The 11th Edition of the Khushwant Singh Litfest, with the theme Climate of Change was held at the quaint hill station of Kasauli in north India from 14 to 17 October 2022. Many renowned and outstanding writers, thinkers, celebrities, filmmakers and politicians participated. The three-day litfest had a distinguished panel of speakers, including Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Tusshar Kapoor, Rajmohan Gandhi, Sathya Saran, Mahua Moitra, Pavan Verma, Mallika Sarabhai, Ramesh Inder Singh, Geetanjali Shree, Amitav Ghosh, Bachi Karkaria, Shazia Illmi, Gul Panang, Muzzafar Ali, Divya Dutta, Tarun Tejpal, Makarand Paranjpe, Cyrus Broacha, Usha Uthup, Reza Murad, Tara Gandhi, Malavika Sanghvi and many others.
Sharing three poignant moments that stood out for me.
1. International Book Prize Winner Geetanjali Shree
“Partition was never complete, the border was created politically. We are half from here and half from there and sometimes confused. That border has been created politically, forced down by two countries.” Geetanjali mentioned how a friend told her that gave her the freedom to go on writing: “You are completely audacious, and that audacity comes from the fact that you are not looking for spectacular success and you are not afraid of spectacular failure.” Her friend said.
2. Celebrated author Amitav Ghosh
“The power elite all over the world too aware of the effects of climate change. But they are all waiting for a “Malthusian correction”; to put it bluntly, they are waiting for millions to die.They think they will be not be affected by it. They believe others will pay the price and poor will be affected. They are of course completely wrong.”
3. Much-acclaimed writer Rajmohan Gandhi
He said India needed another kind of greatness not just what is reflected through the Hindu majoritanism. The historian and Mahatma Gandhi’s and C.Rajagopalachari’s (former Governor General of India) grandson broke down while taking about India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. “You can criticise the policies of Nehru, but don’t stoop so low by spreading filthy lies about the nobleman. Nehru loved the Himalayas. The Himalayas would protest and the earth would protest too.” he said.
I experienced a climate of change and gratitude at Kasauli. Grateful to the many friends who opened their hearts and homes. I felt their love.
(This article is written by Bharat Avalani, who is based in Kuala Lumpur and is a Unilever Veteran who comes with rich global experience and expertise in Brand Management, Media Strategy, Brand Activation, Market Development and Integrated Brand Communications).