A first: Writers’ festival in Hoshiarpur on Nov 23

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, November 20

The Hoshiarpur Literary Society is all set to host its first writers’ festival on November 23. The one-day event will be held at Citrus County in Chhawani village here. This was stated by author and State Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh today while addressing a press conference at the District Administrative Complex, here.

He said: “The festival has a formidable list of authors, panelists and moderators. The authors include Upamanyu Chatterjee, who will be speaking on his latest book ‘Stories around Indira Gandhi’s assassination’. The session will be moderated by Ravi Singh, another author.

Eminent author Rakshanda Jalil will also attend the event during which her latest book ‘But You Don’t look like a Muslim’ will be discussed.

President of the Hoshiarpur Literary society Sanna K Gupta said: “We at the literary society want to encourage a healthy, polite and constructive debate on sensitive topics and on issues which ail our Indian democracy. A healthy and constructive discussion is the only way forward to build a great nation.” “We are also looking at igniting minds and opening up debates to emerging topics in the world of entertainment and the Punjabi cinema,” said Sanna.

The session on Punjabi cinema is structured around its present and the future. Punjabi Cinema heavyweights, including actor Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi, director Anurag Singh, former Miss India and actress Navneet Dhillon and writer Jatinder Mauhr, are participating in it.

The festival will also have a significant presence of women authors and moderators which would give an opportunity to women writers to share their works and thoughts. The event will start at 10.30 am and conclude at 6 pm.