3rd edition of ‘Are You Lit?’ Authors, students celebrate power of storytelling

A key addition to this year’s edition was AYL Youth, an initiative that engaged six Gurugram schools in activities aimed at fostering a love for literature

Published on: Mar 30, 2025, 06:26:07 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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At a time when screen time is high and attention spans are shrinking, the third edition of Are You Lit? (AYL) returned to Gurugram on Saturday, bringing together authors, students, and literature enthusiasts to celebrate the power of storytelling. The two-day literary and cultural festival, held at a hotel in Sushant Lok 1, is open for all fromis open for all from 9.30am to 7pm. Officials said that the first day of the festival saw hundreds of visitors Delhi-NCR.

(Left) Co-founder Vineeta Jerath with Dr Manmit Kumarr. (HT Photo)

“Are You Lit? is not just a literary festival—it’s a people’s movement,” said Vineeta Jerath, who co-founded AYL along with Vishesh Prakash. “We were deeply moved by the energy on Day One—students, authors, speakers, everyone came together with such heart. And we are just getting started. Day two promises more stories, more connection, and more inspiration,” she added.

A key addition to this year’s edition was AYL Youth, an initiative that engaged six Gurugram schools in activities aimed at fostering a love for literature. With the tagline “Make literature a way of life”, students showcased their enthusiasm for books through performances, discussions, and storytelling. Sessions explored a range of themes, including diversity and inclusion in “Colours of Spectrum”, personal transformation in “Life 2.0”, and travel as a means of self-discovery in “Women Travel”. A fireside chat with senior academician Aditi Misra examined the profound impact of language. “Literature is the safest vehicle to learn about life,” said Misra. “It’s how we pass values from one generation to the next. At a time when our youth are bombarded with content, events like AYL help them pause and reflect,” she added.

The festival also welcomed a diverse lineup of speakers, such as Dr Manmit Kumar, a psychic and spiritual coach, who shared her journey from a 19-year corporate career to a life of spiritual guidance. “How to flow with uncertainty when life is out of control?” she asked, reflecting on her personal transformation. “It’s about navigating the challenges and rising like a phoenix,” she said. Author Amit Shankar also participated in discussions, exploring the enduring impact of storytelling.

“Usually when we talk about books, it’s in a classroom or exam hall. But here, it was like a festival,” said Pritish Mishra, a Class 10 student from a private school in Gurugram. “We even got to ask authors questions directly. I want to come back every year,” he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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