Military History, Art and Mindful Living: KSLF 2026 Wraps Up
The Khushwant Singh Literature Festival 2026 wrapped up in Kasauli with deep dives into military history, art, entrepreneurship, and mindful living.
Nestled amidst the serene pine forests of Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, the three-day Khushwant Singh Literature Festival 2026 concluded on October 25. The event served as a vibrant hub for distinguished authors, journalists, and thinkers who gathered to engage in spirited debates and deep conversations covering a diverse spectrum of topics, from the intricacies of military history to the urgency of environmental preservation.
From Military Debates to Artistic Legacies
The final day of the festival kicked off with a melodic musical presentation by Sandeep Singh, setting a reflective tone for the sessions to follow. One of the most anticipated discussions, "General Sundarji: Celebrated or Debated," featured author Probal Dasgupta in a dialogue with renowned journalist Sunetra Choudhury, dissecting the complex legacy of the military leader.
The festival also paid a poignant tribute to the legendary artist Satish Gujral. In a session marking Gujral’s birth centenary, Aman Nath and Feroze Gujral explored the artist's multifaceted contributions to architecture, sculpture, painting, and literature. The conversation delved into Gujral's unique personality and his personal relationships, while specifically highlighting how Khushwant Singh played a pivotal role in documenting his life story.
The Accidental Entrepreneur and the Spiritual Path
In a deeply personal segment titled "Corporate Yogi: From Speaker to CEO," Padma Shri awardee Dr Arvind Lal shared his life's trajectory with Serena Jacob. Dr Lal recounted a pivotal family tragedy in 1977 that shifted his destiny; while studying pathology at the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune, the passing of his father forced him to return to Delhi to manage the family laboratory established in 1949.
Drawing from his book, Corporate Yogi: My Journey as a Spiritual Seeker and an Accidental Entrepreneur, Dr Lal reflected on how he transformed that family lab into the renowned Dr Lal PathLabs, balancing the heavy weight of business responsibility with personal loss and a quest for spiritual growth.
Addressing the Climate Crisis and Mental Burnout
The festival shifted its focus toward the planet and personal well-being in a session titled "Slow Down. You Move Too Fast." Shreya Jani, in conversation with Gargi Rawat, discussed the themes of her book, Slow Living: What You Can Do About Climate Change, co-authored with Vandana Shiva.
Jani provided a candid look at how unsustainable lifestyles and consumer choices impact both the environment and individual health. Having been a social activist since the age of nine, Jani shared her experience of facing burnout by the age of 13, urging the audience to recognize personal boundaries and embrace a more mindful, slower approach to existence.
Celebrating New Voices and Final Reflections
The literary spirit of the festival was further enriched by various specialized sessions:
- Ghouls and Good Reads: A discussion led by Shinie Antony and Satyajit Samanta.
- After Khushwant’s Heart: The Debutants: A platform for emerging literary voices featuring Devki Pande, Shobha Shroff, and Dr Jatinder Parwaz.
- The Happiness Lab: A closing session by Akhil Gupta that invited attendees to reflect on well-being and intentional living.
The event reached its conclusion with a vote of thanks delivered by Madhur Singh and Festival Director Rahul Singh, the son of Khushwant Singh, who expressed gratitude to the speakers and the audience for their participation. The three-day celebration of ideas and literature officially ended with a musical finale, "Beyond the Last Page: KSLF Song to Remember," performed by Rene Singh.