NEW DELHI: A young girl was barred from receiving a national award on Tuesday because she had asked the Prime Minister to speak to school children in Hindi.

Ms Ambica Kapoor a class XII student from Kendriya Vidyalaya Aukleshwar had been chosen to represent the Ahmedabad region at the prize distribution ceremony at Teen Murtin House on Tuesday. Her name was struck off at the last minute because she argued with the Prime Minister at the Nehru memorial lecture he delivered on Monday.

As soon as the Prime Minister started to speak, Ambica’s voice cut him short. “At least deliver the Nehru lecture in the national language,” she shouted. “Many of us don’t understand English.”

There was stunned silence among the organizers. Some among the hundreds of Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya Vidalaya students who had been brought to Delhi for the function supported Ambica. Most just watched the drama.

A few organizers whisked Ambica away. The Prime Minister, a little taken aback, said something that was lost in the din. The lecture continued in English, but Gandhi had lost the attention of his audience.

On Monday evening, Ambica was questioned and reprimanded by a host of officials at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gole Market where the students were staying. “I could sense that I would not be allowed to receive the award,” said Ambica,

Ambica had been selected to receive a set of 100 books on Tuesday on behalf of the Ahmedabad region. On Tuesday morning she was replaced by another girl.

“I was not even allowed to go to Teen Murti House this morning,” said Ambica. “A teacher was told to keep an eye on me as if I was mad.”

Ambica said she understood English perfectly well. “I shouted at the Prime Minister on behalf of other students and also because I thought it was a shame that a speech about Nehru was not being made in the national language,” she said.

The teenager has no political affiliations, She had geared herself up to receive the award. “I never expected these people to be so petty,” she said fighting back a tear.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 1, 1989