12th Edition of the Chandigarh Lit Fest (CLF) – Literati 2024: Literary Sessions Kick Off at Sukhna Lake Club

Chandigarh, November 23, 2024: The literary activities of the 12th edition of the Chandigarh Lit Fest (CLF) – Literati 2024, a vibrant celebration of literature, art, creativity, and intellect, began at the scenic Sukhna Lake Club on Saturday. Set against the tranquil backdrop of Sukhna Lake, the festival, organised by the Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS), seamlessly blends the natural beauty of the landscape with literary brilliance.

The day’s events began with a musical performance, "Chords from the Heart," a captivating presentation by Pt. Subhash Ghosh, which set the tone for the festival’s celebration of literary excellence.

The formal inauguration followed, with Dr. Sumita Misra, IAS, Festival Director of CLF Literati and Chairperson of CLS, welcoming the audience to the two-day festival. She stated, “I welcome all to Literati 2024, a celebration of art, culture, and knowledge. With top authors and speakers participating in 18 sessions and multiple book launches, this festival promises an immersive experience exploring topics like AI, single fatherhood, law, history, and more.”

She also emphasized, “Literature has always been a bridge that connects people and perspectives across the world. In today’s age of social media chaos, we seem to be losing sight of beauty, drowning in endless debates. Let’s rediscover meaningful discourse and celebrate differing ideologies with grace.”

Madhav Kaushik, President of the Rashtriya Sahitya Akademi, gave the inaugural address, saying, “Chandigarh is not just 'The City Beautiful,' it is 'The City of Intellectuals,' a home to writers of Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, and English. Literati provides a great platform for them.”

The literary activities on Day 1 began with the national book launch of a book titled ‘Ratan Tata: A Life’ by author Dr. Thomas Mathew, a retired bureaucrat. An interactive session titled “The Legend Lives On – A Man Called Ratan Tata was also held,” wherein the author discussed his compelling biography Ratan Tata: A Life.

Dr. Mathew painted a vivid portrait of Tata as a man of unparalleled humility, compassion, and empathy, highlighting how Tata's grounded nature shone through in both his career and personal life. He noted, “Tata’s philanthropy stands out not for its scale but for its intent. Rather than focusing on surface-level initiatives, he worked for the holistic development of society. His deep love for street dogs inspired many to join efforts to improve their welfare.”

In the session titled “Punjab: The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy and the Narratives Around It,” Kishwar Desai, award-winning author and historian, shed light on the untold tragedies of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919. She described her book as an ode to those who lost their lives and to the resilience of the people of Punjab, emphasizing that the massacre was part of a larger British crackdown on uprisings in cities like Lahore and Gujranwala.

Navtej Sarna, author of Crimson Spring, shared insights into his fiction novel, which blends real events and historical figures to explore the far-reaching consequences of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He emphasized that his book is meticulously researched and set against the backdrop of the Ghadar movement and the Rowlatt Act. Sarna also explored the oppressive actions of Reginald Dyer and Michael O'Dwyer, whose decisions altered the course of history.

In the session “Punjab di Zubaan: Young Poets Discuss Punjabi Poetry in Current Times,” young poets Randhir Uppal, Wahid Khadial, and Jassi Sangha discussed the evolving landscape of Punjabi poetry.

Another key session, “Legal Landmarks: Charting the Path of Justice,” featured Pinky Anand, renowned lawyer and politician, and lawyer Saudamini Sharma, who discussed key legal milestones in India’s history.

In the session “Voices of Valour: Stories of Bravehearts,” General Ian Cardozo shared his experiences, stating, “I wrote Cartoos Saab: A Soldier's Story of Resilience in Adversity to tell people what we in the Indian Army do to protect the nation. I wanted to share the story of the Indian Army and all officers of my generation who fought in three wars.” General Cardozo also spoke about the fear instilled in Pakistani troops during the 1971 war by the humble Khukri, and recalled the incident when he had to sever his own leg after a landmine blast.

General Syed Ata Hasnain shared a poignant memory, saying, “In 1947, my father, the only Muslim officer commanding the Garhwal Rifles—an Indian Army regiment with Hindu roots—stood as a beacon of unity.” He recounted how, during the chaos of partition, an officer asked his father, ‘Which country’s army will you join?’ His father responded, “I want to be part of an army where faith, ideology, and religion are not important.” Reflecting on the army’s legacy, Gen. Hasnain also spoke of Operation Pawan, where the Indian Peacekeeping Force captured Jaffna from the LTTE in just 16 days.

Another captivating session, “Ink and Imagination: Crafting Poetic Worlds,” featured IAS officer Dr. Sumita Misra, who shared, “A Lucknawi is always a Lucknawi, and my writing carries a distinct flair of the city. Poetry didn’t just happen to me—I believe it chose me. Over time, I’ve found myself connecting more deeply with Hindi, though I also write and recite in English.” Dr. Misra encouraged the audience to read as much as possible.

She also encouraged young women to be risk takers, bold and fearless in their choices, and called upon men to be more emotionally connected and secure in supporting and celebrating the women in their lives. She regaled the audience with some of her poems from her bestselling book 'Lamhon Ki Shabnam' whose Punjabi translation was also released. 

In the session “Daddy in the Driver’s Seat: A Single Father’s Experiences,” Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor shared his personal journey of single fatherhood. He discussed his book Bachelor Dad, which chronicles his transition from actor to single parent, and expressed gratitude to CLS for providing a platform to showcase this side of his personality.

The day also saw the launch of three books.