Khushwant tributes flow at Kasauli Lit Fest

The opening day of the Kasauli Literary Festival was dominated by tributes to Khushwant Singh here Friday.This year he would have turned 100.

The speakers included his son Rahul Singh, nephew Pami Singh. Also Harish Trivedi, Bhaichand Patel, Bachi Karkaria, Farooq Abdullah, Bishan Singh Bedi and Sudeep Sinha.

There were also his female followers, Ameena Saiyid and Sayid Abida Hussain from Pakistan who recalled him as a friend, guide, and humourist.

There was even a British woman Patricia who movingly recalled meeting him as a sixteen year old.An association which lasted over fifty years.

A session was devoted to remembering the writer Bhisham Sahni by his daughter.Followed by a talk on the great art and literature produced by people suffering from serious physical and mental ailments by Dr Faroq Udwadia from Bombay.

The evening’s highlight was a discussion on the television film Tamas by director Govind Nihalani and Om Puri.

Om Puri narrated interesting anecdotes of shooting for this 1988 popular 6 part serial.

But towards the end Om did get carried away as the helpless moderator Bhaichand Patel looked on helplessly.

Kasauli Club venue of the festival was full on the opening day including a lot of famous people milling in the crowds on a very pleasant and breezy autumn day.