A class XI student of Manav Rachna International School (MRIS), Gurgaon, Emaad Muzaffar (17) was conferred a Global Youth Award at the International Lakes & Rivers Conclave and Education Exhibition held in Frankfurt (Germany) between March 24-28. The first Indian student to participate in this biannual event, Emaad has been adjudged the best speaker among 400 youth delegates from more than 100 countries.

Earlier, on January 28 at the national screening championship event staged in Mumbai in which youth aged 18-25 were invited to showcase their debating, presentation and ideation skills, Emaad bested 350 participants with his oratory skills and knowledge of environmental issues especially of India’s lakes and rivers. His presentation of a conservation plan for the world-famous Dal Lake, Srinagar, persuaded the judges to select him as the India representative to the Frankfurt conclave.

“My presentation focused on the sorry condition of Delhi’s River Yamuna and the Central and Delhi state governments’ failure to cleanse and revive it. I presented an analysis of the threat the polluted Yamuna poses to Delhi. I also informed the conclave that India has the technology and capability to cleanse the Yamuna if government support is assured,’’ says Emaad, who also presented papers on the issue of resolution of conflicts between riparian states and salient features of the UN policy on water conservation, during the five-day conclave.

Educating the public and arguing his case before large audiences is not new to this higher secondary student of MRIS. In October last year, he was awarded the Best Delegate trophy at the Global Model United Nations Conference convened in Dubai, where he represented India.

Emaad attributes the development of his debating and public speaking skills to the encouragement he received in his formative years from uncle Riyaz Bedar, a decorated IPS officer, his father Muzaffar Iqbal Mukhdoomi, a senior official with the J&K Bank, and his mother Duri, a former teacher at a convent school in Srinagar who left her job to facilitate her son’s education in Delhi.

However, opportunities to rise and shine came his way in MRIS, Gurgaon, a school that accords co-curricular education high priority. “Usually schools don’t encourage co-curricular activities but my principal and teachers facilitated me by providing special tuition to make up for classes missed when participating in national and international events,’’ says Emaad.

Committed to studying of the humanities, especially political science, this young achiever aspires to join the IAS. “I want to use my talents to inspire others and serve society,’’ he says.

Wind beneath your wings!

Autar Nehru (Delhi)