Early Times Reporter
Srinagar|Sep 27
The debate on Gandhian philosophy and its relevance in the 21st century has evoked tremendous response in schools and colleges with over 50,000 students participating in different tiers of the competition across Jammu & Kashmir. The
concluding round is scheduled for October 2 which would be telecast
live by Doordarshan from Srinagar.
"The overwhelming response is an indication of popularity of the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, especially his doctrine of non-violence, among the younger generation", says Chief Minister who gave the idea of holding the state-wide debate on the topic during a high level meeting of officers of the education department in August last. He even proposed the highest award money to the winners of the final round to be given in the country for such a competition among students. The debate is being held simultaneously for school and college students with prize money of R s. one lakh as First Prize, Rs.
50,000 as 2nd Prize and two 3rd prizes of Rs. 25,000 in both categories.
The enthusiasm shown by students throughout the state particularly in Kashmir has overjoyed the officials of higher and school education departments. "As many as 47,924 students of high and higher secondary schools including 23,352 from Kashmir division, took part in various tiers of the debate", says Khizr Muhammad Wani, Secretary School Education. The competition, started on September 1, 2007, was organised at school,
zonal, district and divisional level. The divisional level round was concluded on September 22.
The churning at different tiers of the competition has thrown up 8 finalists, 4 each from Kashmir and Jammu divisions, who would compete in the final round on October 2. They are Ajaz ul Haq of Boys Higher Secondary School, Ganderbal, Aamir Qayoom of Sultan ul Aarifeen School, Srinagar, Azra Iqbal of Standard Public School, Gasiyar, Gulbadeen of Higher Secondary School, Shopian, Kudsia Khan of Girls Higher Secondary School, Surankote, Sophia Sharma of Girls Higher Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Shurti Sen of Girls Higher Secondary School, Kishtwar and Babar Hussain of Boys Higher Secondary School, Bhadarwah.
In the college category, 3500 students participated out of whom 11 have made it to the finals including 6 and 5 from Kashmir and Jammu divisions, respectively. They include Towseef Yusuf of S. P. College, Srinagar, Aamira Wali of Government Degree College (Women), Baramulla, Mir Kifayatullah of Government Degree College (Boys), Anantnag, Mushtaq Ahmad of Government Degree College, Beerwah, Lubna Wali Shah
of Government Women's College, M. A. Road, Srinagar, Shaikh Muhammad
Irfan of Amar Singh College, Srinagar, Indu Bagal of Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, Tanveer Ahmad of Government Degree College, Bhadarwah, Chaman Lal, Government Degree College, Reasi, Shikha Bhat of Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu and Zain ul Aabdeen of MAM College, Jammu.
The statistics present an interesting reading. Among 8 finalists in the school category, girl students constitute 50 percent while in the college category they lag behind boys with just 4 positions out of the total 11. Muslim students have fared well with 6 out of the total 8
school category finalists and 6 out of the 11 college level finalists belonging to the community. The community also tops ranking in both categories. In all, 1508 higher secondary and high schools participated in the debate. Of this, the majority of 834 schools came from Kashmir division. Likewise, 31 colleges from Kashmir division and
28 from Jammu division took part in the debate. In the school category competition, the judges for Kashmir division were Prof. Muhammad Zaman Azurda, former Head of Urdu Department, Kashmir University, Rukhsana Jabeen, Assistant Director Radio Kashmir
and prominent Urdu poetess and Zafar Manhas, Additional Secretary, Academy of Art, Culture & Languages. For Jammu division, M. R. Puri, former Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, Dr. Rajiv Gupta, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Jammu University and I. D. Soni, Ex-Deputy Director Education acted as judges. The judges for the provincial level competition in the college category were Dr. G. R. Malik, former Head of English Department, Kashmir University, Qazi Muhammad Amin, retired bureaucrat and Roma
Wani, Special Secretary, Planning & Development for Kashmir division and Prof. Ved Ghai, former Head of Sanskrit Department, Jammu University, Yash Pal Mittal, President, Prasthan Ashram, Pathankote and Dr. Anurag Gangal, Director Gandhian Studies Centre for Jammu. |
