November 19 saw the launch of Aloka Dasgupta Niyogi's debut novel, Inheritors of Silence. Hosted by The Literary Table, an impac...
November 19 saw the launch of Aloka Dasgupta
Niyogi's debut novel, Inheritors of Silence. Hosted by The Literary Table, an
impactful author-reader initiative under the umbrella of the Arogya Wellbeing
Trust, the event was a vibrant testament to the power of heartfelt
storytelling.
The evening was expertly managed by the Emcee,
Devashish Chakravarty, who opened the session by introducing The Literary
Table’s mission to foster dialogue between writers and their audiences. He then
introduced the central figure, author Aloka Dasgupta Niyogi, before welcoming
the distinguished Chief Guest celebrated figure Madhumanti Maitra and guest of
honour the renowned storyteller Sanjay Mishra.
It was a debut that defied expectations. The true
highlight began with Madhumanti Maitra’s powerful endorsement. Declaring that
she had read the entire book "in one breath," her praise was effusive
and genuine. Maitra mesmerised the audience by stating emphatically that
Inheritors of Silence did not read like the work of a debut writer. She
insisted that Ms. Niyogi possessed a natural "flair" for novel
writing and should have embarked on this journey much sooner. This high praise
immediately set an elevated tone for the evening, validating the book's
engrossing nature and literary quality.
Following this, Sanjay Mishra added a beautiful
layer of personal resonance to the proceedings. Clearly taken in by the
descriptions of Comilla and Chittagong mentioned by Maitra, Mishra shared
poignant stories of his own family history. He spoke movingly about his
great-grandfather and the school he had founded in Comilla, effectively weaving
the book's geographical and historical themes into a shared, collective
heritage. His deeply personal anecdotes provided a moving counterpoint to the
literary critique.
Emcee Devashish Chakravarty skillfully navigated
the event, deftly sharing intriguing snippets from the novel that kept the
audience keen to learn more without giving away too much. The atmosphere
culminated in an excellent and highly participatory audience interaction and
Q&A session, which brought a final, vibrant energy to the whole launch.
The launch of Inheritors of Silence was more than
just an unveiling of a book; it was a deeply emotional and intellectually
stimulating discussion that celebrated a promising new voice in literature. It
was clear from the guests' enthusiastic responses and the vibrant audience
participation that Aloka Dasgupta Niyogi has indeed given birth to a story that
will resonate with many for years to come.
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