More than 400 participants, a celebration of talent, and three days of spirited competition
The fourth edition of Mimansa – Children’s Literature Festival 2026 concluded at the historic Gaiety Complex, Shimla, with an inspiring celebration of young talent. Organised jointly by the Department of Language and Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh, and Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla, the three-day festival brought together more than 400 students from schools, colleges and universities, creating a vibrant platform for children and young people to compete, perform, express themselves and celebrate their love for language, literature, art and creativity.
The festival witnessed enthusiastic participation from schools including Swaran Public High School, Doon Valley Public School, St. Thomas School, Saraswati Shiksha Mandir High School Shanan, Monal Public Senior Secondary School, Auckland House School for Boys, Auckland House School, Sambhota Tibetan School, Delhi Public School Shimla, Saraswati Paradise International Public School, Dayanand Public School, Monal Public School, ECI Chalet Day School, Sacred Heart Convent, St. Edward’s School, Loreto Convent Tara Hall, SVGC Ghumarwin, Chapslee School, GSSS Majhar and Aryan Public School Sunni, along with several other participating institutions. Colleges and higher-education institutions including Government Sanskrit College Sundarnagar, Sanjauli College, Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Himachal Pradesh University, Kotshara College and St. Bede’s College also participated with great enthusiasm.
The competitions formed the heart of Mimansa 2026, giving students across different age groups an opportunity to step forward and demonstrate their confidence, knowledge, communication skills, imagination and creativity. The festival began with the Inter-School Declamation Competition for Classes 5 to 7, where young speakers took the stage to express their views on subjects connected with education, technology, books, values and the future. The competition focused on clarity, diction, confidence, expression and effective presentation, with Pooja Priyamvada, Aarti Gupta and Dr Ritu Sharma serving on the jury.
The Vocabulary Competition for Classes 6 to 8 tested students on their command of language through synonyms, antonyms, proverbs and related language skills in both Hindi and English. Conducted through written and oral rounds, the competition challenged participants to combine knowledge with quick thinking and confidence. The jury included Mrs Pramila Nanda, Dr Abhishek Prince Rohta and Vikas Prakash Joshi.
Art became another major competitive platform during the festival. The Inter-School and College Art Competition encouraged students to translate their imagination into visual form and showcase their individual artistic styles. The competition was judged by Dr Anjana Bhardwaj and Dr Bhader Singh, who evaluated the young artists’ creativity and expression.
The Books to Script Competition provided senior students with a unique opportunity to transform literature into visual storytelling. Following the Books to Script workshop conducted by filmmaker Vivek Mohan, students of Classes 8 to 12 presented their creative interpretations. The competition tested their understanding of story, character, narrative structure, creativity and visual presentation, giving them an opportunity to look at literature from a completely different perspective.
The Middle Category Declamation Competition for Classes 8 to 10 brought another round of confident young speakers to the stage. Participants addressed contemporary themes including screen addiction, artificial intelligence, reading versus scrolling and education, demonstrating their ability to research, organise ideas and communicate effectively before an audience.
The Senior Category Declamation Competition for Classes 11 to 12 and college students took the discussion to a more mature level, with participants speaking on issues such as social media, freedom of speech, validation culture, digital life and the changing reading culture. The competition provided young adults with a platform to articulate their views on issues that directly influence their generation. The judging panel included experienced educators and academics such as Dr Neelima Kanwar, Dr Deepti Pajni, Dr Anshu Kaushal, Dr Neena Arora Jain and Dr Abhishek Prince Rohta, among others.
The festival’s youngest participants took centre stage on the final day through the Poetry Competition for Classes 2 to 5. With confidence, expression, actions and voice modulation, the young contestants turned the Gaiety stage into a joyful celebration of poetry. The competition was judged by Kalpana Gangta, Mridula Srivastava and Sitaram Sharma. For many of these young participants, it was an important first experience of performing before a large audience.
Across all the competitions, Mimansa placed equal emphasis on participation and achievement. Students were encouraged to take risks, overcome stage fright, present their ideas and learn from one another. Whether speaking in a declamation competition, solving vocabulary challenges, presenting an artwork, adapting a story into a script or reciting poetry, every participant contributed to the energy and spirit of the festival.
The Mimansa 2026 Awards Ceremony brought the competitive journey to a celebratory close, recognising students who excelled in the various categories. The awards celebrated achievement across declamation, vocabulary, art, poetry and Books to Script, acknowledging the dedication, preparation, creativity and confidence displayed by the participants. The results are a reflection of the remarkable talent represented by schools and colleges across the region.
Yet the success of Mimansa cannot be measured only by the names of the winners. The participation of more than 400 young people demonstrated the growing interest among students in creative expression and meaningful engagement beyond the classroom. The festival created a space where students could compete with enthusiasm while also learning the importance of listening, respecting different perspectives and appreciating the talent of their peers.
A heartfelt thank you goes to all our participating schools, colleges, teachers, parents, judges, coordinators, volunteers and students for making Mimansa 2026 such a memorable experience. Our sincere gratitude also goes to our valued collaborators and supporters—WICCI National Media Council, Shoolini University, LAC Academy, HimachalTonight, La Himalaya, Shimla Walks, BlissBites & Brews and Books Café—for standing with us and supporting the festival.
We extend special appreciation to the young volunteers from St. Bede’s College and Rajiv Gandhi Government College, Kotshera, whose enthusiasm and commitment contributed greatly to the smooth conduct of the festival. A warm thank you also goes to the Gaiety management and staff for their constant cooperation and support throughout the three days.
As Mimansa 2026 concludes, its greatest achievement lies in the confidence it inspired among young participants. More than 400 students came together, took the stage, competed, created and expressed themselves. Some returned with awards, while others returned with something equally valuable—the courage to participate and the belief that their voice matters.
Mimansa 2026 celebrated not just winners, but every young participant who dared to step forward, speak up, create something of their own and become part of a larger celebration of talent and imagination.
Mimansa 2026: Where Young Minds Found Their Voice in Books, Stories, Art and Imagination
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
