Meaningful discussions, sonorous bands, cultural artifacts and avid visitors made the concluding day of the first Military Literature Festival a glittering affair

Pages from The Tribune archives being viewed by avid youngsters.

Amarjot Kaur

From discussions on Saragarhi Samvad and battles fought from 1818 to 1837, including the Battle of Peshawar, Jamrud, Multan, and Kashmir, to discussions on Anglo-Sikh wars, 1971 and 1965’s Indo-Pak war, military animals, national security strategy and ongoing conflicts, Chandigarh’s first Military Literature Festival kept introducing firebrands to the bonfire of thought-provoking dialogues by the Sukhna Lake at the Lake Club on Saturday.Besides military leaders, authors, writers, and thinkers, who added to the literary part of the festival, five book stalls, among 30 other booths selling artefacts and handicrafts, contributed to the cultural side of the three-day festival.Regaling the visitors with Kullu and Kashmiri shawls, Hoshiarpur’s famous wood inlay work, UP’s handloom cotton bed-sheets and covers, and Jaipur’s traditional jewellery, the last day of the festival witnessed a footfall of over 2,000 people, including National Cadet Corps, and school students. With daris, cushion covers, and table mats on display, Manuj Kamboj from SabTera Foundation says, “We are an NGO for women empowerment based in Khuda Ali Sher, near PGI, and these are items made by SabTera Livelihood programme by underprivileged women.”What catches our attention the most is the Pipe Band from the 11 Madras regiment. “This band was established on July 1, 1980. I have been a part of it since 20 years now and have over 100 tunes to play at the festival,” says band major BV Anathan. 

amarjot@tribunemail.com