By Hassan Cheruppa

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — A number of prominent Saudi and Indian speakers called upon the younger generation to reset their goals in life by applying knowledge in a proper way to surmount the challenges while scaling the ladders of success in the post pandemic scenario.

“Proper interpretation of knowledge and connecting it clinically to address the challenges in life is of paramount importance in the new circumstances,” said Acting Indian Consul General Y. Sabir.

“Don’t be a copy but be creative and never give up the fight while chasing the set goals in life,” said Dr. Ghadeer Talal Melibari, assistant professor of English teaching at Umm Al-Qura University.

They were addressing a group of most talented Indian students at a function titled “Feting GGI TALENT LAB Gems,” organized recently by the Jeddah-based Goodwill Global Initiative.

The function feted the winners and those who turned in an excellent performance in the news report writing competition held as part of the GGI Talent Lab 2019, a communication upskilling workshop hosted by International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) in November 2019.

GGI President Dr. Ismail Maritheri of King Abdulaziz University presided over the function. L. Ramnarayan Iyer, executive editor of Saudi Gazette, Mohammed Alungal, president of Abeer Medical Group, and V.P Ali Mohammed Ali, vice chairman of Jeddah National Hospital, delivered felicitation speeches.

In his keynote address, Sabir, the chief guest, urged the students to reset their goals for success in life and be well prepared well to meet adversities in life with a smile.

“You have to be unique and special by putting your own signature while chasing your goals. Proper interpretation of the available knowledge and apply them prudently in your pursuit of excellence are significant,” he said.

On her creative interaction titled “I can and I will,” Dr. Ghadeer, the guest of honor, quoted examples from her brilliant student life while emphasizing the point “no one else, but only you, can stop realizing your dreams and aspiring your goals.”

She noted that the road to success is not an easy one but one full of obstacles. “If you set a goal in mind, you should keep telling yourself that I can make it and then one day you will achieve it, and for this patience, perseverance and hard work are needed.

“The biggest enemies hiding in you are fear, reluctance and negativity,” she said, and added: “Fight them and give a big effort to accomplish your dreams on the platform of creativity. The world is looking out for creative and special people in the new post pandemic scenario,” she added.

In his speech, Ramnarayan emphasized the need to develop a quick and intelligent mindset to counter challenges in life as well as to enhance the ability to sift through the vast ocean of knowledge provided by Internet search engines before identifying which are the best to pick.

Alungal, the chief patron of GGI, underlined the need to verify truth and what is good for the humanity while carrying out media role while Ali Mohammed Ali, a young business leader, underscored that the new era is that of smart work rather than that of hard work.

Summing up of the speeches, Dr. Maritheri called on the younger generation to face adversities boldly and ignite their passion in chasing their goals and strive to realize a world prevailing justice and sublime human values.

The winners of the competition also shared their impressions on the media workshop with the audience. Acting Consul General Sabir gave away mementos and certificates to winners while other guests presented certificates to those who made outstanding performance in the competition.

GGI General Secretary Hassan Cheruppa welcomed the gathering while Treasurer Hassan Siddeeque Babu proposed the vote of thanks. Sahal Kalambrattil recited a few verses from the Holy Qur’an. Abdurahman Kalambrattil, senior official of GGI who is leaving the Kingdom for India for good, was also presented with a memento on the occasion. Noufal Palakkoth and Kabeer Kondotty were the coordinators of the event.

Those who attended the event also included Abdul Razaq and Shajahan, directors of Rehaily Polyclinic. Ashraf Pattathil, Mansoor Wandoor, Noushad Chathalloor, Bijuraj Ramanthali, Rafi Beemapally, Anupama and Shabna Kabeer were among the organizers of the event.

It is noteworthy that more than 260 students, picked from among 15,000 Indian secondary students of nearly a dozen international schools from Jeddah, Yanbu, Rabigh and Khamis Mushayt, had attended the media workshop held on Nov. 23, 2019. The on-the-spot report writing contest was based on their outdoor visit to the headquarters of Iqraa Channel, as part of the workshop.

Arpana Melanie and Sneha Sara of International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) bagged the first and second positions in the contest while Ayesha Ahmad and Mariam, both from Al-Falah Delhi Public School (DPS), shared the third position and R. Sai Sakthi (Al Rawdah International School Yanbu) won the consolation prize with a special mention of the jury.

The performance of a total of 38 students, with the overwhelming majority of them, 35 in number, being girls, was rated above average by the jury.