Shimla, October 25, 2026
A book examining the critical works of senior literary critic Dr Hemraj Kaushik was released at the historic Gaiety Theatre auditorium in Shimla on Sunday. The book was published by the Himalayan Literature, Culture and Environment Forum.
Dr Pankaj Lalit, IAS, Director of Women and Child Development, released the book, while senior litterateur Dr Usha Bande presided over the programme. Senior journalist and writer Dayashankar Shukla Sagar, Chandigarh-based literary critic Dr Ashwani Shandilya, and Professor of Psychology Dr Roshan Lal Jinta attended as special guests.The programme began with writer and motivational speaker Jagdish Bali introducing the Himalayan Forum and outlining the purpose of the event. Kaushik and S.R. Harnot welcomed the guests by presenting them with Himachali caps, shawls and mufflers.
Congratulating Kaushik, chief guest Dr Pankaj Lalit said it was significant for a book to be devoted to a critic’s own body of work, as critics often spend their lives examining and writing about the works of other authors. He described Kaushik as a dedicated literary figure who had spent years contributing to literature and had written extensively on prominent writers from Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country.Dr Ashwani Shandilya also discussed the book in detail. The main speakers, Dr Satyanarayan Snehi, Dr Dinesh Sharma and Dr Virendra Kumar, appreciated the efforts of the book’s author, Dr Love Kumar, saying he had undertaken an in-depth examination of Kaushik’s critical writings.
The speakers observed that Kaushik had made a significant contribution to literary criticism by studying the works of writers from Himachal Pradesh and beyond. They noted that his sustained engagement with literature had helped bring greater attention to the state’s literary contributions.The programme opened with a statement by Dr Love Kumar, the author of the critical study, who could not attend the event in person. His remarks, read out by Deepti Saraswat Pratima, explained that he had been studying Kaushik’s critical work for years and felt the need to undertake a detailed study of his contribution.
In his welcome address, Himalayan Forum president S.R. Harnot spoke about Kaushik’s long literary journey. He described Kaushik as one of the first literary critics from Himachal Pradesh to work towards establishing the state’s literary creativity at the national level. Harnot also highlighted Kaushik’s impartial approach, saying he had examined the works of writers without discrimination.
The vote of thanks was delivered by young poet and critic Dr Sikandar Bansal. More than 60 people attended the programme, including members of Kaushik’s family, senior and emerging writers, and readers from Shimla, Solan and other areas.
