51 Stories Selected as Keekli’s Pan-India Short Story Competition 2025 Results Go Live

The Keekli Charitable Trust is pleased to announce the results of its Pan-India Short Story Writing Competition 2025. This year, the competition received 135 original stories from talented young writers across India, with entries coming from Shimla, West Bengal, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chhattisgarh, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and many other cities. After a rigorous and careful evaluation by our distinguished jury, 51 outstanding stories have been selected on merit for publication in an upcoming anthology. To uphold the highest standards of originality and creativity, stories suspected of plagiarism or identified as AI-generated were disqualified. Should any discrepancies be discovered during the next stages of editorial review, the concerned story will be withdrawn and replaced by the next best entry.

The jury panel comprised of three esteemed storytellers and educators — Sanjay Versain, Sanjhee Gianchandani, and Aastha Chadha. Their deep passion for storytelling was evident throughout the evaluation process and reflected in their valuable feedback. The jury members faced a challenging task in scoring, as all the entries were exceptionally well-written, with the final differences coming down to just a few points.

Aastha Chadha commented, “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 between 1,000 and 2,000 words in English or Hindi. Participants wrote on open themes or topics related to folklore, monuments, or historic elements of their respective states or cities. Alongside the competition, participants had access to creative writing workshops and webinars conducted by the jury members to help enhance their skills. Following today’s announcement, the selected writers will engage in creative workshops and one-on-one editorial sessions to further refine their stories. The final editorial process, book design, and production are currently underway, with the anthology scheduled for release on November 14, 2025.

The Keekli Charitable Trust thanks all participants for their creativity, passion, and enthusiasm. This competition is more than a contest — it is a nurturing platform for the next generation of storytellers who will shape India’s literary future.