VoW @ Pune for its 2nd Edition with Indus International School

Dr Tania Saili Bakshi and Nikita Aggarwal

Valley of Words (VoW), is delighted to announce its 2nd Edition with Indus International School, Pune, for a special Writer’s Retreat to be held on November 17, 2025. This year’s theme “In Omnia Paratus”, Prepared for All Things, signifies yet another milestone in VoW’s ongoing journey to take literature, dialogue, and creativity beyond the Doon Valley and into the hearts of India’s vibrant education hubs.

As a festival committed to celebrating the written word and fostering a culture of thoughtful engagement, Valley of Words has always envisioned literature as a bridge between ideas and generations. Partnering yet again with Indus International School Pune, one of India’s leading IB institutions, represents a meaningful step towards that vision.

The collaboration enables young minds in the Deccan’s premier education city to interact closely with VoW authors, thinkers, and storytellers who embody India’s literary and cultural richness.

Festival Director Dr Sanjeev Chopra shared his enthusiasm for this partnership, saying, “Team VoW is quite excited about our partnership with Indus School Pune as it opens a new avenue for our authors to interact with young students from this premier education city of the Deccan. This ensures a pan-India footprint for this Dehradun-based literature and arts festival.”

The upcoming Writer’s Retreat promises an immersive experience where words meet imagination and learning transcends classrooms. The opening ceremony, scheduled at the school’s Sports Complex, will welcome a diverse panel of distinguished authors who have each made significant contributions to Indian literature and thought.

Among them are Dr Pradeep Chakravarthy, a historian and behavioral scholar whose works connect ancient wisdom with modern insights; Mona Verma, an acclaimed novelist, leadership coach, and literary curator recognized as one of India’s Iconic Authors; Devyani Mungali, a celebrated children’s author whose poems and stories bring literature to life for young readers; and Jatwang Wangsa, an educator and cultural researcher from Arunachal Pradesh dedicated to preserving the oral traditions and folklore of the Wancho tribe.

Leading the delegation is Dr Sanjeev Chopra, Festival Director of Valley of Words, author, and historian, whose decades of service in the Indian Administrative Service and passion for knowledge continue to inspire readers and scholars across India.

Together, these authors will conduct interactive sessions that blend storytelling, history, performance, and reflection. The aim is to spark curiosity and creativity among students, helping them view literature not merely as text but as a living dialogue that shapes how we see the world.

For Valley of Words, this collaboration is more than an event; it is a commitment to nurturing a national literary culture that thrives across regions, languages, and disciplines. Since its inception, VoW has prided itself on being an inclusive festival that celebrates diversity in thought and expression.

Extending its presence from the foothills of Dehradun to the educational heartland of Pune represents both a symbolic and practical realisation of its ethos: literature belongs everywhere, and to everyone.

The partnership with Indus International School Pune, under the visionary leadership of Principal Sandeep Chhabra, adds a dynamic educational dimension to this initiative. Indus, with its 20-year legacy of holistic education, is known for integrating creativity and inquiry into its learning model, making it an ideal collaborator for VoW’s mission.

As Chhabra stated, “Beyond literary sessions, the retreat will include storytelling workshops, cultural exchanges, and interactive discussions, allowing students to engage directly with authors about their writing journeys, inspirations, and social perspectives.” He further added, “The program has been designed to encourage critical thinking, empathy, and appreciation for the written word, values central to both VoW and Indus.”

As the festival extends its reach across India, Valley of Words continues to champion the power of dialogue and imagination. With each new partnership, it reaffirms its belief that literature is not confined by geography but enriched by connection. The Writer’s Retreat at Indus International School Pune stands as a reminder that stories, when shared, unite us in thought, purpose, and vision.