Essay Writing Competition 2025
- Civil Services Forum
- Nov 9
- 7 min read
Presented by the Civil Services Forum, St. Stephen's College
The Civil Services Forum congratulates the winners of the Essay Writing Competition 2025 for their outstanding submissions that reflected clarity, originality, and critical insight.
Presenting the top three essays that best embodied the spirit of reflection and nuanced thinking.
🥇Riva Monteiro—I B.A. (Hons) Economics
When Silence Is Stronger Than Speech
Our parents, teachers, leaders, surroundings, and even our past have always taught us that our voice is our greatest strength and that speaking up for what we stand for is how we assert our identity. Silence, therefore, has long been seen as a tool of oppression. We don’t have to look far for examples: women silenced in households by men in charge, the poor unheard by the privileged. These chains of oppression are broken by the courage to say no, to challenge power. Freedom struggles have often been loud and violent, echoing through marches, slogans, and revolutions. In our society, one needs to be heard to belong and to be understood, and silence is often equated with subjugation or indifference. When a man harasses a woman in public and bystanders do nothing, society fails, and silence becomes complicity.
But when does silence become stronger than speech? Is it even possible?
When a moment of silence is observed for victims of violence or tragedy, it becomes one of the purest forms of collective expression. It unites people in grief, empathy, and reflection, surpassing the limits of language. Prisoners of war, too, have chosen silence during interrogations, displaying inner strength even in the face of torture or death. During India’s freedom struggle, when detainees refused to answer questions from British officers, their silence became their weapon. Similarly, when Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for his fight against apartheid, his voice was systematically erased; that is, no interviews, no speeches, and no letters. Yet his silence began to speak louder than propaganda. Across the world, people carried placards saying “Free Nelson Mandela,” even though they hadn’t heard his voice in decades. His silence became a symbol of endurance.
Silence can also be a way to deny power its control. When Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, the Danish people expressed quiet defiance. They refused to cheer German soldiers, ignored Nazi broadcasts, and stood in mute stillness during parades. Their silence wasn’t submission; it was resistance.
In modern times, silence continues to echo as strength. In 2016, when Colin Kaepernick, an American football player, first sat during the national anthem at the start of NFL games, it was to protest against racial inequality and police brutality. After speaking with a U.S. Army veteran, he began to kneel instead. He adopted this gesture intentionally. He wanted to show that he respected the ideals of the nation but could not celebrate them while racial injustice persisted. Kneeling became powerful precisely because it subverted a symbol of respect. His silent act broke norms and challenged the idea that patriotism means conformity. It sparked national debate and inspired countless others to join in quiet protest.
History offers even earlier examples of action in silence. In October 1789, thousands of women marched from Paris to Versailles to protest bread shortages and rising prices. Their power lay not in speeches or slogans, but in their collective presence and determined action. Their protest made it impossible for the king to ignore their grievances, and he was forced to relocate the royal family to Paris, where they could be closer to the public and under greater scrutiny. The march proved that purposeful, coordinated action, even without words, can challenge authority and bring change.
Therefore, strength is not always resounding; it can just be calm and unwavering. And silence is not always the absence of voice; it can be a language of its own, showing determination and unity. Whether through a bowed head, a withheld answer, or quiet action, silence can carry more conviction than the loudest words.
🥈Paritosh Chauhan—I B.A. (Hons) History
When Silence is Stronger than Speech
As a child, I felt uneasy around silence. Quiet felt empty and strange, as if nothing was happening. I thought life only existed in sound, laughter, talking, or movement. Over time, I learned that silence is not empty. It can hold deep meaning. Silence can be a place where strength quietly grows. It is a moment when I pause and choose to listen instead of speaking right away. Silence is not just the absence of words. It can protect dignity, connect with others, and sometimes even change what happens.
I notice the power of silence in small, everyday moments. Once, during a class discussion where everyone was talking at once, a classmate stopped and stayed quiet. Suddenly, the room became calm. People stopped competing to be heard and began listening. That quiet moment had more impact than a long speech could have. In friendships and relationships, silence often speaks louder than words. Sitting with a friend after bad news, placing a hand on someone’s shoulder, or simply being together quietly can mean more than explanations. These quiet gestures show care without expecting anything in return and allow feelings to exist naturally.
Silence can also be a way to stand up for what is right. History shows many examples where quiet spoke louder than shouting. In New York in 1917, nearly ten thousand African Americans marched silently down Fifth Avenue to protest lynchings and violence. Their calm, dignified silence drew attention in a way shouting might not have. In the 1950s, people in Montgomery refused to ride city buses after Rosa Parks was arrested. Their silent boycott challenged segregation and inspired larger protests. In 1960, four Black students quietly sat at a segregated lunch counter and refused to leave. Their calm actions sparked sit-ins across the country. These moments show that silence can hold courage, demand justice, and make people pay attention without raising a voice.
I also feel the power of silence in moments of grief. Observing a two-minute silence on Martyrs’ Day or standing quietly at a vigil after a tragedy shows respect more deeply than speeches ever could. Silence allows sorrow to be shared without turning it into performance. It unites people, honors feelings, and gives space to mourn. In these quiet moments, emotions find a voice that words cannot reach.
Choosing silence is not always easy. College life and social media expect quick opinions and constant reactions. Being quiet can feel tough. It takes patience, humility, and self-control to stay silent. I ask myself if my words will help or hurt, if they will heal or just fill the air. I choose silence when it protects someone, when it lets others speak, and when it helps me understand before responding.
For me, silence is not weakness. It is both a tool and a safe space. It can resist injustice, hold grief, and demand attention without shouting. When I stay quiet and listen, I often notice truths I would have missed if I had spoken too soon. In that quiet, I find strength, clarity, and wisdom. Silence is not empty. It is full of meaning, patience, and quiet power for those willing to listen.
🥉Adwita Vashista—II B.A. Programme
When Silence is Stronger than Speech
“Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves.”—Thomas Carlyle
The above words beautifully portray the invisible power that silence holds over a world that can’t stop speaking. Contrary to the popular belief that silence is a sign of weakness, it is one of the greatest weapons that a person can use to achieve their goals. It is amidst silence that one is truly able to contemplate and consolidate their thoughts, which later on take the form of action. It gives one time to reflect over their own actions and rectify mistakes that one may have made. It is no wonder that monks who chose to retreat in silence were considered far more superior than even the most powerful emperors. The knowledge and insight that one gains during moments of silent contemplation often gives the person an upper hand while engaging with others. Silence can also be seen as a form of disapproval against actions that one does not approve of. A famous instance of the same was when Queen Victoria reportedly did not speak to Princess Beatrice when she told the queen about her plans to get married. She was against the marriage and hence used silence as a way of expressing her disapproval.
Paradoxically, silence is also viewed as an important aspect of communication, for communication does not necessarily entail the use of words to convey one’s feelings. In public speaking, the use of strategic pauses between lines enables the words of the communicator to completely sink in within the audience and creates a sense of anticipation amongst them. Silence also enables active listening, wherein one is completely involved in whatever the speaker says. This exercise lets the listener get a complete idea of what the speaker wishes to convey, which, in turn, can be used to build a more meaningful conversation with the speaker. When one feels heard, they are also more likely to trust the listener and share their inner thoughts without any hesitation.
One of the most famous uses of silence as a protest was recorded at the 1968 Olympics. Two African-American athletes, namely, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, raised their black-gloved fists as a symbolic form of protest against the segregation laws prevalent in the USA. Not a single word was uttered, but the statement made by them was loud and clear. Their actions, rather than words, spoke for themselves. This single act of resistance completely redefined the civil rights movement and garnered international attention against the violation of human rights in the USA. Similarly, in 1917, a silent parade was held by African-Americans in order to draw attention towards the racial violence and widespread lynchings faced by them. None of the protestors spoke a word, but they raised a considerable amount of public awareness regarding the systematic discrimination faced by them on a daily basis
Various philosophies originating from the Indian subcontinent place a considerable amount of emphasis on silence or ‘mauna.’ Buddhism and Jainism portray silence as one of the highest virtues and an essential part of gaining enlightenment. The Buddha’s deliberate silence when posed with metaphysical questions not pertaining to enlightenment, it also illustrates his spiritual wisdom. The practice of ‘mauna vrat’ by sages also illustrates the necessity of silence in understanding one’s own self and the ultimate nature of reality.
In conclusion, choosing silence over noise is not a sign of weakness but that of profound inner strength and wisdom that leads one to contemplate and reflect over what is being said, a trait that is of profound use in the contemporary world.
The Civil Services Forum congratulates all participants for their thoughtful contributions and intellectual engagement. Stay tuned for upcoming events and writing opportunities.
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