Kasauli: The 11th edition of the three-day Khushwant Singh Literary festiva l took off here on Friday with a call for improving the Indo-Pak relations so that the cultural ties between the two countries kept thriving.

In his welcome address KSLF Director Rahul Singh said that one of the key concerns of Khushwant Singh was that India and Pakistan retained warmth in their people-to-people relations. That's why a large number of Pakistani personalities could take part in the first few editions of the KSLF and had vibrant discussions on the matters that concerned both the nations. "The sessions would not only draw packed houses but would also have scintillating debates and discussions", said Rahul making an appeal to both the government to relax visa rules for cultural and literary ambassadors of both the sides. There should be more flights and more personal contact between the people of the two countries.

The tone of the festival was set by celebrated author Amitav Ghosh who took up the theme of the festival, "The Climate of Change: Still Sprightly @ 75" and expressed his grave concern at the constant ravaging of the nature that humanity has been doing in the recent past.  He said the entire civilization would be ruined if the world did not wake up to the devastation and took reformative steps.

In another session much acclaimed writer Rajmohan Gandhi said that  India needed another kind of greatness not just what is reflected through the Hindu majoritarianism. In conversation with Mahua Moitra, MP,  he regretted how for centuries the Indian society suffered discrimination. Sharing his thoughts on the topic "Reflections on a 75-year Legacy" Rajmohan said the legacy of the country since Independence was onerous and challenging and it is time that we had more equitable and homogenous society.