The 7th Edition Of Dehradun Literature Festival Commences On Children's Day

The 7th edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival commenced on November 14th, 2025 at Doon International School, celebrating Children's Day with the theme "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - Voices of Unity." The festival brings together authors, thinkers, and performers for a four-day celebration of literature and ideas.

The opening ceremony began with the traditional lamp lighting and an online keynote address by celebrated author Ruskin Bond. The festival presented the Ruskin Bond Literary Awards, with Myra Parekh winning the Budding Writers category and Amita Basu receiving the Promising Writers award. Harshit Dixit received the poetry award and Pratik Sakhare was named runner-up.

Justice D Y Chandrachud, former Chief Justice of India, engaged in a conversation with students on "We, the Students of India," emphasizing that "law offers young people a meaningful opportunity to contribute to society" and that "leadership must be rooted in leading by example." He highlighted India's diversity as a strength and stressed the need for technological progress to benefit all sections of society.

The festival presented the 3rd edition of the "Shivani - Iron Lady of the Hills Award" to Anamika, presented by Justice Chandrachud and other dignitaries.

The "Sitaare Zameen Par" team including Gurpal Singh, Divy Nidhi Sharma, Manuj Sharma and Ashish Pendse shared insights on inclusive cinema, with Ashish Pendse encouraging the audience to "discover their own normal and help others find theirs."

Spiritual guide Jaya Kishori conducted a session on "Living the 'It's Okay' Path," while authors Roopa Pai, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan and Vaishali Shroff explored creative storytelling for children in "Above Rhyme, Beyond Reason."

Other notable sessions included "Justice, Democracy and the Idea of India" featuring Justice Chandrachud discussing his book "Why the Constitution Matters," and "Panikkar's India" examining the legacy of historian KM Panikkar.

The day featured cultural performances including "Sound of Women - Folk Music of Uttarakhand" honoring Kumaon's musical heritage and concluded with Ananyaa Gaur's ghazal performance. Additional sessions covered topics from creative writing with Divya Prakash Dubey to food culture with Suvir Saran.

Samraant Virmani, Founder of DDLF, stated that beginning the festival on Children's Day was "symbolic of the imagination, learning and curiosity the festival celebrates." H S Mann, Director of Doon International School, expressed honor in hosting the festival and noted the significance of its opening on Children's Day.

The festival continues through 16th November with more literary sessions, panel discussions, and cultural performances at the school venue