KENDRAPARA: A six-year-old Muslim girl surprised everyone by securing the first position in Bhagwad Gita recital competition. Firdosh, a Class I student of Sovaniya Sikhyashram in Kendrapara, had participated in the Bhagwad Gita chanting competition organised by Pragna mission on Wednesday. She stood first from among the 56 children in the sub-junior category.
“Students are made to recite Sanskrit slokas from Bhagwad Gita every day in the school. Firdosh, being a quick learner, memorised many of the slokas and recited those beautifully in the competition,” said Urmila Kar , Headmistress of Sikhyashram.
“I learnt the slokas from my teachers in the school. I am glad to have won first prize in the competition,” said Firdosh, while holding a copy of Bhagwad Gita in the school.
Firdosh and her 10-year-old brother SK Salimuddin are studying in the residential school. Her father SK Noorudin works as a plumber in Dubai while her mother Arifa Bibi resides in Damarapur village under Pattamundai block of the district.
“I am proud of my daughter’s achievement. We believe in communal harmony and my daughter has set an example for others that instead of creating walls of religion, one should live happily with one another,” said Arifa Bibi.
Students from different schools across the district participated in the competition. Firdosh scored 97 marks out of 100 for reciting the slokas correctly, said Akshya Patri, a Sanskrit teacher and one of the judges of the competition.