Poetry, music, and literature weave magic with sessions featuring a galaxy of stars
“Dreams with the right intentions always lead to success”, declared Indian Actress and Wellness Coach Shruti Seth at the 4th edition of the Shoolini Literature Festival that commenced on 15th March. This year’s Shoolini Literature Festival was a dream come true for many.
Poetry, music, and literature weaved magic with sessions featuring renowned personalities such as Padma Shri Ashok Chakradhar, Padma Shri Surendra Sharma, Indian Politician Sharmistha Mukherjee, BJP Spokesperson Tuhin A Sinha, Indian Actress Shruti Seth, Master Chef Shipra Khanna, Lyricist Raj Shekhar, Former Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and many others.
Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy President Sanjana Goyal inaugurated the event, setting the tone for exciting days ahead. Following this, politician Sharmistha Mukherjee talked about the impact of former President Pranab Mukherjee on Indian society. She said, “My father used to listen to everyone. This is what made him successful.”
Poet Ashok Chakradhar traced the evolution of the Hindi language, comparing it to the gradual onset of spring. He also shared his thoughts about AI, saying that he called Artificial Intelligence IA, which means “Aaiye” in Hindi. “AI can never take over the human touch that is a part of literature.” He advised all aspiring writers to read more to write better.
The festival further moved into the realm of humour and satire with ‘Haste-Haste Kat Jaayein Raaste: Tehzeeb ka Hangama’, where Padma Shri Surendra Sharma, author and poet Nilotpal Mrinal, film writer Ashkaran Atal, and writer Ved Prakash Ved showcased their wit and humour.
Women empowerment was prioritised with discussions led by singer Sunaini Sharma; writer, poet, playwright, theatre actor, folk singer Vibha Rani; and writer Shilpa Jha, advocating for a shift in societal mindsets. Meanwhile, discussions on diverse topics ranging from Shimla’s allure to the intersection of genes and human creativity inspired the audience, exposing them to a world of knowledge.
Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh stole the show as fans cheered during a spirited online conversation moderated by former IAS officer and motivational speaker Vivek Atray. The session on ‘The Rise of Seven Sisters: Transformation of North East India’ that featured author and BJP spokesperson Tuhin A Sinha and Rami Desai, an anthropologist specialising in North East India, proved an eye opener.
The session 'Dastaan e Dastarkhan' was a culinary extravaganza, featuring Masterchef Shipra Khanna and Masterchef Nidhi Sharma. They shared their expertise, delving into their culinary philosophies and global aspirations.
Renowned poet and motivational speaker Diwakar Goel enthralled the audience with his inspiring words in the session ‘Smoked Frames: Poetry from the Heart’.
The fest delved into the realm of music with ‘The Life and Death of a Legend: Sidhu Moosewala,’ in conversation with author Jupinderjit Singh and Shoolini Trustee and Director Nishtha Shukla Anand, on the journey of Punjabi music icon Sidhu Moosewala.
Shoolini's young author, Rsvika Tripathi, captivated literary enthusiasts with an engaging book reading session.
The highlight of the event was a session on Mindfulness featuring Indian actress Shruti Seth. She said. “ Accept your failures as part of growth — Learn from them — Both success and failure are temporary.”
During the literature fest, an enlightening session by Indian author Nilesh Kulkarni titled ‘Reverence Renewed: Lord Ram – The Icon of Modern India’ captivated the audience.
The two-day-long Shoolini Literature Fest concluded with a session by famous lyricist Raj Shekhar. In the session titled ‘Bol Likhe Hai: The Magic of Lyrics in Hindi Cinema’, he said, “Writing techniques have become better, but the calibre remains the same.”
The event culminated with recognising the literary excellence of the authors. Three distinguished authors were honoured for their contributions to literature and mythology. Author Harshali Singh, Indian writer Siddharth Pandey, and author Mona Verma received accolades for their work focusing on the Himalayas and their rich cultural legacy.
Praising everyone's hard work and creativity in making the Literature Festival a success, Shoolini Chancellor Prof PK Khosla said, "Events like these bring wisdom and inspiration to our campus. This festival has been a fantastic opportunity to learn from each other, celebrate diverse voices, and ignite our imaginations. Congratulations to all!"
Riot of Colours at Flower Fest
The basketball courts on the university campus turned into a colourful canvas as the traditional and well-known Shoolini Flower Fest bloomed with more than a hundred varieties of flowers and plants that can grow in the Solan region. The Flower Fest was a part of the Shoolini Spring Fest.
The exhibition included 50 to 60 varieties of annual flowering species like Dog Flower, Ballis, Begonias, Pansy and Petunia grown in various designed flower pots. Some unique perennial varieties included Calla Lilly, Lillium Ranunkulas and Azelias.
Visitors made a beeline for the creatively designed pots, stunning wooden handicrafts and fountain pieces made from recycled materials. Deputy Director (Operations) Suresh, who organised the Flower Fest, said more than a thousand people visited the exhibitions of flowers.
The university also welcomed students from nearby schools. The youngsters stood agape at the beautiful display of blooms. Handcrafted pieces, ranging from furniture to decorative items, showcased the talent and skill of artisans from the local community, adding a touch of rustic charm to the festivities.
Inaugural Tech Fest ‘Glitch’ Celebrates Innovation
The inaugural 'Glitch' — a science and technology festival — was a highlight of Shoolini SpringFest 2024, aiming to encourage technological excellence and inspire innovation among students. The festival featured four main events: Robowars, Hackathon, eSports, and Capture the Flag (CTF), attracting participants from various academic areas.
'Glitch' was conceived by two brilliant students, Vikas Chauhan (B Tech CSE) and Khushi Pandey (BSc Food Technology). The Robowars event, ‘Metal Mayhem’, saw Aayush and Rahul clinching the top two spots. The Hackathon brought together over 90 programmers, with Team M Tech CSE, Quantum Phoenix, Error 404, XeBit, and Bit Breakers among the winners. The Capture the Flag event tested cybersecurity skills with 170 participants, while the eSports tournament had 17 teams competing, with 'Young Deserving' and X8 emerging as winners.
Led by Prof Ashish Khosla, Director of Innovation, and supported by a team of esteemed faculty coordinators, 'Glitch' embodied the collaborative spirit and academic rigour synonymous with Shoolini University.