States » NorthPosted at: Oct 25 2026 8:10PM


Khushwant Singh Literature Festival concludes with discussions on military history, environment

Kasauli, Oct 25 (UNI)The three-day Khushwant Singh Literature Festival (KSLF) 2026 concluded here on Sunday with discussions on military history, art, entrepreneurship, environmental concerns and literature, bringing together authors, journalists and thinkers for an exchange of ideas.
A key session on General Sundarji: Celebrated or Debated featured author Probal Dasgupta in conversation with journalist Sunetra Choudhury.
Describing Sundarji as a strategic thinker ahead of his time, Dasgupta said his ambition, impulsiveness and decisiveness sometimes resulted in controversial decisions.
Calling Operation Blue Star a “huge administrative failure”, Dasgupta said established protocols were bypassed when Sundarji dealt directly with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He also pointed to intelligence failures and a lack of coordination among security forces, the bureaucracy and political leadership. Discussing Operation Brasstacks, he said Sundarji’s attempt to test Pakistan’s defence capabilities pushed India towards a dangerous edge.
The festival also marked the birth centenary of eminent artist Satish Gujral through a conversation featuring Aman Nath and Feroze Gujral.
The session explored Gujral’s contributions to painting, sculpture, architecture and literature, besides his personality, personal relationships and the role of Khushwant Singh in documenting his life and work.
In another session, Corporate Yogi: From Speaker to CEO, Padma Shri awardee Dr Arvind Lal spoke to Serena Jacob about the circumstances that led him to take charge of his family’s laboratory after his father’s death in 1977. Lal, who was pursuing postgraduate studies in pathology at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, returned to Delhi to manage the laboratory, founded in 1949, and subsequently transformed it into Dr Lal PathLabs.
Drawing on his book Corporate Yogi: My Journey as a Spiritual Seeker and an Accidental Entrepreneur, Lal reflected on how personal loss, business responsibilities and spiritual exploration shaped his journey.
Environmental concerns and mindful living featured in Slow Down. You Move Too Fast, with Shreya Jani in conversation with Gargi Rawat. Drawing on her book Slow Living: What You Can Do About Climate Change, co-authored with Vandana Shiva, Jani discussed the environmental impact of consumer choices, privilege and unsustainable lifestyles. Recalling her journey as a social activist from the age of nine and experiencing burnout at 13, she stressed the need to recognise personal boundaries and adopt a more mindful approach to life.
Literary discussions included Ghouls and Good Reads, featuring Shinie Antony and Satyajit Samanta, while Devki Pande, Shobha Shroff and Dr Jatinder Parwaz participated in After Khushwant’s Heart: The Debutants, highlighting emerging literary voices. Akhil Gupta’s Closing: The Happiness Lab invited audiences to reflect on well-being and a more considered way of living.
The concluding day opened with a musical presentation by Sandeep Singh and ended with Rene Singh’s Beyond the Last Page: KSLF Song to Remember.
Festival Director Rahul Singh, son of Khushwant Singh, and Madhur Singh delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the participation of speakers and audiences in the three-day event.
UNI BN
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