5-year-old Muslim girl tops Bhagwat Gita recitation contest

Kendrapara (Odisha): A five-year-old girl from the minority community surprised all here in this coastal district when she topped the Bhagwad Gita recitation contest.

Firdaus topped the Gita recitation contest held here on Wednesday by getting the better of senior competitors.

A standard-1 student of Sovaniya residential school here, the tiny-tot has got by heart the Hindu religious scripture at the tender age when her classmates find the going tough in reading alphabets.

Firdaus is an exceptional talent and she stood first in the Gita recital competition for the sub-juniors in the 6-14 years category, said a judge of the competition, Biraja Kumar Pati.

“We have read about the singing sensation of Indian Idol fame being allegedly issued Fatwa for performing in open stage. But a Muslim girl here has set an example of communal amity and tolerance by topping Bhagwat Gita contest”, said a local resident, Aryadatta Mohanty.

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, Akshyaya Pani.

“My teachers have taught me moral education and have inculcated me the spirit of Live and let live others . 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 said with a tinge of pride.

“I am a proud mother. It is giving me immense satisfaction after knowing that my daughter has stood first on reciting Hindu religious scripture Gita. Credit for my daughter’s success goes to the school teachers,” her mother Arifa Biwi said.