Trishitaa Bagla Moderator

Trishitaa Bagla is a tenth-grade student at JBCN International School. Her deep love for reading was cultivated and nurtured starting four years ago, covering a wide range of genres, from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games. She is also a passionate animal lover whose dream is to own a pet to love and care for.

To promote literacy and share her interests, she creates content on Instagram. Her page features a variety of book-related material, including everything from insightful book reviews to engaging literary memes.

Additionally, she co-founded the Cats and Canines group to advocate for, protect, and raise awareness regarding animal welfare.

Anika Suklikar Keynote Speaker

Anika Suklikar is a creative and enthusiastic Grade 11 (IBDP) student at Don Bosco International School. She loves expressing herself through writing, music, and art. She’s been learning music for 12 years and has completed seven Trinity Rock & Pop vocal exams, which have really helped shape her confidence and style.

She’s especially interested in ideas and emotions - how people think, feel, and connect - and this curiosity shows in everything she does. Anika also enjoys experimenting with abstract art and the freedom it offers.

Known for her clarity, organisation, and thoughtful communication, she leads as the Student Editor of the IBDP student section of the school newsletter. Through this role, she has developed a deeper appreciation for community storytelling, and hopes to continue creating work that sparks connection and conversation.

Writers' Workshop

Maheka Shankar

Workshop Presenter

Maheka Shankar is a 16-year-old student at Don Bosco International School, currently pursuing Grade 11 (AS levels). She is focusing on Psychology and Business Studies.

She has been learning music for about 10 years and hopes to continue this passion alongside her studies in psychology and business. Her musical background includes over 10 years of study in Carnatic vocals, 2 years in Western vocals, and she is also learning piano through Trinity College of Music, London.

Maheka enjoys applied music, creating her own pieces by using online backing tracks and writing her own lyrics. She has represented her school in various music competitions and has performed at two concerts.

Beyond music, Maheka loves reading, travelling, baking, and trying out creative challenges that encourage critical thinking. She recently organized a Diwali bake sale, which proved to be a very profitable venture.

Whether working in a group or independently, Maheka always strives to do her best and remains open to new experiences. She is also happy to take on leadership roles where she can learn, grow, and exchange new ideas with others.

Jemimah D'Souza

Workshop Presenter

Jemimah D'Souza is currently a Grade 11 student at Don Bosco International School, Mumbai. Her core academic subjects are Physics, Chemistry, and Maths, but she also holds a strong passion for reading, music, films, and art.

Music is a significant part of Jemimah's life. She plays guitar in a band she co-founded with friends, and they have performed at various competitions and school events. She also plays classical piano and has successfully completed the Trinity College of Music Grade 5 examination.

In her reading, she enjoys novels by Stephen King and often revisits childhood favourites such as Enid Blyton, James Dashner, and Suzanne Collins.

Creativity is highly important to her; she values films and music for their ability to broaden perspectives and tell stories. Her experience in the Event Management Club this year, combined with her role as the former Head Girl of her school, has significantly developed her sense of responsibility and confidence in organizing events.

Jemimah is naturally observant, a trait that benefits both her academic performance and her creative work. She loves art and hopes to continue developing in this area, with her ultimate dream being to become an architect.

Kaurvaki Singh Moderator

Kaurvaki Singh is a student at The Somaiya School. Reading is one of her fondest hobbies, with a particular interest in murder mysteries. Beyond literature, she greatly enjoys listening to music and has a passion for writing.

She has successfully published several articles and has also authored research papers, showcasing her commitment to scholarly pursuits. Kaurvaki actively seeks opportunities to use her strong communication skills to advocate for causes she believes in. However, one of the most cherished highlights of her day will always be spending quality time with her German Shepherd, Bolt.

Announcing the Winners : Shaurya Randive

Shaurya Randive attends The Somaiya School. He is an avid reader, particularly enjoying books that have been adapted into films or series, such as the "Dexter" book series by Jeff Lindsay. He meticulously compares both the literary and visual versions to find subtle differences.

In addition to reading, Shaurya is a dedicated fan of the Five Nights at Freddy's game series and has studied almost all of the complex game lore. Music is a significant part of his identity, making up what he estimates is 60% of his personality. His extensive music taste includes artists like Childish Gambino, Frank Ocean, Tyler The Creator, Princess Goes, Gorillaz, Outkast, Enigma, N.E.R.D, Valentin Hansen, MOTHXR, fakemink, mc DJ, and occasional tracks by Michael Jackson.

He is also a frequent participant in Model United Nations (MUN) and has ambitions to become a lawyer.