Dehradun Literature Festival Concludes on a High Note
Dehradun: The 6th edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival (DDLF) concluded today after three remarkable days of thought-provoking discussions, storytelling, and celebration of literary and cultural heritage. The festival, which took place at Doon International School, Dalanwala, focused on the theme of Sahitya, Cinema, and Samaaj and drew audiences from all walks of life.
The final day of the festival began with the prestigious Shivani – Iron Lady of the Hills Awards ceremony, where Professor and Author Manjula Rana from Garhwal Central University was honored. In a session titled ‘Streevaad aur Samaaj’, Rana, alongside Author Jayanti Ranganathan, Aditi Maheshwari Goyal, and Author Naveen Chaudhary, explored gender, society, and empowerment in a discussion moderated by Journalist Rakhee Bakshee.
Reflecting on women’s resilience and strength, Rana said, “Women are power. They are always ready to give their all for the upcoming generation. As Shivani ji widely promoted, women empowerment is essential for our collective progress.”
The event continued with an address from DGP Uttarakhand, IPS Abhinav Kumar, on education’s role in societal growth. Attendees then turned to a session on modern educational strategies, with Col. Gopal Karunakaran, Jayshree Periwal, and Dr. Sanjay Kumar engaging in a discussion with HS Mann. During the session, Col. Gopal Karunakaran said, “Questions are more important than answers. Now we are going with non-Googleable questions. There is a radical shift in how we are looking at schools.”
Following this was Heritage, Community, Sustainability – Giving Back to Society, featuring Author Lady Kishwar Desai, Nitin Kapoor, and Manish Saksena. Talking about the Partition Museum in Amritsar, Lady Kishwar Desai said, “We had a lot of meetings when we started the partition museum. We had nothing then neither money nor building and now we have two museums. We are not taught about partition properly in schools. This museum is not about politicians like Jinnah and Gandhi; it is about people. Visitors from places like the US and UK come unaware and leave shocked after visiting the museum.”
Another highlight was the session on mind-body wellness, where Holistic Beauty Expert Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Author Dr. Dimple Jangda, and Singer & Actor Khushboo Grewal joined Publisher Milee Ashwarya to discuss holistic well-being. “If your gut is not happy, you are not going to be happy. The gut is like a nagging wife to the husband; if she calls every minute, he can’t focus. The same goes for the brain and the gut”, said Dr Dimple Jangda.
“Aromatherapy for stress, especially lavender, is something I highly advocate,” added Dr Blossom Kochhar.
Literary enthusiasts also enjoyed Kavita ki Prayogshala, a poetic session with Poets Yatindra Mishra and Pratap Somvanshi moderated by Anjum Sharma, as well as Pagal Jeha Shayar – The Lyric and Poetry of Jaani, a unique discussion with Punjabi lyricist Jaani and Jassi Sangha which was enjoyed by one and all present.
Among the day’s standout events was Sons of Babur, featuring politician and author Salman Khurshid, who delved into the history and legacy of the Mughal Empire. “You can’t take out a name, a person, or an identity; this is India. No matter where you come from, they have merged into Indian identity. I think people who believe in segregation do not understand India. History should be critically analyzed, as it has long been influenced by the Western community. What we read about history must be tested against how we feel about ourselves,” said Salman Khurshid.
In the afternoon, actor Sandhya Mridul launched her debut poetry collection, Untamed, in an emotional session celebrating 50 years of Shabana Azmi’s contributions to Indian cinema. Joined by Azmi, Mridul read excerpts from her work, paying homage to Azmi’s legacy.
The afternoon continued with Bazm-
An engaging discussion on adapting Laila Majnu for the screen followed, with director Sajid Ali, writer Preeti Ali, and actor Avinash Tiwary offering insights into the creative journey of this timeless love story.
For younger attendees, an interactive session with Hemant Deolekar, Neha Singh, Laksh Maheshwari, and Shefali Chopra, was moderated by Mudit Shrivastava. This was followed by a session on culinary art, science, and emotion, where Krish Ashok, Rahul Kapur, and Roopa Soni discussed food’s impact on culture with Ruhani Singh.
Further discussions featured Anita Mani, Bikram Grewal, Surabhi Sapra, Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, Rohin Bhatt, K Vaishali, and Kinshuk Gupta. “Queerness is an umbrella wide enough to encompass all of us. It’s wrong to start differentiating internal and external politics,” added Rohin Bhatt in her session on ‘Queer Folks’. The day culminated with Kasba Koocha Gaon Sheher, a session exploring Hindi’s evolving role in modern expression, featuring Authors Gaurav Solanki, Himanshu Bajpai, and Stand Up Comedian Aaditya Kulshreshtha, moderated by Anjum Sharma.
Festival Founder & Producer Samraant Virmani expressed pride in the festival’s success, saying, “Each year, DDLF grows as a cultural and literary landmark, fostering deeper connections and discussions. We’re grateful for the community’s support and look forward to the next chapter.”
The festival closed with a speech by celebrated filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, bringing the memorable event to a close and leaving attendees inspired by the power of literature and regional voices. This year’s DDLF successfully highlighted the strength of Indian literature, tradition, and contemporary thought, proving once again why it remains a beloved fixture in the literary calendar.