A vivid narrative stirs the senses, captivates the mind, and fills the room with the echoes of melodious tunes. The campus of Lucknow Public Collegiate, Jopling Road, reverberated with the voices of budding elocutionists on October 17, 2025, with the Inter-House Hindi Declamation Contest. The competition was divided into junior classes from sixth to eighth and senior classes from ninth to twelfth. Poetry and prose kept the spirit of the mother tongue alive. Conversations with literary figures on topics such as politics, mythology, feminism, history, philosophy, science, and more were lively, with judges awarding points based on memorization, pronunciation, delivery, and fluency. The jury comprised Dr. Balwant Singh, Dr. Sudha Mishra, and Ms. Shikha Srivastava. It was a tug-of-war, where everyone was overwhelmed with emotions. Emotional poems by renowned poets and speakers inspired the student audience about the power of words and communication skills. This competition was a way to learn the art of public speaking, which sometimes requires literary talent.
This competition paved the way for developing self-confidence and leadership skills, which require practice in voice control and overcoming nervousness. Roots were nurtured and identity was secured. A captivating song by the school chorus added a magical touch to the echoes of great philosophers. Shreya Rastogi and Ansh Kushwaha of Sapphire House emerged as the proud winners of this duel from the senior and junior sections, respectively.
Mr. Rajiv Gupta, Principal of Collegiate, addressed the students and encouraged them to cultivate their love for their mother tongue and enrich themselves by becoming avid readers of Hindi texts, which will familiarize them with their culture and roots.