PHOTOS : Follow the link below to view the photos taken during the Prize Distribution Function of the Online Essay contest conducted at this site on 17th Sept. 2007 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Chennai

http://picasaweb.google.com/govindsuresh/OnlineEssayContestPrizeDistributionFunction

VIDEOS :  Follow the link below to view the videos taken during the Prize Distribution Functio of the Online Essay Contest conducted at this site on 17th Sept. 2007 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Chennai

(i) Invocation Song by Ms. Jayanthi Suresh

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1264740614624877749&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=515082149250470730

(ii) Welcome Address by Mrs. Sarojini Varadappan

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2359983959278954937&hl=en

(iii) Address by Mr. G. Suresh

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4286300680073977806&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3011246081413079491

(iv) Address by Mr. N. Vittal, IAS(Retd), Former Central VIgilance Commissioner

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2204387576110759765&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4382908905833054330&hl=en

(v) Address by Mr. B.S. Raghavan, IAS(Retd), Former UN Advisor

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7258794473509909271&hl=en

(vi) Address by Mr. V.R. Lakshminarayanan, IPS(Retd), Former DGP

(being uploaded)

(vii) Prize Distribution

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4861843907789466962

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-366207712766026485

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9049641331729811397

(viii) First Group of SIV-Gians - G. Suresh at centre (sitting)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4239595032308076139

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6123144002046645838&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6404125935109278073&hl=en

(ix) Interviews

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-436994813758024366&hl=en

We are extremely happy to announce the results of the online essay contest conducted by www.siv-g.org in association with the Sardar Patel Memorial Trust, Chennai.  We really appreciate the zeal and enthusiasm shown by the participants who in fact are the future leaders of our nation.  Our judges had a tough time in evaluating the essays as the participation was overwhelming and the students had done outstanding submissions. 

The Judges have selected the following participants as winners, even though each one of the participant is already a winner by his / her mere participation in this contest::.

S. NoPrize WinnersSchool/College

1Prabhu.V M.A(Social Work-HR), Loyola College, Chennai First Prize

2Akanksha Gulia B.Tech in BiotechnologyJaypee Institute of Information Technology UniversityNoida, Uttar PradeshSecond Prize

3Kruthika Prakash11th std: D.A.V Girls Sr. Sec. School, Lloyds Road, Chennai – 600 086Third Prize Consolation Prizes

4I Gayathri, MA (History), IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068  

5Minitha Mathew Madha Engineering College, Somangalam Road, Kundrathur, Chennai

6Gayathri Ganesh 10th Std., Kolaperumal Chetty Vaishnav Senior Secondary School, Arumbakkam Chennai.

7K. Sathyaprakash Rao National Public School,228, Avvai Shanmugam Road,Chennai – 600 086

8S.Jayashree, Sriram Engg. College, PerumalpattuTiruvellore

9Alekya Ch K.P.C.V.S.S. School, 815, Poonamalle High Road, Chennai – 600106

10S.Hindushree, Union Christian Matriculation Higher Secondary.School 33, Nowriji Road, Chetput, Chennai -600031

11Mayank Malhotra, P.G.D.A.V College, Delhi University, Nehru Nagar, Delhi.

12    S.Indumathi , 10th Std K.P.C.V.S.S- School, Chennai

13Subhashree SrinivasanMadha Engineering College, Madha Nagar, Kunrathur, Chennai 600069

14Shivram S College of Engineering, Guindy- Anna University, Chennai – 600025

15S.VenkateshEaswari Engineering college,Ramapuram, Chennai-600089

Hearty Congratulations Prize Winners!!!!!!!!!!  We really appreciate your enthusiam and best efforts. You will shortly receive an email with details on the Prize Distribution Function. 

Till then, best wishes

Administrator

www.siv-g.org

Text of the address by G. Suresh during the Public Function on 31st October 2007  at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore Chennai held as part of 132nd Birthday Celebration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.  www.siv-g.org conducted a nationwide  online essay contest for the college and school (CBSE) students on the theme "Integrity and good governance".

Respected dignitaries on the dais, off the dais, my dear students, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure in providing a brief account on the online essay contest conducted by www.siv-g.org in association with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Trust, Chennai and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai Kendra.  It is indeed a great honour to www.siv-g.org.  

In fact, the request for conducting an online essay contest came from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Trust, immediately after the Online Essay Contest conducted by www.siv-g.org in association with the Mylapore Academy, as part of 60th Independence Day.    It was told that the contest is going to be a part of the 132nd birthday celebration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; it hardly required any time to accept to the proposal.  Conducting a contest of Sardar Patel, a legendary known for ‘integrity in public life’ at www.siv-g.org is in fact a great honour and strengthens SIV-G and its cause.  ‘Integrity in public life’ is one of the important factors which lead to good governance.  The present sad state of affair is absolutely due to lack of integrity.  

Keeping this in view, the theme of the Contest has been chosen as “Integrity and Good Governance” which perfectly goes with the cause for which SIV-G is thriving.   I hope SIV-G must now be familiar to you which stand for Self Imposed Vigilance for Good Governance.  

The contest this time was conducted nationwide for the College and School (CBSE) students.  The topics given to the College students were (i) are we living up to the expectation of Sardar Patel? OR (ii) Importance of ‘Integrity in public life’ in achieving good governance.  Similarly for the School students the topics given were (i) Sardar Patel – a symbol of integrity OR (ii) What does ‘integrity in public life’ mean to me?

Again, the topics were chosen in such a way that the students tend to think about a legendary leader like Sardar Patel and also on ‘integrity in public life’, its relevance and importance today. Not so surprisingly, somebody raised an eye brow and cynically commented “do still people remember a word called integrity?” Nevertheless, there has been 51 Registrations received for this contest.  The last date for submission of entries was 20th October, 2007 (11.59 p.m. IST). 

The Juries from different corners of the globe have been extremely supportive and I am grateful to them for their commitment.  The panel of Jury included:

1. Dr.  Som Karamchetty, M.Tech (1961) – IIT, Kharagpur, Ph.D. (1965), a Colombia based Consultant on Education, Research, Management and Concept Development, 

2. Mr. Charukesi Viswanathan - A freelance journalist / writer for about 30 years in Chennai. 

3. Ms. Anita Kandukuri, Tech Lead and Executive Manager, Commonwealth Government, Australia, 

4. Ramakrishnan Ramaswamy - General Manager (Facilities Management), WIPRO Technologies & WIPRO BPO, Bangalore,  

5. Mr. V. Sivakumar, M. Tech (Chemical Engineer) from IIT (1978) Director, PCRA, Chennai. 

6. Dr. Amit Wanchoo, Social activist & President, Rotary Club of Kashmir, “World Yale Fellow 2007”, Srinagar. 

The technical help for this contest was provided by Mr. Varun. S of Google who is in California, USA and Mr. Anand Kumar, my colleague in Chennai.

Interestingly, the contest seems to have made an excellent impact of the Judges who evaluated the essays as well.  Ms. Anita Kandukuri one of the Judges, who lives in Australia says, “Thanks once again for giving me the opportunity to learn from this contest.  The topic about Sardar's was interesting what I learnt in my school is long forgotten and this is an eye opener”. Another Judge Mr. Ramakrishnan of WIPRO, Bangalore expressed, “It was my pleasure to be associated with this contest.  In the process I learnt few things also”. 

However, there is a word of caution from Dr. Som, from Colombia, USA for the students when he observed “Some of the essays read very well but unfortunately, I found that the writers have heavily borrowed material from other publications without attribution. This is a serious problem. I suggest that you make an announcement on your web site suggesting that this is a dangerous practice”.  I wish the students take a serious note of this observation.  

Well, the results after evaluation by the jury were published on 25th October, 2007.  Mr. Jagdish Mohan of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore bagged the first prize in College category and S. Srividya of Kola Saraswathi Vaishnav Sr Secondary School, Chennai bagged the first prize under School category.  It is encouraging that a student of IIM took part on a theme “Integrity in public life and governance” and also won the first prize.  It really shows the concern this generation has for the country.  Similarly a student of Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, New Delhi also took part and got third prize.  I am sure these are the positive things happening and would definitely is a silver lining.  Interestingly, most of the participants are girls.  

However, I must confess that the overall response has not been very encouraging, for a nation wide contest.  It makes one to think that the present generation, perhaps, is slowly forgetting Sardar Patel and sadly, his contribution to the Nation as well.  Sadly, there is not a single entry even from the home state of Sardar Patel!

In any case, it is the interest and enthusiasm shown by the students is remarkable and highly appreciable.  I am sure with their continued involvement and support, the spirit of SIV-G and the purpose behind this contest would be spread and realized by many more youngsters in the days ahead.

Thanks for the opportunity.

G. Suresh

Founder, SIV-G

www.siv-g.org

We are extremely happy to announce the results of the online essay contest conducted by www.siv-g.org in association with the Sardar Patel Memorial Trust, Chennai.  We really appreciate the zeal and enthusiasm shown by the participants who in fact are the future leaders of our nation.  Our judges had a tough time in evaluating the essays as the participation was overwhelming and the students had done oustanding submissions.

The Judges have selected the following participants as winners, even though each one of the participant is already a winner by his / her mere participation in this contest:

First Prize      :   S. Venkatesh, II Year, BE(E&IE), Easwari Engineering College, Chennai

Second Prize :   Geetanjali Sharma, II Year, LLB, National Law University, Jodhpur

Third Prize     :   R. Arvind, Final Year, ICSI, Chennai 

&

Pradnya Talekar, II Year, LLB, National Law University, Jodhpur

Consolation Prizes : (in the order of merit)

(i)     N. Srinath, 12th Std., SBOA School and Junior College, Chennai

(ii)    Gitanjali Maria, IV Year, B.Tech (Chem Eng), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat

(iii)   V. Giridhar, Production Engineering, Madras Institute of Technology, MIT, Chennai

(iv)  I. Vaishnavi, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore

(v)   N. Sundara Krishnan, XI, New Prince Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Chennai

(vi)  K. Satyaprakash Rao, I Year, BE(E&I), Sree Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Vishwa Mahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram

(vii) R. Sowmya, Intermediate, Institute of Chartered Accountant, Chennai

(viii) T. Phani Sharavan, II Year, Master of Arts(Humanities, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai

(ix)   S. Janani, XI, Jaigopal Garodia MHSS, Chennai

Hearty Congratulations Prize Winners!!!!!!!!!!  We really appreciate your enthusiam and best efforts. You will shortly receive an email with details on the Prize Distribution Function.

Till then, best wishes

Administrator

www.siv-g.org