The Sahitya Sabha session in progress. Picture by UB Photos

March 31: A small group of people gathered at a college classroom this afternoon for a bit of literary chitchat.

Members of Chandmari Sahitya Sabha and other literature lovers met for its 96th sitting in one of the classrooms of JB Law College to present their writings and listen to what others had to say about them.

Every fourth Sunday, the members of the sabha meet at the law college.

Today’s session was presided over by Dhaniram Talukdar.

Participants recited poems and read out short stories and articles highlighting a range of topics.

As Bohag Bihu is just two weeks away, Prabha Mahanta from Pub Sarania recited a poem by Mitradeb Mahanta urging the Sot (Chaitra month) to usher in the Bohag as soon as possible.

Xuna Sotai pepati bojai Rongalik aha loi; Poduli mukhot bat sai sai thakim kiman roi ( Sot please usher in the Bohag by playing pepa; how long will I wait in front of the gate).

Another member of the sabha, Anima Gohain, compared her life to the dust-covered paths of the Phalgun and Sot in her poem Moi jen hou eti Meghmallar raag (If I were a raag of Meghmallar) and said she was desperately missing the past.

While member Kishori Mohan Pathak analysed the poems, another member, Roman Sharma, spoke on the short stories and articles.

President Dhaniram Talukdar appealed to the participants to devote themselves to literature.

Secretary of the sabha, Siteswar Saharia, said since its formation in 1989, it has been trying to create a forum where its members can discuss literature.

The sabha has 250 life members and more than 90 general members.

Kamakhya Sabhapandit and Kumud Chandra Deka were its founder president and secretary respectively.

Chandmari Sahitya Sabha is one of more than 900 branches of Asam Sahitya Sabha, the apex literary body of the state.

“We organise the session every fourth Sunday. As we do not have a permanent building, the monthly sessions are held at JB Law College. The college authority has given us permission to use a classroom for these sessions,” Saharia said.

“Till now we have published more than 70 books, mostly by the members,” he added.

On March 24, the sabha published two books — Uttaran by Dhaniram Talukdar and Jantu Aru Olop Dangor Howa Heten by Aruna Talukdar.