Campus Watch
In Pictures –Shimla Inter-School Declamation and Slogan Writing Contest and Winners

SHIMLA- On Friday last week, children of Shimla town took first step to raise their voice for a very basic as well as essential amenity – public parks, recreational space or space to play. The lack of public parks and playgrounds in Shimla’s growing concrete jungle found expression in the inter-school declamation and slogan writing competition held at the Amphitheater, Shimla Ridge on Friday.
About 21 speakers from about 11 prestigious schools of Shimla made the event successful. The topic of the competition was “Parks/Playgrounds in Shimla for Children – Indifferent Attitude of the Administration”.
The participant schools included Chapslee School, Laureate Public School: Mohit, Apurva Jhagta, Himalyan Public School, JCB Khalini, St Edwards, Portmore Swaran Public School, St Thomas, Auckland House Girls, DAV New Shimla.
Please, scroll down to read about results and winners.
The event was organized by Vivek Mohan and Keekli, a weekly newspaper. The organizers also included Editor Vandana Bhagra and contributor Ritanjali Hastir. Himachal Watcher had the pleasure of collaborating with the organizers as the media partner.
Suman Rawat, an Arjuna Award winner athlete from Himachal Pradesh, and Vivek Mohan, a National Award winner filmmaker from Shimla, were judges for the contest. The Deputy Advocate General Vinay Sharma was present as the chief guest.
The topic was such that the children, along with their academic training, received an opportunity to know what basic rights mean and role of district administration, thus, government in ensuring protection of these rights. It was inspiring to see children pointing out lack of vision in political leaders and administrators due to which Shimla is now plagued by haphazard and unplanned construction. Sadly, speakers said, the government has entirely omitted incorporation of public parks and playgrounds and blindly encouraging construction of only multi-story complexes and commercial structures.
Part-I-Watch speakers at ‘Shimla Inter-School Declamation Competition’ Amphitheater –
Part-II-Watch speakers at ‘Shimla Inter-School Declamation Competition’ Amphitheater
The speakers mentioned how lack of outdoor spaces can affect over-all wellbeing and personality development in children, how gadgets are replacing culture of outdoor playing, how children feel inclined towards substance abuse as a mean of recreation, and how children are deprived of learning important lesson in team-work, leadership, competence, social engagement etc.
Similarly, in ‘Slogan Writing’ contest, the participant schools conveyed the same message through eye catching slogans over beautifully painted charts. The slogans were judged by Vivek Mohan.
Watch Winners of Shimla Inter-School Declamation and Slogan Writing Contest
Not only the students, but the Chief Guest and Judges spoke their heart and supported the children in their demand. J R Nanda, a senior citizen and a true Samaritan, recalled days from his childhood when almost every house built during British rule had a tennis court. He recited how the government allowed reconstruction over these courts as well as any space it could find to pile up bricks and sand. Everyone applauded organization of such a wonderful event and encouraged children except one of the judges, Suman Rawat.
Suman Rawat, in a very strange stance, labeled the topic as irrelevant and demands for parks and playground as impractical. She launched sarcastic attack on the participants. She said that the general knowledge of every participant was zero and claimed that the city has sufficient grounds. She blamed children for not coming ahead to play and left no stone unturned to discourage children from taking up this issue. She even went to question education provided in even most prestigious schools of Shimla and said that it’s easy to cram a speech than actually form solutions in response to this demand. She appeared agitated over the fact that in the topic related to sports and playground, she wasn’t recognized by anyone. However, later the chief guest answered her well and boosted up children, who were discouraged by Suman Rawat. Moreover,Vivek Mohan also expressed concern over lethargy of media that failed to highlight Rawat and her achievement.
The winners were awarded by the chief guest and all participants were given participation certificates. The vote of thanks was offered by Vandna Bhagra that was followed by honoring the organizers, judges, and the chief guest. With distribution of refreshments, it concluded on a very positive note.
Results of English Declamation Contest
First: Anmolika Sood, DAV New Shimla
Second: Riya Saran, Portmore
Third: Mrinal Joshi, Swaran Public School
Results of Hindi Declamation Contest
First: Aakrit Sharma, DAV New Shimla
Second: Sashantika, Portmore
Third: Chahat, JCB Public School
Consolation: Megha Jasmal, Swaran Public School
Winning Entry in Slogan Writing Contest
Second Winning Entry in Slogan Writing Contest
Third Winning Entry in Slogan Writing Contest
All Photos: Tarun Sharma and Dheeman Gaud
Videos: Himachal Watcher
Campus Watch
Include Yoga as Compulsory Subject in Himachal’s Schools, Demands HPYSA

Shimla-Himachal Pradesh Yogasana Sports Association (HPYSA), Chairman, Prof. GD Sharma, has urged the State Government to include Yoga as a compulsory subject at the school level and to teach it in colleges as well. While addressing a press conference very recently, he said that Yoga has been recognized as a sport by the government of India and sports quota in jobs will now apply to Yoga players.
GD Sharma said the inclusion of Yoga at schools and college would open new avenues for the youth as a career. He said that HPYSA has launched a statewide drive to connect youth in the Hill state with Yoga. It’s all set to organize the first online State level Yogasana Contest in March and winners, thereof, will participate in the national championship to be held from March 24 to 26.
HPYSA is affiliated with the National Yogasana Sports Association, a body recognized by the central ministry of youth affairs and sports, he added.
Sharma, a former professor of HP University, has been instrumental in promoting Yoga across the globe when he was posted in Indonesia by the government of India with a diplomat status from 1992 to 1997
He said HPYSA will make all efforts to create job opportunities for youth through Yoga.
About Recognition of Yogasana as a Competitive Sport.
On December 17, 2020, the Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had announced the formal recognition of Yogasana as a competitive sport.
The Government of India had said that Yogasana is an integral and important component of Yoga, which is psycho-physical in nature and popular across the globe for its efficacy in fitness and general wellness.
It had further added , “Yogasana becoming a sport will also ensure new technologies and new strategies being inducted into the disciplines, to benefit our athletes and officials towards building fruitful and fulfilling careers in this field”.
The government had also said that it was planning to include Yogasana as a Sport discipline in Khelo India and in the University Games and we will also pitch it at the National Games and in Olympics.
The AYUSH ministry had said that the sports discipline of Yogasana is likely to have 51 medals in 4 events & 7 categories. The proposed events for both men and women include Traditional Yogasana, Artistic Yogasana (Single), Artistic Yogasana (Pair), Rhythmic Yogasana (Pair), Free Flow/Group Yogasana, Individual All Round – Championship and Team Championship.
According to the AYUSH, following steps or activities will form part of the road map and the future development of Yogasana Sport:
- A pilot Yogasana Competition named as “National Individual Yogasana Sports Championship (Virtual Mode) to be held in early 2021.
- Launching of an Annual Calendar of competitions, events and programs of Yogasana sport.
- Development of Automated Scoring System for the Yogasana Championship.
- Courses for Coaches, Referees, Judges and Directors of competitions.
- Coaching camps for players.
- Launch of a League of Yogasana, to ensure a career and social status for performers, experts and practitioners, to create Sports Stars among Yogasana athletes.
- To introduce Yogasana as a Sport discipline in National Games, Khelo India and international sports events.
- Steps to create job opportunities for Yogasana athletes.
Campus Watch
HPBOSE Exam 2021: Schedule for Class 10th and 12th Exams Changed

Shimla-Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) would soon issue new date-sheets for yearly exams of Classes 10th and 12th as the state Department of Higher Education has asked it to re-schedule the exams. Instead of May, now, the examinations would be held from April 20, 2020, informed the Director of Higher Education, Amarjeet Kumar Sharma today.
He said the process of making changes in the schedule has been initiated. However, the Board had not released any official statement regarding the change till the time of writing.
The pre-board examinations for the board classes would be held from March 8 to March 20 in the morning session. Practical exams would be conducted from April 8 to April 17. Results of pre-board exams would be declared by March 25, and low-scoring students would be given extra classes till April 15.
The recommendations were made based on the opinion and suggestions received from parents and various teacher associations, the Director informed. As per these suggestions, conducting the board exams in May would cause a delay in starting the 2021-22 session.
The HPBOSE is expected to release new date-sheets during the next couple of days.
The Chairman, HPBOSE, Suresh Kumar Soni, today informed that the exams for Class 9th and 11th would be held from March 8 to March 20 in the evening session, and results would be declared by March 31. The new session is likely to begin from April 1, 2021.
Like every year, HPBOSE would provide questions papers to all government and private schools affiliated with the Board. Principals/headmasters of these schools have been asked to submit the requirement for questions papers based on the number of students. The last date for submitting the required details is February 7, he informed. The Board has also asked the school heads to deposit Rs. 100 fee per student for question papers online.
Campus Watch
Proposed HPBOSE Date-Sheets for 8th, 10th, 12th Exams 2021 Issued, Objections Invited till Feb 10

Shimla-Date-sheets for Class 10, 12, and 8 yearly examinations for the 2020-21 session have been released by the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education yesterday. These schedules would apply to both regular and State Open School (SOS) students.
These are proposed date-sheets, which have been uploaded on the official HPBOSE website and objections have been invited from teachers, students, and parents. Objections can be mailed on www.hpbose2011@gmail.com till 10 February 2021.
According to the proposed HPBOSE date-sheets, examinations for 10th class would be held from May 5 to May 20, 2021. For 12th class, exams would be held from May 4 to May 29. Exams for 8th class would be held from May 5 to May 19. While timings for class 10th and 8th would be 8:45 to 12 PM, class 12th exams would be conducted from 1:45 PM to 5 PM.
The Board has already decided that yearly examinations of HPBOSE for Class 10th and 12th for the session 2020-21 would not be conducted online. The decision was taken considering the fact that several regions of the state do not have Internet connectivity due to which students face difficulties.
HPBOSE Class 12 Date-Sheet 2021
HPBOSE Class 10 Date-Sheet 2021
HPBOSE Class 8 Date-Sheet 2021
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