Celebrating Young Voices
June 2,Shimla
The Keekli Charitable Trust is proud to announce the results of its Pan-India Short Story Writing Competition 2025. This year, the contest attracted 135 original stories from gifted young writers across India, with submissions from Shimla, West Bengal, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chhattisgarh, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and many other cities. Following a rigorous and thorough evaluation by our distinguished jury, 51 exceptional stories were selected on merit for publication in an upcoming anthology. To ensure the highest standards of originality and creativity, stories suspected of plagiarism or identified as AI-generated were disqualified. Any further discrepancies discovered during the editorial process will result in withdrawal of the concerned story and substitution by the next best entry.
The esteemed jury panel consisted of celebrated storytellers and educators — Sanjay Versain, Sanjhee Gianchandani, and Aastha Chadha. Their passion for storytelling was evident throughout their thoughtful evaluations and feedback. The jury faced a challenging task in scoring, as the quality of entries was remarkably high, with final scores separated by only a few points.
Aastha Chadha remarked, “Stories are the medium of expression for me. I was truly impressed by the imagination and creativity of our budding writers. While fiction is flourishing, I encourage all writers to also draw inspiration from real-life experiences. Keep writing and keep spreading the magic of storytelling.” Sanjay Versain added, “This competition has been a remarkable success, reaffirming that the art of storytelling is very much alive. Some entries gave me goosebumps — no AI can replicate our deepest feelings. Many stories explored mystery, paranormal themes, and local folk tales, highlighting the rich cultural tapestry that inspires young minds.” Sanjhee Gianchandani shared, “The submissions demonstrated impressive effort, creativity, and narrative skills. While some entries faced issues related to plagiarism or AI use, these are natural learning points in any writer’s journey. Overall, the enthusiasm and potential of these young authors are truly commendable.”
Open to youth aged 20 and under, the competition invited original short stories ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 words in English or Hindi. Participants wrote on open themes or topics related to folklore, monuments, or historic elements from their states or cities. Alongside the competition, participants benefited from creative writing workshops and webinars conducted by the jury to hone their skills. Following today’s announcement, selected writers will participate in creative workshops and one-on-one editorial sessions to further refine their stories. The final editorial process, book design, and production are underway, with the anthology scheduled for release on November 14, 2025.
The Keekli Charitable Trust founder Vandana Bhagra extends heartfelt thanks to all participants for their creativity, passion, and enthusiasm. This competition is more than just a contest — it is a nurturing platform for the next generation of storytellers who will shape India’s literary future.
