Khushwant Singh litfest makes Oxford debut with message of peace across borders
The Khushwant Singh Literary Festival (KSLF), now in its seventh London edition, made a stirring debut in Oxford with a strong message of building bridges in times of global unrest.
Bringing alive many of Khushwant Singh's enduring passions — heritage and ecological preservation, cross-border ties between India and Pakistan, and the shared poetic legacy of South Asia — the Oxford edition was hosted in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development, among other partners. This year's theme, 'Humanity Across Borders,' framed the entire discourse as a tribute to the prolific and iconoclastic author's values.
The opening session featured novelist and literary agent Keshava Guha, who discussed his second book, The Tiger's Share, with Somerville College alumna and novelist Francesca Kay. The novel delves into the complexities of contemporary Delhi society, unspooling themes of ecological crisis and familial tensions.
Another highlight was the discussion between science writer Matt Ridley and infectious disease epidemiologist Dr Sunetra Gupta on Ridley's latest book, Birds, Sex and Beauty. The two examined recent developments in evolutionary theory with wit and depth, before turning to a contentious debate on the origins of the Covid-19 virus. Ridley, grandson of British architect Edwin Lutyens, spoke of his family's links with Khushwant Singh's father, Sir Sobha Singh, while defending the lab-leak theory—a position Gupta firmly challenged.
The Oxford edition also deepened the bond between India and Somerville College, whose historic connection includes early Indian women scholars like Princesses Catherine and Bamba Duleep Singh —daughters of Maharaja Duleep Singh and pioneers in the suffragette movement — as well as Indira Gandhi, who studied at Somerville before becoming India's first woman prime minister.
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