Book launches, talks and cultural performances light up Lit Fest Day 1

The 13th edition of CLF Literati 2025, organised by the Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS), commenced on Saturday with an array of literary sessions, book launches, and cultural performances that set the tone for two days of intellectual and creative exchange.

The festival opened with a welcome address by Dr Sumita Misra, Festival Director and Chairperson, CLS, followed by an inaugural speech from Madhav Kaushik, President, Rashtriya Sahitya Akademi.

While highlighting the journey of Literati, Dr Misra, said, “From modest beginnings, Literati has blossomed into one of the most anticipated literary events in the region and India.” She said the theme for this year, “World Within Words”, reflects the universe contained within every word — a doorway to new ideas, emotions, and histories.

The day’s sessions offered a rich mix of discourse and book launches. In “The Power of a Story: Advertising Insights”, advertising guru Prahlad Kakkar interacted with writer Aradhika Sharma. Political discourse featured prominently in “Indian Democracy: Evolving Polity and Public Discourse”, with former MP Shahid Siddiqui, Rasheed Kidwai, and journalist Neerja Chowdhury in conversation with another journalist Ramesh Vinayak.

Other highlights included Deep Halder launching his book “Inshallah Bangladesh” during a session on the country’s unfinished revolution, while Mehak Grover (The Silent Brave) and Manju Jaidka (The Legend of Sanjhi-Giri) also unveiled their new works in “Book Buzz”.

Regional stories take centre stage

Sessions on Hindi literature, poetry, and regional stories featured names like Madhav Kaushik, Chandra Trikha, Bubbu Tir, and Dr Sumita Misra, who spoke candidly about balancing administrative responsibilities with her passion for poetry.

The festival also included Bharatanatyam performance “Swarit Mudrayen” by disciples of Dr Sucheta Bhide-Chapekar at Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Sector 27, here.

Saturday set a high bar for Sunday, which promises sessions like “Bihar Diaries and Ground Zero: Real Heroes, Real Stories” featuring IPS officer Amit Lodha, and the CLF Literati Awards 2025, expected to draw significant attention from literature enthusiasts and cultural aficionados alike.