Spring Edition of CLF 2026 to be held on March 28

Chandigarh, March 22, 2026: Following the stupendous success of the 13th edition of CLF Literati 2025 held in November, the Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS) is delighted to announce the Spring Edition of CLF 2026, scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 28 at Hyatt Centric, Sector 17, Chandigarh.
This much-awaited literary event will once again bring together celebrated authors, poets, thinkers and cultural voices, offering audiences a vibrant space for dialogue, ideas, creativity and cultural exchange.
Announcing the festival, Dr. Sumita Misra, IAS, Chairperson of Chandigarh Literary Society and Festival Director, said, “Through CLF Literati, we strive to create a vibrant space where writers, thinkers, and readers come together to celebrate literature and exchange ideas. The Spring Edition 2026 will continue this journey by presenting engaging conversations that inspire and broaden perspectives.”
The festival will include engaging panel discussions, conversations with popular authors, multilingual recitations and interactive dialogues, designed to stimulate thought, celebrate creativity and inspire literary engagement among audiences. The day-long event will feature a series of high-profile sessions and book launches.
Inaugural Session: The festival kicks off at 10:45 AM with a welcome address by Dr. Sumita Misra.
The day’s sessions will span a wide range of themes—from geopolitics and leadership to literature, relationships, and poetry. The opening conversation, “A World Adrift,” will feature Manish Tewari, Member of Lok Sabha from Chandigarh, in discussion with Manraj Grewal Sharma, offering insights into contemporary global challenges today.
“Doordarshan Diaries: The Golden Era of Indian Television” will celebrate nostalgia and media history with the well-famed news anchor and veteran journalist from the golden era of Doordarshan, Sheila Chaman in conversation with Aradhika Sharma, revisiting the charm and cultural impact of India’s iconic television era.
This will be followed by a compelling session on leadership, “Changing Face of Leadership,” featuring dynamic and influential Former Union Cabinet Minister, Smriti Zubin Irani in conversation with Dr. Sumita Misra, exploring the evolving leadership paradigms and public life.
Literary discussions will continue with “Opening the Chest of Stories,” where Jonathan Gil Harris will be in conversation with Dr. Urvi Sharma, exploring the nuances of history and personal narrative.
Young voices and contemporary relationships will take center stage in “Between Friendship and Forever,” featuring Arsh Verma and Sonia Chauhan in conversation with Dr. Jasmine Anand.
In “The Veil and the Sword,” Ranjit Powar will discuss his book on women in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh with Navneet Garewal.
Themes of love and emotional expression will unfold in “Heartbreak Unfiltered” with Mills & Boon's first Indian romance author, Milan Vohra in conversation with Annurani Sharma, and “Prem Geet aur Kahaniyan,” where the critically-acclaimed poet and novelist, Geet Chaturvedi will be in conversation with Shayda Bano.
The intersection of technology and future thinking will be explored in “Future Proof - Masterstrokes to Outthink and Outplay AI,” featuring Victor Ghoshe.
The festival will culminate with “Mehfil-e-Sukhan,” a vibrant celebration of languages and cultural pluralism, featuring a multilingual poetry recital in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, and English by Dr. Madhav Kaushik, Kasturika Mishra, Savita Singh, Mukul Kumar, and Bubbu Tir, promising an enriching and inclusive cultural experience.
Book Launches: The festival will host the launch of Almost Sixteen by Arsh Verma, The Veil and the Sword: Women in the Court and Life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by Ranjit Powar and Catharsis: A Symphony of Sighs by Mukul Kumar.
Over the years, the Chandigarh Literary Society has played a significant role in promoting literature, arts and culture in the City Beautiful. CLF Literati has evolved into one of the most eagerly awaited literary festivals in the region, attracting distinguished writers and enthusiastic readers from across the country.
Dr. Misra added, “CLF Literati is not merely a festival. It is a meeting ground for ideas, creativity, and cultural exchange. The Spring Edition 2026 continues our commitment to fostering meaningful literary conversations and celebrating the transformative power of words."