Ahmedabad Teen Aarav Roy Wins Commonwealth Writing Prize
Fifteen-year-old Aarav Roy from Ahmedabad has been named the Asia Regional Winner in the 2026 Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition for his story, 'The Weight of a Hand'.
Great news has arrived for young book lovers and budding storytellers across India! On 22 October 2026, fifteen-year-old Aarav Roy from Ahmedabad in Gujarat earned a spectacular global honour. He was officially named the Asia Regional Winner in the prestigious Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition.
Aarav is currently a Grade 11 student pursuing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at Ahmedabad International School. His award-winning entry, a creative piece titled The Weight of a Hand, impressed an international panel of famous judges and stood out among thousands of submissions from across the globe.
What happened?
The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition is run by the Royal Commonwealth Society, also known as the RCS. Established way back in 1883, it is celebrated as the world’s oldest international creative writing competition for school students. Every year, it invites young minds to put their thoughts into words and share their imaginative stories.
The 2026 contest achieved a historic participation milestone. A record 53,840 entries arrived from school students across 54 nations! Because of this huge enthusiasm, the organisers introduced a brand new feature this year. For the first time, dedicated Regional Winners were selected to represent five Commonwealth regions: Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.
Aarav won the top spot for Asia with his moving entry, The Weight of a Hand. The piece explores an unexpected and touching moment of connection between two very different beings. Aarav did not start writing just yesterday. He has been creating short stories, essays, and journalism since he was six years old, and he has already co-authored two published short story anthologies!
Other young authors also shone brightly in the contest. Eighteen-year-old Itumeleng Mhlongo of South Africa was named the Overall and Africa Regional Winner for her piece titled Foundation. Choosing the winning works was a massive task for the judges. The 2026 judging panel was chaired by Booker Prize-winning author Sir Ben Okri OBE. It also included Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry recipient Imtiaz Dharker, Dr. Paul Edmondson, and author Annie Garthwaite.
Why does it matter to you?
Do you love jotting down imaginary adventures in your school notebook? Aarav’s big win shows that your everyday thoughts and stories can reach and inspire readers all over the world. You do not need to wait until you are an adult to share your creative voice with others.
Aarav began writing when he was six years old, which is right around the age many children enter primary school. His success proves that practicing creative writing from a young age can open doors to incredible international recognition. It also reminds us that quiet moments of connection, just like the one in Aarav’s story, make the most powerful tales.
Words to know
- anthology: a published book that gathers together stories, poems, or essays written by different writers.
- milestone: an important event or stage that marks major progress or a new record.
- journalism: the skill or profession of collecting news and writing reports for newspapers or magazines.
- panel: a chosen group of experts who make decisions or judge a competition together.
Did you know?
The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition began all the way back in 1883, meaning school students have been sending their creative stories to this contest for over 140 years!
Think about it
If you were to write a story about an unexpected connection between two very different beings, who would your two characters be? What kind of creative project would you like to start practicing this week?
Quick quiz
What is the title of Aarav Roy’s winning creative piece?
- Foundation
- The Weight of a Hand
- Ahmedabad Stories
See the answer
The Weight of a Hand
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
