Writers and readers gathered at Red Shift Café in Dhaka yesterday to discuss creative art and literature. The “Wave of Words” literary brunch was organised as an event to celebrate literature.
The event, hosted by literary patron, Sal Imam, brought together authors, Shazia Omar (Like a Diamond in the Sky), Srabonti Narmeen Ali (Hope in Technicolor) and poet Sabahat Jahan (Handful of Nothing), along with a new group of writers called the Pen Warriors.
Together the artists performed an experimental piece, collaboratively written by the Pen Warriors, a murder mystery called Biriani To Die For, which had the audience laughing off their seats at times, and also, thinking critically about some of the social peculiarities of our city and culture.
The group observed a minute of silence in honour of Niloy, the sixth secular blogger to be brutally murdered this year. In reaction to the murder of blogger, writers expressed their concern and demanded quick action by the government. The writers also pleaded for an attitude of tolerance and compassion among religious groups.
Sadad Saaz, organiser of the Dhaka Hay Festival, complimented the program, saying, “This is a lovely initiative. We need literary events throughout the year to encourage writing and an appreciation of literature in English, to create a thriving community around books, as we see present in India, UK and America.”
Marcia Bernicat, Honourable Ambassador of USA, attended the program and said, “I really enjoyed the event. Reading stories is enjoyable but hearing them performed is an even greater joy. I am happy to see people coming together to be creative and have fun!”
Pen Warriors is a writing group, much like Writers Block, for new writers to share their work and refine their art. The group is still open to new members so those interested are invited to get in touch via Facebook.
The event was complimented by a book sale hosted by Charcha Books featuring an eclectic collection of English books from around the world.
