Chandigarh, Nov 24, 2019 (Yes Punjab News)
The 7th edition of Chandigarh Literary Society’s annual litfest, Literati, concluded here today with panel discussions on Electoral System to Crime, Intrigue, Article 370 to Happiness, Heritage and Divinity Literati began with children’s workshop with Aabid Surti who also is a ‘save water’ protagonist with his popular slogan ‘Drop Dead’, advised the children to join the movement in saving water.
Rajashekhar Vundru whose book on India’s electoral system and role of Ambedkar, Gandhi and Patel brought to the fore interesting insights and ups-and-downs in framing the Constitution of India in conversation with Col D S Cheema.
Providing adult franchise opportunity to the Indian electoral did not go well with the Britishers and many others, and yet Ambedkar could manage to incorporate many reforms incorporating them in the Constitution of India.
Jyoti Kamal, executive editor with CNN-IBN probed with the author Sunanda Mehta, the intriguing life of Sunanda Pushkar, her possibly abused childhood and subsequent impact on her married life that led to two divorces, before her marriage with Shashi Tharoor.
Sunanda shared her extensive travel and interview with her numerous friends to cull out the facts about unknown facets of her life, her struggles, and ultimate ambition to get into the high-flying circuit of power, and ultimate tragic end about which truth is still not known.
Pre and Post Article 370 had active audience participation who sided with the dismal situation in the valley while the panelists including Ramesh Vinayak, kashmiri pandit and author Sidharth Gigloo, author Mehak Gupta Grover shared their experience with moderator Manraj Grewal.
Ramesh Vinayak agreed to abrogation of articles 370 and 35A as the long-awaited right move by the Indian government but continuous silence and political vacuum are widening the gap between the people of the valley with the rest of the country.
Sidharth Gigoo expressed that early action is needed so that the displayed Kashmiris can return to their homes and live with other co-residents who are muslims, sikhs etc, lest they lose their sense of belonging to the place.
Mehak Grover, a Jammuite, however hoped that the fundamental rights would be available for her who after marriage has moved out of Jammu and in current situation may lose right to buy property there and settle down in future.
The panelists hoped for early reoslution of the suspense that surrounds the valley.
Two accomplished crime thriller writers Damyanti Biswas and Kanchana Banerjee explored the genre with Suparna Saraswati Puri, and proudly celebrated the freedom they have enjoyed in exploring the darker side of human psyche with equal dare and aplomb.
In another session on Happiness Makes the World Go Round, Neha Gupta moderated a battery of humour writers Vivek Atray, Lily Swarn, and happiness guru Gurdip Hari.
The last session on 550 Years of Divinity and Shri Guru Nanak Dev talked about heritage tales with authors Simran Puri, Amitoj Mann, Jaspal Singh in conversation with Ravee Pandher.
