The fourth Kulwant Singh Literary Festival was held in splendid grandeur at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula on 19th and 20th December. This festival was a unique confluence of literature, art and culture. The program commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, accompanied by the sacred chanting of mantras and the
invocation of Goddess Saraswati, which filled the entire atmosphere with spiritual energy. The school Principal, members of the Management Committee and the esteemed guests paid their humble tributes to Late Shri Kulwant Singh (Founder Chairman, Bhavan Vidyalaya), whose legacy remained the focal point of the
festival.
The Principal of the school, Mrs. Gulshan Kaur, warmly welcomed the guests. The first day of the literary festival began with an inspiring address by Shri A. N. Mathur (Retired IAS), Chairman of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula. A theatre session titled Reflections and Discourse featured Ms. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry, in
conversation with Ms. Jyoti Malhotra. One of the main highlights of the program was the conversation between Mrs. Amar Kulwant Singh (wife of Late Shri Kulwant Singh) and Mrs. Veena Sethi about Story of an Unsung Freedom Fighter. The dialogue on Inspiration from Nature by Rajneesh Wattas and Nagina Singh, captivated the audience. A thought-provoking session titled From Pen to Prompt: The Changing Craft of Writing with Artificial Intelligence featured Suanshu Khurana in conversation with Bhavanites. Young voices took the center stage during the session Stories from the Dreamers who write. It was an interactive session with child authors from the participating schools. Sarika Mohapatra emphasized the role of technology in improving writing proficiency in modern learning environments. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Yojana Rawat and Dr. Mukta Bhatia discussed contemporary Hindi literature and motivated the youth to connect with literary pursuits. IAS officer Shri Vivek Atray shed light on the power of eloquence through his stirring speech, introducing students to the art of book reading and communication. Prof. Sunaina Jain engaged the audience through a thoughtful book reading session on The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond. The festival also celebrated creative expression in various forms. The Hindustan Times Magic Show entertained the audience with amazing illusions and tricks. The Sahitya Podcast and the session The Art of Writing: From Expression to Emotion, led by Mr. Hirday Parkash Kaushal, celebrated the transformative power of words and emotions.
Sony TV’s From Cartoons to Reality brought cartoons to life for the audience. The session The Art of Script Writing and Age-Specific Adaptation led by Ms. Arpana Gupta and Mr. Kalpit, explored creative techniques for adapting scripts to different age groups. The workshop of Ek Quissa Suno and Empowering Young Voices
through Creative Writing was successfully conducted by Ms. Urvashi Bhatia, inspiring young participants to express themselves with confidence and creativity. The session The Transformative Power of Literature, Stories and Poetry on Young Minds led by Ms. Nisha Luthra, highlighted the impact of literary works on shaping young perspectives. The session Podcast: From Conception to Creation led by Ms. Aishwarya Arora, offered a comprehensive look at turning creative ideas into successful podcasts. The Character Café: Creating Fictional Characters, conducted by Ms. Sonika Sethi, was an enriching session that guided participants in
bringing imaginative characters to life. The workshop Sustaining Tomorrow: Smart Waste Management Practices conducted by Novel Lavasa and Ashok Lavasa, explored innovative approaches to sustainable waste management. Frames and Words: The Art of Photography and Literary Expression, led by Novel Lavasa and
Ashok Lavasa, beautifully explored the harmony between visual narratives and literary expression. The workshop Crafting mimes and telling stories by Ms. Arpana Gupta and Mr. Kalpit, focused on bringing stories to life through mime and creative expression. Changing Scenarios in the field of Journalism, an insightful session by Ms. Geetu Vaid, explored the evolving landscape of modern journalism. The launch of “Abhivyakti”, an e-magazine that stands as a vibrant symbol of students’ creativity, was another significant moment. Additionally, workshops on calligraphy, caricature art, idea-to-writing, script writing, literary podcasting, journalism and creative writing provided new wings to creativity. The Scholastic Book Fair further enhanced the charm of the festival, where the fragrance of words and stories attracted readers of all ages. This edition of the Kulwant Singh Literary Festival not only illuminated minds with the light of ideas, but also left an indelible mark of creativity and knowledge. Emphasizing education as the foundation of life-building, students were made aware of the importance of discipline, values and continuous effort. The primary objective of the activities organized over these two days was to foster creativity, self-confidence, leadership skills and moral values among students in the academic sphere. The literary festival emerged as a vibrant platform for the exchange of knowledge.