Namita Gokhale, the acclaimed writer, editor and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, will appear at the Sikkim Arts and Literature Festival (SALF) in Gangtok from April 26 to 28, 2026, organisers said. The event, led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang‑Golay and organised by the Student’s Welfare Board under the Education Department, brings Gokhale’s decades-long engagement with Himalayan culture to a festival that aims to shape a distinct regional literary voice.
Although this will be Gokhale’s first visit to Sikkim, she told our correspondent that she already has strong connections with the state. “I have many friends in and from Sikkim, even though I haven’t visited before. I am so looking forward to being there,” she said, underscoring the personal ties that inform her interest in Himalayan stories.
A native of Nainital, Uttarakhand, Gokhale has long worked to foreground Himalayan oral traditions. She helped conceptualise and curate early editions of Bhutan’s Mountain Echoes literature festival and, with Malashri Lal, co-edited collections such as Voices in the Wind: Folktales, Folklore and Spirit Stories from the Himalaya and The Whispering Mountains: Marvellous Folktales from the Himalayas. These anthologies gather legends from the western to northeastern Himalayas — shape-shifting brides, serpent kings and other local myths that carry cultural, ecological and historical knowledge.
Gokhale’s literary career began with her debut novel Paro: Dreams of Passion (1984) and spans fiction, non-fiction and editorial work. Her novel Things to Leave Behind won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2021, a recognition of her engagement with memory, identity and history.
“The deep roots and collective wisdom of the Himalayan region live on in its myths and folktales,” Gokhale said. “Recording and sharing them is vital — they are an essential part of our history.” Addressing young people in Sikkim, she urged pride in local narratives: “Your stories, both old and new belong to you. Be proud of them, and of Sikkim.”
SALF 2026 is scheduled to feature discussions, workshops and storytelling sessions. Organisers and attendees expect Gokhale’s presence to highlight the importance of preserving Himalayan folklore and to inspire readers and writers to connect the region’s past with its literary future.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/namita-gokhale-brings-himalayan-stories-to-sikkim-at-salf-2026
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