Chandigarh, March 23 — The Spring Edition of the Chandigarh Lit Fest (CLF) Literati 2025, organized by the Chandigarh Literary Society, brought together authors, artistes, and intellectuals from across India at the CII headquarters in Sector 31 on Saturday.
Held under the theme “A festival of ideas”, the one-day literary celebration featured thought-provoking discussions, storytelling sessions, and creative explorations. The event also marked the Chandigarh launch of several books, including “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 poetry collection “A Bejewelled Tiara”.
The fest opened with the session “Tears, Cheers & Fears: The Emotional Intelligence Survival Kit”, where speakers Aanchal Bedi, Shivam, and Col Sunil Prem discussed the importance of emotional intelligence in today’s world.
In “Metaphors Be with You: The Power of Storytelling”, authors Manju Jaidka and Neelkamal Puri reflected on the use of metaphors in writing, describing them as essential tools for enriching narratives.
The session “She-E-O: Leading with Grit & Grace” featured authors Lochan Narayanan and Amrita Tripathi, who shared insights on women CEOs breaking barriers and driving impactful leadership.
A soulful exploration of poetry unfolded in “Naghme aur Nazm – Voices of the Soul”, where Kasturika Mishra, Gurdeep Kaur Gul, and Prem Vij engaged in a poetic conversation with Annu Rani Sharma, reflecting on themes of love, longing, and human experience.
In a moving session titled “The Silent Warrior: Life as a Soldier’s Family”, Navneet Grewal conversed with Geetika Lidder and her daughter Aashna Lidder, who shared their journey of strength and sacrifice following the loss of Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh “Toni” Lidder. He was among those who died in the 2021 IAF Mi-17 crash, which also claimed the life of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat.
The fest concluded with “Aesthetics and Identity: Exploring Indian Art & Heritage”, where writer and historian Alka Pande, in conversation with Jyoti Seth, reflected on her life’s journey and the evolving landscape of Indian art and culture.
