Mysuru/Mysore: Marking National Youth Day, which is celebrated across the country on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, National Service Scheme (NSS) wing of University of Mysore (UoM) in association with Basudev Somani College had organised a district-level Elocution Contest for NSS students on the topic ‘Nanna Bharata – 2035 Nirikshegalu’ at  Basudev Somani College premises this morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor of Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies Prof. Pradhan Gurudatta, who inaugurated the event, spoke about the importance of debate and articulation of ideas. Remembering the famous speech of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago, who addressed the audience as ‘sisters and brothers,’  Prof. Pradhan Gurudatta said, “There are many people in the world, who have changed the course of history with their words. Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were some of them. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has great oratory skills. PM Modi’s speech to the joint session of the US Congress illustrates the qualities that make him a good orator.”

Two winners of the district-level elocution contest will be participating in University-level elocution contest to be held in coming months. NSS students from 20 colleges of the city affiliated to UoM participated in today’s contest.

NSS Programme Co-ordinator Dr. B. Chandrashekar, The Institute of Educational Trust President H.N. Nagaraj and Trust Managing Trustee Dr. M. Puttaswamy were the chief guests. Basudev Somani College Principal Dr. M. Mahadevaiah presided.