31 writers board literary train to honour Baba Bhalku’s legacy

The eighth edition of the Baba Bhalku Memorial Kalka–Shimla Literary Train Journey was flagged off on Saturday by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil. A total of 31 writers from across the country are participating in the two-day literary and cultural initiative.

Organised by the Himalaya Sahitya Sanskriti evam Paryavaran Manch in collaboration with the Department of Language and Culture, the event celebrates literature, heritage and environmental awareness along the historic Kalka–Shimla railway line.

Earlier at the event, the minister honoured the participating writers with mementoes and felicitated railway officials for their support.

A highlight of the journey is the series of literary and musical gatherings organised aboard the moving train. The opening session was dedicated to the memory of late writer and journalist Romi Arora, with her husband and poet Rajesh Arora reciting poems from her collection ‘Chitthiyan’. Subsequent sessions featured poetry readings and storytelling by both visiting and local writers.