Shriram Ilakkiya Kazhagam, the literary wing of Shriram Group, one of India’s leading non-banking financial companies, organized Thirukkural Elocution Contest 2023 for school and college students across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. M. Manivasagam, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai won the 1st prize in ‘College’ category and M.K. Kavyapriya, Sri Sundareswara Vidya Sala Matric Hr Sec School, Melur won the 3rd prize in ‘Senior’ category.
The State-level Thirukkural contest was conducted at three levels - Junior (Classes: 6-8), Senior (Classes: 9-12), College and witnessed an overall participation of 4816 students.
Preliminary and Semi-final rounds of the competition were held earlier during the months of Oct. and Nov. 2023 at 12 centres namely Chennai, Vellore, Tambaram, Puducherry, Tanjore, Thiruvarur, Salem, Trichy, Nellai, Madurai, Erode and Coimbatore. The Grand Finale of the competition was conducted recently at Chennai. 36 finalists (one from each of the three levels and across 12 centres) selected from Semi-final round contested in the Grand Finale.
The winners list of the finale are as follows:
Junior Level: First Prize: Sangameswaran, Govt. Boys Hr. Sec. School, Sangagiri (Salem Zone), Second Prize: Akil, Satchidananda Jothi Nikethan International School, Mettupalayam (Coimbatore Zone), Third Prize: Varsha, Shemford School, Chidambaram (Puducherry Zone)
Senior Level: First Prize: Bhaveshprasanna, Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Nannilam (Thiruvarur Zone), Second Prize: Shivani, DAV Girls Hr. Sec. School, Chennai (Tambaram Zone), Third Prize: Kavyapriya, Sri Sundareswara Vidya Sala Matric Hr Sec School, Melur (Madurai Zone)
College Level: First Prize: Manivasagam, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai (Madurai Zone), Second Prize: Balapriyadarshini, Dr. MGR Govt. Arts and Science College for Women, Viluppuram (Puducherry Zone), Third Prize: Sureka, PSG Medical College, Peelamedu, Coimbatore (Coimbatore Zone)
First prize winners of each category were honored with a cash award of Rs. 10,000, along with shield and certificate. Second Prize winners of each category were given away Rs. 7,500 cash award, shield and certificate. Third Prize winners of each category were felicitated with Rs. 5,000 cash award, shield and certificate.