Shriram Ilakkiya Kazhagam, a literary initiative of the 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. A. Manjushree, Vengitasamy Naidu Middle School, Idayankulam won the 1st prize in ‘Junior’ category.
The Thirukkural Speech Competition is conducted in three categories – Junior Category (Classes 6–8), Senior Category (Classes 9–12), and College Category. This year, a total of 5,620 students participated in the competition.
The quarter-final and semi-final rounds of the competition 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, comprising 12 winners from each category, with one finalist representing each of the 12 centres, participated in the final round.