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Let Young Voices Rise Against Drugs; Registration Opens for ORMA International Speech Competition – Season 4
PRO: Merline Mary Augustine
₹10 Lakh in Cash Prizes | ₹1 Lakh Grand Prize | Free Public Speaking Training & Mentoring | Global Competition with the Active Collaboration of the World Malayalee Federation | Sub-Junior Category Introduced This Season
Philadelphia: Registration for Season 4 (2026–27) of the ORMA International Speech Competition, organized by ORMA International with the objective of developing the public speaking ability, language proficiency, communication skills, self-confidence, and leadership qualities of Malayalee school and college students around the world, began on September 15.
During the first round, which will continue until December 15, 2026, participants must submit, along with their registration, a speech video not exceeding three minutes. The competition will be conducted in Malayalam and English in three categories: Sub-Junior, Junior, and Senior.
Through three stages of competition, outstanding participants will be identified and provided with free public speaking training and mentoring at every stage, enabling them to further develop their talents. The top performers in the Junior and Senior categories will compete in the on-stage Grand Finale in Pala, Kerala, on August 7, 2027. All rounds of the Sub-Junior category, including its final, will be conducted entirely online. Season 4 has been designed as an approximately year-long journey of training and competition.
ORMA–WMF Global Collaboration
One of the major highlights of Season 4 is the extensive global collaboration between ORMA International and the World Malayalee Federation (WMF).
The primary objective of this partnership is to bring the opportunities offered by the competition, its free training program, and this year’s social message to a wider network of Malayalee students and families across the world. The collaboration also seeks to expand Season 4 into a truly global initiative connecting the younger generation of Malayalees, beyond geographical boundaries, through a common platform for training and competition.
Supporting “Operation Toofan” – This Year’s Voices Rise Against Drugs
ORMA Season 4 carries a strong social message against the growing threat of drug abuse among young people. Supporting the Kerala Government’s anti-drug campaign “Operation Toofan,” this year’s competition places anti-drug awareness at the heart of its social mission.
The goal is not to limit the anti-drug message to a competition topic alone, but to carry it through the voices of students into families, educational institutions, and the wider community.
Season 4’s anti-drug mission and youth-empowerment objectives have received support and greetings from prominent leaders at the national and state levels. In Kerala, the Season 4 campaign titled “A Step Towards Oratory” was launched by Chief Minister V. D. Satheeshan. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Education Minister Roji M. John, and Water Resources Minister Adv. Mons Joseph have also extended their support and greetings at various stages through poster launches and messages.
World-renowned speaker, parliamentarian, and author Dr. Shashi Tharoor has encouraged ORMA’s initiative through special messages since its first season. Continuing his support in Season 4, he conveyed his greetings and encouragement through a special message, reaffirming his support for ORMA’s efforts to develop the public speaking and communication skills of young people.
Round One Topics
The first-round topics have been selected in keeping with Season 4’s anti-drug mission.
English:
“Choose Dreams, Choose Life, Say No to Drugs”
Malayalam:
“സ്വപ്നങ്ങൾ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാം, ജീവിതം തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാം, നാശത്തിന്റെ ലഹരി ഉപേക്ഷിക്കാം.”
(Choose Dreams, Choose Life, Reject the Destructive Addiction to Drugs.)
Participants must submit through the Google Form a speech video of no more than three minutes, based on the topic in their chosen language.
Sub-Junior Category Introduced for the First Time
Another major addition to Season 4 is the introduction of the Sub-Junior category.
Eligibility is based on the participant’s current grade:
• Sub-Junior: Grades 4–6
• Junior: Grades 7–10
• Senior: Grade 11 through the final year of an undergraduate degree
Participants in all three categories may compete in either Malayalam or English.
All rounds of the Sub-Junior competition, including the final, will be conducted online. In the Junior and Senior categories, finalists will be selected from among the top performers in the various rounds and invited to compete at the Grand Finale in Pala.
More Than a Competition
From its inception, the ORMA International Speech Competition has sought to be more than a conventional contest that simply identifies winners. Its central objective is to discover students’ potential and develop a new generation of effective communicators.
The competition and training programs for Season 4 are coordinated under the leadership of Jose Thomas, Chairman of the ORMA International Talent Promotion Forum.
The objective is not merely to train children to deliver an impressive speech on a stage. The broader vision is to help them become effective communicators who can share their knowledge and ideas with clarity and confidence, regardless of where they live or which profession they eventually choose.
ORMA’s training-based model distinguishes the initiative by providing free public speaking training and mentoring at every stage of the competition.
There is no registration fee, and all training and mentoring are provided free of charge.
Training focuses on areas including speech content and structure, language proficiency, communication skills, voice modulation, presentation skills, body language, confidence, stage presence, critical thinking, and leadership qualities.
Dr. Benny Kurian of Synergy Consultancy and Zoy Thomas lead the public speaking training programs. George Karunakkal and Prof. Tommy Cherian serve as mentors, supporting the participants’ continued development and training.
Preparing Young Malayalees for a Global Future
Malayalees today live in virtually every part of the world. The younger generation in Kerala is also increasingly pursuing global opportunities in education, employment, and life.
Knowledge, education, and technical and professional expertise are major strengths. At the same time, developing the ability to effectively communicate that knowledge and those ideas can become an invaluable asset for their future, regardless of the country in which they live or the profession they pursue.
For this reason, ORMA views public speaking training not merely as preparation for a competition, but as training for life, career, and leadership.
It is also a youth-empowerment initiative deserving the attention of parents, teachers, educational institutions, and the wider community who are seriously committed to the future of the younger generation.
₹10 Lakh in Cash Prizes
Season 4 offers a total of ₹10 lakh in cash prizes, along with trophies and certificates, to winners across the various categories.
The outstanding speaker in the Senior category will receive the prestigious “ORMA Orator of the Year 2026” Grand Prize, consisting of a ₹1,00,000 cash award, trophy, and certificate. The Grand Prize is sponsored by Attorney Joseph Kunnel.
Senior Category
In both Malayalam and English:
• First Prize: ₹50,000 each
• Second Prize: Two awards of ₹30,000 each
• Third Prize: Three awards of ₹20,000 each
• Fourth Prize: Four awards of ₹10,000 each
• Fifth Prize: Five awards of ₹5,000 each
Junior Category
In both Malayalam and English:
• First Prize: ₹25,000 each
• Second Prize: Two awards of ₹15,000 each
• Third Prize: Three awards of ₹10,000 each
• Fourth Prize: Four awards of ₹5,000 each
• Fifth Prize: Five awards of ₹3,000 each
Sub-Junior Category
In the newly introduced Sub-Junior category, prizes in both Malayalam and English are:
• First Prize: ₹15,000
• Second Prize: ₹10,000
• Third Prize: ₹5,000
• Five Encouragement Prizes: ₹2,000 each
Winners will also receive trophies and certificates.
Growing Global Participation
The ORMA International Speech Competition had 428 participants in Season 1, 1,160 participants in Season 2, and expanded to 1,680 participants in Season 3, demonstrating significant growth in global student participation.
Across the first three seasons, more than 3,500 students have been part of ORMA’s international public-speaking platform.
Previous seasons have followed a progressive development model involving online competitions, training sessions, assignments, individual feedback, and multiple competitive rounds. Season 4 continues that model while expanding its training, global participation, and social mission.
Distinguished Advisory Board
The Advisory Board of the ORMA International Speech Competition includes distinguished personalities from the fields of judiciary, science, education, arts, training, and related disciplines.
Members include:
Dr. Narayana Kurup, former Justice of the Kerala High Court;
Dr. Tessy Thomas, former Director General of Aero Systems, DRDO;
Dr. Ajay Nair, President of Arcadia University, USA;
Dr. Jancy James, former Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Kerala;
Dr. Babu Sebastian, former Vice Chancellor of M.G. University;
Dr. Bindu Alappatt, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Holy Family University;
Dr. Vipin V. Roldent, Senior Consultant Psychologist and Performance Coach;
Nipin Niravath, mentalist; and
Lal Jose, film director.
International Leadership Team
Season 4’s international organizational activities are coordinated by:
Saji Sebastian, National President;
Jose Attupuram, Chairman, ORMA Trustee Board;
Christy Abraham, General Secretary;
Roshin Plamoottil, Treasurer;
Jose Thomas, Chairman, ORMA Talent Promotion Forum;
Vincent Emmanuel, Chair, Public and Political Affairs;
Arun Kovat, Media Chair; and
Merline Mary Augustine, PRO.
In Kerala, a team led by ORMA Kerala Chapter President Kuriakose Manivayalil, Eby J. Jose, and Shaji Augustine Attupuram is actively coordinating the program.
The worldwide network of the World Malayalee Federation, under the leadership of Founder Chairman Dr. Prince Pallikunnel and Global President Dr. Annie Libu, is also playing an active role in Season 4.
From a Three-Minute Video to the Grand Stage in Pala
The first round runs from September 15 to December 15, 2026. Participants will then progress through various stages of competition and training.
At the culmination of this year-long journey, the best performers in the Junior and Senior categories will compete at the Grand Finale in Pala, Kerala, on August 7, 2027.
Beginning with a simple three-minute speech video and progressing through multiple stages of competition, training, and mentoring, ORMA, together with WMF, is creating a journey that can ultimately