Hindi winner! Adyansh sees off challenge from older competitors to take top prize in public-speaking contest

Year 10’s Adyansh Sahai took first place in a prestigious Hindi-speaking event – even though he was the youngest participant.

His talk on robotics impressed the audience at the celebration of the Hindi language, which was organised jointly by the UK High Commission of India and by the community charity, Sangam, UK.

Adyansh achieved victory at the event in The Nehru Centre in Mayfair, London, despite Hindi not being his first language.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “My congratulations go to Adyansh on this noteworthy achievement.

“We lay significant emphasis on helping boys develop the skills to express themselves well verbally, whether in English or in other languages: our newest facility, The Robert Dudley Studio, is devoted to that end. Adyansh’s success is a great example of someone who has mastered those skills.”

Young people aged 15–20 were invited to share their experiences in Hindi. Adyansh was pitted against A-level students and Oxford & Cambridge undergraduates.

During the talk, he engaged his audience, which included dignitaries and officials from the High Commission, by including a live demonstration of a robot he had recently built from a shopping trolley. Designed to assist people with mobility issues, the robot was customised with 3D-printed sub-systems.

He was awarded with his first prize by VIP guests including Virendra Sharma, Labour MP for Ealing Southall from 2007 until his retirement at the 2024 general election, and Parveen Rani, who was the 2024–2025 Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere.

It is not the first time that Adyansh’s language skills have come to the fore. Earlier this year, his poem entitled A villanelle on villainy was published in QE’s pupil-led creative magazine, The Arabella.

Adyansh began his talk by proudly introducing himself as an Elizabethan, his experiences at QE having contributed to the confidence and resilience he displayed when taking part.

His parents, Abhinav & Deepika Sahai, wrote to Mr Enright after his triumph in the competition:  “He was able to rise to the occasion with the confidence QE has instilled in him.”