Karthika Gopalakrishnan, Director, Neev Literature Festival
Stories make us human the core of the promotional campaign for the Neev Literature Festival (NLF) in 2025 was intended to resonate with anyone who has been transported to a new world, or whose outward and inward worldview has been impacted, by stories and the act of reading With 135 sessions, 80 delegates, and 4901 registrations for attendees, the ninth edition of NLF hosted delegates from a range of fields, including journalism, Science writing, animation, literary agenting, and reading promotion, apart from children’s writing and illustration For the first time, the festival hosted Masterclasses for older students, in the age group of 15-18 years, as well as the most number of sessions for adults, thus far
The NLF student chair and co-chair Nikhita Chatterjee (11A) and Saanvi Singh (11B) hosted a series of student competitions for the festival, namely the 6 Word Story, Book Trailer, Alternate Book Cover, Shape Poem, and the creation of a Comic Strip, based on the books that were a part of the Neev Book Award (NBA) shortlist this year They also created a “Sorting Hat of Masterclasses” to help visitors navigate which masterclasses to attend at the festival, based on their interests and age groups Our NBA Student Chair and Co-Chair Alisha Patil (11B) and Anaaya Kanchan (10C) initiated the NBA Student Choice Award by creating reading groups of students across the different grades at the school, and having the members of these groups vote on the books that they thought were most fitting for the award, based on the criteria that had been created for the same Sayuri Manon (11B), the Head of Student Volunteers, spearheaded a programme to bring in Reading Community Volunteers interested students who are readers from other schools and keen to volunteer at a children’s literature festival to witness the work that goes on behind-thescenes and explore it firsthand Shenaya Bhattacharjee (11B), Head of the Multimedia Team, created enthusiasm among the student community for the festival, both online and offline, by featuring our students in a variety of reels in the run-up to the event Dhruv Nagri (10A), the Design Chair, led a team of design and decor volunteers to source and decorate CDs from the student body to form a backdrop for the photo booth, create an octopus installation at the entrance, as well as introduce an origami bookmarks stall managed by Manasvi Dadbhawala (11B) and Krishna Samant (10A), alongside building on the NLF passport from last year, which ended up being a leading attraction, especially for young children The Visual Arts team across Academy and Early Years led by Mr Pradeep, Mr Harish, and Ms Benazeer, worked closely with the students of the design and decor teams to add colour and flavour to the glass walkway, the pillars, and created an interactive art project for visitors to contribute to
Our students from Grades 2-9 each got the opportunity to attend exclusive sessions with particular authors at the festival as well With a host of delegates including Pablo Cartaya, Sam Leith, Devika Rangachari, Anushka Ravishankar, Shabnam Minwalla, Anthony McGowan, LeUyen Pham, Vera Brosgol, Veera Hiranandani, Uma Krishnaswami, and Rajani LaRocca, NLF was a true celebration of stories The festival showcased what stories are able to do for us In the author Philip Pullman’s words, stories “bewitch”; “they enchant, they cast a spell, they enthral [ ] Most of all, stories give us delight.”
TheNLFexperiencethroughthelensofmodernmedia
Shenaya Bhattacharjee, Multimedia head, 11B
The build-up to the Neev Literature Festival has been filled with excitement and brainstorming, as I brought together creative minds across grades to develop interactive ideas for the festival’s social media promotion Every day, we tracked down students and teachers to represent the diverse Neev community in our promotional material Along the way, we shared countless laughs and some frustrations with every retake caused by a failed attempt at making an Instagram reel In the end, however, we always triumphed, successfully creating engaging content for the festival’s Instagram page that attracted a diverse audience and, hopefully, sparked their interest in joining us This process taught me how to find middle ground with others’ ideas while representing a wide range of perspectives in selecting participants who could convey the meaning and importance of an event like NLF Engaging with both students and teachers in this way was key to learning how to represent the larger student body effectively
from the NLF team
NLFStudentCo-chair
Saanvi Singh, 11B
NLFStudentChair
Nikhita Chatterjee, 11A
Reflecting on my journey as NLF chair, I realize how deeply the festival has shaped me - not just by giving me the chance to lead, but also by inspiring me through its creativity and sense of community This was the first time I had the opportunity to be deeply involved with NLF, and I was excited to make a difference By working with teachers, the student leaders, and the student body, I believe that together we made NLF a remarkable success
We aimed to boost engagement and involve students across age groups by offering a wider range of competitions Sorting through the many submissions comic strips, book covers, shape poems I was inspired by students’ creativity and their thoughtful connections to the shortlisted books. Seeing how they interpreted and made stories their own reminded me of the joy of reading
To showcase the wide range of masterclasses available, we also created a ‘sorting hat’ quiz that guided attendees toward sessions matching their interests It was rewarding to see children, parents, and teachers discover classes they might not have considered, making the quiz a fun way to explore the amazing multitude of experiences NLF had to offer Beyond organizing competitions and masterclasses, I also had the opportunity to engage with NLF from a different perspective when I emceed at the NBA retreat
This role allowed me to explore the world of authors and publishers firsthand, helping me gain a deeper understanding of the literary community that shapes the festival and truly makes it the exceptional event that it is
Overall, my journey as the Chair has been an incredible learning experience I knew from the very beginning that stories make us spirited - but experiencing being an NLF leader showed me firsthand just how powerfully they can bring people together and ignite a love of reading
NBAStudentChair
Alisha Patil,
11B
In the words of Margaret Fuller, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader” Despite my love for and long history of reading, being the NBA Chair this year was my first true experience of being a leader I admit that I had initially thought, given my propensity to gravitate towards books, that this role would be something I could take on without worrying about my ability to do it justice While this assessment was not entirely untrue, it was somewhat naive in not having a real understanding of the sheer amount of work that went into making the NLF a success year after year and the teachers were still the ones who were really in charge.
Still, being the NBA Chair was a wonderful experience, full of learning, collaboration and interaction with various authors and the jury I was especially happy to be in this role when Anaaya (the NBA Co-Chair) and I implemented the first Student Choice Awards While in the past, the element of student choice was brought in mainly through engagement with the reading challenges, this year, we put together a committee of students across different grades to vote on their favourite books from the NBA Shortlist
NBAStudentDesignChair
Dhruv Nagri, 10A
NLF was held for the first time in 2017 when I was in grade two The bustle of authors, masterclasses, visitors, and the experience of seeing my school transform into a storybook wonderland really left an impact on me From day one, I knew that when I could, I wanted to play a role in the NLF and contribute my efforts to this beloved festival This year, I was given that opportunity through the role of NLF Design Chair
The purpose of this role was to help the students interact with the Festival creatively and give a personal touch to the decor of the venues This came through as our interactive origami stall, the photo op with our mascot Mr Bones, the large octopus installation bunting across the rooms, and the underwater themed decor
This year, all the student leaders decided to open up more decisions to the community to increase student engagement beyond the competitions we set up This included the choice of volunteer shirts for this year ’ s NLF that I felt made the pre-NLF hype a little more inclusive, and something that will hopefully continue in the future
All in all, NLF has always been and will continue to be a uniquely memorable experience for me that ties me to our school and my identity as a Neev student I look forward to attending the NLF next year, and then again post graduation, maintaining this touchstone to a significant portion of my childhood And, as always, “love to read, read to love”
Personally, this experience as chair was an opportunity for self-development This came in the form of collaborating with the NLF student chairs and the Reading Team or working on communication and planning when sending out emails to the student body In the process, I learnt a great deal about myself, my leadership style, and was able to deepen my bond with the school and this magical Festival
During NLF, the most memorable experience was watching how members of the student community came together to work on the NLF decorations. It was truly inspiring to see batch after batch of students led by the design core team of 17 students working in tandem while striving towards excellence From the wider student body, we received buntings on which students illustrated scenes from their favourite books and CDs on which students did underwater art, which were hung up on the trees Altogether, it truly felt like a family coming together to decorate their home for a festival
In the end, it's essential to thank the Design Core team and all the students who contributed to making the decorations, because without them, none of our ideas would have turned to reality
from the NLF team
NBA Student Co-Chair
Anaaya Kanchan, 10C
The build up to NLF was the busiest time of this year for me As student leaders, we had tons of responsibility, ranging from deadlines for the Student choice award to the countless speeches and documents we had to work on At the end of the festival however, it felt truly rewarding to see the students and parents engage with reading and literature in an event that we had helped create
NLF is a truly magical experience for everyone who loves to read and learns to love by reading, but the magic is only heightened when you know the effort that goes into it Working with my peers to choose the actual designs that were then put up all over the school, skipping classes to google authors and write about them and the way in which all of it came together made it feel like that time was well spent
I also learnt more about myself and worked on my ability to take responsibility This year, I really wanted to start a Student Choice Award with the NBA chair Alisha Coming up with the criteria and collaborating with students to finalize on the winner of the award helped me understand and work on my capabilities as a leader and a collaborator, as well as introduced me to the new perspectives of other young readers like myself
NLF this year was a new experience for me, filled with responsibility and action, and I can’t wait to be a part of it in new and exciting ways next year as well.
NLF Head of Volunteers
The first time I attended NLF was in 2018, when I first joined Neev in grade 4 If you can, try imagining a lanky 4th grader with bunny teeth and an obsession for reading so strong that it became the cause for her getting glasses NLF was the first time I heard of a Literature festival And as the years have gone by, it’s gone from being a fascination to an integral part of me and how I view Neev
NLF 2025 by far was my favourite year, and yes, I might just be saying that because I was one of the student chairs this year! Whether it was planning in June, getting approval for out of school volunteers or (not) convincing Miss Karthika to let us buy a stuffed toy mascot from Ikea, the hectic hubbub before and during the 2 festival days was an amazing experience
Since I was the head of the student volunteers, my work really picked up in the month before the festival it was demanding, yet more exhilarating than I could have imagined Working on spreadsheets, coordinating with Ms Surbhi and Ms Anindita on designating the student roles and frantically opening the laptop at 10 or 11 pm to make last minute changes while blaring a Hindi song on my headphones became my routine during the week leading up to the festival
Looking back, it feels surreal that the little 4th grader who was simply wide-eyed at the idea of a literature festival grew into someone helping to run it. Being a student chair this year showed me the effort, creativity, and collaboration that go into making something so magical come alive, and I couldn’t be prouder to have been a part of it. NLF isn’t only about books It’s about the shared passion and love for reading which leaves a mark far beyond two days of the festival
Sayuri Manon, 11B
“Shifting Perspectives”, with
Aparna Kapur
Arianna Sethi, 10B
Aparna Kapurs masterclass, “Shifting perspectives” at the Neev Literature festival 2025, highlights the importance of how different perspectives work together, and enhance a story
In her book, “An Absence of Squirrels”, the main character is a 12-year-old girl named Kathi, who has 7 different personalities, with different thoughts, opinions, and perspectives A shift of perspectives changes the focus and paints the way a story is told However, perspectives are more powerful with context Without context, there can be a variety of meanings, some of them being something you may not want to convey
The masterclass was interactive, interesting, and magical The audience silently rested their heads on their palms, intently listening to the different perspectives of Kathi, seeing how they slowly change and evolve Kathi's perspectives brought about 3 words from the children in the audience: empathy, imagination, and creativity
The session got us to think. Analysing different visuals and extracting numerous perspectives from them. What might characters other than Kathi be thinking? What does the moment look like? What would you do in this situation? In the end, Aparna Kapur’s island set book, “An Absence of Squirrels” along with the amazing interactions and activities, helped us understand the art of shifting perspectives
“Make some noise” with Vibha Batra Kabir Singh, 9A
At the whimsical session “Make Some Noise”, author Vibha Batra helped remind us that books aren’t just about what we see, but can also portray what we hear, smell, touch, or even taste on an everyday basis We often focus solely on visual imagery, forgetting how powerfully other senses shape stories
Drawing from her picture book “Sound Town”, Ms Batra showed how onomatopoeia (or “sound words” as she gracefully put it) can bring writing to life She kept the sea of young readers on their feet by quizzing them on the sounds of everyday objects, and responses could be heard being shouted throughout the Kathashala tent But the highlight of the session was truly when she invited children onstage to draw objects and act out the unique sounds they made with her From chattering monkeys to buzzing bees, from twittering birds to sploshing puddles, the stage turned into a vibrant playground The atmosphere was heartwarming, with younger participants radiating energy, and the adults being just as supportive
What clearly stood out was the session’s interactivity, successfully incorporating many fun games into the discussion The takeaway was clear; sound is a tool just as vital as other senses in writing By embracing auditory imagery, we can make our stories more memorable and alive.
blogging
Rohan Chakravarty’s “Avian
Antics” Masterclass
Adarshini Chandrakanth, 11A
“Avian Antics”, conducted by author and wild-lifeadvocate, Rohan Chakravarty resonated with young nature-lovers to keep their fervour for avifauna alive
Mr Rohan asked the audience what birds meant to them, explaining their vitality in maintaining ecosystems’ equilibrium An insight was ; “birds teach us humility, to adapt to changing scenarios, move past challenges and continue soaring”.
Mr. Rohan narrated his ornithological journey, explaining how it made him “compassionate”. His infectious passion was apparent in his description of his patience to experience vocalizations, diligence to learn their behaviours and attentiveness to catch sightings From Indian Nightjars, to Baya Weavers, Mr Rohan projected highlights from his book, “Bird Business” to prove they are “all uniquely charming” This, seasoned by his bird impressions left some scanning the skies, convinced they were summoned!
The discussion shifted towards why bird sightings are diminishing Middle-schoolers proclaimed ; “Radiation”, “Pollution”, “Illegal poaching”, and “Habitat Loss” He urged budding eco-activists to become aware of their environment Lastly, we sketched a Coppersmith Barbet
This activity reinforced the significance of being in touch with nature The session was a critical reminder to gaze out of both, the windows that confine us into digital realms, as well as ones that breathe into our homes the cleansing, and liberating winds of the outdoors
In Mr Rohan’s words, “join a silly act of revolution by watching birds”
Book Signings at NLF
Keyah Suchde Patel, 11B
At NLF, book signings drew some of the most enthusiastic crowds From 10 a m to 5 p m , the PYP courtyard buzzed with authors and their fans
As a first-time attendee of NLF, I never imagined the outpouring of affection displayed for the authors
While the crowd peaked before lunch, the moment that stayed with me came late in the afternoon. A little girl and her mother approached me, asking about upcoming events. When I mentioned that book signings were ongoing, their eyes lit up. The mother asked if they could meet an author Naturally, I asked, “Which one?” But I was amused and delighted by her response: “Any author - she just wants to know what a real author looks like”
Not what an author does What a real author looks like As though authors were a different species - a higher kind of humans with the magical gift of capturing a story and putting it down in ink
It made me reflect: isn’t it remarkable what authors do for us? They make us think and dream They make us laugh and cry They give us stories to claim as our own, shaping our past, present and future They help us inch closer to becoming who we truly are
In the session “Feeling Shy Feeling Brave”, Rishitha Loitongbam engaged with audiences ranging from 6-year-old students to fellow 60-year-old authors and teachers In her own language of visual metaphors and exaggerated imagery, Ms Rishitha explained how pictures and colors can be used to depict one ’ s sentiments The book Thoithoi Feels Shy is a prime example of this type of communication, in which she masterfully conveys the sense of shyness without any words or dialogue Rishitha’s demeanor mirrored Thoithoi’s in the way that she evolved over the course of the session, opening up more to the audience of children and adults present.
In the book, social anxiety is represented through Thoithoi’s gut transforming into an octopus, an extreme visual metaphor of the emotion the protagonist feels The audience was asked to think of different emotions and draw them using metaphors associated with each emotion Everyone beautifully expressed their interpretation of happiness, sadness, excitement, stress, and other emotions, using crayons and color pencils Drawings ranged from happiness being represented as floating through clouds and a colorful sky, to drawings of comfort, such as one ’ s ‘happy place’ amidst nature
This session served as a testament to the fact that art is an exquisite means of expression, that it serves as a universal language, and that, as Ms Loitongbam said, “ everyone is an artist”
student voice
StoriesMakeUsHuman
ArshiaUpadhyaya,5A
What sets us apart from every other creature on this planet? It is our ability to tell stories! From cave paintings to the digital narratives we create today, stories have carried meaning, imagination, and made us human Aligning with that sentiment of “Stories Make Us Human,” the chatter of children and authors filled the air as the Neev Literature Festival took place at Neev Academy on September 20th and 21st This edition of the festival emphasized how stories bridge cultures, generations, and personal experiences
Over the course of two days, the festival hosted 134 sessions and welcomed 80 delegates, including prominent Indian and international authors This year, it turned out to be more wholesome as abundant activities were ranging from creative workshops to private sessions by authors like Veera Hiranandani, Vera Brosgol and Rajani LaRocca on various topics namely intersections of crime and archaeology, masterclasses on topics related to drawing feelings on paper, interactive sessions with illustrators who expressed their emotions of migration, talks on the likes of Shailaja Menon, the first Indian juror for the Hans Christian Andersen Award and events of expressions wherein a group named Goshtarang acted out a book named Giggi and Daddy
A highlight was the NLF Reading Challenge finals, designed for children in grades 4 to 6, which called for reading a curated list of books over three months I personally loved the book collection at the marketplace that housed books of various genres, displaying a diverse range of Indian authors Even the school buses didn’t fall behind in encouraging everyone to “Read More!”
Beyond bookish delights, the festival encouraged reflection on identity, empathy, and community through stories It stood out not just as a literary gathering, but as a vibrant celebration of how stories shape us and make us more human!
NLF:AReflection
SamarSabharwal,7Jal
When I walked into NLF, I might've wanted to leave
But after I saw it all, I learnt that stories make us believe.
Reading is Neev's essence, A key part of our life, And now, through this festival, I see why it has no strife
NLF made me learn
That our roots are in books, And tales make us human, Through stories of good and crooks
ThemagicoftheNeevLiteratureFestival
VihaanLakhani,6A
Books open, pages fly, People from all over, coming to discover, The portals of discovery, Of the wonderful ideas the authors have
New passions with every turn, Nail-biting plot twists, questions, and quests, New worlds unlocked with genres and illustrations, Taking us on a flight of imagination to faraway places
Oh, how wonderful is this literary wonderland, Curated to celebrate books & authors, for toddlers to teens
Literature in action through performances and quizzes, Masterclasses to hone the art of illustration and storytelling
Neev Literature Festival is a dreamland for readers and authors alike Proud is the heart that belongs to the Neev Community.
Howto(not)failtheNLFReadingChallenge
Nibir Saha, 6D
If you want to fail reading challenge in the worst way possible, there are a lot of methods There are the obvious ones, like not reading any of the books, and giving your teammates the wrong quiz answers But, there are lots of other great ways to completely mess up (sounds fun, right?) There should be a step-by-step guide for the best method to fail, though, so here it is:
Step 1: After you split the books with your teammates, only read the blurbs of the books assigned to someone else, and completely ignore the books that your team has assigned to you
Step 2: Take incorrect notes, and make diagrams in handwriting so bad that a one-year-old’s handwriting is better
Step 3: When it’s time for the first quiz, there are a few options you have You can choose to:
a) Skip the quiz and let your teammates do it
b) Be 20 minutes late for the quiz and give all the wrong answers
c) Keep distracting your teammates
d) All of the above
If you somehow make it through, repeat the steps until you flunk out on the second quiz If you actually get through to the finals, just don’t show up and let your teammates down! And that’s an extremely detailed and comprehensive guide on how to fail the NLF Reading Challenge
Note: If you want to win, though, just reverse all the steps here.
ADayofStoriesatNeev
Vaidehi Sinha, 1A
Neev Literature Festival was so much fun
There were books about birds, trees, and the sun I also saw a play about a cow called Leela, and her friend was looking for her, whose name was Sheela I met many authors and found many books I bought the book ‘Matilda’ to see how she looks I am looking forward to next year ’ s NLF because I love reading all my books without pause
Wordsthatmakeadifference:TheMagicofNLF2025
Meera Tantia, 6B
The Neev Literature Festival 2025 was a captivating and interactive event that united us all with our stories From a bustling marketplace full of books to author and illustrator signings, book interactions, and masterclasses, the event had it all, not to forget the great food!
All of the masterclasses that I attended, such as “Finding the past in the present,” with author Veera Hiranandani, “Making a nation,” by Sutapa Basu, “The Enchanted quests,” by Rajani LaRocca, and “The Hat trick," by Arundhati Venkatesh, made my love for stories stronger and more alive. I sat there, facing the authors in amazement and fascination when they read their books, and was hooked when they explained their personal connections and the way books impact them. Each and every author encouraged and motivated me to express my thoughts, ideas, and feelings to believe that my voice matters
In all, this festival taught me that every single word, illustration, or sketch can make a difference, whether it be comedic, serious, or reflective, and that we should foster unique perspectives It reminds us that stories are much more than words; they are an echo of who we are
student voice
DivingintoLiterature:TheNLFExperience
Shlok Bagga, 6B
Every day we come to school, To learn and do our best But on that weekend, We had all been there for something else
No other weekend would be worth it, To go to school on a holiday But this time it was a different case, For NLF was there that day!
The festival of books and pictures, Here at our school of Neev. With all those books and authors here, Who would ever want to leave?
Authors from all around the world, Came in and showed us lots of things
Like comics, words and movies, too, And even bells they let us ring!
The food they served was fantastic, With donuts fresh from Kripsy Kreme, And Wendy's fast food, Belgian Waffle, Chai Point and even MOD!
Of course, there was the reading challenge, Every year at NLF
We saw the final showdown, won by the rapid readers of JNS! And one more thing worth mentioning, If confused by the fish and coral
The theme this year for NLF, Was the deep world of the underwater In the end, the days were great And the news is always great to hear That it's never done, it's never ending, And we'll be back again next year!
NLF2025
The scent of books in the air, better than before Knowledge everywhere When you read, you want more
Authors in every corner, performances for one and all
Ira Singh Kapany, 6D
As a young budding author, ever since I heard about the NLF, it has always excited me Having a great number of books to browse, the festival gives amateur authors and enthusiastic readers the rare opportunity to interact with their favorite authors and illustrators, giving us inspiration & direction for what to write or read
One thing that stood out for me this year is that the books in the NLF Reading Challenge were very well curated, covering a wide spread of topics, themes, and genres: from friendship to war, from fantasy to realistic fiction, and so on Some books were heavy, while others were breezy reads And then there were a few books that really intrigued & inspired me
Additionally, NLF gave me the rare opportunity to interact with lots of popular authors Amongst them, I found my inspiration from the award-winning author Anthony McGowan, who told us that if you want someone to listen to what you ’ re saying or make a difference, you have to make an impression. So, give them a story. Give them emotions. Give them the same reason, but in a way that makes them want to stop, pause & think
By the end of the festival, I came out feeling more inspired about how important books are for so many aspects of life Books help me understand selfexpression, identify my own problems, and even understand myself better And they make me more confident about writing my own stories & telling the world my own opinions
After all, John Green did say, “Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood”
A private session on crossing borders, no book too small or tall
As always, the best we conclude this fest
My learnings will stay with me, and books will always bring us glee.
