The Classic Himalayan Car Rally At The Savoy, Mussoorie
Dateline Mussoorie: Spanning over a hundred years, Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels The Savoy, Mussoorie has always been a regular pitstop for the participants of The Classic Himalayan Drive 25 as they make their iconic journey through the mountains, and this year too the hotel carries forward this tradition.
Turning back the clock, car rally drivers, enthusiasts, volunteers will recreate a part of history as they congregate first at the Royal Ballroom for the customary Cake Mixing ceremony a symbol of ushering in good tidings and happiness followed by Hi-tea at the Royal Ballroom and then a lavish dinner at the Central Lawn. Kishore Kaya, Owner & Chairperson Welcomhotel The Savoy describes the event as, “it is indeed an honour and a moment of great pride for the hotel to host this remarkable turnout and carry on the baton that was passed on to us years ago.”
Cake Mixing at The Savoy, Mussoorie
The hill-station and its residents too will witness these forty vintage beauties roll onto the Mall road tomorrow evening as the magic of the setting sun adds to the beauty of the winter line.
Gautam Valli, General Manager added, “The event is proudly supported by Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, The Savoy,Mussoorie and Club ITC,as we continue to celebrate the enduring spirit of motoring heritage and timeless hospitality.”
Following morning i.e. 5th November, the beauties on wheel will be flagged off by Minister for Agriculture Shri Ganesh Joshi, Owner and Chairman , Welcomhotel The Savoy Mrs & Mr Kishore Kaya, Author & Poet, Ruskin Bond and Author & Historian Ganesh Saili as the cars set off on their way to Kufri in Himanchal Pradesh before arriving at the finishing line in Chandigarh.
The Classic Himalayan Drive 25 marks yet another page in the annals of history of not only Welcomhotel By ITC Hotels, The Savoy but also the Queen of Hills, Mussoorie too.
Dateline Dehradun: The Poetry Cafe session of the 9th Valley of Words | Shabdavali Literature and Art Festival 2025, was convened on the inaugural day, October 25, 2025 of the Festival at the Madhuban Hotel in the Shabdawali Hall and featured a captivating inter-generational ensemble of five poets from Doon Valley.
The panel of poets represented a professional and educational cross-section of society, including an educationist, a lawyer, a wildlife activist, a psychologist, and an entrepreneur. The participants ranged from the octogenarian Ms. Harjit Lally to the youngest poet, Ms. Nikita Agarwal. They were joined by Mr. Ajay Jugraan, Ms. Dipanjali Singh, and Ms. Shubhra Pandey. The session was moderated by Ms. Aditi Bist from the Department of English, Doon University, Dehradun.
The session’s richness stemmed from the diverse and deeply personal themes presented by the poets:
Ms. Lally addressed topics considered traditionally taboo, including Infatuation, Sex, and Silence, underscoring the vital components of love that enrich the human experience. She also sung out a self-composed folk song dedicated to military wives awaiting their husbands return.
Left to Right: Ajay Jugran, Shubra Pandey, Aditi Bist (Moderator)
Mr. Jugraan began by reading a stirring poem focused on the vagaries of the Ukraine battlefield using the national flower of Ukraine, the sunflower, as a symbol. He followed that up with a love poem and ended with nature-inspired Haikus drawn from his recently published anthology, Haiku No Hanataba.
Ms. Pandey delivered an emotionally charged tribute to the martyrs of Operation Sindoor and their families, and a lyrical homage to her late mother.
Ms. Singh recited poems detailing the profound inspiration of her daughters, the muses for her creative work.
Ms. Agarwal brought out a contemporary focus, discussing the symbolic significance of the colour yellow and exploring, through verse, the mental health demons prevalent in the modern era.
The session was full of intermittent applause from the audience and ended similarly with many taking selfies and seeking autographs from the poets. The Poetry Cafe has been an a consistent part of the VoW schedule and has seen a growing fan-following with each passing tear.
ON MULLINGAR HILL: Memory, Movement, and Belonging in a Himalayan a Hill Station
By Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger
Hardcover: Primus Books
Pages 337
Price: Rs 2450
On Mullingar Hill stretches from the edge of Mullingar and makes it way down to Clock Tower, Mussoorie. Written in the interview format, On Mullingar Hill recounts oral stories and personal narratives of twenty-odd families who live in this narrow stretch. Over 311 pages the author takes the reader by the hand, guiding him/her from shop to store; from one home into another, and the book peels back layers of their lives and the place they call home.
From Northern Stores the book ends at Vinod Kumar and Surbhi Agarwal: Vinod’s Art & Antiques and Mussoorie Heritage Centre. Joyce writes with passion about families who have over generations made Landour Bazaar their home.
In Mansa Ram Cricket lives Mohmmad Tahir and Gulam Nabi, who are bakers from Ghoghas in Tehri Garhwal. ‘So, in 1947, when there was some unrest between Hindus and Muslims, and some people from Pakistan came to India, and some from India went to Pakistan – in the time of my dada, there was the Charles Bakery. And my father used to work there,’ says Mohmmad Tahir. ‘The Raja of Tehri brought us here. Our family members used to make glass bangles (churis). We used to decorate the top of the glass (he shows indented lines in the glass, painted gold). If we hadn’t stopped that profession, we would all own bangle factories now. But our ancestors left bangle-making.’
The author takes the reader back to her days at the nearby school, where Tahir’s father would be found sitting outside the gates selling ‘tuck’, a small shop selling candies and packaged snacks to students. Opening a battered tin trunk that he carried on his back revealed a wide array of pastries and candies. His speciality was macaroons and home-made toffees. Tahir repeated a litany that maps households across the hillside with a tin trunk carried on his head. His list created a geographic and social network between the British-era houses – Ellengown, Bothwell Bank, Fairview, Firs Cottage, Pennington, South Hill, and so many others.
On the narrow road above Mansaram Cricket is another small shoemaker shop, owned by father and son duo, Sonu Ram Bhatia and his son Ranveer who for years have cobbled and sold hand-crafted sandals to hordes of tourists descending up Landour. Ranveer’s great-grandfather came to these hills from Mandi in nearby Himachal Pradesh. Though they live in nearby Jaunpur, at home the family still speaks a dialect of Himachali. Will they go to Himachal? But for Sonu and Ranveer, the point of no return was crossed a long time ago.
‘There is no one there now. Our uncle also passed away. His family is there, and we have left everything to them. We are not going to take these things with us; one day, we will leave everything behind. We are doing well here; we are earning well, eating well.’
Around the bend, you will find Jaswinder Singh, or ‘Smarty Singh’ (as the entire bazaar calls him). You will find him directing traffic on the steep hill, helping tourists and taxi drivers from the plains negotiate the incline opposite his shop. Originally, his family came here from the hills, across the border, and after the initial struggle, settled down in these hills.
What keeps him here?
‘The people here – Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs – they all live in harmony. They all come to each other’s affairs -festivals, weddings and funerals. He says: ‘ If I am not feeling well, they will come and ask: ‘What happened? Is everything alright? Why didn’t you open the shop yesterday?’ ‘If I am sick and in the hospital, they will come to see me. You don’t have this gesture in Delhi, in metropolitan cities, not even in Dehradun. This thing is only in Mussoorie. If someone dies, the whole bazaar is closed; everyone gathers to pay their condolences for the family, and they go with the dead body as it is carried down the hill until it is taken for cremation on a vehicle.’
On Mullingar Hill is a labour of love for Landour Bazaar – a ‘home’ to everyone who at some point of time was an ‘outsider.’ This excellent piece of research could well be your personal guide as you make your way up the narrow lane of good old Landour Bazaar!
Dateline Dehradun: The ninth edition of the Valley of Words | Shabdavali International Literature and Arts Festival commenced on the 25th and 26th of October at Hotel Madhuban, Dehradun. The festival marked yet another milestone in celebrating literary and artistic excellence, with eight authors being honoured with the prestigious REC-VoW Book Awards across different categories. Alongside literature, the festival also highlighted Uttarakhand’s vibrant heritage with a series of sessions dedicated to the state’s heritage and creative traditions.
Among the many engaging discussions, a session titled “Dev Bhoomi Mein Mahabharat” was organized at the festival’s Shabdavali Hall. The session was moderated by Navneet Gairola, an acclaimed Indian actor and radio presenter, known for his roles in Paan Singh Tomar and The Kashmir Files. With an extensive background in theatre and media. Mr.Gairola also teaches Mass Communication, hosts programs on Radio Zindagi 90.8 FM, and is actively involved in promoting environmental awareness through the Eco Group Society in Dehradun.
Welcoming the speakers and participants, Mr.Gairola initiated a thought-provoking discussion that explored the historical connection between Uttarakhand and the epic Mahabharata. Cultural historian, author, and heritage conservationist Lokesh Ohri reflected on how the epic resonates through Uttarakhand’s traditions, citing examples such as the Pandav Nritya of Jaunsar and local customs that preserve the essence of the Mahabharata. Bureaucrat – Author Neha Mittal further shed light on the existence of the Lakshagrah site in Lakhamandal, Uttarakhand, believed to hold mythological significance in the epic. Researcher and storyteller Ashish Bhandari added a cultural perspective, describing how local communities still maintain subtle distinctions between the descendants of the Pandavas and Kauravas within their oral narratives.
Speaking to Newspost, Ashish Bhandari said, “Right from the word go, it has been a beautiful experience. As a storyteller, I have always believed in the power of stories to shape our thoughts and make us more connected and when I narrated two stories from Mahabharat based in Uttarakhand, it did connect the audience which had a substantial participation from students.”
Neha Mittal added, “Speaking at the Valley of Words (VoW) Litfest was a wonderful experience! The energy, depth, and warmth of the session was full of inspiring conversation and diverse ideas. ”
Concluding the session, the panelists as well as audience remarked that Mahabharata in Uttarakhand is vast and profound, deserving several more sessions to explore its many dimensions. The event concluded with insightful reflections, light-hearted exchanges, and an enduring appreciation for Uttarakhand’s cultural and literary depth.
Dateline Dehradun: In a significant recognition of her multifaceted contributions to journalism, culture, and social causes, Dr Anjali Nauriyal, an eminent journalist, academic, actor, and cultural researcher from Uttarakhand, has been appointed as the Ambassador of the Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation (BCYW Foundation, Denver, USA). A role where she is expected to spearhead awareness initiatives focused on early detection and prevention of breast cancer among young women in the region.
Dr Nauriyal began her journalism career in the early 1990s and went on to become the editor of one of Uttarakhand’s first regional English magazines. She later served as Assistant Professor at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), where she taught English Literature at the Army Cadet College affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru University. Combining her literary acumen with her passion for communication, she joined The Times Group and played a pivotal role in launching The Times of Doon, an innovative supplement published along with Times of India which was devoted to issues of Uttarakhand’s development, culture, and environment.
Her professional journey has been equally rich in other domains, having served as Features Editor at Garhwal Post and as Media Head at Himalayan Hospital and Swami Rama Himalayan University. As an actor, she has left her mark in films such as Maazi, Viraam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Bathtub, Pieces of Partition, 5th September, Qais Laila, and the web series, Peshawar.
A Senior Fellow of the Ministry of Culture, Dr Nauriyal has also conducted extensive research on the region’s cultural heritage and authored ‘Retelling of the Folk Ballads of Garhwal’, which became a regional bestseller. Her remarkable achievements have earned her several honours, including the Pride of Uttarakhand, Nanda Devi Award, GIAN Award, Uma Shakti Samman, Chief Minister’s Award, and Uttarakhand Ratan. As the founding director of the Sacred Saplings Society, she continues to champion the cause of girls’ empowerment. She is presently working on books based on Kumaoni folk tales and fiction.
Regarding her association with the BCYW Foundation, Anjali Nauriyal said, “I plan to promote awareness regarding breast cancer in young women, especially within educational institutions and community settings.” She further added, “The Foundation is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to saving lives through research, education, and survivorship and it focuses exclusively on women below 40 years of age, which is an age group presently witnessing a rising incidence of breast cancer globally.“
The BCYWF vision is to work together with other non-profit organizations with a shared mission of saving the lives of young breast cancer patients by reaching out to younger women with knowledge and tools for early detection of breast cancer, by engaging inspiring breast cancer survivors and patients to spread the message of hope and strengths to others, and fund advance BCYW research. To sustain these goals for the general good of society, the BCYW Foundation significantly depends on individual contributions; collaborations with local, national, and international partners and collaborators; and support from corporate sponsors.
Dateline Dehradun: The Valley of Words 2025 festival celebrated the literary heart of Dehradun through two insightful sessions, “Doon ke Lekhak” and “Authors from the Valley.” Both panels served as a tribute to the region’s creative legacy, reminding audiences that the Doon Valley has long been a cradle of thought, poetry, and storytelling. The sessions explored how writers rooted in the Himalayas transform their surroundings into art, blending realism with reflection, and memory with imagination. The conversations highlighted that the valley’s charm lies not only in its scenic beauty but also in its ability to inspire layered narratives that speak of belonging, loss, and identity, the eternal themes that bridge the personal and the universal.
Doon Ke Lekhak
In the first session, Anil Raturi, Amit Srivastav, and Kripa Ram Nautiyal, in conversation with moderator Anjum Sharma, dived deep into the cultural and emotional fabric of the hills. Raturi shared glimpses from his police memoirs, revealing how life in uniform intersects with humanity and introspection, while Srivastav’s multi-generational novel traced the evolution of relationships and values over time. Nautiyal brought an anthropological depth to the discussion through his portrayal of the Jaunsari community, reflecting on its traditions, transformations, and the pressures of modernity. Together, they painted a vivid portrait of a region in transition, where progress meets preservation, and every story carries the echo of lived experience.
The following session, “Authors from the Valley,” moderated by Deepanjali Singh, featured renowned writers Bijoya Sawian, Ratna Manucha, Neena Nehru, and Kulbhushan Kain, who have each, in their own way, captured the essence of Dehradun in their prose. Their dialogue resonated with warmth and nostalgia as they reflected on the city’s literary heritage, its genteel past, and its evolving character in the face of urban change. From Sawian’s lyrical reflections on folklore and identity to Kain’s contemplative explorations of memory and time, the session was an ode to the writers who have carried the valley’s stories beyond its boundaries.
Supported by Doon University and Graphic Era University, the sessions stood as powerful reminders of how deeply literature and place are intertwined. The Doon Valley emerged not merely as a setting but as a living muse, nurturing imagination, preserving voices, and inspiring writers to tell stories that transcend generations while remaining true to their roots.
Dateline Dehradun: On 25th October 2025, the first day of the just concluded Valley of Words Litfest at Hotel Madhuban, the houseful Shabdawali Hall witnessed an interesting session of poetry reading by three poet – bureaucrats, Pramod Jain, Mugdha Sinha and Mukul Kumar. The session was moderated by son of the soil author – poet – lawyer Ajay Jugraan.
After some engaging and humorous questions by the moderator about how their gentle art of poetry survived the apparent culture of ambition, power and privilege in civil service, the at ease poet – bureaucrats read some touching poems from their books.
Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Jain, explained how the Prime Minister’s work ethic and use of poetry as a tool to rally people during the Covid 19 Lockdowns inspired him to write his collection, Lockdown and Other Poems, and read poems like The Candle, My Countrymen and Goodbye Babuji about human suffering and environment.
Cabinet Notes to Haiku
Indian Railway Traffic Services officer, Mr Kumar touched upon the catharsis he had undergone while writing poetry and read imagist and introspective poems like A Dahlia at Forty-five and The Beggar from his latest collection, Catharsis.
India Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director, Mrs Sinha briefly presented her view about the challenge of AI to original literary creativity and read some bold and beautiful epigrammatic poems like Transformation and Bulb from her collection, Postcard Poems, and a Hindi poem, Solah Shringar.
VoW Director Dr Sanjiv Chopra thanked and felicitated the participants at the end of this short and sweet program, which many in the audience felt should have been longer to do justice to the poets, poetry and for greater enjoyment.
Dateline Dehradun: The Doon Valley is all set to welcome thinkers, writers, artists, readers and dreamers from across the country for the 9th edition of the Valley of Words | Shabdavali (VoW) Art and Literature Festival, to be held from October 25 to 26, 2025, at Hotel Madhuban, Dehradun. Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) will be inaugurating the two day event. Over two days, the city will transform into a hub of literature, art, dialogue, conversations, workshops and performance, a space where ideas take flight and creativity finds its truest expression.
Valley of Words, since its inception, has stood as a confluence of cultures and disciplines, bringing together books, performances, exhibitions, and workshops under one inclusive canopy. This year’s edition continues the tradition with a dynamic curation of sessions that celebrate storytelling in all its forms, from the written word and visual art to dance, theatre, music and workshops.
Across multiple venues and open-air spaces, visitors will experience an array of literary sessions, panel discussions, interactive workshops and exhibitions designed to inspire reflection and dialogue. Sessions will explore themes ranging from contemporary fiction and non-fiction to poetry, translation, sustainability, youth engagement, military history, Ann, Jal, media, social discourse and much much more. Each conversation aims to spark a thought process, bridge disciplines, and engage audiences of all ages, reaffirming VoW’s mission to make literature and culture accessible to everyone.
Complementing the literary discourse will be VoW’s signature art exhibitions, showcasing sculptures, photographs and mixed-media works from emerging and established artists. The festival lawns will host handicraft and handloom showcases that celebrate the textures, traditions, and artistry of India’s diverse regions. The marketplace will include sustainable local crafts, handmade jewellery, artisanal products, and an exclusive VoW memorabilia corner, each piece telling its own story of craftsmanship and community.
Workshops throughout the festival will offer hands-on learning experiences in a range of disciplines, including sign language, dance and philately. These sessions aim to nurture expression and inclusivity, inviting participants to explore new forms of creativity. The festival also continues its commitment to accessibility with workshops designed around empathy, communication, and cultural understanding, ensuring that every visitor feels part of the shared celebration.
The VoW Book Awards (VBA) will once again take centre stage, honouring excellence in English and Hindi literature, Translations, Writing for Young Adults and Children Literature. These awards recognise both established and emerging voices who contribute to India’s literary landscape with originality and depth. Each award session is accompanied by readings, reflections, and discussions that bring books and ideas to life.
26th October, VoW lit fest
A highlight of this year’s program is the festival’s focus on youth participation. School students from across Doon valley will share their vision of Uttarakhand@2047 through declamation in nine regional languages from the hill-state. The sessions embody’s the spirit of dialogue between generations, a hallmark of VoW’s inclusive and forward-looking ethos. The 2025 edition also emphasises on sustainability and community participation. With institutional support from leading educational and cultural organisations, the festival highlights the importance of inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and environmental consciousness, aligning with the broader vision of Uttarakhand as a state where nature, art, and intellect coexist in harmony.
As day turns to dusk, the festival grounds will come alive with performances of music, dance, and theatre. The evenings will feature soulful recitals by ITC artists that blend classical tradition with contemporary flair, offering audiences a sensory journey through sound, rhythm, and emotion. The performances reaffirm VoW’s belief that literature extends beyond the page, into movement, melody, and collective experience.
The festival’s corridors and foyers will also feature pop-up exhibitions, bookstalls, and installations that celebrate India’s artistic diversity. Visitors can browse through a wide range of titles, interact with authors, and collect signed copies, making the experience both intellectual and deeply personal.
Visitors to Valley of Words can expect two days of immersive experiences that blend knowledge and culture, thought and emotion, learning and leisure. Whether attending a thought-provoking discussion, exploring a poetry reading, watching a classical performance, or simply strolling through the art installations and bookstalls, each participant will find their own connection to the festival’s spirit of discovery.
Come join us and be part of this grand celebration. 25th-26th October, 10:00 a.m. onwards. Madhuban Hotel.
Dateline Mussoorie: Apologies to the poet, this particular review has been long in waiting. Haiku no Hanataba is a work of love by someone who wears more than just one hat with grace and wisdom, author-poet-lawyer- Ajay Jugraan.
A chance encounter in a Seattle park with a group of Haiku lovers inspired Ajay to be a novel entrant to the world of Japanese poetry writing and led him to create a colourful bouquet of hundred English haikus for his readers across the globe. He lovingly dedicates it to his mother, who in his words had, “the ability to see something positive, something beautiful in every being, in everything.”
Known in the literary world for his creative work such as “The Bridge on the River Song” (a collection of English short stories), “Antrang Satrang” (a collection of Hindi poems) and now adding “Haiku no Hanataba” (a collection of Japanese style 17 syllable haiku poems) to the list.
Ambar Agnihotri’s illustrations blend beautifully with Ajay’s skill with words making the verse even more vivid for the reader. Inspired by the lost beauty of a town he calls home, his verse evoke nostalgia for a time well spent. Ajay’s lines are simple, but full of depth and imagination. The seventeen syllables evoke not just a memory or emotion but also time and space. Flowers, birds, butterflies, flowering trees, beauty of passing seasons, mountains, galaxies and even tiny critters are brought to life as one savours these three line Haikus.
Categorised in ten sections, these Haiku connect with nature and emotions. There’s plenty in this collection that will capture an experience that the reader has lived at any given point in time and can easily relate to.
Haiku no Hanataba by Notion Press is a book for one who seeks solace, seeks solitude yet seeks camaraderie in the magic of the written word and beyond!
Dateline Mussoorie: Young, god-gifted singer, lyricist and composer Meena Arya from Basaghat village just on the outskirts of Mussoorie has put together the town’s first Maangal Group: a troupe of musicians and three women singers who will perform traditional song’s during auspicious ceremonies such as weddings, child birth, festivities on special invite in the hill-station.
Without any formal training, the young talented Meena has been into professional singing for the past 2-3 years. Talking to the media at the Mussoorie Press Club, Meena said, “The credit for my musical career goes to my husband. He has been my support since day one. My best friend Geeta Kothari recognised my talent and supported my dream, she introduced me to Jagatlal Dogra ji and since then, I have never looked back.” Today the lady’s voice has taken regional music to an all new high. Her songs in Garhwali and Jaunsari have been well-received by the young and old alike. Now she wants to take the lead and form a Maangal group to entertain as well as carry on the tradition of singing auspicious songs at festivities.
Meena Arya with supporters
While the main aim of the all-women troupe is to bring our culture and tradition to every household in Mussoorie which has a large Garhwali and Jaunsari settlement, they also want to empower women and give a fresh lease of life to the forgotten Maangal songs giving the youth a chance to bring their talent to the forefront by training them in Maangal.
Convenor of the group, Pushpa Padiyar speaks for all when she says, “anything auspicious is incomplete if we do not begin our ceremonies with Mangaal. Mussoorie did not have a dedicated Maangal group, but with Meena here, we now hope to change that and ensure that the troupe will carry forward this tradition and their songs will echo in every nook and corner of our town.”
