Express poetry contest

KOCHI, June 15: The Indian Express and the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd FACT, Udyogamandal, Kerala, are conducting an all-Ind...

KOCHI, June 15: The Indian Express and the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd FACT, Udyogamandal, Kerala, are conducting an all-India poetry competition in English on the theme Freedom8217; to commemorate India8217;s 50th anniversary of Independence.

The winner will receive a cash price of Rs 10,000, while the runner-up will receive Rs 7,000. The third prize is Rs 5,000 and there are consolation prizes of Rs 2,000 each.

The competition is open to all Indian nationals who are 25 years old or below as on June 1, 1997. An attested copy of the date of birth certificate should be sent along with the entry. Only one poem will be accepted from a contestant.

The author8217;s full name and complete postal address should be clearly stated. Entry should be typed on one side and carry the signature of the contestant. Only unpublished and original work will be accepted.

Shortlisted contestants may have to come to Kochi for an interaction with the judges, for which they will be paid return second class rail fare from a railway station in India nearest to his/her place of residence. The last date for receiving entries is July 5, 1997. The Indian Express and FACT reserve the copyright of prize winning entries. Entries once received for the contest will not be returned.

In the event of any dispute regarding the competition, the decision of the sponsors shall be final and binding.

Entries, superscribed on the envelope Poetry Competition8217;, should be sent to The Editor, The Indian Express, Express House, Kaloor, Kochi 8211; 682017, Kerala.

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ecAcirc;not;Utacirc;euro;ordm;t?Acirc;frac14;Ttacirc;euro;ordm; social freedom. Only a stable government led by a committed leadership could ensure this, he said.Taking a dig at former prime minister Deve Gowda, he said that the poor peasant from Karnataka was now promoting himself for the post of the President of the nation. He had pressurised the Karnataka Cabinet to pass a resolution demanding the whole nation to make him the President.8220;My strong opinion is that this former prime minister is playing the same political gimmicks he was engaging in earlier. He, however, lacks the common sense to understand that he had to quit as the prime minister just because the parties supporting his government could not agree with him. How can he then muster the support of all parties to become the President?8221; Hegde asked. The Lok Sakthi leader said that his primary duty was to strengthen the party he has just formed. He would not think of making coalitions until this mission was over.8220;Let the elections come. We will think of coalitions then,8221; Hegde said, adding that Lok Sakthi will have understanding with parties having the same political ideology.