Bhagavad Gita As It Is Essay Competition 2015

Who is eligible to enter?
The competition is open to everyone. There is no age limit nor geographical limit. Everyone is eligible to enter - all global citizens are invited. You can be living anywhere, be of any age and be engaged in any occupation, studies or be retired. Any winner in the different Levels from the previous entries is not allowed to enter the competition. For example, Helena Widolf, the 2014 winner, is ineligible to apply for the Level One Entry. However, as she has not entered Level Two or Three she is allowed to enter these Levels of the Competition.
Which book must be used in answering the question?
All verse quotes and citations must be from the 'Bhagavad Gita As It Is' with translation and purports by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
In terms of answering the essay question the student must study and refer to 'Bhagavad Gita As It Is'. If another version of Bhagavad Gita is used to answer the question, the applicant will be disqualified; no other version of Bhagavad Gita will be considered.
Criteria
Each entry must be original and free from plagiarism (the action of taking someone else's work, ideas, etc., and passing these off as one's own. This includes books, web articles, lectures etc.). If one is quoting or has been inspired by someone else, that person should be acknowledged in the essay.
The entry is to be the original work of the applicant/s; entries must not have been previously published. All sources must be fully and appropriately acknowledged. This is a competition of skill; chance plays no part in this competition.
The applicant/s may submit entries across all Levels of the competition. They may enter each or any of the levels more than once; however the work of each entry must be new and fresh and not previously submitted, as well as payment must be made for each entry.
Essay Length
Level One Essay: Individual entry
The essay is to be between 2,500 and 3,000 words (between two thousand five hundred and three thousand words).
Level Two Essay: Group entry
The essay is to be between 2,000 and 2,500 words (between two thousand and two thousand five hundred words).
Essay submission format and layout
Use English, double-spaced text throughout, 4cm wide margins, left alignment, numbers in the bottom right hand corner of the pages, 12-point font size text, Garamond Font, Word Document format.
More than one submission per applicant will be accepted - however, for each essay submission a fresh fee will need to be paid. For example if you are entering Level One essay competition you are allowed to submit more than one essay but for every essay submission you will need to pay the A$35 entry amount.
Cost to Enter:
There are there Levels of the Competition:
1. Level One
Essay Question for individuals
Cost to Enter: A$35
1st Prize: A$10,000
2nd Prize: A$100
3rd Prize: A$100
2. Level Two
Essay Question for a Group. This is an essay that must be written by one or more people.
Cost to Enter: A$10
1st Prize: A$1,000
2nd Prize: A$100
3rd Prize: A$100
3. Level Three:
Write the essence of "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" in 140 (or less) characters
Cost to Enter: A$2
1st Prize: A$100
2nd Prize: A$50
3rd Prize: A$50
It is compulsory as part of the competition for the applicant/s to pay to enter the competition. Anyone who does not pay the entry fee will not be eligible and will not be considered in the competition, even if they submit an application. Payment must be made at time of registration. Payment can be made directly by Credit Card or PayPal at the payment portal: http://bgasitisessay.com.au/payment.html
Essay Submission Deadline:
Tuesday 31 December 2015
All entries should be submitted online at 
• www.bgasitisessay.com.au/essaysubmission.html
on or before 31 December 2015.
Judge
The Judge of The Competition: Gambhir Watts, Founder President of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia, an International NGO; Founder and CEO of Taxation Guru Pty Ltd, a Sydney Accounting firm; Founder and CEO of International Centre of Nonviolence Australia. MALP (Master of Administrative Law and Policy, Sydney University); FAIM (Fellow, Australian Institute of Management); MAICD (Member Australian Institute of Company Directors); FTIA (Fellow, Taxation Institute of Australia); CPA ; FIBM (Fellow, British Institute of Management); GOPIO Community Service Award In Recognition of Outstanding Community Service To The People Of Australia And India (2011)
Upon applying the applicant will receive acknowledgement of the application:
1.    The applicant will receive acknowledgement of the application by email once payment has been made.
2. The applicant will also receive some study guides and links to aid them with the essay writing: 
Access to an electronic version of the book 'Bhagavad Gita As It Is' by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and a set of introductory materials to help explain and give context to the book 'Bhagavad Gita As It Is'.
Announcement of the Prize Winners
The competition winners will be announced on Friday 26 February 2016.
The prize winners will be announced on the website www.bgasitisessay.com.au
The successful applicants will be contacted by an email message sent to the email address, from which their application was submitted.
No correspondence will be entered into; the judge's decision is final. No feedback will be given at an individual level to the applicants.
The winning essay will be published on the website.