By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Nainital, 28 Sep: On the evening of 26 September, ‘The Talk Series’, a captivating literary event organised by ‘Koshala Literature Festival’ was hosted by Dr Ranjit Bhargava, (Padma Shri awardee) at ‘The Hive’, here. It was graced by a diverse and distinguished group of attendees. Notably, Penelope Anne Doutre, the first female student of the prestigious La Martiniere, Lucknow, and a classmate of Ranjit Bhargava, traveled all the way from Canberra, Australia, to be an integral part of this gathering. Her presence added a unique perspective and significance to the occasion.
The event, conducted by Amitabh Singh Baghel, the founder of ‘The Talk Series’ and Curator-Director of the Koshala Literature Festival, was a delightful fusion of discussions, readings and renditions. The central focus of the evening was “Sarey Raah Chaltey Chaltey: an autobiography of Dr Ranjit Bhargava”. This autobiography not only offered a profound glimpse into the fascinating life of Dr Ranjit Bhargava but also paid homage to the literary legacy of Munshi Newal Kishore, who was honoured with the prestigious title of ‘Kaisar-e-Hind’. Munshi Newal Kishore’s remarkable contributions to literature included publishing an astonishing 5000 titles in various languages, with a particular emphasis on the works of esteemed poets like Mir Taqī Mīr and Mirza Ghalib.
Furthermore, the event featured captivating discussions on select Urdu poets whose works were published by Munshi Newal Kishore. Their verses came to life through the eloquent recitations of Aloke Sah, ex-Chairman of Nainital Bank, Murad Ali, actor and son of film Producer & Director Muzaffar Ali, Deepak Balani, ex-banker and Litterateur, and the event’s host, Amitabh Singh Baghel.
In addition to the luminaries mentioned earlier, the event witnessed the presence of the hostess Shruti Bhargava (wife of Ranjit Bhargava – owner of The Hive), Alok Shah, Sangeeta Shah, Peter Emmanuel, Meera Syal, Yamini Khanna and Colonel HC Sah. These individuals collectively contributed to the intellectual and cultural richness of the evening, celebrating literature, heritage, and the enduring legacies of Munshi Newal Kishore and Dr Ranjit Bhargava.
