Doon Book Festival 2026: Grand Launch Of ‘Doon Lit Fest’ On Day 2 Brings Literature And Ideas To The Forefront

The second day of the Doon Book Festival 2026 witnessed the grand inauguration of the 'Doon Lit Fest,' featuring a series of discussions on various dimensions of literature and society. The inaugural ceremony was graced by several eminent guests, including Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, former Union Minister of Education and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, renowned pediatrician Padmashree Dr. R.K. Jain, Chairman of National Book Trust, India, Professor Milind Sudhakar Marathe and Shri Aman Bansal, Vice President of Dev Bhoomi University.

During his welcome address, Professor Milind Sudhakar Marathe said, “That which speaks for the welfare of society is true literature." He further highlighted the rich literary heritage of Uttarakhand, noting that the legacy of stalwarts like Sumitranandan Pant and Shailesh Matiyani continues to inspire the region's glorious tradition.

Padmashree Dr. R.K. Jain emphasized the irreplaceable value of books in his speech, mentioning that the library at 'Lekhak Gaon', established by Shri Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, aims to house 100,000 books. Citing the life of scientist Michael Faraday, he illustrated how books provide inspiration to overcome adversity and achieve greatness, urging people to cultivate a lifelong habit of reading.

Chief Guest Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' lauded the efforts of National Book Trust, India in spreading the knowledge globally. He remarked, "A person who thinks becomes a poet or a writer. The moment you begin to write, you become a writer. Words themselves are the universe and the greatest power in the world." The session concluded with a Vote-of-Thanks by Shri Ashok Dhankar, Senior Project Incharge of the festival.

The first session featured investigative journalist Jupinder Singh, who discussed his book 'In Search of Bhagat Singh’s Pistol.' He shared the challenges of archival research and revealed the fascinating fact that Bhagat Singh had fired his pistol only once. He advised young journalists to develop a deep historical understanding of their respective fields to excel in their craft.

In the second session titled 'Between the Lines and Lens: Stories of Independent India’, celebrated author and screenwriter Advaita Kala discussed the different perceptions and avatars of being an Independent Woman in India, her journey from writing books to script writing to writing for TV and columns for journals. 

The festival's momentum is set to continue tomorrow with sessions featuring Berjis Desai on his book 'Modi's Mission,' Kulpreet Yadav on lesser-known aspects of the 1857 Revolution and Acharya Prashant on his work 'Truth Without Apology.' The evening will also feature a cultural performance by the 'Womaniya Band,' blending Sufi and classical fusion. The Doon Book Festival 2026 will continue to host various literary dialogues and cultural events in the coming days.