Chandigarh
24 November 2024
DIVYA AZAD
The 12th edition of the Chandigarh Lit Fest (CLF) – Literati 2024, a vibrant celebration of literature, art, creativity, and intellect, concluded on Sunday at Sukhna Lake Club, Chandigarh, with a promise to transform the ‘City Beautiful’ into a hub of ‘literary tourism’.
Set against the tranquil backdrop of Sukhna Lake, the festival was organised by the Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS), in which many well-known authors and speakers participated in 18 sessions over two days of diverse literary sessions.
Dr Sumita Misra, Festival Director, CLF Literati and Chairperson CLS expressing her gratitude said, “I thank all literature enthusiasts for making this literary festival a resounding success. For CLF Literati 2025, we promise to return with an even more vibrant and electrifying lineup of authors and speakers, ensuring that the 13th edition becomes an unforgettable celebration of creativity and intellect. Together, we will make the ‘ ‘City Beautiful’ a ‘literary tourism hub’.”
Day 2 – the concluding day of literary activities at the Lit Fest began with a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Surjit Patar ‘In Memoriam: Lafzah Di Dargaah’. During the session poet Amy Singh and Punjabi writer Jassi Sangha delved into his poetry work, sharing how his simple yet profound poetries beautifully capture the essence of human experience. They also recounted an instance, when Patar attended a Poetry Conference in South Africa, there was fear that no one would come to hear him because of the rain, however despite the rain, a large audience gathered and applauded his poetry.
In another intellectually stimulating session, “History as Storytelling: Reviving the Lost Chapters,” author Ira Mukhoty shared insights of her book ‘The Lion and Lily’ which explores the turbulent 18th-century rise of Awadh, one of Hindustan’s richest regions. Despite Mughal rule, Awadh flourished under Saadat Khan and his successors, who led with courage and diplomacy. However, after the British victory at the Battle of Buxar, Awadh’s power weakened as it was forced into alliances with the British.
She said, “The title The Lion and Lily symbolizes the Indian faction (the lion) and France (the lily), reflecting the complex dynamics of the time.”
Next, “Beauty in Diversity: Love, Language, & Poetry” Rakhshanda Jalil, a multi-award-winning translator, eloquently celebrated the charm of Urdu, describing it as a language capable of “filling an ocean into a tiny vessel. And I found solace and power in it.”
Vijai Vardhan, a senior bureaucrat and author discussed his book ‘Kurukshetra: Timeless Sanctity’, which explores Kurukshetra as a symbol of Indian spirituality and mysticism. He said, “While deeply tied to Hinduism and the Mahabharata, Kurukshetra was also a confluence point of diverse faiths, including Buddhism and Sufism in many stories.”
In another session ‘Sahitya Samvad: Katha aur Kalpana’ Dr. Madhav Kaushik, President, National Sahitya Akademi and Jitendra Srivastava, a renowned poet with moderator Shayda engaged in a profound discussion about the interplay between ‘imagination and reality’.
Kaushik said, “Imagination transforms into reality. Without it, we cannot reach the essence of reality.” The moderator further highlighted that imagination is the root of creativity, quoting, “Maine kavita likhi nahi hai, mujhe kavita nihal hui hai”—a testament to how nature chooses the poet, not the other way round.
Jitendra further explained that for a poet and writer, society serves as a laboratory, and true reflection in words requires total immersion. Both the speakers concluded the session with a captivating recital of their poems.
The stimulating session was followed by the launch of the books ‘Reflections of Ramsewak’ authored by Anirudh Tewari, ‘Geisha in the Gota Patti’ by author Chetna Keer, and ‘Udgaan’ written by Sarika Dhupar.
In a thought provoking session, ‘AI and Creativity: Friend or Foe?’ Affan Yesvi, columnist & publisher, emphasized that, “AI lacks true creativity and emotional intelligence, which requires human struggle and effort.” He highlighted AI’s growing influence in daily life, from tools like Google Maps to detecting breast cancer etc. He also acknowledged its several benefits and warned against over dependence, citing concerns like data privacy.
Author, Khushwant Singh called AI a powerful tool, predicting its potential to create full-fledged movies, assist with writing, idea generation, and a lot of things. Addressing the fears of job loss, Singh added that a loom of fear was also there back in times when the first computer and IT were introduced but now it has become an integral part of life. He stressed that with time we need to evolve with technology rather than fearing it.
In an engaging session on stage arts, ‘The Power of Narrative Theater and Beyond’ Padma Shri Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry eloquently illustrated the transformative essence of theater and its profound impact on the human spirit.
She said, “Whether it’s painting, literature, and cinema—art forms have the power to elevate human imagination to its zenith. Theater, in particular, stands out for its immediacy and intimacy, drawing audiences into a shared space where stories come alive and resonate on deeply emotional and intellectual levels.”
M.K. Raina, theatre director & filmmaker stated theatre is actually a way of storytelling that connects one to the community. It offers a space to the audience to connect, engage, and reflect, allowing them to interpret and ponder from their own perspectives.
In a poignant session titled ‘Echoes of 1984: Narratives of Loss, Survival, and Identity,’ Sanam Sutirath Wazir reflected on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and his motivations for writing the book ‘The Kaurs of 1984’. He said, “It was written to ensure that the voices of the women who lived through such a dark time are never forgotten. These women’s stories are not just about suffering; they are about strength, survival, and the enduring quest for justice.”
Sharing his views on the book, another speaker ex IPS officer & award winning poet Manmohan Singh stated that the book unearths many untold stories of women affected by the riots and shows the resilient side of them. The intent of the book is to reach out to the masses and get justice for the victims.
Moving forward, the audience immersed themselves in an insightful exploration of India’s rich cultural tapestry in ‘Exploring India’s Civilizational Wealth: Language, Spirituality, and Heritage’ with Sankrant Sanu, an author and the founder and CEO of the publishing house Garuda Prakashan and Anirudh Tewari, author & senior IAS officer delved into the essence of India’s ancient wisdom and its modern relevance.
In a session full of twists and turns, ‘Fear and Folly: the Intersection of Horror and Satire ‘, filmmaker Soham Shah and Karan Oberoi – founder of India’s first boy-band – A band of boys! explored the delightful and disturbing blend of horror and satire in contemporary narratives.
Soham shared his experience of working with Bollywood director Karan Johar and the incident when he had to travel to Corbett National Park to take permission to shoot in the park for the film ‘Kaal’ which was a paranormal thriller. He also spoke about his new book ‘Blood Moon’.
Karan Oberoi said that he uses satire in his scripts as according to him satire makes people think and ponder on the subject at hand. After the session, Karan Oberoi took the stage and set the venue on fire with his electrifying performance. The crowd was swept up in the rhythm, as the foot-tapping music and irresistible lyrics pulled everyone to their feet.
The day concluded with closing remarks from the Festival Director of CLF-Literati 2024, who expressed her gratitude for making this lit fest successful.
