Keeping in accordance with the tenets of Sikhism of equality to women, universal brotherhood, welfare unto all; ‘Bibi Bhani Speech Competition’ was organized by The Kalgidhar Society, Baru Sahib on 3 May, 2006 at Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sant Attar Singh Ji, Cheema Sahib, Distt. Sangrur, Punjab. The topic of the speech competition was “Suggestive measures to prohibit female infanticide/foeticide”, which has become a stigma for our society. Last year too, a speech competition “Bebe Nanki Speech Competition” was organized to find out the causes of female infanticide/foeticide in which children from 40 schools participated enthusiastically.

In ‘Bibi Bhani Speech Competition’, apart from government and public schools of Sangrur and Mansa districts, the students from all Akal Academies of Punjab raised their voice against this ever-increasing malpractice in our society. The competition was divided into two groups. Group A comprised students from VI to VIII and Group B consisted students from IX to XII. Special prizes were awarded to the top four winners and all the participants were given consolation prizes. A special calendar depicting the equality of women was prepared and distributed on this occasion by the management of Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sant Attar Singh Ji, Cheema Sahib. All the staff, principal and students of Akal Academy, Cheema participated enthusiastically in organizing this event.

Dr. Maghar Singh (National Award Winner), Circle Officer, Nabha was the chief guest on this occasion. The other noted personalities present were Dr. Ashok Bhalla (National Award Winner, Distt. Education Officer, Sangrur), Mr. Satdev Sharma (National Award Winner, BPEO, Cheema), Mr. S.K. Bansal (Civil Surgeon, Sangrur), Er. Harjotshah Singh (Retd. Director, Hydel Design, Bhakara Nangal Dam), Mrs. Harjit Kaur Dhindsa (wife of Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, M.P.), Mr. Bahadur Singh Chahal (Principal, Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Cheema), Dr. Jyoti (MBBS, Akal De-addiction Center, Cheema), Dr. Vijay Kumar (B.A.H.M.S., Akal Homoeopathic Hospital, Cheema), Bhai Jagjeet Singh (Baru Sahib), Mrs. Rajinder Kaur (Former Principal, Sant Attar Singh Academy, Mastuana, and Mr. Bharat Hari (President, Eye Bank, Sunam).

The top four winners in Group A were (i) Simardeep Kaur (Kalgidhar Public School, Sunam), (ii) Prabhjot Kaur (Akal Academy, Fatehgarh Ganduan), (iii) Hardeep Kaur (Akal Academy, Cheema) and Mandeep Singh (Dashmesh Public School, Sunam), (iv) Rupinderjeet Kaur (Akal Academy, Kauriwara). In Group B, the winners were (i) Lavi Khanna (Govt. Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Sunam), (ii) Simarjot Kaur (Akal Academy, Reethkheri), (iii) Ramandeep Kaur (Akal Academy, Balbehra) and (iv) Kuldeep Kaur (Govt. High School, Taulawal).

At the conclusion of the function, Sevadar Bhai Jaivinder Singh announced that an essay competition in English and Punjabi will be organized shortly on the same topic.