First Inter-Collegiate Book Review Competition Held at SFIT LIRC

The Institution Innovation Council (IIC) in collaboration with the Learning and Information Resource Centre (LIRC), St. Francis Institute of Technology (Engineering College), successfully organized the First Inter-Collegiate Book Review Competition on 21 January 2026 at the SFIT LIRC (2nd Floor, B Wing).

The competition was conducted from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. with the objective of promoting a reading culture, enhancing writing and critical thinking skills, and providing students with a platform to express their literary insights creatively.

The programme was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Mr. Albert W. D’Souza, Chairman, St. John College of Engineering and Management. His encouragement and motivational address inspired students to actively engage in reading, writing, and intellectual pursuits.

A total of 24 students from various institutes participated in the competition. Each participant submitted a written review of a book of their choice, showcasing diverse genres and perspectives.

The reviews were evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges:

• Mr. Praveen M. Kurien, Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Science and Humanities

• Dr. Vijaya Pable, Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Science and Humanities

The entries were assessed based on originality, creativity, depth of analysis, critical thinking, and clarity of expression.

Winners of the Competition

The winners were announced on the same day during a brief award ceremony:

• First Prize: Ms. Sarah Mendonca – St. Francis Institute of Technology

• Second Prize: Ms. Bidisha V. Mahapatra – St. Francis Institute of Technology

• Second Prize: Ms. Riya Dhanesh Rajput – St. Francis Institute of Technology

• Third Prize: Ms. Tejashri Anand Maske – A. P. Shah Institute of Technology, Thane

• Consolation Prize: Ms. Sharvari Ganesh Patil – Vidyavardhini’s College of Engineering and Technology

The winning reviews covered renowned literary works such as Pride and Prejudice, The Book Thief, Wings of Fire, Frankenstein, and The Fault in Our Stars. Participants demonstrated thoughtful interpretation of themes like social values, human empathy, perseverance, ethical responsibility, and emotional resilience.

All participants were awarded E-Certificates of Participation in recognition of their efforts.

The competition received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and attendees. The judges appreciated the high quality, maturity, and originality of the submissions, noting that many reviews reflected deep engagement with literature. Students expressed enthusiasm for participating in similar literary initiatives in the future.

The First Inter-Collegiate Book Review Competition proved to be a resounding success, fostering a strong culture of reading, critical analysis, and creative expression among students. The event strengthened inter-collegiate academic collaboration and highlighted the role of reading as a vital tool for intellectual and personal growth.

Encouraged by the success of this initiative, SFIT, through IIC and LIRC, looks forward to organizing more such inter-collegiate literary and academic activities in the future.