Bengali International Literary Society (BILS)

10:15 to 10:45 am Get Fit and Tiana with Gyana. Body tuning and stretching under the tree with Gyana Mella. Relieve stress, get into shape to enjoy the program with greater energy and concentration. Please wear relaxing clothes.

10:45 to 11:30 am Hike with Josh Sucov through the woods. https://www.endeavor21.org/outdoor-classes. You can enjoy the serene beauty of the woods in the countryside, take a rest whenever you want, and jot down your best thoughts. Do not forget to ask Joshabout bee farming on your way. Bring your hiking shoes and bug spray.

11:35 to 12:00 noon Yoga with Oraunder the trees. https://www.instagram.com/orarosentalsucov/ Enjoy Hatha Yoga with Ora Sucov, an experience yoga instructor and meditation expert. Six to eight in groups on the green grass surrounded by shrubs and trees under the blue sky.

12:15 to 12:45 pm Farm tour https://threefoldcommunityfarm.org/. Stroll through the farm where you can see the grazing cows, and horses, and may catch a glimpse of flying birds or grazing deer.

12:30 to 1:30 pm Swimming. Bring your bathing gear and enjoy swimming in the outdoor pond with a manufactured beach and taste the ambiance of the sun and shade. https://threefold.org/threefold-pond/

12:00 noonto 1:30 pm Going to set up the tent if you are registered for camping, orto designated room to get ready for the main event.

2:00 to 2:30 pm Welcome address: Gyana Mella, the convenor of the 4th Rockland Retreat and Book Fair, 2026. Director, Endeavor 21+, Chestnut Ridge, NY. https://www.endeavor21.org/
Inauguration and ribbon cutting: Dr. Mostofa Sarwar, Professor Emiritus, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA. Inauguration Remakes. Conference Theme: Saree. https://www.uno.edu/profile/faculty/mostofa_k
Bangladesh and Indian National Anthems: Andrew Shantz (Paterson, NJ) and Samina Khandaker (Hollis, NY).
Translation of National Anthems for English-speaking audiences: Dr. Animita Saha, Monsey, NY.
US National Anthem: Pratham Chakraborty (Jamaica Estate, NY), Shannon Young and Jon Carlos Young (Chestnut Ridge, NY).

2:30 to 2:45 pm Chief Guest’s remarks: Subodh Sarkar, Former Chairman, West Bengal Poetry Academy, Kolkata, India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subodh_Sarkar
Conference Chair’s Remarks: Mohammad Nurul Huda, Former Director General, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Nurul_Huda

2:45 to 3:15 pm Authors’ introduction and reception by BILS’ Founder and President, Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha, Monsey, NY. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMNnQEPVvKM.

3:15 to 3:25 pm Sareemaking is an evolving art form and its globalization. Mohammad Nurul Huda, Former Director General, Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

3:45 to 4:45 pm Opening of the authors’ bookstalls, local crafts (made by Endeavor 21+ special needs participants), arts and artist stalls by Dr. Muhammad Masum (Baltimore, MD), and a photo session.
Arts by Enza and Piera Lombardo (Airmont, NY), and Endeavor 21+ participants.

4:45 to 5:00 pm Threefold as a Living Being – body, mind and spirit. Daniele Bieber, Executive Director, Threefold Educational Foundation and School. https://threefold.org/
Rudolf Steiner philosophy.Andrea Pennington (Chestnut Ridge, NY). Rudolf Steiner philosophy.

5:00 to 5:30 pm Poetry and chhora (rhyme) in Bengali. Led by Farhana Elias Tuli (Queens, NY)
Benojir Sikdar (Bronx, NY), Faqir Elias (Queens, NY), Pratham Chakraborty (Jamaica Estate, NY), Dr. Dipa Saha (Columbia, MD), Shaeen Dilwar (Queens, NY). Oishorik Saha (Queens, NY), Suma Rozario (Glen Oaks, NY), Achala Saha (Enola, PA), Dr. Mallika Dhar (Johnson City, TN) and Dr. Tapati Ray (Sacramento, CA). Md. Abdul Kayum (Queens, NY), Md. Abdul Kayum (Maspeth, NY), and Ali Sufi (London, UK). Chhora by Dhanonjoy Saha (Monsey, NY).

5:30 to 5:40 Magic by Albert Rozario (Queens, NY).
A song by Aurora and Francesca Calafiore (Monsey, NY)

5:40 to 5:45 pm History of Bengali Literature and Culture in North America by Lucky Khaleque Chowdhury (Hollis, NY), Dr. Dilip Nath (Queens, NY), and Ferdous Khan (Whitestone, NY).

5:45 to 6:15 pm Poems and Chhora on Saree led by Ashvini Persaud (Queens, NY).
Topic: International Museum of the Saree (New York, NY)
Enlightening story, My journey in a saree to Heathrow Airport by Karen Morris (Monsey, NY).

6:15to 6:45 pm Poetry –English, German, and Polish. Led by Mallika Dhar (Dhar (Johnson City, TN)
Dave Buckner (Spring Valley, NY), Bella Freuman (Spring Valley, NY), and Dr. Tapati Ray (Sacramento, CA), William Tyler (Spring Valley, NY).

6:45 to 7:00 pm Short Story and Essayin Bengali, English and Spanish lead by Rimee Rumman (Queens, NY).
Iris Tejeda (Pearl River, NY), Luz Cuevas (Spring Valley, NY), Mallika Dhar (Johnson City, TN).Essay by Poly Shahina (Bronx, NY),Dr. Mostofa Sarwar (New Orleans, LA), and Dr. Muhammad Masum (Baltimore, MD).

7:00 to 8:00 pm Volunteer donor and participants reception at Threefold café. Organic food (American), most of it is grown on a biodynamic farm next door. https://threefoldcommunityfarm.org/
Dinner Talk: Healthy-living by Running, oil-free cooking and the secret of creative writing. Marathon Runner, Mohammad Nasir Sikder (Bronx, NY).

8:00 to 8:30 pm Recitation, Song, Dance, and Music. Led byDr. Shewli Roy (Golden Ridge, NY).
Sarod by Kamal Sabri (Delhi, India).
Poetry bySuma Rozario (Queens, NY), and SongsbyAli Sufi (London, UK) Daphna Stern, Bithi Saha (Queens, NY),Samina Khandaker, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi (Queens, NY), Apita Sarker (Boston, MA) and others.

8:30 to 9:00 pm Open mic and adda (social mingling). Led byPoly Shahina (Bronx, NY)

8:45 to 9:30 am Breakfast

10:30 to 11:00 am Welcome and Second-day Opening Remarks by Special Guest Dr. Muhammad Masum (Baltimore, MD).
Bangladesh and US national anthems by Dr. Sabita Das, Prina Nandi, Tapas Banik, Purnattom and Progga Saha, Tonmon Banik (Queens, NY), and Samina Khandaker (Hollis, NY).
Poetry reading by Rockland Poets in English. Lead by Bryan Roessel. https://www.rocklandpoets.org/home
Conference Theme Lectures and readings: Saree in World Literature and Culture by Dr. Mostofa Sarwar (New Orleans, LA), Subodh Sarkar (Kolkata, India) and Mohammad Nurul Huda (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

11:00 to 11:20 am Comparison of literary development in Bengal and America in the last 250 years a historical perspective by Dr. Dhanonjoy Saha or Dr. Sezan Mahmud (Glastonbury, CT). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sezan_Mahmud).
Recitation by youngsters: Adwait Chaudhuri (South Windsor, CT), Adrika Das (Briarcliff Manor, NY)
A talk on saree and recitation of poem Saree written by Subodh Sarkar by Titania Gupta (Briarcliff Manor NY).https://lipilekha.org).

11:20 to 11:30 am Introduction to selected books to be displayed in authors’ stalls.
Anuradha Mahapatra, (India), Ashvini Persuad, Benojir Sikder, Bonani Sinha, Dhanonjoy Saha, Farhana Elias Tuli, Faqir Elias, Poly Shahina, Rimee Rumman, Suma Rozario, Kajal Chakraborty (India), Ibrahim Chaudhury (North Brunswick, NJ), Dr. Dilip Nath, Sanghamitra Banerjee (Parsippany, NJ), Dr. Mallika Dhar (Johnson City, TN) and Dr. Tapati Ray (Sacramento, CA), Dr. Muhammad Masumand authors from Rockland Poets Group.

11:30 am to 12:30pm Book and crafts stalls reopen by Ibrahim Choudhury, Editor, Prothom Alo North America (North Brunswick, NJ). Social and photo session

12:30 to 12:55pm Ex-tempoWriting in the Woods Competition. BonerMajhe Lekhar khonje. Led by Dr. Mallika Dhar (Johnson City, TN).

1:00 to 2:00 pm Lunch and social hours. Enjoy organic American food most of itis locally grown onabiodynamic farm next door. https://threefoldcommunityfarm.org/

2:00 to 2:10 am How to prep your mind for writing your best by Dr. Dipa Saha (Columbus, MD).

2:10 to 2:40 pm Poetry and chhora (rhymes). Led by Poly Shahina (Bronx, NY).
Dr. Dipa Saha (Columbia, MD), Bella Freuman (Spring Valley, NY), Benojir Sikder (Bronx, NY), Banani Sinha (Bronx, NY), Dhanonjoy Saha, Aparajita Chowdhury (Edgewater, NJ), Proggattom Saha, Kallol Mondol, Sanghamitra Banerjee (Parsippany, NJ), and Dr. Tapati Ray (Sacramento, CA), Mainak Chaudhuri (South Windsor, CT), Kamalika Pande (Chappaqua, NY), and Ali Sufi (London, UK).

2:40 to 2:45 pm Introduction of Evergreen Circle by Ora Sucov

2:45 to 2:55 pm Sarod by Ostad Kamal Sarabi (Delhi, India)

2:55 to 3:25 pm Articles, essays, poems, and stories. Led by Ashim Saha (Hollis, NY)
Dr. Sabita Das (Queens, NY), Bonani Sinha (Bronx, NY), Juan Pablo Mobili, Madalasa Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY), Samina Khandaker, and Nahid Sultana (Brooklyn, NY), Bella Freuman (Spring Valley, NY), Shaeen Dilwar (Queens, NY). Oishorik Saha (Queens, NY), Suma Rozario (Glen Oaks, NY), Achala Saha (Enola, PA), Dr. Mallika Dhar (Johnson City, TN) and Dr. Tapati Ray (Sacramento, CA). Md. Abdul Kayum (Maspeth, NY) and others.

3:00 to 3:30 pm Hearing from the special needs participants of Endeavor 21+ Writing Program. Lead by Clair Pennington (Chestnut Ridge, NY). https://www.endeavor21.org/
Participants: Simone Steinberg, Alexandra Pisano, and Jack Cushman

3:15 to 3:45 pm Poetry, stories, and songs from the special needstalents (Endeavor21+ and SEEN Foundation (Monsey, NY)) Led byGalilee Damiao
Participants: Anan Saha, Asaf Sucov, Danson Wambua, Vineet Redy, Vivek Mukherjee, Jon Carlos Young, and others

3:45 to 4:00 pm Reflection on last year’s program as seen by special needs participants by Bonny Mukherjee (Ardsley, NY).
Talk on Saree and Recitation of own poems. Poet Subodh Sarkar.

4:00 to 4:30 pm Conference Chairs Remarks and the award ceremonyMohammad Nurul Huda (Dhaka, Bangladesh)
BILS US Award
Boner Majhe Lekhar Khonje Award

4:30 to 5:00pm Closing ceremony: song, dance, music, and recitation. Led by Mun Mun Saha (Queens, NY).
Poems and Recitation byApita Sarker (Boston, MA), Ishrat Bokhari (Monsey, NY) and Sumitra Sen (Queens, NY).
Dance – Anup Das Dance Academy led by Alpna Guha and Sumitra Sen. Participants: Adrica Sen Bhaumik, Ashimita Das, SaborrnI Debnath, and Sonjucta Debnath
Songs byDr. Sabita Das (Bonhishikha Sangeet Niketon, Queens, NY), Samina Khandaker, Arpita Saha (Parsippany, NJ) and Bella Freuman (Spring Valley, NY), and Shannon Young, Jon Carlos Young (Chestnut Ridge, NY) and Ali Sufi (London, UK).

5:00 to 5:10 pm Vote of Thanks byDhanonjoy Saha