Red River: songs and stories from Bengal, Bangladesh and Assam

Join us for a border-crossing musical and literary adventure through Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, as part of Bloomsbury Festival 2026. 

We’ll be treated to witty and touching readings from the epic historical novel Red River by Somnath Batabyal, bathiali gaan (Bengali boat songs), bihu geet (Assamese festival songs), goalpuria lokgeet (from lower Assam), baganiya gaan (from the tea gardens) songs of liberation from 1971, and much more.

Renowned singers Sahana Bajpaie and Sohini Alam will be joined by rising star Urvi Sharma, accompanied by double bassist Ben Heartland, percussionist Himanish Goswami and guitarist and composer Olly Weeks who has written new arrangements for these timeless songs.

The evening will open with words from SOAS Professor Laura Hammond, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Knowledge Exchange and Professor of Development Studies at SOAS and a Q&A between Dr Rohit Dasgupta and author Somnath Batabyal.

Chai and samosas will be served and copies of Red River will be available for purchase.