AFFWA Declamation Contest 2026 at New Delhi Showcases Young Air Force Talent and Public Speaking Skills

The Air Force Families Welfare Association (AFFWA) Headquarters brought together young speakers from across its regional branches for the AFFWA Declamation Contest 2026 at the Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, New Delhi, on August 25.

The contest featured 16 participants, who were assessed on confidence, clarity of thought and conviction as they competed in English and Hindi categories. An eminent six-member panel judged the performances, with the competition proving closely contested across both language segments.

In the English category, the judges were Nandita Mukerji, author Sherry and Neelesh Kulkarni. The Hindi category was evaluated by Senior Professor Dr Niranjan Kumar, Professor Punam Kumari and Dr Vibhavari. With several strong presentations on display, the panel faced a difficult task in identifying the top performers.

Master Lakshya Vats, representing AFFWA (Regional) South Western Air Command (SWAC), won the English category, while Master Redhaan Thakurdas of AFFWA (Regional) Central Air Command (CAC) finished runner-up.

In Hindi, Master Chirag Janmeda, representing AFFWA (Regional) Western Air Command (WAC), secured first place. Miss Shipra Tripathi of AFFWA (Local) ASTE, Air Headquarters, was adjudged runner-up.

Beyond the declamation rounds, the programme also included cultural and special presentations that showcased the wider talents of the young participants. Master Rehaan Nazeer, a Class XI student of The Air Force School (TAFS), drew attention with a drumming performance.

Another notable feature was “Sapno Ki Udaan”, a special presentation by students of Umeed Vocational Training Centre (VTC) and Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute (AFGJI), Subroto Park. The performance added an inspirational note to the event and broadened its artistic dimension.

After the performances, members of the judging panel interacted with the participants and shared their “Pearls of Wisdom”. Their remarks focused on building confidence, improving communication, strengthening expression, persevering through challenges and pursuing personal growth.

Held under the aegis of AFFWA Headquarters, the contest served as a platform for young members of the Air Force community to present their views before an audience and demonstrate public-speaking skills in both English and Hindi.