Convent of Jesus and Mary wins English contest

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 7

Students from 15 elite English medium schools of Uttarakhand participated in a debate organised by Marshall School here today. The topic was ‘Division of British India in 1947 was ill conceived, shortsighted, criminally motivated and without approval of the people. Hence, it should be denounced and derecognised’. The best speaker trophy was awarded to Apporv Bikram Shah of Sherwood College, Nainital. The winners trophy was awarded to the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Dehradun, team comprising Tapasya Valdiya and Ananya Pokhriyal. The Marshall School, Dehradun, team comprising Shristi Rawat and Nidhi Naithani won the runner-up trophy.

The topic became all the more important against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the Uri attack by Pakistan terrorists and the surgical strikes by the Indian Army in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Lt General Gambhir Singh Negi (retd) said, “A lot of water has flowed in the Ganga and the Indus river. It will be a distant dream to see India and Pakistan become one nation once again. At the same time, it will be difficult for India to talk to the Pakistan establishment, considering fundamentalists ruling the neighbouring country”. Negi praised young students who participated in the debate.

Most of the speakers in the debate were critical of the politicians at the time of division of India and Pakistan in 1947. They said had India and Pakistan been one, united India would have been a superpower. There would not have been terrorist activities and the country would have the best cricket team in the world.

Col KD Bhatt (retd), former principal of Army School, Major Gorki Chandola (retd), and Shelly Garg, a journalist, were the judges at the debate. Schools from Mussoorie, Nainital and Haridwar participated in the competition. Rajnish Jayal, president of Marshall School Society, also expressed his views on the topic and thanked the principals of all participating teams. Ratnish Chandra Jayal, Director, Marshall School, was also present at the award giving ceremony.