Menu
THEME: STORYTELLING AND THE ART OF FICTION
The KSLF in Kasauli this year, Oct 10-12, 2014 will have a very special meaning for all of us – KS family, KS friends, KS admirers, and yes, even KS haters. For the first time we will talk of him in the past. And yet his amazing zest for life will continue to light up our minds and hearts in the tranquil yet lively setting of the Kasauli Club.
This will be a time for stories. Stories not just on KS and his amazing life and work, but stories on all matters of interest to him and to the Kasauli region. Stories that are necessary to preserve our ecology, our heritage, our military, our society. Stories on film and stories in song. Stories that will build ties between nations with a special focus on Indo-Pak ties. And stories on the art of telling stories.
So, ONCE UPON A TIME.. there lived a king of columnists and prince of hosts, a hero of cats, a trencherman of toasts, to paraphrase Vikram Seth writing on KS. Once upon a time, 2 years ago, the KSLF was launched. Once upon a time a man called KS was the master story teller spanning the 20th and early part of the 21st centuries. Stories down the pages of his novels, stories over scotch and malt in his living room, whether Delhi or Kasauli, and stories in his weekly columns. Once these connected him to a population of millions.Once these stories helped transform the lives of millions, and now these stories continue to leave a legacy for future generations to feed on, to evolve, to grow, to think. And perhaps enhance the joy of reading and learning.
“Stories are bridges from one mind to another.” – Martha Holloway”Storytelling can change a room. It can change lives. It can change the world.” – Gwenda LedBetter
“Stories are the truths that guide us through life.” – Beth Horner
For over two centuries, since the first cave paintings were discovered, telling stories has been a fundamental way of communication. Stories connect people, bring in a greater understanding of cultures, of problems, of similarities, of diversities. Stories spin magic and release the boundaries of our minds. Stories open up human intellect. Stories awaken us to our potential. Stories make us laugh, cry, inspire.Is there a person alive or dead who does not have a story to tell. Stories are our life breath. Just tell me a story and shape my life. And if we have a penchant for science, storytelling activates our synapses and connections, and enhances our happy dopamine levels.
And so the legacy of the KS litfest continues. A legacy inspired by the life and work of KS. And now to paraphrase his favorite Kipling poem, he filled each unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run. He had the earth and everything in it. He was a man, my son.
Fakir Aijazuddin is one of Pakistan’s leading scholars and art-historians whose specialty has been the history of the Punjab. He belongs to the famous Fakir family of Lahore which achieved considerable prominence during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Aijazuddin has published a number of books on this period of Punjab history. The first was Pahari Paintings and Sikh Portraits in the Lahore Museum (1977), a catalogue of the miniature paintings collection in the Lahore Museum. The counterpart to it is in the Government Museum & Art Gallery, Chandigarh.
His second book Sikh Portraits by European Artists (1979) was a biographical study of the paintings in the Princes s Bamba Collection, Lahore Fort. The collection had once belonged to Maharaja Duleep Singh.
Amongst his other books are two books on Lahore, one on rare maps of Pakistan, an account of Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to China in 1971, another on US-Pakistan diplomatic relations between 1969 and 1974, two books on his alma mater Aitchsion College, Lahore, to commemorate its centenary (1986) and its 125th anniversary (2011).
He is a regular columnist for Pakistan’s leading daily DAWN.
Celebrating Our Young
Our focus on youth continues in the third year of our festival. With more schools participating. And Simla coming in for the first time. Thanks to Deepa Raghavan, former vice principal, Delhi Public School and Lila Kutty, educationist.
We would also like to thank Sannidhi, Education World and Ananya and Ashima Bath.
• The joy of learning will spread via various competitions. Prizes courtesy Sannidhi, whose mission covers education, environment, and more.
• Khushwant Singh Foundation will continue to donate books to a poor school library outside Kasauli
• A scholarship for the girl child is being instituted this year.
Schools taking part this year
Thank you for the coverage of KSLF 2014! Here’s a collection of links we came across. If you find more, do drop us a note.
Thank you for the coverage of KSLF 2014! Here’s a collection of links we came across. If you find more, do drop us a note.
Dawn, October 26, 2014 – Literature discussed on the hills
The Tribune, October 19, 2014 – Nawaz is still the man India should talk to
TOI, October 17, 2014 – Bulb shines on: The Kasauli hills were again alive with the sound of litfesting
TOI, October 17, 2014 – Khushwant Singh Lit Fest Ends On A High Note!
Bangalore Mirror, October 14, 2014 – Stories in a song
MiD DAY, October 13, 2014 – Crossfire at Lit fest
Amar Ujala, October 13, 2014 – खुशवंत को मिलेगा पाक का सर्वोच्च सम्मान!
The Indian Express, October 12, 2014 – Of literary leanings and World War anecdotes
Amar Ujala, October 12, 2014 – खुशवंत की राख से बना पाकिस्तान का स्कूल
Amar Ujala, October 11, 2014 – जब भारतीय सेना के सम्मान में खड़े हुए पाकिस्तानी
Dawn, September 30, 2014 – Two Pakistanis to participate in Khushwant Singh Lit Fest in India
Speaking Tree, March 21, 2014 – Celebrating Khushwant Singh
Video – A five minute program on the KS litfest, prepared by Day and Night TV:
In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.
– Elizabeth Gilbert
Our first thanks go to Brigadier Pavan Lamba and his able team, the Kasauli Cantonment, local military authorities, Col Inderjit, Col Gurpreet Chahal, Major Arun. To the executive committee of the Kasauli Club, Secretary Col Devender Singh, and the amazing tireless, cheerful staff of Kasauli Club.
I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.
– William Shakespeare
Equally important, without whom there is no festival, our Sponsors, our Authors. You are all named here in the brochure. And we are eternally grateful.
Those who made a dif erence today to our litfest. May we live up to your expectations. As long as our fest has a voice we say thank you.
To our friends:
Anand Sethi | Ashima, Iknam and Ananya Bath | Ashok Chopra | Bachi Karkaria Bindia Sahgal | Bob Rupani | Brigadier Anantha Narayan and Aparna Charanjit Singh | Deepa Raghavan | Deepak Karambelkar | Geeta Gopalkrishnan | Hariharan Venkitasubramaniam | Khushwant Singh Lila Kutty | Mahi Mehra | Mala Dayal | Manoj Singhal Meetali Kutty | Mr Tiwana | Naina Dayal | Nandini Mehta Neena and Kishie Singh | Purshottam Dhir | Raghav Khattar | Rajalakshmi Rajbir Deswal | Rajesh and Preeti Dogar | Rati and Perin Cooper | Rishma Gill Robin Gupta | Sherry and Rajender | Suneet Vir Singh | Surekha Ghogale Varun Kathuria | Veda Dogar | Vijai Vardhan | Vinita Nangia
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
– Marcel Proust
All our friends in the media:
When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.
– Vietnamese Proverb
So we thank the wonderful Kasauli sunshine, the trees, the people who planted these, the weather, the opportunity to be here. And finally, as Churchill said, success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. So here’s to next year…
