On the literary map

Tribune News Service

The Hoshiarpur Literary Society is all set to host its first Writers’ Festival on November 23, 2019. The one-day festival will be held in the rural landscape of Punjab and amidst citrus groves in Punjab’s premier farm stay place, Citrus County. This was stated by the President of the Hoshiarpur Literary Society, Sanna K Gupta at a press conference held on Friday, at the Chandigarh Press Club.

According to her, the festival has a very formidable list of authors, panellists and moderators. The list of authors includes Upamanyu Chatterjee, who will be speaking on his latest book and his popular short story The Assassination of Indira Gandhi. The session will be moderated by Ravi Singh (co-founder Speaking Tiger). This session gains significance, especially given that November of 1984 saw wide-scale massacre of Sikhs after India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her own bodyguards.

Participating in the writers’ fest is also eminent author Rakshanda Jalil, where her latest book But You Don’t Look Like a Muslim will be discussed. In conversation with her will be journalist Nirupama Dutt. It’s an important book, given the times that we live in and the contemporary circumstances.

“We at the Lit society want to encourage a healthy, polite and constructive debate on sensitive topics and on issues which ail our Indian democracy. A constructive discussion is the only way forward to build a great nation,” she said. “We are also looking at igniting minds and opening up debates on emerging topics in the world of entertainment and Punjabi cinema,” added Sanna.

There are two vital sessions on topical topics. The first one is titled ‘The Future of Entertainment in the World of Web’, and the panellists for the session are none other than actor Ranvir Shorey and ex Viacom Coo Raj Nayak. Ranvir Shorey, has made his presence felt in the latest blockbuster web series, Sacred Games.

The session on Punjabi cinema is structured around the present and future of Punjabi cinema. Participating in it are Punjabi cinema heavyweights including actor Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi, director Anurag Singh, former Miss India and actress Navneet Dhillon and writer Jatinder Mauhr.

The festival will also have a significant presence of women authors and moderators. The festival will conclude with iconic Punjabi poet Surjit Patar’s poetry.