer of the Shillong Chamber Choir.
Jessica S. Lyngdoh
Jerry Pinto
Author and poet Jerry Pinto's book 'Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb' won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema in 2007.
Jerry Pinto
Jyotsna Mohan
A recipient of the Sanatan Puraskar for Literature in 2025, is the author behind 'Stoned, Shamed, Depressed' (HarperCollins, 2020) and 'Pratap: A Defiant Newspaper'
Jyotsna Mohan
Kanishka Gupta
Founder of Writer’s Side, a literary agency; his 2009 debut novel, ‘History of Hate’, was longlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize.
Kanishka Gupta
Karishma Upadhyay
Author of ‘Parveen Babi – A Life’; led entertainment teams at People magazine, Times Now, and DNA.
Karishma Upadhyay
Keshava Guha
Author of the novels ‘Accidental Magic’ (HarperCollins India, 2019) and ‘The Tiger's Share’ (John Murray, 2025).
Keshava Guha
Kroshnil D. Sangma
Writer and poet, recipient of the State Literary Awards (2011, 2012), and author of 'Songgitcham' (2016).
Kroshnil D. Sangma
Lalnunsanga Ralte
Poet and teacher, known for his works such as Dear Baruk and August 15.
Lalnunsanga Ralte
Lucetta Jeane Syiem
Retired teacher (St. Mary’s HSS, Shillong); former news anchor at PCN; veteran event organizer.
Lucetta Jeane Syiem
Lucy Hannah
Lucy Hannah is the founder and director of Untold Narratives. A social entrepreneur, editor, and author, she has worked with writers in the UK and worldwide to develop and promote their work. Other initiatives she has established include Commonwealth Writers, Out of the Gate and BBC Writers. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Visiting Research Fellow at King's College, London, and a director of the Bocas Lit Fest in Trinidad.
Lucy Hannah
Madeline Y. Tham
Educator and heritage advocate focusing on Meghalaya’s culture and environment.
Madeline Y. Tham
Malavika Banerjee
Curator & Director, Kolkata Literary Meet (since 2012); also curated festivals in Ranchi and Bhubaneswar.
Malavika Banerjee
Merlvin Jude Mukhim
Singer and actor from Meghalaya, featured in Onaatah and Ri.
Merlvin Jude Mukhim
Mmhonlumo Kikon
Founder of LogDrum Foundation; author of ‘His Majesty’s Headhunters’ (Penguin India).
Mmhonlumo Kikon
Monica Thomas
Freelance editor specializing in children’s books.
Monica Thomas
Moushumi Chakraborty
Women’s College administrator and broadcaster advocating youth empowerment.
Moushumi Chakraborty
Narayani Basu
Biographer of V.P. Menon; author of ‘A Man for All Seasons: The Life of K. M. Panikkar’ (2025).
Narayani Basu
Neena Verma
Resilience, Grief, Wellbeing & Appreciative Inquiry Specialist. Author of “RISE - The ‘Deep Resilience’ Way” ; “Grief~Growth~Grace - A Sacred Pilgrimage” and “A Mother’s Cry ~ A Mother’s Celebration”
Neena Verma
Patricia Mukhim
Editor of The Shillong Times; author of ‘Waiting for an Equal World: Gender in India's Northeast’; recipient of the Chameli Devi Jain Award.
Patricia Mukhim
Paul Lyngdoh
Poet, writer, musician, and politician; author of Shithiar Ki Khana Lyngkot.
Paul Lyngdoh
Prayaag Akbar
Novelist and journalist, known for his novel 'Leila', which received the Crossword Jury Prize and the Tata Literature First Book Award.
Prayaag Akbar
Preeti Gill
Editor and literary agent, her new anthology, 'But I Am One of You: Northeast India and the Struggle to Belong' was co-edited with Samrat Choudhury.
Preeti Gill
Priyambada Jayakumar
Author of M.S. Swaminathan: ‘The Man who Fed India’, a historian and social scientist, blends Indian roots with international experience.
Priyambada Jayakumar
Prince S. R. Marak
Assistant Teacher at Rari Deficit School and author of 'Gisikni Kattarang (Chasong Gitalni Poedorang)'.
Prince S. R. Marak
Rahul Bhattacharya
Author of The Sly Company of People Who Care and Railsong.
Rahul Bhattacharya
Rajat Kapoor
Acclaimed filmmaker, actor, and writer known for offbeat films like Ankhon Dekhi, Mithya, and RK/RKay, blending realism with philosophy and subtle humor.
Rajat Kapoor
Rev. Dr. Bluwin Ch. Sangma
Author of 'Israelko Nie U ·iani' (2009), 'Solomon Raja' (2010), and 'Johanni Sea Nama Katta' (2024).
Rev. Dr. Bluwin Ch. Sangma
Rhinkle M. Marak
Author of Kambe Ganda (Novel, 2024) and Kubirong Part-II (Modern Poetry, 2024)
Rhinkle M. Marak
Riewbankit Lyndem
Tenor singer and composer with the Shillong Chamber Choir.
Riewbankit Lyndem
Rishila M. Jamir
Alto singer and manager of the Shillong Chamber Choir.
Rishila M. Jamir
Rosy Chamling
Author of ‘Folktales from Sikkim’ (Writers Workshop, Kolkata, 2024).
Rosy Chamling
Sajjan Yadav
IAS officer and author of India’s Vaccine Growth Story.
Sajjan Yadav
Sam Dalrymple
Scottish author and historian, whose debut book 'Shattered Lands' was shortlisted for the 2025 Eastern Eye Award for History and longlisted for the Ramnath Goenka Sahitya Samman 2025 for Best Debut.
Sam Dalrymple
Sandip Roy
Author of ‘Don’t Let Him Know’; columnist (Mint Lounge, The Hindu) and host of ‘The Sandip Roy Show’.
Sandip Roy
Sanjeeb Kakoty
Author of ‘Science, Technology and Social Formation in Medieval Assam’ (Cambridge University Press, 2012).
Sanjeeb Kakoty
Sanjoy Hazarika
Author of ‘River Traveller’; recipient of the S. Kumar Award and the ‘Citizen of Bombay’ Fighting for Peace Award at Mumbai’s Tata Literature Live Festival.
Sanjoy Hazarika
Seema Sharma
Professor of English, Jai Hind College; Fulbright Scholar; works span Translation Studies and Indian Writing in English.
Seema Sharma
Sengsime A. Sangma
Assistant Professor in Garo literature with extensive teaching experience, publications, and research on Garo language, culture, and traditional knowledge.
Sengsime A. Sangma
Shahana Chatterjee
Chief Coordinator of the Kolkata Literary, Shahana Chatterjee has also worked in the social sector, and in theatre and independent cinema
Shahana Chatterjee
Shehan Karunatilaka
Author of ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’, which won the Booker Prize in 2022.
Shehan Karunatilaka
Sonal Jain
Sonal’s works have been featured at Guggenheim New York, Deutsche Guggenheim, Venice Biennale 2011, British Museum 2016, and Shanghai Biennale 2016–17.
Sonal Jain
Streamlet Dkhar
Professor & Head, Khasi Department, NEHU; Member, General Council, Sahitya Akademi.
Streamlet Dkhar
Teidorlang Lyngdoh
Associate Professor of Marketing and Chairperson of External Relations at IIM Shillong, with previous positions at the University of Kent and XLRI Jamshedpur.
Teidorlang Lyngdoh
Upamanyu Chatterjee
Sahitya Akademi Awardee, his book ‘Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life’ won the JCB Prize for Literature in 2024.
Upamanyu Chatterjee
Valden Pariat
Performer and singer known for The Shadows of Light and La Tynrai.
Valden Pariat
Vinay Pathak
Critically acclaimed actor and theatre artist, best known for his standout performances in Bheja Fry, Dasvidaniya, and Khosla Ka Ghosla. His best-known works on stage are Nothing Like Lear, Macbeth: What's Done is Done and Karamjale Brothers.
Vinay Pathak
William Richmond Basaiawmoit
Lead vocalist of the Shillong Chamber Choir.
William Richmond Basaiawmoit