A student from Lahore named Senior
Winner of 2014 Commonwealth Essay Competition Fifteen year old Raniya Hosain
has been named the Senior Winner in the Royal Commonwealth Society’s 2014
Commonwealth Essay Competition. Her winning entry was chosen by a panel of
Commonwealth judges from more than 3,500 senior entries. Writing on the essay
topic: ‘Describe what your country has to offer other members of the
[Commonwealth] team’, Raniya’s entry to the competition – which is sponsored by
Cambridge University Press – is the heart-warming tale of an elderly and
impoverished Pakistani fruit seller who inspires generosity and laughter in
those he meets.
This, Raniya writes, is the embodiment of Pakistan. An excerpt from Raniya’s winning entry: “The reason that this man’s story stood out was that his life and the people who were a part of it ARE Pakistan. So if anyone ever asked me what Pakistan had to give to the Commonwealth, I would tell them this story: The story of dried up apples, toothless smiles, stupid toys, juvenile stories, raucous laughter and crystal tears. The story of our people, the story of our country.”
Listen
to Full Essay by Raniya Herself.
The
judging panel said: “The judges applauded this courageous, sensitive and
powerful story which has as its focus the complex spirit of Pakistan.” Raniya
said: “When I found out about my success I was numb with shock, and then the
elation set in.”
Currently studying at Lahore College of Arts and Sciences in Pakistan, Raniya attributes her success to the support and encouragement of her family and teachers: “I have a twin sister, a younger brother and countless cousins. My love of writing has been encouraged by every one of them. My parents, my grandparents, my sister, my brother have all helped me learn how to write like I do today.
Currently studying at Lahore College of Arts and Sciences in Pakistan, Raniya attributes her success to the support and encouragement of her family and teachers: “I have a twin sister, a younger brother and countless cousins. My love of writing has been encouraged by every one of them. My parents, my grandparents, my sister, my brother have all helped me learn how to write like I do today.
Eram
Abid, Raniya's teacher, said that Raniya had worked hard to win this
distinction. Eram added that Raniya's victory would help improve Pakistan
image.
It
is also worth mentioning that the Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition had
started back in 1883.
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