The fourth edition of the Mimansa Children’s Literature Festival came to an exhilarating close at Shimla’s historic Gaiety Complex, leaving behind a trail of vibrant ideas, creative energy, and inspired young minds. Jointly organized by the Department of Language and Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh, and the Keekli Charitable Trust, the three-day extravaganza successfully liberated literature from traditional classroom confines. By transforming text into an interactive experience, the festival brought together more than 350 students from various schools, colleges, and universities across the region to read, debate, create, and speak.
The final day opened with a delightful burst of rhythm as primary school participants took the stage for a lively poetry competition. Judged by writer Kalpana Gangta, storyteller Mridula Srivastava, and artist Sitaram Sharma, the stage came alive with animated recitations and bold voice modulation. Shortly after, Prof. Atul Khosla, Vice-Chancellor of Shoolini University, led an engaging storytelling workshop moderated by Ritanjali Hastir. Khosla urged the young audience to look at their daily lives through a lens of curiosity, proving that captivating narratives often hide within the simplest everyday observations.
Interactive book discussions remained a core highlight, actively bridging the gap between writers and young audiences. A session on Anirban Bhattacharyya’s The Sinister Holiday featured his father, author Probal J. Bhattacharyya, stepping in alongside moderator Sumit Raj and student panelists, sparking warm and humorous exchanges about literary family traditions. Later, author Lokesh Thakur joined moderator Jasleen Gulati and college readers to discuss CoMaTose, diving into real-world questions around education, relationships, and contemporary life. The literary sessions culminated with Chief Guest and TEDx speaker Nalini Ramachandran in conversation with young scholar Pritha Doegar on Once Upon A Beginning, exploring how Indian folklore, mythology, and regional heritage shape modern culture.
The festival concluded with an enthusiastic awards ceremony celebrating student achievements across declamation, poetry, art, vocabulary, and script adaptation. Beyond honoring competitive success, the ceremony celebrated the courage of every young participant who stepped onto the platform to express themselves. Mimansa 2026 proved that literature truly flourishes when young people are treated not merely as passive listeners, but as active participants in the conversation, sending hundreds of students home with fresh ideas and a renewed passion for stories.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
