Awaz-e-Khwateen brought constitutional values into classrooms, engaging nearly one thousand Delhi students through dialogue, real examples, and thoughtful discussion, encouraging curiosity about rights, duties, and democratic participation in everyday life.
The tricolour unfurled against the morning sky at Zayed Girls College in Shaheen Bagh. Still, this Republic Day carried something more than ceremonial pride. It brought with it a challenge, a stage, and a question directed at young women: What does the Constitution mean to you?
Awaz-e-Khwateen:A Platform Built on Purpose
Awaz-e-Khwateen, a grassroots organisation led by Muslim women, marked India’s 77th Republic Day not with speeches from above, but by inviting students to speak for themselves. The event gathered around 1000 girl students, 30 faculty members, the college principal, and guests of honour, Mr Aqil Nafees, Joint Director of the Parliament, and Dr Parveen, convenor of Awaz-e-Khwateen.
The focus was clear. Democracy thrives when citizens understand their rights, and young women must be equipped to claim their place in that process.
Competition as Catalyst
The Republic Day Speech Competition became the heart of the programme. Students stepped forward to discuss constitutional rights, social justice, and inclusive development. The organisers wanted more than polished delivery. They wanted critical thinking, personal conviction, and the courage to articulate a vision for India.
Cash prizes added weight to the recognition. The first-prize winner received ₹5,000, the second-prize winner ₹3,000, and the third-prize winner ₹2,000. These were not tokens. They were affirmations that merit, talent, and leadership among young women deserve material acknowledgement.
Awaz-e-Khwateen:Empowerment Through Literacy
Awaz-e-Khwateen has built its work around a belief that awareness precedes action. The organisation focuses on legal literacy, education, and leadership development within Muslim women’s communities. This Republic Day event reflected that mission in practice.
Dr Parveen addressed the gathering with directness. Educated and aware girls form the backbone of a strong democracy. When women understand their rights, families grow stronger, and communities become more resilient. The logic was simple, but the implications were profound.
The principal of Zayed Girls College acknowledged the organisation’s consistent efforts in creating platforms that inspire confidence and civic responsibility among students. Such partnerships between educational institutions and grassroots collectives demonstrate how national values can be reinforced through localised action.
Coordination and Collaboration
Behind the event stood Miss Yusra Siddiqui and Miss Tooba, who served as coordinator and co-coordinator from Awaz-e-Khwateen. Their work ensured that the programme ran smoothly and that students felt supported throughout the competition.
The organisation also felicitated the college principal and event coordinators, recognising that empowerment initiatives require collaboration. When schools and community organisations align their efforts, the impact deepens.
Democracy in Practice
What made this celebration significant was its refusal to treat Republic Day as a mere ritual. The flag hosting ceremony opened the event, but what followed was an exercise in democratic participation. Students were not passive recipients of patriotic messaging. They were active contributors to a conversation about what the Republic promises and demands.
Public speaking skills, critical thinking, civic awareness—these are not abstract goals. They are practical tools that prepare young women to navigate, question, and shape the society they inherit. Awaz-e-Khwateen’s approach suggests that empowerment is not about distant futures. It begins in school halls where students learn to articulate their understanding of justice and equality.
The Architects of Progress
The programme concluded with students carrying a renewed sense of responsibility. The message was not that they would someday become leaders. It was that they already are, and their informed participation matters now.
Awaz-e-Khwateen’s vision rests on the premise that informed women are the architects of a progressive India. This Republic Day at Zayed Girls College offered a glimpse of what that architecture might look like when young women are given the stage, the encouragement, and the recognition to build it.
The tricolour still waved as the event ended. But something else had been raised alongside it: the expectation that constitutional values mean nothing unless young citizens, particularly young women, are equipped and emboldened to defend them.
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