PVLF 2026

Sumit Sehgal, Founder of “ Young Dragons’ Literary Hub”

Sumit shares the vision behind Young Dragons’ Literary Hub, discussing how storytelling nurtures creativity, confidence, and empathy while empowering young writers to find their voice.
on Mar 11, 2026

Frontlist: Your journey spans writing, mentoring, and creative leadership. What moment or idea inspired you to establish the Young Dragons’ Literary Hub, and what gap were you hoping to fill through it?

Sumit: The idea for Young Dragons’ Literary Hub came from a realization that kept returning to me over the years: children today are surrounded by information, yet many struggle to find their own voice. I would meet brilliant, curious students who could memorize answers perfectly, but hesitated to express what they truly felt or believed.

There was one defining moment that stayed with me. A child I was mentoring wrote a beautiful story, but when I encouraged her to read it aloud, she said, “Sir, what if it’s not good enough?” That sentence summed up the gap I kept seeing everywhere; children weren’t lacking talent. They were lacking spaces where creativity felt safe, celebrated, and guided with warmth instead of fear.

Young Dragons’ Literary Hub was created to fill that space. I wanted a platform where writing, reading, speaking, and imagination come together, not as competitions, but as journeys of discovery. A place where children can make mistakes, experiment, laugh, perform, reflect, and slowly realise:

My ideas matter. My words have power. I belong here.

YDLH was never just about teaching literature. It was about nurturing empathy, leadership, emotional intelligence, and confidence; qualities that shape who a child becomes long after the worksheet is forgotten. And that continues to be our purpose today.

Frontlist: YDLH beautifully blends literature with character-building. How do you believe storytelling helps young minds develop empathy, confidence, and resilience in today’s fastchanging world?

Sumit: Storytelling is one of the oldest ways humans have understood themselves and the world, and for children, it becomes a quiet but powerful teacher. When a child reads or writes a story, they step into another person’s shoes. They feel another heartbeat. They begin to see the world through different eyes. That experience naturally builds empathy; not because we lecture them to “be kind,” but because they momentarily live someone else’s reality.

Storytelling also nurtures confidence. Each time a child shares a poem, narrates a scene, or speaks about a character they created, they discover the courage in their own voice. The applause may last a few seconds, but the belief, “I can stand up and express myself”, stays with them much longer.

And then there is resilience. Every story has a problem, a challenge, a turning point. Children learn, almost unconsciously, that struggles are not the end of the narrative; they are part of the journey. They see characters fall, adapt, try again, and find new possibilities. Over time, they begin to mirror that mindset in real life.

In a world that is constantly rushing, noisy, and demanding

quick answers, storytelling slows children down just enough to help them feel, reflect, and connect. It reminds them that imagination is not an escape; it is a strength that prepares them for life with compassion and courage.

Frontlist: As someone who has authored books, edited anthologies, and mentored young writers, what is the most common creative block you see in children, and how does YDLH help them overcome it?

Sumit: I had been at AIIMS for 18 years by the time the CT was installed and my male colleagues knew my skills and capabilities. So I face no particular challenges from them, but from professional colleagues who thought that we were a poor country and could not afford to have this technology.

The most common creative block I see in children is not lack of ideas; it is fear of being wrong. Many children quietly believe that creativity has “right” and “wrong” answers, just like an exam. So they hesitate. They erase. They compare. They wait for approval before trusting their own imagination.

At Young Dragons’ Literary Hub, we gently shift that mindset. From the very first session, children hear one message:

There is no single correct way to imagine, question, or create.

We encourage them to write freely first and refine later. We celebrate effort, curiosity, humour, vulnerability and experimentation; not just “perfect” results. Through collaborative workshops, peer readings, role-plays, stage performances, and continuous mentoring, children slowly let go of the fear of judgment.

And something beautiful happens. A hesitant child who once said, “What if I’m wrong?” eventually begins to say, “Let me try.” Once that door opens, creativity flows naturally, and their confidence grows far beyond writing. They start participating more, thinking independently, and believing in their own voice.

That transformation, from doubt to self-trust, is at the heart of what YDLH does.

Frontlist: Winning the ‘Best Learning Platform of the Year’ award is a significant achievement. What makes YDLH’s approach to learning different from conventional literary or creative platforms?

Sumit: Winning the ‘Best Learning Platform of the Year’ award was deeply meaningful because it recognized something we strongly believe in: children don’t just learn through instruction; they learn through experience, participation, and belonging.

What makes Young Dragons’ Literary Hub different is that we don’t treat literature as only an academic subject. We weave it into life skills, emotional growth, and real-world opportunities. Our children don’t simply attend workshops; they host events,

launch books, interview authors, moderate panels, publish anthologies, and mentor younger peers. They see themselves as contributors, not just students.

Another key difference is our environment. YDLH is intentionally warm, non-competitive, and deeply encouraging. We replace fear-based learning with curiosity-based learning. Mistakes are welcomed. Reflection is encouraged. Every child is seen as a unique storyteller with their own pace and personality.

We also collaborate with festivals, institutions, and cultural spaces so children can present their work outside the classroom. That visibility gives them confidence and purpose.

In short, YDLH is not only about producing good readers and writers; it is about nurturing compassionate thinkers, confident communicators, and responsible young leaders. The award affirmed that this holistic approach truly matters.

Frontlist: Your work strongly emphasizes imagination and self-expression. How important is creativity in formal education, and what changes would you like to see in the current learning system?

Sumit: Creativity is often seen as an “extra” in formal education; something to explore if time permits. I believe it is exactly the opposite. Creativity is central to learning. It helps children question, connect ideas, communicate clearly, solve problems, and understand themselves better. A child who learns to think creatively does not merely repeat information; they learn how to apply, analyse, and innovate.

Unfortunately, many systems still prioritize memorization over meaning. Students are rewarded for giving expected answers, rather than for asking thoughtful questions. Over time, curiosity gets replaced by caution.

If I could bring one major change, it would be this: move from marks-driven classrooms to mindset-driven classrooms. Encourage project-based learning, reflective writing, open discussions, drama, storytelling, creative research, and collaborative work. Let children explore ideas, make mistakes, and discover their own interpretations.

Creativity doesn’t take children away from academics; it deepens their understanding of every subject. When imagination and expression become part of the system, we don’t just create good students. We nurture confident, empathetic, resilient human beings, and that, to me, is the true purpose of education.

Frontlist: You have worked extensively with young writers through projects like The Kind Dragon anthologies. What has been the most heartwarming or surprising transformation you’ve witnessed in your students?

Sumit: I have witnessed many beautiful journeys, but one

transformation stays close to my heart. A young participant joined our sessions quietly, almost invisibly. She rarely spoke, rarely volunteered, and always chose the last row. When we began working on The Kind Dragon anthology, she hesitantly shared a short piece (barely a paragraph) and immediately said, “It’s not good.”

Instead of correcting her, we simply encouraged her to keep exploring the story. Week after week, she added a line, then a page, then an entire chapter. When the anthology was finally published, not only was her story included, she also stood on stage and read an excerpt in front of a packed audience.

I watched her voice grow from a whisper to confidence. Later, her mother said, “She finally believes she belongs somewhere.” That sentence meant more to me than any award.

Moments like these remind me that we are not just editing stories; we are nurturing identities, courage, and self-belief. And every time a child realizes, “My words matter,” it feels like witnessing a quiet miracle.

Frontlist: Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Young Dragons’ Literary Hub, and how do you hope it will shape the next generation of storytellers and thinkers?

Sumit: My long-term vision for Young Dragons’ Literary Hub is to build a creative movement that goes far beyond a program or workshop series. I imagine YDLH evolving into a network of learning spaces (online and offline) where children from different cities and cultures come together to read, write, perform, collaborate, and lead.

We want to develop fellowships, mentorship paths, publishing opportunities, festivals, and partnerships that give children authentic platforms to share their voices with the world. I also hope to create more initiatives that connect storytelling with emotional well-being, social awareness, and leadership training, because the future will require not only intelligent minds, but compassionate ones.

If YDLH can help even a small part of the next generation believe that their thoughts matter, that empathy is strength, and that creativity is a way to serve society, then I feel we will have succeeded. My dream is simple: To raise storytellers who are also thoughtful citizens; brave enough to imagine, and kind enough to make that imagination meaningful.