20/08/2026
Parul Puri Memorial Interschool Competition –
“Fact Meets Fiction: A Dialogue Across Time”
Celebrating the enduring legacy of Ms Parul Puri, the former Primary Wing Headmistress of Lotus Valley International School, the Middle Wing hosted the tenth edition of the Parul Puri Memorial Interschool Competition on 18 August 2026. The annual competition honours her vision of nurturing creativity, confidence and thoughtful young minds. This year’s theme, “Fact Meets Fiction – A Dialogue Across Time,” invited students to weave together history, fiction and contemporary thought through imaginative dialogues.
Students from 10 schools brought these imagined encounters to life through engaging dramatised dialogues. From Cinderella and Mahatma Gandhi discussing fast fashion and identity to Oppenheimer and Odysseus exploring war and geopolitics, the performances showcased remarkable creativity, critical thinking and theatrical finesse. The showstopper was an imagined conversation between Shri Krishna and Donald Trump, culminating in a powerful message of peace and humanity.
The performances were judged by Ms Sahar Zaman, award-winning author and journalist, and Ms Payal Talwar, writer, educator and NLP trainer.
Lotus Valley International School emerged as the First Prize winner, followed by Sommerville School, Noida, as the First Runner-up, and Delhi Public School, Sector 45, Gurugram, as the Second Runner-up.
Ms Payal Talwar praised the theme as a beautiful amalgamation of the logical and creative minds, while Ms Sahar Zaman urged students to value their time and develop the discernment to navigate misinformation.
Ms Sumita Wadhwa, Parul Ma’am’s elder sister, expressed her gratitude to the school for keeping her sister’s legacy alive. In her Vote of Thanks, Headmistress Ms Neerja Rishi acknowledged the participants, judges, teachers and the Parul Puri family, and commended the students for their outstanding efforts.