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The Khushwant Singh Literary Festival Kasauli is a labor of love. To promote the legacy of Khushwant Singh (KS), author, scholar, journalist and iconoclast, by discussing the values he stood for, and addressing his concerns. Some of which are closer ties between India and Pakistan; equal opportunities for the girl-child and women ; and disseminating the values of democracy, tolerance, compassion in a world that is increasingly more polarised.
KSLF is a meeting of minds to celebrate ideas that can change lives.
KSLF is organised entirely by volunteers. As well as friends of Khushwant Singh and friends of the organisers who contribute in money and kind. Every donation goes a long way in creating a world with values.
Anand Kumar Sethi, an alumnus of IIT, Bombay has some four decades of active involvement in international joint ventures and business. Dr. Sethi has been an advisor to several international development Financial Institutions. In December 2011, the President of Finland conferred upon him the honour of Knight of the order of ‘the white rose of Finland’. An established writer, he is very actively involved in its cleaning up and ‘renewal’ of the many historical sites there. With an abiding interest in history, Anand has curated and furnished exhibits in the setting up of the Dagshai Jail Museum now designated as a heritage site by Himachal Tourism.
Ashok Chopra is the CEO and MD of Hay House Publishing in India. He is also a long time resident of Kasauli and Himachal Pradesh.
She has more than 50 years of Business experience. Became Director on the Board of Pure Drinks Group Companies in early 1970.The latest and the most prestigious venture in which she was one of the promoter directors is a Five Star Deluxe Hotel in collaboration with the Le Meridien Chain. As you know, this Hotel is located in a most prestigious area décor and Luxury. She herself had devoted full time to manage the affairs of the Hotel project, particularly the Beauty Parlor, one of the most prestigious commercial area at the Hotel. Ever since 1991, she has been the Chairperson and Managing Director of Le Meridien Hotel, Five Star, which has won several laurels.
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
“MAHILA SHIROMANI AWARD 1993”, was presented by the First Lady of India, Smt. Vimla Sharma at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on December 5, 1994 for distinguished contribution to the development of India and enriching the life and achieving outstanding excellence in chosen field of activity.
Won many awards and yet another most prestigious among them is The National Intellectuals Award “THE GREAT DAUGHTER OF THE SOIL FOR THE YEAR 1998, awarded by A.I.C.O.I’s
Also received an award from Shiromani Institute, which is conferred on great Sikhs with most brilliant achievements in different fields of life to their credit, the ‘MILLENNIUM SIKH AWARDS”, PRESENTED BY Shri. L.K.Advani, than Union Minister for Home affairs (January 2001)Appreciation of outstanding support in making the “Indo Dubai Bridge Meet” a great success, presented by Dubai International Women’s Club on March, 2008
Niloufer Bilimoria is a Founder Director of KSLF. The Festival began as a labor of love to propagate the values and ideals of Khushwant Singh. Which are needed in today’s world of strife and lives full of care, where we have no time to stand and stare. Her background with a leading international hotel chain and the largest selling English daily newspaper in the world prepares her to take on this challenge of bringing together leading minds on a common platform to inspire, challenge, learn and unlearn. Inspired by Alvin Toffler, “For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday”
Purshotam Dhir is a Delhi based senior Chartered Accountant. He operates from Delhi, Bangalore and London. His retreat is his family home in the Mussorie hills. He is an avid reader of both fiction as well as non-fiction and has helped us discover new writers for the KSLF
Rahul Singh has been a writer, journalist and editor of Readers Digest, Indian Express, Sunday Observer.
He has penned, among other books, an engaging biography of his father Khushwant Singh, In The Name of the Father, which was launched by Amitabh Bachchan.
He is an advisor to World Literacy Canada, President of Satyagyan Foundation, India, President of the media awards committee at the Population Institute Washington.
Rahul studied in about 11 schools as his father was posted all over during his years in the foreign service. It was here, at an Elysee in Paris that he picked up his French. He graduated in History from Kings College, Cambridge.
Suneet Vir Singh is a lady of diverse talent. From running a business of period furniture to authoring books. Going down memory lane, her husband Mani Shankar Aiyar said: “He (Khushwant Singh) encouraged a young female writer, Suneet Vir Singh, to co-author ‘Homage to Guru Gobind Singh’. I decided that the girl, Suneet Vir Singh who co-authored the volume with Khushwant Singh, was the right girl to get married to.” Since then Suneet has co-authored other books with her mentor, Khushwant Singh.
Varun Kathuria is a chartered accountant with a keen interest in helping non-profit organisations function effectively.
