All must strive to foster communal harmony: Guv

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 27

The team comprising Shivika Thakur of the Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, and Atika Sharma of Government Degree College, Kathua, won the Silver Rolling Trophy instituted by Governor NN Vohra at the 6th Annual Inter-State (North Zone) Declamation Contest here today.

The contest was organised by the Department of Higher Education at the Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar.

The runners-up trophy was bagged by the team comprising Aneesa Ramzan of Government Degree College, Tral, and Rishabh Vaishnav of BNPG, Udaipur. The topic of the contest was ‘Is Development and Growth Enough to Reduce Discontent in Society’.

Governor NN Vohra was the chief guest and First Lady Usha Vohra was the guest of honour on the occasion. Minister of State for Education, Culture and Information Priya Sethi presided over the function.

A Raj Bhawan spokesperson said the Governor appreciated the speakers for their clear perceptions and impressive articulation and observed that the annual event witnessed the participation of students from all three regions of the state and significant participation from northern states.

The Governor promised enhanced support to the college for facilitating larger participation of students in future. He congratulated Kiran Bakshi, Principal of the Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, and her colleagues for the successful organisation of the event, said the spokesperson.

The Governor observed that all sections of society, including students, teachers, and the public at large, should give a thought to what promotes a satisfied population and contentment among individuals. He noted that India was a land of rich diversity and pluralism was deeply embedded “in our thousands of socio-religious tradition, and we should strive to foster communal harmony among our diverse communities”.

The Governor presented the Rolling Trophy to the winning team and also gave prizes to the runners-up. He gave a cash reward of Rs 11,000 to Shivika Thakur of the Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, for being adjudged first. The second prize was won by Atika Sharma of the GDC, Kathua, while the third prize was won by Aneesa Ramzan of the GDC, Tral.

The first, second and third consolation prizes were won by Rishabh Vaishnav, Shubham Sharma and Syed Areej, respectively.

The Governor also presented mementos to Sneh Sambyal, former professor of the Department of Economics, Veena Thappar, Joint Director, Planning and Development, Jagdish Sharma, former professor of the Department of English, Anil Tiwari, Director, School of Philosophy and Culture, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Neelu Rohmetra, Rector, Kathua Campus of the University of Jammu. They were the Jury members. The Governor and the First Lady were also presented mementos.

Sarita Chouhan, Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education Department, was also present on the occasion. Principal of the Government College for Women, in her welcome address gave details of the participants of the declamation contest. She said a total of 46 students from Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir had participated in the contest.