Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Birla Open Minds festivals make reading interactive for students
Birla Open Minds Schools held special programmes about books and reading.
The programmes helped children explore stories in fun, active ways.
Students in Grades 1–4 joined a three-day festival called the Readers’ Deck.
They played reading games, spoke about books and went on a Scavenger Hunt.
A mascot named Biblo also joined the younger students.
Students in Grades 5–8 attended the Middle Grades Literary Fest.
They read, wrote, discussed ideas, performed and made comic strips.
The schools want children to enjoy reading beyond textbooks and become creative, confident learners.
Birla Open Minds Schools conducted reading programmes to build students’ interest in books, language and storytelling.
The three-day Readers’ Deck festival serves students in Grades 1–4 through games, speaking activities, reading and discovery.
Younger students participate in activities including Book Detectives, Cover Clues, Silent Reading and Scavenger Hunt, alongside mascot Biblo.
The Middle Grades Literary Fest for Grades 5–8 features Book Tasting, Open Mic, Writing Lab and Comic Strip Making.
Satwant Palekar said the programmes aim to develop imagination, curiosity, independent thought and lifelong reading habits.
- Who
- Students in Grades 1–8 at Birla Open Minds Schools and Satwant Palekar, the school network’s Vice President – Academics.
- What
- The schools conducted the Readers’ Deck and Middle Grades Literary Fest, using interactive reading, language and creative activities.
- When
- The Readers’ Deck is a three-day festival; the timing of the programmes is otherwise not specified.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To encourage reading beyond textbooks and examinations while developing communication, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and independent thought.
- Organisation
- Birla Open Minds Schools
- Location
- New Delhi, India
- Younger students
- Grades 1–4
- Younger-student programme
- Readers’ Deck, a three-day reading festival
- Older students
- Grades 5–8
- Older-student programme
- Middle Grades Literary Fest
- Featured activities
- Book Detectives, Cover Clues, Scavenger Hunt, Book Tasting, Open Mic, Writing Lab and Comic Strip Making
- Reading mascot
- Biblo
