The stage is set for a spectacular literary extravaganza as the Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS) gears up for the 12th Edition of ‘CLF Literati 2024’, scheduled for November 22-24 at the prestigious Chandigarh Lake Club. This year’s festival promises a dynamic blend of insightful sessions, engaging book launches, and riveting performances, all crafted around the theme ‘Celebrating Creativity’.
The festivities will kick off on November 22 with a soulful musical evening, ‘Aaghaaz - Shaam-E-Ghazal’, featuring the renowned Kanwar Jagmohan at the Rani Laxmi Bai Bhawan, Sector 38, Chandigarh. This will be followed by two full days of literary celebrations from November 23-24, set against the serene backdrop of Sukhna Lake, where the city’s literary elite will come together to explore, discuss, and share their passion for the written word.
The Festival director and CLS chairperson IAS Dr Sumita Misra expressed her excitement about the upcoming edition. “This year's ‘CLF Literati’ brings together celebrated names from the worlds of literature, history, art, and culture. It will be a platform for both well-established and emerging voices to engage with audiences through discussions, book launches, poetry readings, and panel sessions,” she said.
Book Launches and Literary Highlights
One of the most anticipated events of the festival is the launch of ‘Ratan Tata: A Life’, a biography penned by Dr Thomas Mathew. The book provides a detailed account of Tata’s journey, offering a rare insight into his remarkable legacy. The session ‘The Legend Lives On: A Man Called Ratan Tata’ will allow attendees to interact with Dr Mathew, who will delve deeper into Tata’s enduring influence on Indian industry and philanthropy.
The Festival’s literary palette also includes powerful discussions such as ‘Punjab: The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy and the Narratives Around It’, with award-winning author Kishwar Desai and former Ambassador Navtej Sarna. This poignant session will explore the lasting impact of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a turning point in India's freedom struggle.
A standout session, ‘Daddy in the Driver’s Seat: A Single Father’s Experiences’, will feature Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor. In conversation with the audience, Kapoor will discuss his experiences as a single father to his son, Laksshya, born via surrogacy in 2016. Kapoor’s memoir, ‘Bachelor Dad: My Journey’, has already captured the imagination of readers with its honest exploration of fatherhood.
A Mosaic of Literary Voices
Day 1 will also witness a performance, ‘Chords from the Heart’ by Pt Subhash Ghosh, setting the tone for the event. The festival will host compelling sessions like ‘Legal Landmarks: Charting the Path of Justice’, where prominent lawyers Pinky Anand and Saudamini Sharma will reflect on India’s key legal milestones. A discussion on the power of poetry, ‘Ink and Imagination: Crafting Poetic Worlds’, will see Dr Sumita Misra in conversation with poet Aradhika Sharma, offering a glimpse into the nuanced world of contemporary Indian poetry.
Other noteworthy sessions include ‘Echoes of 1984: Loss, Survival & Identity Narratives of Loss’, featuring Bubbu Tir and Sanam Sutirath Wazir, and ‘Beauty in Diversity: Love, Language, and Poetry’, with Rakshanda Jalil and Vijai Vardhan. Each discussion is designed to stimulate thought and inspire creative discourse.
Book Buzz and More
In addition to the main events, the festival will feature the ‘Book Buzz’ segment, launching six new titles, including ‘Udaari’ by Sarabjit Singh Madan and ‘Geisha in the Gota Patti’ by Chetna Keer. The book launches will add an exciting dimension to the festival, offering fresh voices and perspectives from a diverse range of authors.
Previous editions of the festival have seen prominent figures like Ruskin Bond, Amish Tripathi, and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra grace the stage. This year, ‘CLF Literati 2024’ promises to live up to its legacy, offering an enriching experience for literature enthusiasts, authors, and creatives alike.
