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Khushwant Singh lit fest begins
Ashima S Batish
Tribune News Service

Kasauli, October 10
The third edition of the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival today began with the release of the book, ‘Khushwant Singh: The Legend Lives On,’ a compilation of obituaries on him. The book was released by well-known columnist Shobha De in the presence of Khushwant's son Rahul Singh and publisher Ashok Chopra.

Celebrity authors De, Daman Singh, Suhel Seth, Fakir Aijazuddin were present on the first day. The audience included Justice SS Sodhi, Bonny Sodhi and former Governor of Tamil Nadu Surjit S Barnala, who shared his reminiscences about Khushwant Singh.

Seth, who co-authored a book with Khushwant Singh, is here to announce the Khushwant Singh poetry prize, a literature genre, he says, that has been more ignored than recognised.

Khushwant Singh, his literary accomplishments, humour and indifference to whatever people thought about him, took the centre stage deservingly. Chopra shared an anecdote, "When the SGPC once registered its offence about his signature Santa-Banta jokes, he just gave a three-word reply: Go to hell.”

Pakistani author Fakir Aijazuddin presents a memento to Khushwant Singh’s son Rahul Singh

Brick from Pakistan

Pakistani author Fakir Aijazuddin, who met Khushwant just a few days before he passed away, took his ashes to his place of birth. "There the school he went to needed repair. The ashes were then mixed with the cement and now a souvenir that mentions the information hangs there,” says Aijazuddin. He presented a brick from the ruins of Khushwant’s house to Rahul Singh.

Daman Singh, daughter of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Ex-PM’s daughter at fest

Daman Singh, daughter of Manmohan Singh is at the fest to talk about her book, 'Strictly Personal: Manmohan and Gursharan'. “I haven't mentioned them as people of importance or VIPs but as they are in day-to-day life," said Daman. It took her five years to pen it with inputs followed by critical analysis by her sisters.