Forest Retreat Becomes a Global Celebration of Literature and Culture: Fourth Rockland Retreat & Book Fair 2026 Held in New York
Progga News Desk:
The Fourth Rockland Retreat & Book Fair 2026 was successfully held over two days at the Threefold Educational Center in scenic Chestnut Ridge, New York. Set amid lush forests and a peaceful natural landscape, the event brought together poets, writers, researchers, artists, and cultural enthusiasts from Australia, Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Guyana , India, Ireland, Turkey, and the United States, transforming the venue into a vibrant international literary village.
Organized by the Bengali International Literary Society (BILS), the event aimed to promote Bengali literature and culture while fostering meaningful dialogue among diverse languages and cultures. BILS also highlighted its long-standing commitment to nurturing creativity among young people on the autism spectrum.
The program opened with the national anthems of Bangladesh and India, performed by Andrew Shantz, Samina Khandakar, and Prothom Chakraborty. The trio then performed the United States national anthem, officially inaugurating the event. Convener Gyana Mella welcomed guests to the conference.
This year’s theme, “The Sari in World Literature and Culture,” served as the central focus of the program. The conference was inaugurated by Professor Emeritus, former Vice Chancellor, and distinguished author Dr. Mostofa Sarwar. Renowned Indian poet Subodh Sarkar spoke as the chief guest on the historical, cultural, and political significance of the sari, describing it as far more than a garment—it is a symbol of centuries of history, heritage, culture, and the lived experiences of women. His celebrated poem Sari was recited by Parveen Sultana. Conference President and Banglades’ National Poet Mohammad Nurul Huda discussed the sari’s intellectual property value and its growing global potential.
Participants from many states of the United States and guests traveled from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, creating a truly international gathering that celebrated literature, language, and cultural exchange.
Scientist and Professor Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha, Patron of BILS, emphasized that a healthy lifestyle is essential for sustaining creativity and literary excellence. During a health and wellness session, Dr. Dipa Saha and marathon runner Md Nasir Sikder discussed the benefits of oil-free cooking, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and long-distance running. Dr. Dipa Saha stressed that healthy living nurtures positive thinking and enhances creative writing.
The conference featured original poetry, short stories, and children’s verse in Bengali, English, Spanish, and Turkish. Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha introduced his innovative literary form, “Chhorabita,” a unique fusion of rhyme and poetry, while Ishrat Bokhari presented one of his works.
The book fair also featured book exhibitions and sales, art displays, fresh fruits, and healthy organic cuisine.
One of the highlights of the event was the participation of writers with autism and an art exhibition presented by participants of the Endeavor21+ Autism Program. Artwork by community members, Enza and Piera Lombardo received widespread appreciation. John Carlos Young captivated the audience with a performance of Woody Guthrie’s iconic song, This Land Is Your Land.
A live creative writing competition attracted numerous aspiring writers, with Dr. Kausik Kar winning first place.
Poetry recitations were presented by Titania Gupta, Deep Narayan Gupta, Khaled Mithu, Nilufar Zerin, Parveen Sultana, Sanghamitra Banerjee, Dr. Ashvini Persaud, and acclaimed Indian sarongi maestro Ustad Kamal Sabri. Dr. Persaud received special recognition for her English prose-poetry portraying the history of the Bengali community in America while Adrika Das received the award for Bengali recitation.
Poetry and fiction readings were presented by Dr. Tapati Ray, Benojir Sikder, Mohammad Kayum, Rafiqul Islam, Banani Sinha, Sumon Samsuddin, Isaac Steinberg, Komolika Pandey, Sultana Ismat Ara, Dr. Mohammad Masum, Dr. Mallika Dhar, and many others. Solo poetry readings were delivered by Farhana Elias Tuli, Cheryl Lerner, and Turkish poet Murat Nemet Nejat. Stories in Spanish and English were read by Iris Tejada and Luz Cuevas, while Sultana Ismat Ara shared a travel narrative.
Members of the Westchester County volunteer organization Lipilekha, especially its President Titania Gupta, actively participated in the event. Author and community leader Dr. Dilip Nath reflected on the success and social impact of last year’s Rockland Retreat & Book Fair.
A special seminar commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States explored the mutual influence and evolution of Bengali and Western literature. The session was moderated by poet Faqir Elias.
The cultural program featured performances by Andrew Shantz, Archit Krishnan, Ustad Kamal Sabri, Samina Khandakar, Dr. Shewli Roy, Dr. Md. Zulfikar Hossain, Gautam Saha, and Dr. Arpita Ghosh.
The event was also attended by poet and publisher Humayun Kabir Dhali, Shah J. Chowdhury, and renowned vocalist Rathindranath Roy, all of whom were honored with ceremonial shawls.
As part of the retreat experience, participants enjoyed forest hiking, yoga, swimming, camping, farm tours, and opportunities to relax in nature.
On the second day, Dr. Mohammad Masum delivered the welcome address, sharing his travel experiences. Greetings were also delivered by Democratic District Leader Dr. Dilip Nath and Kallol Das, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, USA Chapter.
The audience was captivated by a dance performance titled “From Darkness to Light” by Dr. Animita Saha.
Dr. Ashvini Persaud, co-founder of the planned New York Sari Museum, spoke about the historical significance of the sari and appealed for donations of vintage saris. Irish barrister Karen Morris and Australian educator Christine MacLleen also shared their personal experiences with the sari.
The closing ceremony featured several prestigious awards. The BILS Award 2026, recognizing outstanding contributions to literature and East-West cultural exchange, was presented to Dr. Mostofa Sarwar. The Dr. A. B. Chowdhury Recitation Award was bestowed to Dr. Ashvini Persaud English) and Adrika Das for Bengali category, while the Bina Pani Saha Literary Award was presented to Benojir Sikder for poetry.
This year also marked the introduction of the BILS Writers-in-Residence Award, presented to Indian poet Subodh Sarkar and Bangladeshi poet Mohammad Nurul Huda. Under this initiative, selected writers will have the opportunity to stay under BILS sponsorship for periods ranging from two days to four weeks to pursue creative literary work.
In their closing remarks, Conference Chair Mohammad Nurul Huda and Convener Giana Mela reflected on the success of the gathering. BILS President Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha delivered the vote of thanks. As a symbol of environmental awareness, mint plant seedlings were distributed to participants at the conclusion of the event.
Progga News served as the official media partner.
The organizers also announced that the Fifth Rockland Retreat & Book Fair will be held on July 24–25, 2027. The theme for next year’s event will be “From the Meghna to the Mississippi.” Internationally recognized scholar of Bengali literature Dr. Blanka Notková, Professor and Researcher at Charles University in the Czech Republic, has given her preliminary consent to attend as the Chief Guest.
