Shillong, Oct. 16: The acoustic and the electric, young and old, from Calcutta and Guwahati to Shillong blended this evening to honour Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan.

The Café Shillong at Laitumkhrah reverberated with Dylan's timeless songs from Blowin' in the Wind to Mr Tambourine Man and many more.

"We are blessed to be at a time and age when Bob Dylan is here," said the ageless Lou Majaw who has been celebrating Dylan's birthday since 1972.

It was in 1965 that Lou first heard Blowin' in the Wind and since then, there was no turning back. "Here is the man who breathes life through writing," Lou said.

If Dylan's writings brought Lou close to this year's Nobel Prize winner for Literature, today's gathering was testimony to the fact that Dylan's writings and songs have been able to bridge people from different corners.

Rahul Guha Roy came all the way from Calcutta, the "City of Joy", not only to be part of the event, but also play some of Dylan's timeless songs with finesse.

"It was in 1988 that I first heard him (Dylan) and since then I am a huge fan of his. I also consider Lou as my mentor in music. Since 2012, I have been coming down to Shillong to celebrate Dylan's birthday," Roy said. Without doubt, he said, Blowin' in the Wind is the most powerful song that inspires him.

For Shillong-based filmmaker Tarun Bhartiya, Dylan brought literature to its ancient form.

"Dylan's songs give us a way to look at the world and your own life. They don't give you mere slogans," the filmmaker said, adding that Tangled Up in Blue is his favourite from the numerous Dylan songs.

For Partha Pratim Choudhury, who drove from Guwahati with two of his friends, Dylan's songs are more "spiritual" in nature than "political".

"It has been about 15 years now since I first connected with Dylan's songs and writings. He is able to connect us with the human soul," Choudhury, who is also a member of the Guwahati-based Rhino Riders, said.

Should the Nobel Prize have been bestowed on Dylan years ago? "Well, we can debate on that, but let's just celebrate the moment," he said.

Calcutta-based filmmaker Ranjan Palit said it was in 1974 that he first heard Dylan's songs. "And it was because of Dylan that I started singing," he said after performing a couple of songs at the cafe.

Palit, who had also made a film on Lou Majaw titled Forever Young, said he finds solace in Dylan's songs.

"When things were going wrong, whether I was in college or studying at the film institute in Pune, I was able to cope because of his songs. They healed me," he added.

It's not dark yet, but it's getting there, Desolation Row, Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, and of course, Forever Young are much loved by Palit.

Are Dylan's song relevant today?

"He is more relevant than any other musician or poet in the world. As we are going through some of the worst times, I believe he is more than relevant," the filmmaker said.

"Do you know why I came all the way to Shillong for this event? he asked. "Because nobody in Calcutta was doing it!"?

But thanks to Dylan and Lou, the cafe became the rendezvous for those who celebrate the man who has been bestowed with the Nobel Prize for Literature.