Curtain raiser held in Delhi for upcoming Crime Literature Fest at Doon
Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi, 29 Nov: A curtain raiser event was held in New Delhi today regarding the upcoming Crime Literature Festival of India 2025 to be held in Dehradun next month. The curtain raiser was held at the CD Deshmukh Auditorium of the India International Centre, where two thought-provoking sessions set the stage for the main event scheduled to be held from 12 to 14 December at Hotel Hyatt Centric, Dehradun. The event was hosted by the Doon Cultural and Literary Society and it drew an overflowing audience of writers, police officers, journalists, scholars, students and legal professionals, eager to engage with contemporary debates on crime, justice, gender and the power of narrative.
Former Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, and Chairman of DCLS, Ashok Kumar, and former DGP Aloke B Lal conducted the sessions and shared highly insightful views on the justice system, gender balance, law and social responsibilities.
The first session was conducted and moderated by Aloke B Lal. The event featured a range of distinguished voices. It was former DGP Uttarakhand and DCLS Chairman Ashok Kumar who led the most impactful conversations of the day. Setting the tone with clarity and conviction, he underscored the need for a justice system that treats all individuals fairly, cautioning that gendered biases in law can undermine the very principles they seek to uphold.
Ashok Kumar, moderating the session, titled “Equitable Justice – Are Men Being Left Behind?”, opened with a strong assertion that resonated throughout the auditorium: “A truly just society cannot have biased laws. Justice must walk on two legs, male and female alike.” He argued that gender-based crime laws, while essential for protecting women, should not become instruments of misuse. Emphasising increasing instances of false FIRs and the emotional and financial distress suffered by innocent men, he urged policymakers, legal experts and civil society to examine the issue with honesty and balance. Yet, he was equally emphatic that safeguarding women’s rights remains non-negotiable and that the legal framework must continue to protect genuine victims.
He was joined by senior journalist Nidhi Kulpati, documentary filmmaker and men’s rights advocate Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, Devesh Srivastava, and Supreme Court advocate Juhi Arora. The wide spectrum of perspectives ensured spirited exchanges, with the discussion frequently drawing applause. Audience members engaged actively, posing challenging questions and sharing personal experiences, turning the session into one of the most dynamic segments of the evening.
Earlier, the curtain-raiser opened with a session, titled “Madam Sir – Women Breaking Barriers”, anchored by former DGP and Festival Director Aloke Lal. Inspired by the memoir of Manjari Jaruhar, Bihar’s first woman IPS officer, the panel also included Manoj Kumar Lall, former DGP Puducherry, Gurugram DCP (Traffic) Rajesh Mohan and former CRPF DG AP Maheshwari. The speakers reflected on the evolution of women in policing, sharing stories of resilience, institutional resistance, triumph and the changing contours of leadership in khaki. Their narratives offered rare glimpses into the human realities behind uniformed service. The session was conducted by Alok Lal, former Director General of Police, Uttarakhand and Festival Director.
The discussion revolved around women’s leadership, the growing role of women in police service, their ability to overcome challenges, and the importance of women’s empowerment in governance and administration. The session conveyed the message that women officers are not only becoming the shining face of the service but are also breaking barriers and establishing new dimensions.
Both the sessions brought attention to the media’s responsibility in reporting crime. Ashok Kumar cautioned that “trial by media, if not balanced, can become a form of violence itself”, urging journalists to adopt sensitivity and nuance while covering cases with reputational consequences.
The event also acknowledged the presence and support of the M3M Foundation, with Dr Aishwarya Mahajan, a criminologist, representing the organisation. Their upcoming session in Dehradun is expected to be a major draw.
The curtain-raiser ended on a note of anticipation, having not only set the intellectual tone for the festival but also signalling that the forthcoming Dehradun edition promises deeper engagement with the intersection of crime, society and storytelling.
