CHANDIGARH: The First Defence Literature Festival of the country will be held here on October 27 (Infantry Day) in which the history of the armed forces, tales of valour of our soldiers and defence policies will be discussed by experts and former defence officers.
A brainchild of Punjab Governor
V P Singh Badnore, the festival will focus on war stories.
“Chandigarh has 94 retired Lieutenant Generals and 133 Major Generals, the highest number from any city. The venue is yet to be finalised and we are working on the modalities of the event,” Badnore said.
Sources said that the aim of the festival is to make defence writings available to the common man and attract youth towards the forces. Books on defence will also help promote national security.
“The festival should be organised by an autonomous body on the lines of the Jaipur Literature Festival to ensure more footfall. It’s time Chandigarh figured on the literature festival map. The city boasts of a number of ex-servicemen, military historians and defence writers and so a good panel of experts will be easy to find,” said Lt Gen H S Panag (retd).