Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burmese poets and journalists - for the first time ever participated in a regional literature festival being held in Agra, India’s historical city, which is home to the Taj Mahal.

Ajeet Cour, Founder and President of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Writers and Literature said, the cultural connection between Burma and the South Asian region was compelling enough to invite Burmese writers, journalists, and poets for the first time, to attend the festival that draws hundreds of scribes from eight countries in the region.

At the 29th SAARC literature festival, being held from March 12 to 17, at Agra, a Burmese poet was able to recite poems, although a few prominent Burmese writers including Ju, a woman writer, and Nay Win Myint, were unable to attend.

“I am so proud of attending this festival and for the invitation to us because Burmese literature has failed to achieve international attention for several years now,” Nandar Tint Swe, a Burmese poet in exile said.

Nandar Tint Swe recited two poems, which he had composed, depicting Burma’s social, economic and political situation, at the festival.

“It is good for the future of our literature to again communicate with the international community, after such a long gap,” said Nandar Tint Swe.

Cour, in an interview to Mizzima, said, “There is a close cultural relationship, between South Asia and Burma and we also want to establish a good people to people relationship within these countries.”

She added that the organization had extended invitations to two writers from inside Burma -Nay Win Myint and Ju, Dr. Tin Tin Win, a prominent and influential woman writer. However, both of them failed to attend the festival, as they had personal problems.

“Ju informed us that she could not come here because she needed to take care of her father, who is not well right now. This also shows we have the same culture of caring for old people [parents],” said Cour, an eminent short story writer and author.

The SAARC Foundation of Writers and Literature was formed with eight countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan since 1985.

Writers from these countries, during the festival in Agra, agreed to fight against terrorism that is threatening the region and urged for unity within the region and to stand together for peace and tranquility.

“Writers will deliberate over the trauma of terrorism at multi-dimensional levels, and its impact on creative ideas and on society,” Ajeet Cour said in a statement.

“The role of a writer in these times of terror, ethnic conflicts and fundamentalism has got to be more eloquent and assertive…,” added Cour.

Along with other Burmese writers and journalists, Mizzima’s reporter Salai Pi Pi is also attending the festival as an official observer.

Reporting by Salai Pi Pi, writing by Solomon