Kashmiri youth and Jammu girl won Rs 1 lac in debate on Gandhi

Srinagar, Oct 2 (UNI) Touseef Yousuf of Sri Partap College, Srinagar and Sophia Sharma of Girls Higher Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Jammu won the first prize of Rs one lakh, in college and school category respectively, in the state-wide debate on ''Gandhian philosophy of truth and non-violence and its relevance in the 21st century''.

The second prize of Rs 50,000 went to Kudsia Khan of Girls Higher Secondary School, Surankote, Poonch and Aamira Wali of government Degree College for Women, Baramulla.

The third prize of Rs 25,000 each was given to four students, two each in school and college category. They are Aijaz ul Haq of Boys Higher Secondary School, Ganderbal, Aamir Qayoom of Sultan ul Aarifeen School, Srinagar, Sheikh Mohammad Irfan of Amar Singh College and Indu Bagal of Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.

Eleven other finalists were also given consolation prize of Rs 5,100 each.

The final function at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conventiion Complex on the bank of famed Dal Lake was attended by thousands of school and college students.

Congratulating all the prize winners on their feat, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was present on the ocassion, gave away certificates of merit and mementos to the achievers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Azad said the people of Kashmir have always upheld the principle of secularism and believed in the philosophy of non-violence.

He said 60 years ago, when the entire sub-continent was engulfed by the flames of communal violence, Kashmir was the only place to remain untouched from the communal frenzy.

The Chief Minister highlighted the relevance of Gandhian philosophy of truth and non violence in today's world and said that the world community at large had recognised the importance of his teachings with the United Nations adopting his birthday as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Mr Azad said the enthusiastic participation of 51,000 students in the debate on Gandhian philosophy across the state have showed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir, importantly the younger generation, were deeply rooted in secular ethos and the ray of light observed by Gandhiji was still glowing here.

He also administered 9-point Gandhian pledge to the participants including ministers, legislators, prominent citizens and students present on the occasion to work for India with perfect communal harmony, without any high or low class people, curse of un-touchability, intoxicating drugs and drinks and where poorest will have an effective voice, where women will enjoy same rights as men and where the people will be at peace with the rest of the world.

UNI