Presidency International School Wins ‘VoW - Iti Natya 2026’

By: Dr Tania Saili Bakshi

Pic Courtesy: Sneha Rawat

The winner of the Fifth Edition of Valley of Words Iti Natya, an inter-school theatre competition celebrating youth, creativity, and the performing arts, was Presidency International School for their play on Kalki and the Kalyug. The second position was taken by Doon Global who showcased Vishnu’s Kurma avatar, and the third place was awarded to Jaswant Modern School for their take on Vamana avatar.

Scheduled for 26^th April 2026, at the Gambhir Singh Auditorium, Survey of India, Rajpur Road Dehradun, the event brought together the finest young performers from ten premier schools of Dehradun: Participating schools included Presidency International School, Maa Anandmayee Memorial School, Core International School, St Kabeer Academy, Jaswant Modern School, Doon Global School, Mount Fort Academy, The Oasis, Universal Academy and Him Jyoti School.

Organized by the Dehradun Chapter of Young Indians (Yi) in association with CII and Valley of Words, Iti Natya is a unique platform for students aged 13 years and above to explore storytelling, stagecraft, and acting. The theme this year was “Dashāvatāra”—the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu—symbolising cosmic balance, evolution, and the eternal interplay between chaos and renewal. This special edition holds added significance as it coincides with the tenth year of the Valley of Words Festival, creating a poetic alignment of ten years, ten avatars, and ten visions of renewal and courage.

Not merely a competition, Iti Natya  has over the years become a platform that nurtures confidence, fosters collaboration, and deepens students’ appreciation for the arts especially through theatre.

Chief Guest for the occasion, Ravinath Raman, Education Secretary Uttarakhand, remarked how theatre was a beautiful synthesis of literature, music, art and dance. He further noted that competitions such as Iti Natya play an important role in encouraging students to showcase their talent — “Everyone who walks away is a winner.”

He also congratulated Valley of Words and Young Indians (Yi) for the initiative and extended his best wishes to all participating schools.

Also present as Guest of Honour, CII Chairman, Uttarakhand, Sanjay Aggarwal reiterated, “Iti Natya is an inspiring platform to express and reflect on life and mythology. The theme staged today are not just stories but mirrors and the participants are doing something extraordinary while learning to feel, understand and connect life skills. These young-minds are storytellers and thinkers and authors of future.”

Guest of Honour, educationist Jyoti Dhawan, reflected that “Iti Natya is more than an event—it is a celebration of dreams taking shape on stage, of stories that demand to be told, and of a generation that dares to imagine, perform, and inspire.” She also noted that the true meaning of dharam is “kartavya” as our responsibility to uphold correct values in society.

A distinguished jury comprising Sharmila Bhartari, Navneet Gairola and Sunita Vijay adjudicated the performances, offering invaluable feedback to budding artists such as taking care of physical fitness, the importance of costuming, and being able to project one’s voice without a microphone.

Festival Director VoW, Sanjeev Chopra, summed up the event by reflecting on the past years of ITI Natya, fondly recalling memorable moments and the growth of the event. He praised the dedication and creativity shown by all the participating schools and teachers, acknowledging their hard work and consistent efforts in making the event a success year after year.