Laghukatha took centre stage at Little Thespian’s 47th Rang Adda in Kolkata, featuring writers, literary criticism, translation and dramatic reading.
Qalam Times News Network
KOLKATA, August 31, 2026
Laghukatha took centre stage in Kolkata as Little Thespian, one of the city’s noted Hindi theatre groups, hosted its 47th Rang Adda, “Laghukatha Sangoshthi-2,” on August 30, 2026. Held at the Mohsin Auditorium of the Anglo-Persian Department, Calcutta Madrasa, the literary gathering explored the power of brevity and demonstrated how a short narrative can raise profound social, literary and human questions.
The programme followed the encouraging response to the group’s 46th Rang Adda, “Laghukatha Sangoshthi.” Building on that initiative, the second session sought to create a wider platform for Laghukatha writers, readers and literature enthusiasts in Bengal. The evening brought together writers and performers in an engaging exchange where concise storytelling became a means of examining larger ideas, experiences and contemporary realities.
Writers, Critics and Performers Bring Laghukatha to Life
Renowned senior short-story writer Vidya Bhandari attended the programme as the distinguished guest and shared her reflections with the audience. Her presence added literary depth to an evening dedicated to one of Hindi literature’s most compact yet expressive forms.
The Sangoshthi featured a diverse group of writers who read and presented their works before the gathering. They included Rawel Pushp, Dr. Shipra Mishra, Dr. Urvashi Srivastava, Ramakant Sinha, Anju Manot, Surendra Singh, Bharti Mishra and Ashwini Jha.
The programme also went beyond original Hindi works and introduced the audience to stories across linguistic and literary traditions. Baby Karforma presented a Hindi translation of a Bengali Laghukatha, offering listeners an opportunity to experience the form through the lens of Bengali literature.
Kavita Kothari presented Laghukatha works associated with Munshi Premchand and Uma Jhunjhunwala, adding another dimension to the literary discussion and connecting contemporary readings with established voices and traditions.
The presentations demonstrated the distinctive character of Laghukatha—a form in which a limited number of words can carry layered meanings, social observations and emotional resonance. Rather than relying on length, the stories sought to leave their impact through sharp situations, suggestive details and ideas that continue to engage the reader after the narrative ends.
The literary assessment of the presented works was undertaken by Dr. Abhigyat, Editor of Samachar Ei Samay Digital Media. In his critical observations, he discussed the literary qualities of the stories as well as their social relevance, helping the audience look beyond the immediate narratives and consider the broader questions raised by the writers.
The event also brought theatre and literature together through a special dramatic reading of Bhisham Sahni’s “Gulelbaaz Ladka” (The Boy with the Catapult). Little Thespian artists Sangeetha Vyas, Intekhab Warsi and Md. Asif Ansari gave the story a theatrical interpretation, adding performance and voice to the literary experience.
The 47th Rang Adda was coordinated by Rawel Pushp, while Md. Asif Ansari served as the moderator. The combination of literary presentations, critical discussion, translation and dramatic reading made the gathering more than a conventional literary seminar.
With its second dedicated session on short fiction, Little Thespian continued its effort to bring literature closer to audiences through an interactive cultural platform. The 47th Rang Adda ultimately underlined a simple but enduring idea: a story does not need many pages to create a lasting impression; sometimes, a few carefully chosen words are enough to open up an entire world of thought.
