THE 16th biennial conference of Natun Sahitya Parishad, a progressive literary organisation of Assam, was held from January 8 to 10 at Manikpur in Bongaigaon district. The conference upheld the view of democratic consciousness and human values with the main slogan of confronting neo-liberal economic policies and the sinister design of casteism and communalism by literary activities. The conference got off to a rousing start with the flag hoisting by Parishad state president Paramananda Mazumdar. Then a group of singers rendered the theme song of the Parishad, Nami Aha Sundarare Sena Silpi Dal (Come forward the artists-soldiers of beauty), originally sung by late Bhupen Hazarika. A cultural procession was inaugurated by Anupam Roy, managerial secretary of the Bodoland Territorial Area District. More than 20 cultural teams of different ethnic groups from Bongaigaon and Chirang districts took part in the procession with their characteristic colourful costumes. A picture gallery was set up and a book fair was held on the sidelines. The Parishad also published several books during the course of the conference. Mahodar Pathak, chairperson of the reception committee, and Selina Hossain, Bangladeshi novelist, short story writer, essayist and child litterateur, welcomed around 170 delegates from all over the state to the conference. Hossain was overwhelmed by the cultural integrity among the people of different communities and the overall enthusiastic atmosphere. She said despite the difference in language, culture and nationality, poets, artists and litterateurs know no barrier in upholding the universal humanity and brotherhood amongst the people. Crisis of a community is crisis of the humanity itself. Poets, artists and litterateurs are to be involved in all sorts of creative works. She also praised the Parishad for its progressive outlook. The delegate session began in the afternoon of January 8 with the presentation of the secretary’s report by Rabindra Kumar Das. The report dwelt upon international and national socio-economic-political scene, literary and organisational activities of the Parishad and the written Presidential speech. The session continued till the January 10 noon. All total 30 delegates participated in the deliberation on the report which was later accepted unanimously with certain amendments. A new state committee was elected for the next two years with Dr. Rajani Kanta Das as president and Samindra Huzuri as general secretary. The conference ended with a call for continuous struggle to create a progressive literary movement in the state to fight all evil designs including communalism and to uphold democratic values and principle of secularism for the greater unity and integrity of the people belonging to different castes, creeds and cultural believes. As part of the conference, an assembly of poets and a symposium on ‘Society, Integrity and Literature’ were held. In the assembly of poets, presided over by poet and essayist Rana Bora, 41 poets recited their compositions. A critical analysis on the poems was made by poet and essayist Samindra Huzuri. Kamal Singh Narzary, poet and MLA from Bijni constituency, delivered a lecture on modern poetry and literature. Thereafter, the symposium was held. Prof. Anil Boro of Gauhati University inaugurated the symposium. Prof. Boro emphasised that the progressive literary movement in the state must broaden the realistic concept of democracy which is a prerequisite to maintain peace and harmony amongst various ethnic groups and thereby to enhance the process of socio-political development of all. One of the two main deliberators on the subject, Suprakash Talukdar, the editor of Assamese weekly Ganashakti, highlighted that the human civilisation is a continued history of immigration. In Assam too, the immigration started long before the historic age and the process was continuing even till the time of 100-150 years ago. All these people contributed a lot in the formation of the greater Assamese society and culture. All of them are part and parcel of the mainstream and this fact was sincerely upheld by Jyotiprasad in the last century. Talukdar, however, expressed concern over the growing conflict and intolerance amongst various communities at present. Selina Hossain, in her speech, drew attention to the indomitable and invincible fighting spirit of the people of Bangladesh at the time of Independence Struggle when the artists and the litterateurs played an important role with their works. It is the artists and the litterateurs who can show people the path of unity and integrity in time of social upheaval in the face of conflict, violence and confrontation. She also spoke against all sorts of nefarious activities of fundamentalists in Bangladesh. This vicious force in society has been trying to spread all kinds of intolerance and attacks on courageous youths and progressive writers and artists, because they are organising people to defeat this ugly force. Nowadays this scene is everywhere of the world. However, in the long run the people with their force of love and integrity will circumvent the vile force from the society, she added.