Female winners of English and Urdu speeches with Dr. Irshad Ahmed, judges and organizers at the event.

The Urdu Academy marked India’s 15th National Education Day with traditional zeal and enthusiasm at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah on Friday.

The National Education Day is observed every year on Nov. 11, the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the country’s first education minister.

Urdu Academy shed light on the role of Muslim freedom fighters in India’s liberation and that of the Urdu language through quiz and speech contests.

Irshad Ahmed, consul, press and information, said the students’ quality of speech and fearless address was impressive. Also, the quiz about Azad added invaluable treasure of information.

He added that it is important that Azad and other freedom fighters’ thoughts and teachings reach the new generation to strengthen the unity.

He appreciated the activities of Urdu Academy and emphasized the academy officials to cooperate with different states in India for the promotion of Urdu.

Jamal Qadri, president of Urdu Academy, reviewed the academy’s achievements, charitable programs and social activities.

This year’s quiz and speech contests were also based on information about the known and unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for the country.

Students of 8-12 grades from 16 different international schools in Jeddah participated in the speech and quiz competitions. The quiz included the struggles and sacrifices of 12 freedom fighters, history and importance of the Urdu language, especially in terms of poetry and prose, as also the contribution of Urdu poets.

Contestants delivered speeches on Azad and his services in education and freedom struggle, and his contribution to peace and harmony as an astute politician, effective writer and fiery orator.

Aslam Afghani was in charge of speech contest while T.M. Abdul Sameeh was the chief judge. The judging panel included T.M. Lakshman, Surindar Pal Singh, Aleem Khan Falki, Aqeel Jamil, Ehsan Ullah Khan, Ahmed Abdul Hakeem, Nasir Kursheed and Wazir Akhthar.

Winners of the English speech contest were Sayda Farheen Fathima and Mohammed Sufyan Nafees of Indian International School-Jeddah (IISJ), first; Areeb un Nissa Fadli of Al Falah of Jeddah (DPS) and Arbab Khan, second; and Samiksha of Al-Wurood International School and Mohammed Faheem of Shati Al-Noor, third.

Winners of the Urdu speech contest were Malik Rafiya of Dauha Al-Uloom and Abdulrahman Abdullah of Al-Wurood, first; Sobiya Majed and Nadeem Fayaz of DPS, second; and Maryam and Ziad Zahid of Nofil School, third.

In quiz, girls of Dauha of Al-Uloom and boys of Shati Al-Noor were in first place, while girls of Al-Wurood and boys of IISJ second, and girls of IISJ and boys of Al-Mawarid third.

Cash awards of SR500, SR300 and SR200 were presented respectively to the first three winners with a shield and certificate.

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