Meet Our Clan
Setting down cultural roots in the Eastern Himalayas requires an appreciation for a region where landscape and heritage blend seamlessly. Darjeeling is much more than a geographical coordinate; it is a rich cultural hub where the quiet majesty of the mountains meets the vibrant, flowing traditions of local oral histories.
Born into a proud literary lineage, Udaya Mani Pradhan is a prominent Darjeeling publisher, educator, and civic leader whose diverse career spans print media, cinema, and international community service. He serves as the Principal Adviser to the Society
Udaya Mani Pradhan
Vaani M. Sharma is a Darjeeling storyteller, researcher, and cultural leader who champions regional voices and creates dynamic spaces where literature and ideas meet. She serves as the President of the Society
Vaani M. Sharma
David J. Cecil is a long-standing educator at St. Paul’s School, novelist, and Vice-President of the Darjeeling Literature Festival Society, dedicated to celebrating the written word in the Queen of the Hills.
David J. Cecil
Anirban Dutta is an acclaimed independent filmmaker, sustainable tourism advocate, policy maker, Cornell-UN Tourism STAMP Fellow, who leads the Darjeeling Literature Festival Society as its Chief Convener and Festival Director.
Anirban Dutta
At Our Heart
What began as heartfelt conversations across tea tables, misty ridge-walks, and shared artistic collaborations gradually coalesced into an institutional heartbeat. Driven by a deep commitment to giving regional voices a global platform while remaining fiercely rooted in their local cultural contexts, the core members came together to lay down the constitutional, creative, and organizational groundwork for the Society.
Honorary Secretary
Shrawani Gurung
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Shrawani Gurung is a Darjeeling-based educator, sociologist, and artist serving as the Honorary Secretary of the Darjeeling Literature Festival Society, dedicated to driving positive change through education and community creativity.
Treasurer
Nawamta Pradhan
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Nawamta Pradhan is a Darjeeling-based sociology educator at Southfield College and Executive Member of the Darjeeling Welfare Society, focusing her scholarship on Himalayan and gender studies. She leads the Treasury for the Society and the Festival.
Head of Operations
Fobi H. Limbu
Fobi H Limbu is an Assistant Professor of English Literature at Ghoom Jorebunglow College and Head of Operations for the Darjeeling Literature Festival Society, specializing in postcolonial thought, translation, and regional cultural initiatives. She leads the Operations Team at DLF.
Our Creative Team
Official Musician
Vaishali Sinha is a Jadavpur University comparative literature alumna, classical vocalist, film composer, critic, creative writer, and the Official Musician at the Darjeeling Literature Festival who celebrates indigenous Himalayan music.
Vaishali Sinha
Campaign Manager
A Darjeeling-born communications professional with a background in Mass Communication and Journalism, specializing in thoughtful digital campaigns, brand storytelling, and preserving regional cultural memory.
Nawami Gurung
Photography & Cinematography Head
Collaborating with national and international artists and brands, Ayandeep Das is a versatile cinematographer and filmmaker focused on music, travel, and cultural storytelling.
Ayandeep Das
Strategic Advisor
Best known as the author of The Hills Are Burning, The Deadly Dozen and India's Money Heist, Anirban Bhattacharyya is a prolific television producer, writer, stand-up comedian and actor. He also created and produced Savdhaan India.
Anirban Bhattacharya
life-long patrons of the society & the festival
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Dr. Gambhir Singh Yonone
Chief Patron
Prof. Dr. Gambhir Singh Yonzone is a pioneering Darjeeling botanist, environmentalist, and Padma Shri recipient who made history as the first Indian Gorkha to earn a Ph.D. in Botany while championing Himalayan conservation.
Mr. Raj Basu
Patron
Mr. Raj Basu is a pioneering advocate for community-led rural and conservation tourism in the Eastern Himalayas, founding Help Tourism and the Association for Conservation and Tourism to champion sustainable livelihoods.
Ms. Noreen Dune
Patron
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
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Ms. Fiorenza Bortolotti
Patron
As a member of the Community of Living Ethics in Italy, Fiorenza Bortolotti combines her expertise as an architect and permaculture designer with deep explorations into psychosynthesis, Agni Yoga, and community-led mapping.
Our Distinguished Panelists & Speakers
The Curtain Raiser Event of the Darjeeling Literature Festival (The Confluence) brings together an extraordinary constellation of minds, voices, and cultural custodians. Spanning literature, independent cinema, publishing, performing arts, education, and ecological conservation, our delegates, moderators, and panelists represent the vibrant intellectual and creative heartbeat of the Eastern Himalayas and beyond.
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Dr. Gambhir Singh Yonzone
The Official Unveiler
Prof. Dr. Gambhir Singh Yonzone is a pioneering Darjeeling botanist, environmentalist, and Padma Shri recipient who made history as the first Indian Gorkha to earn a Ph.D. in Botany while championing Himalayan conservation.
Mr. Raman Shresta
Panelist
As the driving force behind Rachna Books, Raman Shresta has transformed the institution into a vibrant sanctuary for creativity, open discourse, and youth culture in modern Sikkim.
Mr. Vatsal Verma
Panelist
Vatsal Verma is an editor, writer, and researcher with over nine years of experience in non-fiction publishing, having collaborated with leading houses like Penguin Random House, DK, and Hachette to shape books on history, culture, and society.
Dr. Edu Sherpa
Panelist
Dr. Edu Sherpa is Joint Academic Coordinator and Guest Faculty in the Department of English at Darjeeling Hills University, specialising in comparative literature, regional print histories, and Indian Nepali periodical publishing.
our distinguished panelists
Mr. Vivek Chhetri
Panelist
As a veteran journalist, former president of the Darjeeling Press Guild, and recipient of numerous honors like the Ram Patro Memorial Award, Vivek Chhetri is a leading media voice in the region.
Mr. Saurabh Shukla
Panelist
Saurabh Shukla is a senior marketing and media professional with over 13 years of experience across HT Media Group, Flipkart, Taj Hotels, and other leading brands, specializing in strategic partnerships and brand promotions.
Mr. Chuden Kabimo
Panelist
Hailing from Kalimpong, Chuden Kabimo is a celebrated voice in contemporary Nepali literature whose acclaimed novels, Faatsung and the Madan Puraskar-winning Urmaal, have achieved widespread international acclaim. His Collection of Short Stories - 1986 earned him the prestigious Yuwa Sahitya Akademi Puraskar in 2018.
Ms. Neelam Gurung
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Special Presenter
Neelam Gurung is a Gangtok-based bilingual educator, acclaimed author of Napaltayeka Pannaharu, and the historic winner of The Poet Idol known for her powerful spoken-word poetry and socio-political commentary.
Our Moderators
Ms. Trisha De Niyogi is the Chief Operating Officer and Director at Niyogi Books, dedicated to curating and translating Asian art, history, and culture for a global readership. With a diverse academic background spanning economics, marketing, and Indian aesthetics, Trisha De Niyogi shapes independent publishing while advising cultural organizations like Heritageshaala and the Purple Pencil Project.
Dr. Satyadeep S Chhetri is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College, acclaimed author, civil society member, and professional quiz master in Sikkim. Balancing a distinguished career in chemistry and university governance with writing acclaimed fiction and non-fiction books, Dr. Satyadeep S Chhetri is a prominent educator and science communicator based in Gangtok.
Willing to work with us?
We require
Assistant Curator - International Programme - Voluntary Role
We require
Assistant Curator - Regional Programme - Voluntary Role
We require
Ethnographic Research Assistant & Grassroots Communicator - Voluntary Role
We require
Content Strategy Assistant - Voluntary Role
