Chandigarh Literary Society organises Chandigarh Lit Fest Literati – Spring Edition 2025
Renowned photographer Raghu Rai: “If divinity is absent from creativity, then it’s all just business.”
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 22, 2025: With the fresh breeze of spring sweeping across the City Beautiful, adorning it with colorful hues of the season, the Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS) organized the Chandigarh Lit Fest (CLF) Literati – Spring Edition 2025, to celebrate the season with a beautiful amalgamation of art and literature at CII Headquarters, Sector 31, Chandigarh.
The one-day literary celebration based on the theme ‘A Festival of Ideas’ brought together authors, artists, and intellectuals from across India for thought-provoking discussions, storytelling, and creative inspiration.
In her inaugural address, Dr Sumita Misra, Festival Director of CLF Literati, Chairperson of CLS, and noted poet, extended a warm welcome, stating, “Literati– Spring Edition 2025 is a celebration of creativity, intellect, and imagination. This year's theme - Festival of Ideas, encapsulates the essence of literature that stands for thought, dialogue, and exploration.”
She said, “Literati is not just a festival. It’s a platform that showcases both celebrated voices and emerging talents. CLS serves as a platform for emerging voices, poets, writers and thinkers where they can unleash their creativity. It is heartening to see young and seasoned writers come together, share ideas, and create an amalgamation of diverse perspectives.”
The Lit Fest kicked off with a thought-provoking session titled ‘Tears, Cheers & Fears: The Emotional Intelligence Survival Kit’. Speakers Aanchal Bedi, Shivam, and Col. Sunil Prem discussed the role and importance of Emotional Intelligence in today’s time.
Shivam said, "Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand the source of our emotions and to respond to them thoughtfully and sensibly."
Sharing anecdotes from his book ‘The Power of Human Conscious Pattern’ Col. Sunil said that by mastering our emotional patterns, we can unlock limitless potential in our lives.
Anchal stated that comparing children to others actually kills their potential. Instead, parents should guide and inspire their children in subtle, supportive ways.
In another stimulating session, ‘Metaphors Be with You: The Power of Storytelling’, distinguished authors Manju Jaidka and Neelkamal Puri delved into the role and beauty of metaphors in writing. Manju emphasized that while metaphors are a powerful element of storytelling, they are just one part of the larger craft.
Neel Kamal Puri described metaphors as a powerful storytelling tool that creates vivid comparisons between seemingly unrelated things.
Next, in ‘She-E-O: Leading with Grit & Grace’, authors Lochan Narayanan and Amrita Tripathi shared insights on the subject of ‘women CEOs breaking barriers and leading with impact’. During the session the book ‘Career Heist’ by Lochan Narayanan was also showcased.
'Naghme aur Nazm – Voices of the Soul', witnessed a soulful exploration of poetry and expression with Kasturika Mishra, Gurdeep Kaur Gul, and Prem Vij who engaged in a conversation with Annu Rani Sharma.
Session ‘The Silent Warrior: Life as a Soldier’s Family’, saw a heartfelt conversation with Navneet Grewal on strength and sacrifice with Late Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh 'Toni' Lidder's wife Geetika Lidder and daughter Aashna Lidder. Brigadier Lidder had lost his life in the 2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash along with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Geetika Lidder discussed her new book ‘I am a Soldier's Wife -The Life and Love of Toni Lidder’. “It’s a love story and a heartfelt tribute to my husband, Toni. The book captures the journey of our life together, offering glimpses into Toni’s dynamic personality—as a father, son, friend, husband, and soldier.” Aashna Lidder shared heartfelt memories of her father.
In a compelling conversation held as part of session ‘Aesthetics and Identity: Exploring Indian Art & Heritage’ with Jyoti Seth, renowned writer and historian Alka Pande shed light on the diverse facets of her life’s journey.
Next, Lt. Gen. Satish Dua, was seen in conversation with Sunaina Jain in a session titled ‘Bravehearts of the Nation: Stories of Sacrifice and Resilience’. Gen Dua spoke about his latest book 'Bravest of The Brave: The Inspiring Story of Naib Subedar Chunni Lal, AC, VrC, SM'. He said that his books always bring forth inspiring tales of valour, shedding light on the extraordinary lives of India's armed forces.
While speaking to the media he revealed how the opening chapter of his debut book centred around the ‘Uri Surgical Strike’. Gen Dua was the then Core Commander of J&K and he recounted the strategic planning and the execution of the famous surgical strike. “I give full credit to the brave soldiers who carried out the mission across the LoC successfully.”
Lt Gen Dua also praised the then defence minister - Manohar Parrikar, for his ‘quick decision’. “I would like to add that a pivotal role was played by the then Defence Minister, Late Manohar Parrikar, who ordered the strike without wasting any time.”
In another session, titled ‘For Better or Verse: Echoes and Emotions’, poet Sudeep Sen, in conversation with Jhilam Chattaraj discussed his how book ‘Anthropocene: Climate Change, Contagion, Consolation’ is a literary and artistic response to the most urgent issues that face humanity.
Award-winning photographer Raghu Rai, in conversation with Rachana Singh, shared his incredible journey through photography, storytelling, and the ever-evolving world of visual art. Rai said, “If divinity is absent from creativity, then it’s all just business—whether it’s music, art, poetry, or photography. It is the divine that stirs creativity within us. To truly capture the outer landscape, one must first look into the inner landscape.”
Rai reflected on his encounters with remarkable individuals like Amrita Pritam, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Indira Gandhi and others—he said that the experiences he had with these personalities have profoundly shaped the course of his life.
The fest witnessed the Chandigarh launch of books ‘Career Heist’, ‘I am a Soldier's Wife -The Life and Love of Toni Lidder’; ‘Bravest of the Brave- The Inspiring Story of Naib Subedar Chunni Lal, AC, VrC, SM' and Lily Swarn’s ‘A Bejewelled Tiara’.