Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Jun: The Doon Library & Research Centre (DLRC) recently organised a heartwarming ‘Story Celebration Evening’, bringing together children, parents, grandparents, and a panel of judges to honour the winners of its Storywriting Competition held from 24 May to 6 June.
The competition featured creative entries in Hindi, English, and mother tongue Garhwali, written longhand by participants of all ages. A distinguished panel of eight judges—Ira Chauhan, Kusum Kohli, Nicholas Hoffland, Biju Negi, Chandra Shekhar Tewari, Skandha Gussain, Niharika Mehra, and Siddhant Arora—evaluated the submissions and selected the standout stories in each age category.
A highlight of the evening was an insightful conversation between judges and participants about “what makes a good story”. Writer-musician Nicholas Hoffland encouraged young writers to “take inspiration from your life, your own roots and your heritage”. Biju Negi—a farmer, playwright, and explorer—advised attendees that “working and reworking on your drafts” cultivates discipline and sharpens storytelling skills.
The event also included live recitations of selected stories by, both, participants and judges. As conversations continued over cookies, cake, and tea, the celebration concluded on a warm note.
This annual competition, part of DLRC’s commitment to fostering the joys of longhand writing, serves as a meaningful platform for young creatives and their families to connect through storytelling and storywriting.
