Two students won a state-level speech competition organized by Shriram Ilakkiya Kazhagam!

Shriram Ilakkiya Kazhagam, the literary wing of Shriram Group, one of India’s leading financial services groups, has been conducting the Thirukkural Speech Competition at the state level every year since 1988 for school and college students across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Two students from Chennai have won prizes at the state level in the final round of this year’s competition, bringing laurels to the city.

The Thirukkural Speech Competition is conducted in three categories – Junior Category (Classes 6–8), Senior Category (Classes 9–12), and College Category. A total of 5,620 students participated in the competition this year.

In the Junior Category, K. Harisharan, a student of Velammal Vidyalaya, Vanagaram, won the Second Prize. In the Senior Category, P. Yazhini, a student of Sethu Bhaskara Higher Secondary School, Pudur, Ambattur, won the Second Prize, bringing recognition to Chennai.

The quarter-final and semi-final rounds were conducted during July and August this year across 12 centres – Chennai, Vellore, Tambaram, Puducherry, Salem, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Coimbatore and Erode. The final round was held recently in Chennai. A total of 36 contestants who emerged victorious in the semi-final rounds participated in the final round, with 12 winners from each of the three categories, representing each of the 12 centres.

The details of the state-level winners of the speech competition are as follows:

Junior Category:

First Prize: A. Manjushree, Vengitasamy Naidu Middle School, Idayankulam, Virudhunagar (Madurai Centre)

Second Prize: K. Harisharan, Velammal Vidyalaya, Vanagaram, Chennai (Chennai Centre)

Third Prize: P. Karnish, Panchayat Union Middle School, Moolathurai (Coimbatore Centre)

Senior Category:

First Prize: P. Varsha, Shemford Futuristic School, Chidambaram (Cuddalore Centre)

Second Prize: P. Yazhini, Sethu Bhaskara Higher Secondary School, Pudur, Ambattur, Chennai (Chennai Centre)

Third Prize: Ke. Cee. Panimalar Bharathi, Maxwell Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur (Thanjavur Centre)

College Category:

First Prize: M. Santhoshkumar, A.E.S. College of Arts and Science, Krishnagiri (Vellore Centre)

Second Prize: C. Ashwin Annamalai, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Erode (Coimbatore Centre)

Third Prize: K. Srinidhi, A. V. A. College (Autonomous), Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai (Thiruvarur Centre)

The winners of the First, Second and Third Prizes were awarded cash prizes of Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 7,500, respectively. All the winners were also presented with trophies and certificates.