Chandigarh, 21 August: The two-day Literature Festival organised by Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women, and the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Panjab University, concluded with a vibrant programme that brought together literature, music, theatre and diverse cultural traditions. The second day continued the festival’s rich engagement with literary and cultural expression through thought-provoking conversations and evocative performances.
The day commenced with a soulful Punjabi folk musical performance by Jasreen from the Department of Music, MCM DAV College, setting a culturally rich tone for the proceedings. Thereafter, Dr Sumandeep recapitulated the highlights of Day 1. The first literary session of the day, “Punjabi Lok Sangeet: Hari Kranti De Aar Paar”, featured Taskeen in conversation with Deep Nirmohi. The engaging session foregrounded the rich traditions of Punjabi folk music and explored their relationship with the historical, social and cultural transformations brought about by the Green Revolution. This was followed by “Avaz-e-Mitti, Safar-e-Ruh”, presented by Sunaini Sharma and her team. Blending evocative ideas of the voice of the soil and the journey of the soul, the presentation added a distinctive musical and performative dimension to the festival and resonated with its larger exploration of memory, identity and cultural expression. The festival culminated with “Wo Afsana”, a soulful theatrical production by Team Raabta, which brought to life the deep, unspoken bond and intertwined life stories of legendary Urdu poet Sahir Ludhianvi and renowned Punjabi author Amrita Pritam. Inspired by works including Main Sahir Hoon and Raseedi Ticket, the production seamlessly blended live poetry, drama and music. The compelling performance provided a fitting culmination to the two-day festival, demonstrating the enduring power of theatre to narrate intimate human stories and connect with audiences across generations and linguistic traditions. The programme was attended by members of the academic community, students and literature enthusiasts, making the two-day festival a significant celebration of the richness, plurality and continuing relevance of literature and culture.
Officiating Principal Ms Neena Sharma expressed gratitude to the Department of English and Cultural Studies, PU, for collaborating to curate a festival that celebrated not only literature but also the living traditions of music, theatre and storytelling. She added that this festival brought together diverse voices, artistic traditions and perspectives, offering our students and the wider academic community an enriching cultural experience.