Odisha: Muslim girl stands first in Gita recitation contest
Mother says she is proud of her daughter and credits her teachers for the achievement.
BHUBANESWAR: A five-year-old Muslim girl’s command over Bhagwat Gita has surprised all in the coastal town of Kendrapara in Odisha, around 85 km from here. The girl named Firdaus topped a Bhagwad Gita recitation contest held in Kendrapara on Wednesday, reports said on Thursday. Studying in Class I at Sovaniya residential school, Kendrapara, the little girl has got by heart the Hindu religious scripture at the tender age.
“Firdaus is an exceptional talent and she stood first in the Gita recital competition for the sub-juniors in the 6-14 years category,” Biraja Kumar Pati, judge of the Bhagwat Gita completion, said. “We have read about the singing sensation of Indian Idol fame, Nahid Afrin of Assam, being allegedly issued Fatwa for performing on open stage. But, this Muslim girl here has set an example of communal amity and tolerance by topping the Bhagwat Gita contest,” Aryadatta Mohanty, a local resident, said in a press conference.
Judge Mr Pati said Firdaus was miles ahead of her competitors. At one go, she recited the Gita with consummate ease and uninterruptedly. “Her pronunciation was immaculate. We awarded her 90 marks out of a total of 100,” described another judge of the district-level competition, Akshaya Pani. “My teachers have taught me moral education and have inculcated in me the spirit of ‘Live and let live’. I believe that all human beings are members of an extended global family. This is what my dear teachers tell us in the classrooms,’ the little girl was quoted as saying.
Arifa Biwi, Firdaus’ mother, felt proud at her daughter’s success. “I feel proud of my daughter. It is giving me immense satisfaction after knowing that my daughter has stood first in reciting Hindu religious scripture, Gita. All credit for my daughter’s success goes to the school teachers,” said Arifa. According Urmila Kar, head mistress of the school, Firdaus has also shown spark of brilliance in academics.
“She has sharp memory power. Boys and girls from both the Hindu and Muslim communities are studying here. Apart from text book teaching, we teach them finer points of all religions as part of moral education,” the headmistress said.