Shoolini University’s annual Spring Fest 2026 took place from March 14 to 16, bringing together literature, music, art and technology. The sixth edition integrated key events, including the Shoolini Literature Festival, Glitch Tech Fest, Flower Fest and the Moksh cultural festival.
The fest was formally inaugurated by Pankaj Khullar, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Himachal Pradesh, alongside Madhu Khullar. Welcoming the delegates, Chief Learning Officer Dr Ashoo Khosla highlighted the festival’s aim to create a space where technology and the arts coexist and complement each other.
The morning opened with ‘Swar Vasant’, a Hindustani classical recital by sitar maestro Pandit Kushal Das. Accompanied by Kalyanjit Das and Sandip Ghosh, he presented ‘ragas’ inspired by the spring season, setting a calm tone for the literary sessions that followed.
In the afternoon, Durjoy Datta, one of India’s highest-selling romance novelists, took part in a candid conversation with Dr Ashoo Khosla. Reflecting on a career that began at 21, Datta spoke about the changing nature of modern intimacy, noting that terms like “love bombing” and “benching” reflect the evolving language of Gen Z relationships.
This thread of self-reflection continued with actor and painter Pankaj Jha, known for his roles in ‘Panchayat’ and ‘Gulaal’. In his session, ‘Dilon Ki Panchayat’, he urged students to move away from social media validation and focus on genuine self-awareness.
The mood shifted as students cheered for Meiyang Chang. A former Indian Idol finalist who went on to build a career across acting (Badmaash Company) and hosting, Chang reflected on his shift from dentistry to Bollywood. He described his medical background as a case of “family nepotism,” adding that his identity has been shaped by every role he has taken on — from Khatron Ke Khiladi runner-up to playback singer.
On the second day, Neeraj Kabi, the acclaimed actor-director known for his performances in Ship of Theseus and Paatal Lok, spoke about the discipline of craft. In conversation with Shoolini University Trustee and Director Nishtha Shukla Anand, he discussed the ‘transformation of body and mind’, adding that the rise of AI is drawing audiences back to the honesty of live theatre.
Rakesh Bedi, a veteran of Indian comedy with over four decades of experience in classics like Chashme Buddoor and Yes Boss, offered a similar perspective. “If humour doesn’t contain a little bit of pathos, it doesn’t have a long shelf life,” he said, pointing to sincerity and practice as the foundations of longevity in the arts.
Adding a note of nostalgia, legendary lyricist Sameer Anjaan, who holds a Guinness World Record for writing over 4,000 Bollywood songs, reflected on his journey. In a conversation with Shuja Ali, he credited his late father, Anjaan, for his ‘genetic’ gift for poetry, and recited one of his well-known couplets: “Tumko dekha nahi hai kai din se, kya yahi saza kaafi nahi?”
The conversations then turned to media and public discourse, with Ashutosh, former Managing Editor of IBN7, offering a sharp critique of modern journalism. “Journalism always runs in collision with power,” he said, stressing the need for citizens to ask difficult questions. This was followed by a Kavi Sammelan featuring Padma Shri Ashok Chakradhar, along with Arun Gemini, Chirag Jain and Manisha Shukla.
As the sun set, the festival moved into a spiritual space with Padma Shri Prahlad Tipaniya, known for his renditions of Kabir bhajans rooted in the Malwa tradition.
Across the campus, the Flower Fest showcased over 200 varieties of orchids and anthuriums, alongside installations created from recycled materials.
Moksh featured performances by three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej, Indian Idol fame Ankush Bhardwaj, and the Harmony of Pines, the Himachal Police Orchestra.
Aishani & Brinda
Glitch Tech Fest: A High-Octane Fusion of Innovation and Gaming
The digital pulse of Spring Fest 2026 was undeniably found at ‘Glitch’, The Tech Fest at Shoolini. . It was inaugurated by President Innovation and Marketing Prof Ashish Khosla, along with industry experts including Sheeba Santha, Senior Vice President, Nippon India Mutual Fund, social media tech influencers Mohammad Imran and Yash Bhardwaj, and entrepreneur and author Sushant Junnarkar.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Ashish Khosla said, “Glitch is not just a festival, but a platform where students can test their skills in the fast-changing world of technology and digital creativity.” He encouraged active participation, setting the tone for three days of competitions in games such as Valorant, FIFA, BGMI and Free Fire.
Sheeba Santha connected with students, noting that the energy on campus made her feel “15 years younger”. She also spoke about the growing impact of AI, highlighting how human-AI collaboration is reshaping sectors like healthcare and finance.A panel discussion on ‘Skills in the World of Artificial Intelligence (AI)’, moderated by Prof Pooja Verma, brought together Jagjit Singh (VP HR, Haldirams), Sushant Junnarkar (VP E-commerce, VIP Industries), Colonel Tarun Vohra, Major General Bipin Bakshi, and Brigadier Akhelesh Bhargava. Prof Ashish Khosla highlighted the need to balance technical expertise with communication and problem-solving skills, adding that engineers must understand user experience alongside coding.
Across three days, the campus remained active with competitions such as Prompt Wars and esports matches.
BGMI saw Team Young Deserving emerge as winners, followed by R2R Esports; in Free Fire, Lake of Fire secured the top position with Falcons as runners-up; FIFA was won by Satvik, with Aryan Dhiman finishing second; in Prompt Wars, Satyam Kumar topped the category while Anirudh Jaswal was runner-up; and in Clash Royale, Mohammad Raaid Hussain emerged as winner, followed by Pranjal Chauhan.
The festival brought together literature, music, technology and culture, drawing participation from students and visitors across the campus.
Vanshika