St. Xavier's University Literary Society
The Xavier's University Literary Society (XULS) was founded with the vision of creating a vibrant and enriching space for students to immerse themselves in a wide array of literary activities. From thoughtful book-club discussions, publication of an annual magazine (XCavare) to insightful interactions with renowned literary personalities, the society offers numerous avenues for students to engage, learn, and grow. It provides a nurturing environment where young minds can forge meaningful bonds and draw inspiration from stalwarts of the literary world.
Over the past six years, XULS has been actively involved in producing creative writings across various mediums, participating in esteemed literary competitions, and encouraging its members to explore diverse perspectives within the field. Through these initiatives, the society aims to cultivate a deeper appreciation for literature while helping students enhance their analytical and creative skills.
XULS seeks to create a platform where budding writers and poets can freely express their creativity, where their stories, emotions, and ideas can resonate with readers at a profound level. The annual magazine (X-Cavare) published by XULS, seeks to encourage literary minds to come together and weave stories through brushstrokes and spilled ink. It serves as a home for the wandering, often unspoken ideas that individuals carry within themselves, guiding them to transform those thoughts into words that can captivate hearts and minds. The society provides a welcoming, open space filled with spirited individuals who share a collective passion for literature and who encourage one another to flourish, experiment, and discover their unique voices.
The current Core Committee (2025-26) of XULS, which steered the society's flagship inter-university fest X-LORE'26, comprises the following members:
- Swastika Roy — Secretary
- Suparna Maity — Joint-Secretary
- Tanishtha Mukherjee — Treasurer
- Tanisha Bhattacharyya — PR Head
The society functions under the guidance of Dr. Prayag Ray (Professor-in-Charge) and Dr. Anish Bhattacharyya (Assistant Professor-in-Charge).
- To create a vibrant and enriching space for students to engage with diverse literary activities, including book-club discussions and interactions with literary personalities.
- To provide a nurturing environment where students can forge meaningful bonds and draw inspiration from established figures in the literary world.
- To produce creative writings across various social platforms such as Instagram and encourage participation in esteemed literary competitions.
- To help students enhance their analytical and creative skills while cultivating a deeper appreciation for literature.
- To offer a platform where budding writers and poets can freely express their creativity and allow their stories, emotions, and ideas to resonate with readers by curating public posts.
Xavrang'26
During the two-day annual cultural extravaganza Xavrang '26, centered around the theme 'The Indian Mosaic: Traditions & Tales,' organised by St. Xavier's Alumni Association and the Xavier's Students' Board, XULS organized a diverse array of literary competitions.
Day 1: The society kicked off its lineup with Chakravyuh: The Maze Hunt, a thrilling treasure hunt where two-member teams raced against time to solve literary riddles and navigate campus locations while avoiding misleading red herrings. This was followed by Dharohar: Declamation of Traditions, an oration event where individual participants delivered historical or famous speeches with their own unique interpretation, emphasizing authentic verbal and non-verbal delivery.
Day 2: Commenced with Kavyakalaa: The Art of Poetry, a creative writing challenge where solo poets crafted original verses in English, Hindi, or Bengali based on an on-the-spot prompt. Later, Alfaaz-e-Andaaz took place, a unique shayari competition that tested participants on both their written composition and their emotional expression during live recitation. The XULS event roster concluded with Kahaani Canvas, a pictionary-based story writing competition that challenged individual writers to interpret a mystery picture and weave a compelling narrative. Together, these events provided a platform for creative expression, public speaking, and intellectual engagement, beautifully aligning with the festival's overarching cultural theme.
X-LORE'26
X-LORE'26 marked a historic milestone for St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, as the Xavier's University Literary Society (XULS) successfully launched its first-ever inter university literary fest. Held under the guidance of Professor Convenors Dr. Prayag Ray and Dr. Anish Bhattacharyya, the two-day event brought together students from various institutions under the theme "Enchanted Ink: Realms of Fantasy," celebrating literature's power to help people both escape and understand reality. The Core Committee, comprising Swastika Roy as Convenor, Suparna Maity as Co-Convenor, Tanishtha Mukherjee as Treasurer, and Tanisha Bhattacharyya as PR Head, led the fest alongside a dedicated team of student volunteers.
The fest began on 30th January 2026 with an inauguration ceremony, with Dr. Prayag Ray formally declaring it open. The first day featured Grimoire of Gaps, a blackout poetry event, followed by Cover and Chronicles, a book cover designing competition. The afternoon brought Mime the Myth, a literary take on dumb charades, and the day closed with Legends Recast, a story retelling event.
Day two, held on 31st January 2026, began with The Lore Test, a pop quiz, followed by Echoes of the Arcane, a slam poetry session. The energy picked up with Goblin's Gold, a campus wide treasure hunt, and the competitive events concluded with Fate to Fame, a claim to fame talent segment hosted which intended to welcome all kinds of unique performances.
The fest concluded with a closing ceremony that included a poetry recitation by Dr. Anish Bhattacharyya and the distribution of awards, capped off with a live performance by the band X Nihilo 4.0 covering songs such as "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)."
X-LORE'26 drew participation from numerous colleges and universities across Kolkata, including Jadavpur University and Amity University, positioning St. Xavier's University as a significant contributor to the inter university literary circuit. The success of this inaugural edition has laid a strong foundation for X-LORE to become a recurring fixture on the university's annual calendar.
Therefore, the Xavier's University Literary Society (XULS) has consistently fostered a culture of literary engagement, creativity, and intellectual growth among students. Through its diverse initiatives, events, and the successful organisation of Xavrang '26 and the inaugural X-LORE '26, the society has provided meaningful platforms for expression, collaboration, and learning. The remarkable participation and enthusiasm witnessed throughout these events reflect XULS's commitment to nurturing literary talent and strengthening the literary community within and beyond the university. As the society continues to grow, it remains dedicated to inspiring students to explore, create, and contribute to the world of literature.
Event photographs will be added here.