Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon
Manager, City Montessori School
Chief Convenor – 11th Odyssey International Literary Olympiad
Message from the Manager
Odyssey encourages learners to see themselves as contributors to a shared, planetary future. As we look towards August 2026, I encourage participating institutions to approach this Olympiad with seriousness of purpose and creative courage. May this 11th edition of Odyssey, held from 11th to 14th August 2026, empower young minds not merely to articulate environmental concerns but also to design responses, not merely to observe change but also to initiate it with skills and capacities for real-world problem-solving.
Odyssey 2026: Scripting Sustainability, One Story at a Time
Where Words Ignite Change and Stories Safeguard Tomorrow
In 2024, the United Nations Environment Programme reported that over 100 million tonnes of electronic waste were generated globally—yet fewer than 25% were formally recycled. The story of our planet is being written every day. The question is: who holds the pen?
From 11th–14th August 2026, the 11th Odyssey International Literary Olympiad 2026 (Odyssey), hosted by City Montessori School at its Rajajipuram Campus I, invites young creators to transform environmental urgency into artistic excellence.
This distinguished international festival orchestrates a symphony of human expression where every verse, every stage performance and every installation becomes a manifesto for sustainability. Poets lend lyrical grace to climate action. Dramatists illuminate humanity’s fragile dance with nature. Musicians echo the earth’s rhythms. Choreographers interpret ecological cycles. Digital storytellers challenge conventional environmental discourse.
Odyssey is not merely a competition; it is a creative movement.
At Odyssey 2026, participants will:
- Compete in 15+ curated literary and performing arts events
- Engage in sustainability-led intellectual challenges
- Collaborate across cultures in an original international theatre production
- Develop leadership, persuasion and entrepreneurial thinking
- Champion the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Odyssey elevates literature beyond entertainment — it becomes advocacy, innovation and global citizenship in motion. Join us to script a chapter where imagination drives measurable change.
Why Attend Odyssey 2026?
Odyssey is designed as an immersive intellectual and artistic experience.
Global
Exposure
International participation fosters intercultural dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.
Holistic Development
Students enhance voice, confidence, critical thinking and stagecraft.
Sustainability Literacy
Competitions are grounded in responsible production, circular economy thinking and ethical creativity.
Leadership & Innovation
Through Ecopreneurs Mind Tank and Ecoverse, participants propose actionable sustainability solutions.
Collaborative Theatre Residency
Under expert international mentorship, ambassadors co-create an original closing ceremony production.
Beyond trophies, Odyssey builds cultural intelligence and responsible global citizenship.
Participation eligibility includes:
- Junior Category: Classes VIII–X
- Senior Category: Classes XI–XII
- One ambassador (15–17 years) for Theatre Sans Frontières
Schools compete for the Championship Trophy by participating across all events.
In a nutshell, Odyssey is where artistic courage meets planetary responsibility.
The 11th Odyssey International Literacy Olympiad 2026 is aligned with the following UN SDGs
Our Inspiration
"We are the authors of the Earth’s next chapter. Through literature, we don’t just describe a greener world; we draft the blueprint to build it, one word at a time."
Late Dr Jagdish Gandhi
(10 November 1934 - 22 January 2024)
Founder of City Montessori School
Odyssey was established by our school's revered Founder, a spiritual giant, humble servant of humanity, and promoter of religious harmony.
Message from the Convenor
Mrs Nisha Pandey
Convenor of 11th Odyssey International Literary Olympiad 2026
Senior Principal, CMS Rajajipuram Campus I & Cambridge Section
The 11th Odyssey International Literary Olympiad 2026 marks a new literary awakening—where creativity evolves into purposeful action, and each participant becomes both an accomplished artist and a true advocate for the earth. Together, as a united global community, we aspire to script a new chapter of hope, illuminating tomorrow’s sustainable world with the visionary dreams of today.
We wholeheartedly invite educational institutions to be part of this meaningful journey where literature embraces responsibility, creativity sparks transformation, and young minds emerge as the environmental leaders of tomorrow.
Student Engagement Events
Ecoverse (Literary Sustainability Challenge)
Focused Arguments on Consumerism, Waste and Sustainable Living
Ecopreneurs Mind Tank (Social/Entrepreneurial Innovation)
Encouraging practical, sustainable & socially responsible business ideas
From Page to Palette
(Canvas Painting Competition)
Transforming literary works into vivid visuals
Our Distinguished Chief Guest
Dr Asif Siddiqui
Group Director, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Lucknow
Dr Asif Siddiqui serves as the group director at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC), Lucknow. He holds a B.Tech. in Electronics from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow, and an M.Tech. in Electronic Circuits and Systems.
He joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1991 at the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, where he worked for nearly two decades in the design and development of communication and navigation payloads for INSAT and GSAT spacecraft. He served as Project Manager for INSAT-4A, INSAT-4B, INSAT-4C, INSAT-4CR, GSAT-3 and GSAT-4, and as Deputy Project Director for GAGAN, GSAT-8 and GSAT-10.
Since 2010, he has been leading the ISTRAC Centre at Lucknow, providing telemetry, tracking and command (TTC) support to remote sensing, scientific and deep-space missions. His responsibilities include launch support to several CNES missions and leadership of international ground station teams, including deputations to Brunei for Chandrayaan-2 and to Mauritius for PSLV-C35/ScatSat-1. He has been closely associated with ISRO’s major Low Earth Orbit and deep-space missions such as the Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, SPADEX, NISAR and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.
His areas of specialisation include communication and navigation payload design for geostationary satellites and ground station systems for LEO and deep-space missions. He has published and presented technical papers in national and international forums and is a life member of the Institution of Engineers (India), the Astronautical Society of India, the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, and the Administrative Staff College of India.
Get Directions
Event Venue
World Unity Convention Center (WUCC)
CMS Kanpur Road Campus, LDA Colony, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226012.