Meet the Speakers

Banu Mushtaq

Kannada language writer whose book 'Heart Lamp: Selected Stories' won the International Booker Prize 2025.

Shehan Karunatilaka

Author of ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’, which won the Booker Prize in 2022.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'.

Upamanyu Chatterjee

Sahitya Akademi Awardee, his book ‘Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life’ won the JCB Prize for Literature in 2024.

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.

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.

Prayaag Akbar

Novelist and journalist, known for his novel 'Leila', which received the Crossword Jury Prize and the Tata Literature First Book Award.

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.

Jyotsna Mohan

Jyotsna Mohan is the author of the book ‘Stoned, Shamed, Depressed’ (HarperCollins 2020). She is also a columnist with Gulf News and hosts ‘Table Talk With Jo’.

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.

Keshava Guha

Author of the novels ‘Accidental Magic’ (HarperCollins India, 2019) and ‘The Tiger's Share’ (John Murray, 2025).

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.

Janice Pariat

Her book ‘Boats on Land’ won the Sahitya Akademi Young Writer Award and a Crossword Book Award.

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.

Ankush Saikia

Author of ‘The Forest Beneath the Mountains’; winner of the Outlook/Picador-India non-fiction writing competition in 2005.

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.

Dominic Sangma

Award-winning filmmaker; debut feature Ma.Ama (2018) won the National Award for Best Garo Film; Best Cinematography at Shanghai.

Narayani Basu

Biographer of V.P. Menon; author of ‘A Man for All Seasons: The Life of K. M. Panikkar’ (2025).

Sanjeeb Kakoty

Author of ‘Science, Technology and Social Formation in Medieval Assam’ (Cambridge University Press, 2012).

Jemimah Marak

Founder of The 100 Story House (Garo Hills); author of ‘Kimbe in Balpakram’ (Pratham Books).

Rosy Chamling

Author of ‘Folktales from Sikkim’ (Writers Workshop, Kolkata, 2024).

Hoihnu Hauzel

Founder of Northeast Odyssey; author of ‘The Essential Northeast Cookbook’ (Penguin).

Streamlet Dkhar

Professor & Head, Khasi Department, NEHU; Member, General Council, Sahitya Akademi.

Glenn C. Kharkongor

Pediatrician, writer, and birder exploring Northeast history and culture.

Sandip Roy

Author of ‘Don’t Let Him Know’; columnist (Mint Lounge, The Hindu) and host of ‘The Sandip Roy Show’.

Alfidarie Kharsyntiew

Actor in Khasi films (Ka Snam Ka Ud, Ngam Banse); director of documentary Ki Mawbynna; co-director of Wad Shyiengkrung.

Anurag Banerjee

Shillong- and Mumbai-based photographer/writer; works include ‘I’m Not Here’ and ‘The Songs of Our People’.

Madeline Y. Tham

Educator and heritage advocate focusing on Meghalaya’s culture and environment.

Malavika Banerjee

Curator & Director, Kolkata Literary Meet (since 2012); also curated festivals in Ranchi and Bhubaneswar.

Karishma Upadhyay

Author of ‘Parveen Babi – A Life’; led entertainment teams at People magazine, Times Now, and DNA.

Mmhonlumo Kikon

Founder of LogDrum Foundation; author of ‘His Majesty’s Headhunters’ (Penguin India).

Lucetta Jeane Syiem

Retired teacher (St. Mary’s HSS, Shillong); former news anchor at PCN; veteran event organizer.

Seema Sharma

Professor of English, Jai Hind College; Fulbright Scholar; works span Translation Studies and Indian Writing in English.

Shahana Chatterjee

Lucy Hannah

Dr. Amanda Tongper

Dr. Etawanda Saiborne

Freddie Majaw

Priyambada Jayakumar