In the inauguration ceremony, noted scholar as well as former High Commissioner of India, Indranath Choudhury, speaking on the occasion as a special guest, said that Assam is an extraordinary example of pluralism. He said that the 15th century great Assamese saint Srimanta Shankardeva was one of the early proponents of total India which was later denounced by the colonial rulers. Before him, the 13th century Islamic scholar Amir Khusru, too, dreamt about total India, added Choudhury.
Recalling the efforts made by the bard of Brahamaputra Dr Bhupen Hazarika towards building a progressive India, he said, "Dr. Bhupen Hazarika's songs imbibe the spirit of unity among diversities. Like Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Dr Hazarika sings songs of assimilation.''
David Collin, noted writer from France, also took part in the ceremony as an invited guest. Later he took part in an interactive session with noted writer Dhruba Hazarika, organised at the venue of the festival.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by a number of distinguished persons including the NBT Director Dr Rita Choudhury, Chairman Baldeo Bhai Sharma, Assam Cultural Affairs Minister Nava Kr Doley, Assam Publication Board Secretary Promod Kalita, among others. The festival schedule includes various events including 'Litmart', a programme for budding writers and readers-writers interactive sessions.
The organisers hope that the event will be a success like the last year as writers, students and others began to gather at the venue. The Brahmaputra Literary Festival for the first time was organised last year at the same venue.
