DYFI will organize a 3-day Book Festival from November 1–3 at Chatra Yuva Bhavan, Agartala, ahead of its Foundation Day. The event promotes youth reading culture and progressive thought amid criticism of regressive forces suppressing cultural freedom.
In the run-up to its Foundation Day, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state committee announced the organization of a three-day Book Festival at the Chatra Yuva Bhavan in Agartala, scheduled to take place from November 1 to 3. The festival will begin at 11 a.m. on November 1 and will be formally inaugurated by Professor Alpana Sengupta, a noted academic and progressive thinker.
The DYFI leadership said the upcoming event is not just a literary celebration but also a movement to reignite the culture of reading and intellectual discourse among the youth. During a press conference held on Thursday, DYFI State Secretary Nabarun Deb and President Palash Bhowmik shared key details of the event, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives in shaping a generation that values critical thinking, social awareness, and cultural consciousness.
“The Book Festival aims to create a vibrant space where young people can engage with progressive ideas, literature, and discussions,” said State Secretary Nabarun Deb. “At a time when reactionary forces are attempting to divert young minds toward destructive habits and divisive politics, we want to bring back the focus on education, books, and enlightenment.”
The leaders noted that the festival is part of DYFI’s broader commitment to fostering a rational and knowledge-driven society, especially as the organization prepares to celebrate its Foundation Day.
Criticism Over Cultural Suppression
During the press meet, DYFI leaders strongly criticized the recent incidents during the Durga Puja festivities, where stalls set up by Left-affiliated student and youth organizations were allegedly forcefully dismantled. The leaders condemned what they described as an attack on freedom of expression and a blow to democratic and cultural activities.
“This kind of suppression reveals an undemocratic mindset,” said Palash Bhowmik, DYFI State President. “Instead of encouraging the youth to engage in educational and cultural pursuits like book reading, certain political forces appear to be promoting a toxic culture of drug abuse, hooliganism, and extortion.”
They further alleged that some of these regressive elements operate under the protection of RSS and BJP-backed groups, and accused the Agartala Municipal Corporation and the state government of indirectly siding with them by remaining silent or inactive.
“The state machinery should be protecting intellectual and cultural spaces, not silencing them. We demand that the administration ensure such democratic programs are held without fear or interference,” Bhowmik asserted.
Promoting Reading Culture and Youth Engagement
The DYFI’s Book Festival will bring together publishers, writers, readers, and activists from across the state. Stalls featuring a wide range of progressive and contemporary literature will be set up, offering books on history, politics, science, and culture. The event will also include interactive sessions, discussions, and meet-the-author programs aimed at sparking dialogue among young readers.
According to organizers, several cultural programs and youth-led panel discussions will be held to discuss pressing social and educational issues, such as the rise of communalism, the digital divide in education, and challenges facing young workers.
“The idea is to build bridges between literature and activism,” said Deb. “Books have always been a medium of change, and this festival will remind us that reading is resistance.”
A Celebration of Ideas and Awareness
The DYFI leaders believe that in an era of misinformation and increasing social polarization, literature can play a vital role in nurturing informed citizens. The festival, they said, is part of a larger effort to uphold democratic values, secularism, and youth empowerment.
The Book Festival will conclude on November 3 with a cultural evening featuring performances, poetry recitations, and speeches by young writers and social activists. The event is expected to draw a large crowd of students, teachers, and book lovers from across Tripura.
With its mix of books, debates, and cultural expression, DYFI’s initiative stands as a symbolic counter to what it sees as a growing wave of intolerance and anti-intellectualism in the state.
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As the organization marks another year since its inception, the DYFI leadership reiterated its message — that knowledge and awareness are the true foundations of progress. The three-day Book Festival in Agartala is set to serve not only as a literary event but also as a reaffirmation of the power of reading as a form of resistance and hope.
