After an inspiring opening day of books, storytelling, art, poetry and creative workshops, the fourth edition of Mimansa – Children’s Literature Festival 2026 entered its second day with an equally vibrant programme of competitions, literary conversations, creative workshops and interactive sessions for young readers.
Organised jointly by the Department of Language and Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh, and Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla, the three-day festival at the historic Gaiety Complex continues to provide a lively platform for children and young people to read, speak, write, create and engage with authors, artists and experts.
The morning began with the Vocabulary Competition for Classes 6 to 8, where participants tested their knowledge of synonyms, antonyms, proverbs and language skills in both Hindi and English. Conducted in two rounds, the competition combined a written test with an interactive oral round, encouraging not only knowledge but also confidence, spontaneity and effective communication. The jury comprised Mrs Pramila Nanda, Dr Abhishek Prince Rohta and Mr Vikas Prakash Joshi.
The literary programme continued with a book discussion on Almost Adulting by Probal J. Bhattacharyya, moderated by Dr Anita Sharma. Young readers Dakshita Arora of St Thomas’ School, Sneha of Monal Public School, North Oak, and Pravesh Sharma of Sanjauli College joined the author in an engaging conversation on growing up, memories and the experiences that shape young lives.
This was followed by a Storytelling and Writing Workshop for Classes 5 to 8, led by media professional and author Pooja Priyamvada, with Ritanjali Hastir as moderator. The session encouraged children to view everyday experiences through the lens of storytelling and explore characters, settings, ideas and expression while discovering their own creative voices.
Young readers then met author Vikas Prakash Joshi for a discussion on his book My Name is Cinnamon, moderated by educator and writer Chriselle Fernandes. Young readers Harsh Thakur of Swaran Public School, Falaq of Monal Senior Secondary School and Ekaansh Kumar participated in an interactive exchange with the author, bringing their own perspectives and questions to the conversation.
Adding a distinctive cultural dimension to the day was the Heritage Walk with Sumit Raj, during which students explored the historic spaces around the Ridge and Gaiety Complex. Through stories of Shimla’s architecture, people and past, the young participants were encouraged to observe, question and connect with the heritage around them.
The literary journey continued with a special Hindi book session on Bal Kavyadhara by Om Prakash Sharma, moderated by Dinesh Sharma, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Centre of Excellence Government College, Sanjauli. Young readers Muskaan, Aryan and Yug Kanwar joined the conversation, bringing the perspectives of young readers to an engaging discussion on children’s poetry.
At the same time, renowned cartoonist and illustrator Ajit Narayan conducted an interactive Art Workshop: Cartoons in Books, introducing children to characters, expressions, humour and visual storytelling. The workshop encouraged participants to transform simple lines and ideas into imaginative characters and stories, demonstrating how art can become another form of storytelling.
The afternoon saw another major attraction—the Declamation Competitions for both middle and senior categories. Students of Classes 8 to 10 explored themes including screen addiction, artificial intelligence, reading versus scrolling and education. The senior category, comprising Classes 11–12 and college students, addressed contemporary issues such as social media, freedom of speech, validation culture, digital life and the changing reading culture.
The competitions were judged by eminent academics and educators, including Dr Neelima Kanwar, Dr Deepti Pajni, Dr Anshu Kaushal, Dr Neena Arora Jain and Dr Abhishek Prince Rohta, among others. The competitions provided young speakers with an opportunity to articulate their views, demonstrate confidence and engage thoughtfully with issues relevant to their generation.
Another eagerly awaited event was the Books to Script Final Competition, following the workshop conducted by President’s National Film Award-winning filmmaker Vivek Mohan on Day 1. Students of Classes 8 to 12 presented their creative interpretations, demonstrating their understanding of story, creativity, value addition and visual narrative. The competition gave participants an opportunity to transform literature into a visual storytelling format and explore the relationship between written and cinematic narratives.
Day 2 once again demonstrated the central philosophy of Mimansa—that literature becomes more meaningful when young people are given the freedom to question, interpret, create and express. From vocabulary and public speaking to books, heritage, art, storytelling and visual scripts, the festival offered participants opportunities to explore multiple forms of communication and creativity.
With more than 350 students from schools, colleges and universities participating across the three days, Mimansa 2026 has emerged as a vibrant meeting ground for young readers, writers, artists, educators and literary enthusiasts. The festival continues to create meaningful interactions between established authors and young audiences while encouraging children to discover their own creative potential.
As the festival moves towards its concluding day, excitement is building for the final chapter of Mimansa 2026, which promises more memorable interactions, creative experiences and celebrations of young talent. The festival will culminate with a special interview session featuring Chief Guest Ms Nalini Ramachandran and young reader Pritha Doegar, followed by the much-awaited Award Ceremony.
With the final literary sessions and celebrations lined up, Day 3 promises to bring this three-day celebration of books, imagination, creativity and young voices to a fitting close.
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