Besides interactions with war veterans and winners of gallantry awards, the festival will have a book exhibition, handicrafts stalls, armament display and live painting corner
From page 01 CHANDIGARH:City Beautiful is geared up to experience an amalgamation of war stories, experience, and defence literature under a single roof with the twoday Military Literature Festival starting at the Lake Club, on Friday.
The festival aims to create awareness among people, especially the children, about military history and accomplishments of our forces. The event is open to all and has free entries. The registration for it can be done at www.militaryliteraturefestival.com.
Besides interactions with veterans, the festival will have a book exhibition, handicrafts stalls, armament display, live painting corner, magic shows for children, selfie with war heros, among others.
The festival will also host a performance by Punjabi sufi singer Satinder Sartaaj at the Capitol Complex, whereas Gorkha soldiers will stage the famous khukri dance at the lake club.
Adequate parking facilities have been made and shuttle service will be provided for the last-mile connectivity.
WAR VETERANS TO INTERACT WITH SCHOOLCHILDREN
To provide schoolchildren an opportunity to interact with war veterans, the festival is organising a ‘Children’s Samwad’. These veterans include heros from the Sino-India war of 1962, the Indo-Pak war of 1965, the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971 and the Kargil war.
Honorary Captain Bana Singh (retd), a Param Vir Chakra (PVC) winner— India’s highest wartime military honour— will share his experience with the children.
Besides him, Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri (retd), a Maha Vir Chakra winner, best known for his heroics in the Battle of Longewala when he was successful in holding the Pakistani forces for a full night with just 120 soldiers, during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971, is also participating in the festival.
Naib Subedar Sanjay Kumar, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for capturing Area Flat Top, despite being grievously injured, during the Kargil War, and Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, the youngest person to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra, will also interact with the children. Other decorated officers like Col Balwan Singh and Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, Maha Vir Chakra winners, will also interact with the schoolchildren.
‘WILL BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUTH’
Talking about the significance of the festival, Major General BS Grewal (retd), director of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, Mohali, said, “Cadets at our institute are looking forward to the festival with great enthusiasm. The experience will be very beneficial for them because they will get an opportunity to meet and interact with many veterans.”
