Dialogue
2026
The Assam Tribune Dialogue is an initiative to create a platform to discuss and delve into the key issues pertinent to Assam and the Northeast Region of India. The Dialogue comprises of stimulating Plenary Sessions and Interactions and will endeavor to bring together diverse stakeholders including policymakers, experts, and the civil society to engage in dialogue, exchange of ideas, and explore solutions which can positively impact the fabric of the society.Â
SPEAKERS
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Hon’ble Chief Minister, Assam
Tigmanshu Dhulia
Filmmaker, Writer, Actor and
Theatre Personality
Seema Biswas
Actor
Zerifa Wahid
Actor
Dr Asha Kuthari Chaudhuri
Literary Scholar
Faye D'Souza
Journalist & Founder- Beatroot News
Pradip Phanjoubam
Senior Journalist and Author
Ramanuj Dutta Choudhury
Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune
Afrida Rahman Ali
Senior Broadcast Journalist
Jesmina Zeliang
Entrepreneur, Nagaland
Dr Mridusmita Das
Entrepreneur, Assam
Larsing LD Sawyan
Entrepreneur, Sports Administrator, Meghalaya
Dr Andrew Fleming
British Deputy High Commissioner
Nasreen Habib
Senior Sub-editor, The Assam Tribune
Avantika Halflongbar
Food blogger, Social Entrepreneur, and Content Creator
Merenla Imsong
Actor, Content Creator
Vishal Langthasa
Content Creator
Kenny Deori Basumatary
Actor, Director
Anish Gawande
National Spokesperson, NCP-SP
Ashutosh Ranka
Co-Convener, Cockroach Janta Party
Hekani Jakhalu
MLA (Naga People’s Front), Nagaland
Kunki Chowdhury
Youth Leader, Assam Jatiya Parishad
Bidisha Singha
Senior Sub-editor, The Assam Tribune
Abhijit Bhattacharya
Former Indian Volleyball Captain
Founder Brahmaputra Volleyball League
Ananda Banerjee
Author, Environmentalist, Artist
Bhaskar Hazarika
Filmmaker
Devajit Saikia
Joint Secretary BCCI, Advocate General, Assam
Jahnabi Phookan
Director, JTI Group
Karma Paljor
Senior Journalist, Editor in Chief East Mojo
Lovlina Borgohain
Boxer, Olympic Medallist
Mrinal Talukdar
Sr Journalist, Author
Nayanjyoti Saikia
Chef
P J Baruah
Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune
Ramanuj Dutta Choudhury
Dy Editor, The Assam Tribune
Sanjukta Parasor
IPS
Satyakee D'com Bhuyan
Actor, Director, Playwright, Writer, Theatre Activist
Prof Shiela Bora
Historian, Heritage Conservationist
Somi Roy
Author, Cultural Conservationist
Dr Sonali Ghosh
IFS, Field Director, Kaziranga National Park
Somnath Batabyal
Author, Journalist
Dr Sriparna Baruah
Advisor, NEHHDC
Uttam Teron
Founder, Parijat Academy
R G Baruah Memorial Awards
Coinciding with The Assam Tribune Dialogue the R G Baruah Memorial Awards Ceremony will be held to celebrate the life and works of Late Radha Govinda Baruah and the stellar contributions made by him in building the foundation of modern Assam. R G Baruah Memorial Awards will recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions in the field of media & journalism, business, sports, and cultural development.
Programme
26 September 2026, Vivanta, Guwahati. Sessions run from registration at 9:00 to the closing conversation at 16:45.
| Time | Session | Speakers | Moderator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:45 Registration | |||
| 10:0010:10 | Welcome Address | Ms Babita Rajkhowa Managing Director, The Assam Tribune | — |
| 10:1010:50 | Inaugural Address Northeast Rising: India’s Gateway to Southeast Asia | Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma Hon’ble Chief Minister, Assam | — |
| 11:0011:45 | Insights Reel to Real: Stories, Cinema and Society | Tigmanshu Dhulia Filmmaker, Actor Seema Biswas Actor Zerifa Wahid Actor | Dr Asha Kuthari Chaudhuri Literary Scholar |
| 11:4512:30 | Outlook | TBA | — |
| 12:3013:15 | Perspectives Redefining Journalism: Reporting and Storytelling in the Digital-First Era | Faye D’Souza Senior Journalist; Founder, Beatroot News; former Executive Editor, Mirror Now Pradip Phanjoubam Senior Journalist and Author; Editor, Imphal Review of Arts and Politics, Manipur Ramanuj Dutta Choudhury Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune | Afrida Rahman Ali Senior Broadcast Journalist |
| 13:15 – 13:55 Networking Lunch | |||
| 14:0014:15 | Harmony A Musical Conversation | Anuraag Saikia | — |
| 14:1515:00 | Voices & Perspectives Startup India Beyond the Metros: Innovation from the Northeast | Jesmina Zeliang Convenor, NER to Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, Nagaland Dr Mridusmita Das Copo, Assam Zomawii Khiangte Founder, Local All Natural Soda, Mizoram | Larsing LD Sawyan Entrepreneur, Sports Administrator, Meghalaya |
| 15:0015:15 | In Focus The World Is Changing: Where Do India and Britain Stand Together? | Dr Andrew Fleming British Deputy High Commissioner | Nasreen Habib Sr Sub Editor, The Assam Tribune |
| 15:1516:00 | The Exchange The Creator Age: Who Shapes What We Think? | Avantika Halflongbar Food blogger, Social Entrepreneur and Content Creator, Assam Merenla Imsong Actor, Content Creator, Nagaland Vishal Langthasa Content Creator, Assam | Kenny Deori Basumatary Actor, Director |
| 16:0016:45 | The Conversation Is Indian Politics Ready for a Gen Z Upgrade? | Anish Gawande Spokesperson, Nationalist Congress Party Ashutosh Ranka Co-Convener, Cockroach Janta Party Hekani Jakhalu MLA (Naga People’s Front), Nagaland Kunki Chowdhury Youth Leader, Assam Jatiya Parishad | Bidisha Singha Senior Sub-editor, The Assam Tribune |
Programme and timings are subject to change.
10:00-10:45
Registration
10:45-11:00
Welcome Address
Babita Rajkhowa
Director
The Assam Tribune
11:00-11:30
Inaugural Session
Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma
Chief Minister, Assam
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia
Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
Prof Nani Gopal Mahanta
Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University
12:00- 12:45
Panel Discussion
Sustainable Development, Balancing the three pillars: Profit, Planet and People
Dr Sonali Ghosh
IFS, Field Director, Kaziranga National Park
Dr Sriparna Baruah
Advisor, NEHHDC
Jahnabi Phookan
Director, JTI Group
In Conversation With
Ananda Banerjee
Author, Environmentalist, Artist
12:45-13:30
Networking Lunch
13:30-14:15
Panel Discussion
Sports for Social Inclusion and Holistic Development
Devajit Saikia
Joint Secretary BCCI, Advocate General, Assam
Abhijit Bhattacharya
Former Indian Volleyball Captain, Founder Brahmaputra Volleyball League
Lovlina Borgohain
Boxer, Olympic Medallist
In Conversation With
Mrinal Talukdar
Sr Journalist, Author
14:15-15:00
Panel Discussion
Future of Media and Journalism
P J Baruah
Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune
In Conversation With
Karma Paljor
Senior Journalist, Editor in Chief, EastMojo
15:00-15:45
Panel Discussion
Cultural Heritage and Identity Preservation
Somi Roy
Author, Cultural Conservationist
Somnath Batabyal
Author, Journalist
In Conversation With
Prof Shiela Bora
Historian, Heritage Conservationist
15:45-16:30
Panel Discussion
Youth Icons of Assam
Bhaskar Hazarika
Filmmaker
Uttam Teron
Founder, Parijat Academy
Nayanjyoti Saikia
Chef
Sanjukta Parasor
IPS
In Conversation With
Sattyakee D'com Bhuyan
Actor, Director, Playwright, Writer, Theatre Activist
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