Delhi Girl Among Winners of Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Contest

The 'Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition' judged, Delhi girl, Hiya Chowdhury as its senior runner-up. The 15-year-old submitted a short story titled 'The Smallest Of Things' on India’s partition for the contest. Soon, she will accept her certificate at Buckingham Palace.

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The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) chose her story from thousands of senior entries that came from more than 30 countries. But a panel in Cambridge chose the final stories in the beginning  of August. The judges described the entries as ‘diverse’, ‘creative’ and ‘hopeful’. They said that these entrants will hold the Commonwealth wisely.

“Being named the senior runner-up this year seems almost surreal and it has given me confidence in my work. I am feeling great satisfaction that I have added my voice, no matter how small, to an issue that is so relevant,” Hiya Chowdhury

The Duchess of Cornwall will honour Chowdhury at the Buckingham Palace on behalf of Queen Elizabeth later this year.

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“Being named the senior runner-up this year seems almost surreal; it has given me confidence in my work, and I feel great satisfaction that I have been able to add my voice, no matter how small, to an issue that is so relevant,” said Chowdhury, who studies in Springdales School, the Hindustan Times reported.

RCS viewed Chowdhury’s story as bringing the human experience of Partition to life. It encompasses local and family life which goes amidst stress and peace seems like a far-fetched dream.

Annika Turon-Semmens from Australia became the overall winner in the senior category. Ariadna Sullivan from Canada and Ry Galloway from London became the Junior Winner and Junior Runner-up respectively.

“The winners’ pieces are creative and dynamic, using rich and colourful language to explore the broadest interpretations of peace. This year’s theme ‘A Commonwealth for Peace’ could not have come at a more pertinent time,” said RCS director Michael Lake.

Started in 1883, the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the oldest international schools’ writing challenge. The Cambridge University Press sponsored this year’s contest. It received approximately 12,300 entries from nearly every Commonwealth country.