The fourth instalment of Hay Festival kicked off on Thursday in Dhaka with its theme of expanding the horizon to science, mathematics, journalism and the arts.
A number of intellectuals, creative individuals, eminent personalities and enthusiasts from home and abroad have joined the opening ceremony on the Bangla Academy premises.
Curtains rose to the festival around 11am with a collective musical performance by Bangla Choir that earned instant appreciation from the audience.
The opening session was addressed, among others, by PEN International president John Ralston Saul, Syed Shamsul Haq, William Dalrymple and Lyndy Cooke while Mimi Khalvati recited a Ghazhal by Hafiz (translated by Khalvati herself).
PEN International president John Ralston Saul, quoting Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, said: “They both have distinguished the role of literature to simultaneously stand high and keep uniqueness. Bengali has literary figures like them who could define the true meaning of literature, and the imagination.”
Referring to the sacrifice of the nation to establishing the rights of the mother tongue, he said: “The nation has to undertake the lead role in the struggle to save the decaying, dying indigenous languages all around the world, stressing on the power of the words that are created out of our imagination.”
Poet Syed Shamsul Haq said the odds have to be fought with literature, as the nation has done before.
British historian William Dalrymple said Bengali literature has its root among the people since long before, unlike many other places, where literature used to be something of the ruling people.
The session, titled Rana Dasgupta: Cities, chaired by K Anis Ahmed took place on the main stage following the opening session.
The three day festival is being attended by writers, philosophers, scholars, linguists, storytellers, scientists, actors and artists.
Shashi Tharoor, An MP and former minister of India, Niaz Zaman, Salil Tripathi, Fakrul Alam, Syed Manzoorul Islam, Kathryn Hummel are expected to take part through the next two days.