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How to prepare for an Elocution?

Nirupama Kasetti
Vote by Akash Reddy.
Caution: This is only a proposed strategy - not a promise that if you follow this your success is
guaranteed.
Alright, preparing for any literary event leaves us in a speculation where to begin with. Everyone
comes up with their own strategy of preparation. The strategy i'm going to talk about is the one
our team adapted while preparing for The E-Plus club competition conducted by THE HINDU.
The tricky part - time management:
The trickiest part of elocution, the part where you could ruthlessly loose points or exultantly win
points is time management. You should not exceed the time limit or stop before 30 sec of your
time limit. If you fail to make optimum use of the given time you would attract penalty.
The Ultimate Goal:
Lets say you are to speak on the given topic for 3 min and you are given a warning bell after 2
min. Make it a point that you have to go on speaking for 3 min (or at least for 2m50s but not less
than 2m45s). Make it the ultimate goal to blab around, no matter what, for 3 min.
Obviously, you would be given a topic on spot. You must be wondering how the hell can you
speak for so long (guess what, 3 min is really long guys) if you don't know the meaning of the
topic. Well, seriously its not that difficult. Of course its not that easy either, but there is a way.
Where to begin?
The odds for a proverb to be given as an elocution topic are high. So, making oneself aware of
the meanings of commonly used proverbs is a great way to start off. Not only this, if you are
given a general topic you can use these proverbs as pick up lines or opening lines which will
embellish your speech. You can get a list of proverbs, in the alphabetical order, along with their
meanings anywhere on the internet. Download the best and you know what to do next. Not too
many at a time, it can melt your brain down!!!
What about general topics?
Other than proverbs, you can also expect topics on social, politics, economics, science, abstract
etc. You have to do a lil' bit of hard work here. Keep a tab on statistics and figures of our
economic status (e.g India's per capita income, GDP, FDI etc.), make sure you are also updated
with the political news (scams, leaders, elections, students participation etc), be aware of the
latest inventions, awards, statistics on social issues like poverty, population explosion, pollution,
urbanization, power crisis, media, sports, movies, literature... woah!!! that's a lot ain't it. The
simplest way to keep a track on all this stuff is to read newspaper everyday. Yes, Rome was not
built in a day. Never expect wonders to happen over night. Knowing stuff like this is always an
advantage. Whenever you make a statement in your speech you need strong evidences and here
is where these numbers can do magic. The judges would be impressed, with not only your
language, but also your knowledge.
Coming to the abstract topics, if you don't understand the meaning of the topic you are definitely
screwed. These are the toughest topics you can expect. The sad part is, the topic has multiple
meanings and its your perspective that matters here.
Your creativity and logical reasoning play a major role. You can improve your knowledge on
abstract topics by reading a lot of books and articles.
How to give a good structure to your speech? (3 min)
Divide your speech into 3 parts.
1. Introduction
Start off your speech with an effective and relevant opening line like a proverb or a
quotation. Or shoot the audience with a question and then give an answer (if you are talking
about the facts that people are unlikely to know). And then give an introduction about the topic.
Be brief. Don't give more than 20-30 sec for the intro.

2. Body
Include all the statistics, facts and figures you have learnt. Never ever bluff and give wrong
information, it would be very embarrassing if you are caught.
First speak about the need of discussing that topic, is it the the need of the hour?, how is
it relevant to the present situation? etc.
Speak how was it in the past, how is it now, how is it likely to be in the future. Compare.
Always speak both positive and negative of the topic.
Give lots of examples.
If it is a general topic, compare the scenario in your country/state/region and the other
countries/states/regions.
There will a be a lot of time pressure at this point. Don't let it get you. End your introduction
smoothly. Do not abruptly jump to the conclusion.
Do not take more than 1.5 to 1.75 min for the body.

3. Conclusion
Conclusion is the creative part of the speech. Conclusion is also the part where most people mess
up. They loose track of time and whenever they hear the warning bell, they just jump abruptly
into the conclusion. So, if you loose track of time, its not a big deal, there will be a warning bell
so
first complete the sentence you are speaking and then jump to the conclusion. 45 sec - 1 min is a
good time to give to the conclusion.
Now coming to what to speak in the conclusion,
You can start it using a proverb or a quotation which is relevant.
If it is a general topic, first, give your opinion about the topic, how you feel about the
topic.
Then give the topic a solution, like what can be done to make the present situation even
better, or as a person or organization how did you contribute to the topic etc.
And most importantly, don't forget to say Thank you.
How to manage time?:
There are 3 ways you can improve your time management skills:
1. Practice
2. Practice and
3. Practice.
Take a topic and practice to speak about it for 3 min keeping all the above mentioned in mind.
Do it in front of your mirror 'cause it will really help. I won a regional 1st and a state 2nd in
elocution, and believe me, you can complete the speech in 3 min without even needing the
warning bell, if your practice is good.
Elocution may be defined as communication skill through speech and eloquent gestures. In
the practical world communication skills are vital to live, mingle and achieve desired goals.
Children must learn a language to communicate and express their feeling when meeting and
mingling with others. Elocution is a quality which one should achieve consciously and
sometimes unconsciously following certain methods. This article is to describe some
elocution lessons and tips in order to reach such specific goals.

For elocution tips you must move in two directions of which one refers to speech and the
other to gestures. You have a language which you use to speak and when you want to
communicate with others. When you speak you use different parts of your buccal cavity
which includes your tongue, teeth, vocal chords etc. People can understand what you say
when you address them if your speech is clear and distinct and if your speech does not
produce overlapped sounds. Hence it is expected that your pronunciation should be
tolerably loud and of course clear.

Modulation of your voice is very significant. Your voice will show an expression when you
are terrified facing a poisonous snake and again another expression when you score a goal
in a football match. In such cases your modulation is automatic. Now suppose you are a
guide in a tourist company or a reader at a news channel. In the first one you have to be
courteous and soft spoken while for the other you have to be articulate and strong in your
voice and diction. Next is the question of accent. It is demanded that you should know
which of the syllables will get more emphasis so that you can communicate what you
actually want to. Hence intonation at the right break in words shows how adept you are in a
particular language.

Gestures refer to language of the body. Yes, different parts of your body and/or their
simplest movement possess capacity to communicate something. When people watch you
delivering some speech from the pulpit of a stage before them they follow movement of
your body which produces messages. You must learn to use it properly. Parent should
encourage children to take part in the school elocution contests as it helps one in developing
skills necessary for ones very existence. If children participate in elocution contests
organized by the school they are associated with some kind of confidence building process
which is extremely necessary right communication. Generally the topics of the contests are
provided well in advance and children get sufficient time to get ready. For this they must
collect sufficient data and fit them logically and rehearse the topics a number of times.
During the rehearsals they should verify consciously if they are delivering the speech
confidently and interestingly and if they are successfully using their hands, eyes and pouts
with minimum locomotion needed to stir the audience.

Sometimes children are provided a few unseen topics and extempore elocution speeches. It
is a challenge and children should happily accept choosing one of the topics which may
seem comparatively easier and convenient to impress the listeners. The little time which
children will get must be used to frame the continuous logic of the probable speech and to
create the attractive introduction and winning conclusion. The content will work better if it
contains wit & humor and facts with a responsible tone and a positive attitude prominently
expressed always.

Poems for elocution possess worth for consideration. Many persons whom we respect for
their contribution in the sphere of theatre, movie or such other performing arts have spent
hours after hours in their formative period reciting from Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Shelley,
Keats, Byron, Browning, Whitman and Eliot. Their preparation in pronunciation to
modulation has been assisted by the great works of the poets. Children may start with the
wonderful nursery rhymes and gradually practice poems of Lewis Carroll, R. L. Stevenson,
Robert Southey, Wordsworth, Edward Lear and William Blake.

Yes, success in elocution demands serious practices and careful guidance of responsible and
expert teachers.
I. Articulation: How you phrase your message and enunciate it, how you put your thoughts into
proper words is the most important aspect of effective speech. By definition, articulation is the
act of vocal expression and enunciation; it is the act or manner of producing a speech sound.
II. Inflections: Inflection is bending or sliding your voice either upward or downward. This is
where you need to know your grammar. Inflection is the modification of a word to express
different grammatical categories such as tense, grammatical mood and grammatical voice.
Proper inflection is very useful to express mood, contrast, irony and sarcasm etc.
III. Accent and Emphasis: How you pronounce, formulate and stress different part of your
speech make a big difference. By nature and by habit, our accent and the way we speak are
always affected by our social surroundings. It is important to understand the right accent and
how to use it for a proper emphasis on the right syllables. Your accent is a large part of your
expressions and how the listeners perceive you, as a result.
IV. The Voice: The natural pitch of the voice and how we use different vocal ranges add to the
effectiveness of the speech. The quality and the control of the pitch make a big difference. To
avoid monotony, the voice should rise above or fall below the keynote (our natural voice pitch).
Our voice should vary and move with the change in the mood or sentiment.
V. Gesture: Gestures include movement of the hands, facial expressions, or movement of other
body parts. This pertains to the attitude and the mannerism of the speaker. For effective
communications, gestures play a very important role and are often used to emphasize the
message.
VI. Instructions for Reading Verse: This relates to effective reading of a verse, how to use
proper inflection and proper stress for an effective delivery of the verse. Understanding the
poetic pauses and similes can greatly enhance the effectiveness of the message.
For a meaningful and effective communications, the art of elocution plays a significant role. By
end of the day, it is not just the words, but it is the complete package you deliver that accounts
for the overall impression. Your voice, the style, formulation of the words, the gestures and the
accent different elements of elocution add up to the art of elocution
India faces a desperate situation of water shortage. Its fragile and finite water resources are
depleting while the demands for water from various sectors of the economy are rapidly rising. In
recent years, the industrial and domestic sectors have realized this disparity in the supply and
demand. With the New Economic Policy launched in 1991, the government tried to lead to
market-based approaches and privatization of urban water. The National Water Policy drafted
last year looks at water as an economic good and looks at numerous macro and micro initiatives
in this regard. If you are in the Indian water industry, you are in the right place at the right time.

India has devoted substantial resources to the water supply and sanitation sector, significantly
increasing its commitment since 1980 with the launch of the International Drinking Water
Supply and Sanitation Decade. Today, drinking water investments constitute about 3% of the
national budget. Due to these steps, today 85% of the urban and 75% of the rural population has
access to public water supplies. 48% of the urban population and 36% of the rural population has
access to sanitation services. But clearly, there is a lot of scope and opportunity to do more.

On the Crossroads
The Indian Water Industry is on the crossroads today. In a developing country with huge
requirements for water recycling and purification of drinking water, there is a huge scope for
growth. The total Indian water market is estimated to be about USD 12 billion. While the
government sector contributes about 50% of this, the private industrial sector provides the
remaining business. The overall market is growing at 18% every year.

In 2003, the Indian Government announced the mother of all projects - interlinking of major
river networks all over the country, thereby connecting the water-deficit and the water-abundant
areas. The project valued at over USD 100 billion is one of the largest in the world. It would kick
start the economy and bring a huge set of requirements for equipments and construction.

Market For Water Treatment In India
The water treatment market in India is seeing immense expansion. While no reliable published
figures are available, EverythingAboutWater estimates the total water and wastewater treatment
market size to be about USD 420 million. It is growing at about 18% annually with certain
segments like the industrial and drinking water segments seeing even higher growths.

The Key Drivers for Industry Growth
Increased awareness about drinking water quality and health
Decreasing water quality and users having to go for ground water
Environmental pressures on wastewater discharge from govt. pollution control boards
Reducing availability of water forcing users to go for reuse & recycling of water
General Industrial and Economic Growth particularly in chemical, pharmaceutical, power plants,
food and textile industry

Industry Nature
The industry is currently highly fragmented and unorganized in nature. It can be split into thee
categories:
Large Players like VA Tech Wabag, Degremont, Hindustan Dorr-Oliver, Paramount, Ion
Exchange, Thermax etc
Medium Sized Players like Doshion, Aquatech, Fontus Water, Driplex, TEAM, Ions Hydro
Small Players over 500 in number
The water treatment industry is largely concentrated in certain geographical pockets like
Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Some plant
manufacturers are present in other areas, but this number is limited.

Level of Technology
The market knowledge and skill has been increasing in recent times. Most foreign manufacturers
and products are commonly available in India now. The market is gradually shifting from
chemical treatment and DM plants to membrane technology. Still, there are many huge segments
like power plants and refineries that continue to use DM technology. The concept of wastewater
recycling and zero discharge systems is growing in a big way in recent times.

The government sector is primarily involved in the raw water treatment and the sewage treatment
operations. On the other hand, the private industrial sector includes equipments for clarification,
sludge treatment, aeration, disinfection and filtration. Conventionally, the market has used
demineralisers for treatment. However, over the last few years, Reverse Osmosis technology has
grown in the market and gradually replaced DM. Newer technologies like Ultrafiltration and
Electrodialysis are also entering the market now.

A Whole Different Market
The market has undergone a tremendous change in the last few years. Today, there are a dozen
medium-sized companies who have rapidly increased their operations and won a number of
projects. Also hundreds of small system-integrators have come up all over the country,
addressing local requirements.

There has also been a geographical decentralisation that has taken place. Earlier the water
treatment industry was largely concentrated in Maharashtra. Over the last ten years, pockets of
concentration have started all over the country in Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta, Ahmedabad and
Hyderabad. This has had a positive and negative impact. While the market has grown and costs
come down, at the same time, the quality and reliability of many of these suppliers has been
suspect.

In the last few years, many international majors have also entered the market. While huge
players like Veolia Water, Suez de Lyonnaise (Degremont) and VA TECH Wabag are present in
the market, chemical majors like Nalco and GE Betz-Dearborn also have operations. Indigenous
development of various treatment vessels like resins, RO membranes and vessels have reduced
costs and made various technologies easily available on a mass-scale. The other interesting trend
in the market has been the move towards standardization of treatment systems as standard DM
and RO plants have become more common over the last two years.
International Companies with a significant presence in India
Veolia Water, France
Degremont, France
VA Tech Wabag, Austria
Thames Water, United Kingdom
GE Water, United States
Dow Chemicals, United States of
America
Dupont, United States of America
Grundfos Pumps, Denmark
KSB Pumps, Germany
Nalco Chemicals, United States of
America
Drewtreat Chemicals, United States of
America
Krohne Marshall, Germany
Endress + Hauser, Germany
Emerson (Fisher Rosemount), United
States of America
Koch Group, United States of America
Hydranautics, United States of America
Pentair Group, United States of America
Schlumberger / Actaris, France
Amiantit, Saudi Arabia
Netzsch, Germany
George Fischer
Aplaco, Saudi Arabia
Metrohm, Switzerland
And many more...


Future Growth Opportunities
A number of factors are fuelling growth in the market. Rapidly rising population has led to
increased requirements for drinking water and sewage treatment. While this is largely in the
urban areas at the moment, this could shift to smaller towns and villages in times to come. At the
same time, water scarcity has led to many industries going in for water recycling systems to meet
their requirements. At the same time, there is a growing awareness of environmental issues
among industry as well as the public. Widespread coverage of environment issues by the media
and NGOs has forced industries to install water treatment equipment to prevent social and legal
action against them.

The government has also got into the action by imposing stringent legislations regarding
wastewater treatment. There is also a compulsory requirement of Environment Clearances from
Pollution Control Boards at the Centre and the states. The recent Supreme Court directive to
move polluting units out of Delhi is also likely to act as an impetus to future sales of water
treatment equipment. Also at the same time, many existing treatment plants would need to be
replaced or upgraded to meet with more stringent standards.

Drinking water problems in India are quite different from those in developed countries. The main
concern is with disinfecting the potable water at the point of use. Traditionally, the point of use
market has been dominated by ultraviolet purifiers and filters. One company Eureka Forbes
holds over 50% of the total purifier market with their UV purifiers, based on their excellent
direct-marketing and service network. Industrial majors like Ion Exchange and Thermax have
tried entering this market, but with limited success. In the last year, domestic reverse osmosis
purifiers have struck the market and have been hugely successful. Recent advancements in
nanofiltration and ultrafiltration are now entering this area and offer future opportunities.

One big area of growth has been the increase in bottled water plants in India. With liberalization
and increased awareness of water quality, hundreds of bottled water brands have entered the
market. The USD 250 million bottled water market is growing at the rate of 75-80% and a large
number of reverse osmosis plants have come up in the last two years. With multinationals like
Pepsico and Coke getting established in the market, the quality and technology in their plants has
improved.

Indian manufacturers have also tried to export and build their presence in overseas markets.
Treatment plants have been exported to the Middle-East and South-East Asia.

Big Projects
The contribution of membrane desalination plants is progressively increasing. A number of
reverse osmosis desalination plants are being installed by industries to meet their increasing
water needs. In 1999, a 4500m3/day capacity RO plant has been commissioned at Sikka for
Gujarat Electricity Board by Ion Exchange. A 10,000m3/day seawater RO plant has been
commissioned by Thermax for NIRMA at Bhavnagar using Hydranautics membrane. RO has
also been employed by many industries for waste water recycling. A 12000m3/day waste water
RO plant has been recently commissioned by Aquatech(Asia) in Rashtriya Chemical Factory,
Mumbai. Ion Exchange has commissioned another 3000 m3/day waste water RO plant at IFFCO,
Phulpur. Since early nineties, hundreds of membrane based brackish water desalination plants of
capacities of 10 to 100 cubic meters per day were set up for providing safe drinking water to
selected problem villages in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

On the other hand, several thermal desalination plants have also been operating in the coastal
areas of the country for inhouse use by the industries. A 48000 cubic meters per day Multi-effect
Desalination plant has been commissioned in 1999 at Reliance Petrochemicals Complex in the
western coast of the country at Jamnagar. The industrial giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has also
commissioned a thermal desalination plant for their cement industry.

Challenges on the Road Ahead
The industry still faces constraints moving ahead. The regulatory bodies lack the teeth to enforce
many of the guidelines and the mandatory requirement of a functional treatment plant gets
bypassed sometimes. Polluting industries have adopted an uncaring attitude and it has required
active support of many NGOs to get them to act. There is still a large capital investment required
for many treatment plants and most industries try to avoid it or go for a short-cut solution.
Awareness and recognition of newer technologies has been slow in coming.

In recent times, the technical expertise and know how of the top water treatment manufacturers is
pretty standard. Therefore, their success in getting big project orders has been dependent on their
pricing, project execution skill and process engineering ability. This trend is likely to increase in
the coming years.

Conclusion
The Indian water industry is today on the crossroads. In a developing country with core
requirements, a need to play socially responsible and proactive role is essential. With proper
direction from the government and appropriate steps from the industry leaders, it is poised to
take off in the future