JUSTICE KC DHULIA ESSAY AND DEBATE COMPETITION: IKNEET SINGH, ABHUDAY AND HIMANI WINS GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE MEDALS RESPECTIVELY
Prize Distribution Ceremony of Justice Keshav Chandra Dhulia Second Debate and Essay Competition Held at IGNFA
Dehradun, 20 January. The prize distribution ceremony of the Justice Keshav Chandra Dhulia Second Debate and Essay Competition was held on 19 January 2025 at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun. Dr. Jagmohan Sharma, IFS, Director of the Academy, was the chief guest and presented cash prizes, medals, and trophies to the winners.
The ceremony was attended by Mrs. Abha T. Gandhi, Dr. Lokesh Ohri, Dr. Sanjeev Chopra, and the chief guest Dr. Jagmohan Sharma, along with faculty members, students, and distinguished citizens of Dehradun. In their addresses, they shared valuable insights with the participants.
Mrs. Abha T. Gandhi, the examiner of the essay competition, paid tribute to Justice K.C. Dhulia, under whom she had worked as a lawyer. She highlighted the core values enshrined in the Indian Constitution, which was the theme of the essay competition. Mrs. Gandhi expressed appreciation for the essays that demonstrated original thinking and emphasized the importance of organizing thoughts effectively.
Dr. Lokesh Ohri spoke about the significance of formulating a ‘scientific question’ in arguments and the need for relevant data. He shared his personal experience with Medha Patkar and the Narmada Bachao Andolan, noting how their plea was lost in a historic case due to insufficient data.
Dr. Sanjeev Chopra stressed the importance of ‘facts’ based on his experiences in various tribunals. He explained that while emotional arguments may be compelling, a lack of supporting facts diminishes their strength. To highlight the importance of preparation and reading, Dr. Chopra shared the story of Surendra Nath Banerjee, a two-time president of the Indian National Congress, who would carry trunk loads of books to the hill stations to prepare for his presidential addresses.
The chief guest, Dr. Jagmohan Sharma, complimented the Karmabhoomi Foundation for organizing the event and honored the legacy of Pandit Bhairav Dutt Dhulia and his role in the freedom movement. Dr. Sharma emphasized the importance of learning from nature, which he described as robust and balanced. He advised the audience against holding rigid stances in life, as this leads to conflict. He advocated for flexibility and accommodation to promote harmony in both personal and professional lives.
The winners of the essay competition were:
- Gold Medal: Ikneet Singh of Soban Singh Jeena University
- Silver Medal: Abhyudaya Shrivastava of UPES
- Bronze Medal: Hemani Rawat of Graphic Era Hill University
- Special Mention: Divya Bisht of Soban Singh Jeena University
The winners received cash prizes of Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000, Rs. 10,000, and Rs. 5,000, respectively.
In the debate competition, the winners were from Chankya Law College, Rudrapur:
- Winners: Adiba Ansari and Pratham Awasthi, who received a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 and the Winner’s Trophy.
- Runners-up: Abhinav Bansal and Swapnil Shrivastava of Uttaranchal University, who received the Runner-up Trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 20,000.
The event was conducted by Anita Joshi, and the ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Himanshu Dhulia, Secretary of the Karmabhoomi Foundation.