Her heart leapt a mile when she saw the man's face...

“She was thoroughly enjoying her stroll when a man lying prone on the roadside caught her attention. Fearing the worst, she turned the limp figure over.  Her heart leapt a mile when she saw the man's face...”

Imagine over 100 stories beginning with this one sentence and yet ending with completely differing conclusions.  Who was this man?

It is time to find out who this man was on 1st of September 2012. Chandigarh Literary Society spends an evening with the six top winners of the Short Story Writing Competition that we organised in July.  It was simply an overwhelming response. And during the last days, our email was hyperactive with more and more short stories pouring in from everywhere.  Many burnt midnight oil to create a plot fit for their story, and one youngster, the last minute entrant, did become a winner.

From 4pm to 6pm at UT Guest House in Sector 6, Chandigarh, on Saturdayt, the 1st September, it would be exciting time to see the six top winners unfolding the plots of their short stories.

And we shall also have the celebrated three-member city-based authors who formed the jury for this competition, namely Khushwant Singh, Neel Kamal Puri and Nirupama Dutt, present on the occasion for an interaction to help us understand the nuances of writing and appreciating the genre of short-story writing.

CLS to set up mini-libraries

Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS) shall be setting up mini-libraries in select institutions in the city under its Gift a Book programme, informed Ms. Sumita Misra, President of CLS.

CLS launched ‘Gift a Book’ programme in May this year to make available the books not otherwise accessible to certain sections of society where CLS would set up mini-libraries, she added.

The first collection box for books has been placed outside the British Library in Sector 8, Chandigarh, for a month and would be rotated to different public places besides setting up more collection points.

A large number of books which we have read and are not using, can be put in the box or brought at the functions organised by CLS from time to time which would be gifted to the select institutions, she added.


CLS has identified several institutions where it would set up mini-libraries and gift books contributed by the public including Cheshire Homes in Chandigarh, Vatika School for Deaf and Mute, Senior Citizen Homes, etc., over a period of time.

CLS members brought along books to gift for this project at the British Library (see photos)

Our partners, British Library Chandigarh is organising a Wikipedia Workshop on 24th and 25th August from 4 to 7pm.

This is a creativity workshop to understand how Wikipedia works, how one can contribute to it, and Wikipedia Ambassador Programme or Wikipedia Clubs. 

Since there are limited seats to be allotted on first-come-first-served basis, those interested in participation must confirm it to Ms Christina Singh, 0172 2745195 / 96 immediately.

Participants are advised to bring their own laptop/tablet/ipad with internet connectivity for this workshop. 

More information can be had from British Council website. Click Here.

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Hasya Kavi Sammelan

As a part of its commitment to promote literary activities in the region and bring people closer to the literateurs, Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS) organised a Haasya Kavi Sammelan on 27th July at Indradhanush Auditorium at Panchkula.

Mrs. Sumita Misra, IAS, Chairperson of CLS welcomed the guests and poets and reiterated the aim of Chandigarh Literary Society to promote literary activities for the “Classes and the masses”. 

Famous Shri Surinder Sharma, along with  Mahendar Ajnabi, Ved Parkash Ved, Yusuf Bhardwaj, Dr. Sita Sagar and Ritu Goyal, participated in the show.

Surinder Sharma, one of the most popular poker-faced humorous poet, famous for his “chaar lainaa suna reha hoon”, was the favourite of the show, he hails from Haryana but often uses Marwari dialect in his poetry.

Delhi-based Ved Parkash Ved, is known for his pithy and meaningful poetry and has been honoured with Kaka Hathrasi Sammaan, and Omprakash Aditya Samman,

Mahendra Ajnabi, winner of Kaka Hathrasi Award, is another best Hasya-Vyangya Kavi, dominating the kavi sammellans for last 25 years.

Yusuf Bhardwaj also hails from Hisar District of Haryana who left his teaching career to immerse himself completely in Haryanvi poetry.

Dr. Sita Sagar is another versatile poetess of the country who has made her place in Hasya-Vyanga genre having travelled extensively abroad, and honored by the Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Ritu Goyal, a software professional working in Pennsylvania, started as an architect before switching her profession. Writing poetry was her passion since she was in the fifth grade in the school and has also published a children’s story book

The show was attended by a large and distinguished gathering including senior officers of both Punjab and Haryana, and the citizens of both Chandigarh and Panchkula.  Residents who attended, were all praise for the efforts of CLS in bringing programmes like this for the enjoyment of general public.

Award Function for Short Story Writing Competition Winners

Chandigarh Literary Society shall be organising the award giving function to recognise the winners and participants in the Short Story Writing Competition.
All are requested to block their dates to be there on 1st September 2012 at UT Guest House.
More details shall follow shortly.