Royal Global University Launches ‘River Talks—Sabda Kalpa’: A Monthly Literary Series
Inaugural Edition Celebrates “Poetry of the Soul” with Four Distinguished Poets
GUWAHATI, May 17, 2026:
The Assam Royal Global University (RGU) has inaugurated ‘River Talks—Sabda Kalpa’, a new monthly literary event dedicated to fostering a vibrant culture of literature, language, and the arts. The 1st Edition, themed “Poetry of the Soul,” was held on 15 May at the University campus in the presence of RGU Chancellor Dr. A.K. Pansari and Vice Chancellor, Prof. A.K. Buragohain.
The event followed the format of “Three Poets and a Discussant” featuring four celebrated voices in poetry from Assam and Eastern India for an afternoon of verse, reflection, and dialogue. The programme was welcomed and introduced by Prof. (Dr.) Dhrubajyoti Borah, Chief Advisor to the Chancellor and Author in Residence, RGU followed by addresses of Vice Chancellor Prof. A.K. Buragohain and Prof. Amarjyoti Choudhury, Professor Emeritus and Chair Professor, Dr Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Creativity, RGU.
The three featured poets for the inaugural edition were Prof. M. Kamaluddin Ahmed, Eminent Poet and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Gauhati University, Dr Namrata Pathak, Poet, Academic, and Charles Wallace Fellow, and Dr Bijoy Sankar Barman, Poet, Writer, and Translator. Each poet presented an address where they reflected on their respective journeys as poets followed by poetry reading by the poets themselves. The Assamese poetry of M. Kamaluddin Ahmed and Bijoy Sankar Barman were followed by their renditions in English by Satyakee Dcom Bhuyan, Associate Dean, Student Affairs and Dr Ayushman Devraj, Assistant Professor, Department of English. This was followed by a round of discussion and by Dibyajyoti Sarma, Writer, Editor, and founder of one of India’s biggest independent publishing houses, Red River. Sarma summed up the body of work of each poet and facilitated an engaging interaction with the poets.
The session concluded with poetry readings by faculty members and students of the university, underscoring the event’s commitment to nurturing literary talent within the university community. The poets from RGU were Krishadwipta Pathak, Dr Prabuddha Ghosh who read a popular Bangla poem from his repertoire and Dr Saswati Bordoloi who read one of her Assamese poems.
Prof. (Dr.) Dhrubajyoti Borah reiterated the university’s commitment towards such literary endeavours. In his welcome address he stated, “Sabda Kalpa is a living space for language to breathe and grow. Through this monthly series, RGU reaffirms its dedication to cultivating intellectual and creative life, and to honouring the enduring power of the spoken and written word.” ‘River Talks—Sabda Kalpa’ will continue as a monthly event at RGU, with each edition exploring a new literary theme and inviting voices from across the region and beyond. This will serve as a run up to Royal Global University’s flagship literary festival, River Talks tentatively scheduled in January or February 2027. The event ended with Dr Stuti Goswami, Member-Secretary, River Talks—Sabda Kalpa offering the formal vote of thanks.
