Chandigarh, March 28
The Spring Edition of CLF Literati 2026, organised by the Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS), unfolded to a jam-packed audience at Hyatt Centric, Sector 17, Chandigarh. The literary fiesta showcased a vibrant confluence of ideas, creativity and dialogue and brought together an eclectic mix of celebrated authors, poets, policymakers and thinkers for a day of stimulating conversations, cultural exchange and literary celebration.
Delivering the inaugural address, Dr Sumita Misra, IAS, Founder Chairperson of Chandigarh Literary Society and Festival Director, set the tone for the day by eloquently reflecting on the enduring power of literature.
Dr Sumita Misra in her inaugural address said, “Even in an age shaped by algorithms and artificial intelligence, literature reminds us that the human heart cannot be reduced to data. When poets, authors, and storytellers create, they express depths no machine can truly replicate.”
She added, “While technology continues to transform our world, literature remains irreplaceable in capturing human emotion—because storytelling and creative expression will always transcend algorithmic boundaries.”
A key highlight of the festival was the session ‘The Changing Face of Leadership, with Smriti Irani’, this saw the former Union Minister Smriti Irani discussing evolving leadership paradigms in an engaging conversation with Dr Sumita Misra. Smriti Irani shared some interesting personal anecdotes, including her insider experience working with PM Modi, especially during the COVID pandemic. She said that PM Modi has an inclusive leadership style, focuses on technology, and lays emphasis on innovation.
She recounted how under PM Modi’s leadership, during the pandemic, she got a lot of support for her out-of-the box thinking that helped in giving shape to an innovative effort to develop indigenous PPE kits, reducing costs dramatically, without additional government expenditure.
Another interesting session was that of ‘A World Adrift’, which featured local MP Manish Tewari in conversation with senior journalist Manraj Grewal Sharma, offering insights into contemporary global and political challenges. The discussion focused on the MP’s book ‘A World Adrift.’
In ‘Doordarshan Diaries: The Golden Era of Indian Television’ which celebrated nostalgia and media history with the well-famed news anchor and veteran journalist from the golden era of Doordarshan, Sheila Chaman. Sheila was engaged in conversation by Aradhika Sharma, as she elaborated on the charm and cultural impact of India’s iconic television era.
Literary exploration continued with ‘Opening the Chest of Stories’, featuring author Jonathan Gil Harris and Dr Urvi Sharma. The discussion explored the nuanced intersections of syncretic history and personal narrative in Jonathan’s latest book, ‘The Girl from Fergana’.
Young voices and contemporary relationships took centre stage in ‘Between Friendship and Forever,’ featuring IPS officer & author Arsh Verma and Sonia Chauhan in conversation with Dr. Jasmine Anand.
‘Book Buzz’ saw the launch of ‘Catharsis: A Symphony of Sighs’ by Mukul Kumar.
In ‘The Veil and the Sword,’ author Ranjit Powar discussed her book ‘The Veil and the Sword Women in the Court & Life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ with Navneet Garewal.
Themes of love and emotional expression unfolded in ‘Heartbreak Unfiltered’ with Mills & Boon’s first Indian romance author, Milan Vohra in conversation with Annurani Sharma, and ‘Prem Geet aur Kahaniyan,’ where the critically-acclaimed poet and novelist, Geet Chaturvedi was seen in conversation with Shayda Bano.
The intersection of technology and future thinking was explored in ‘Craft and Creativity in the Age of AI,’ the session featured Victor Ghoshe and Affan Yesvi in conversation with Ivneet Kaur Walia.
The festival culminated with ‘Mehfil-e-Sukhan,’ a vibrant celebration of languages and cultural pluralism, featuring a multilingual poetry recital in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, and English by Dr. Madhav Kaushik, Kasturika Mishra, Savita Singh, Mukul Kumar, and Bubbu Tir, promising an enriching and inclusive cultural experience.
Over the years, the Chandigarh Literary Society has played a significant role in promoting literature, arts and culture in the ‘City Beautiful’ Chandigarh. CLF Literati has evolved into one of the most eagerly awaited literary festivals in the region, attracting distinguished writers and enthusiastic readers from not just the region but even other parts of India.
