Champion in Chinese

Representing his Melbourne school at the third China Bridge International High School Students Chinese Speaking Competition in May 2010, 15-year-old Shahzad Billimoria won the first prize at the event that judged the participants in two components : Chinese public speaking and Chinese cultural performance. The prize carried a crystal trophy, $ 200 book voucher from China Books, a unique stamp collector’s issue of the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and a DVD on Chinese dances and legends.

Sponsored by the Chinese Consulate, Billimoria will be representing Australia at the international event in Chongqing in October. As a guest of the Chinese government he will also get an opportunity to visit the Beijing and the Shanghai Expo as well as other places of cultural and tourism interest.

"I enjoy languages and Chinese has thousands of characters. With the learning of language comes the understanding of Chinese culture and traditions as well as the mindset of the present and of course exploration of future ties,” Billimoria conveyed his reasons for taking up the study of this language of Australia’s neighboring country, an emerging superpower.

As part of his school studies at Kingswood College, Billimoria was encouraged to read "Chinese essays and short stories and write pieces on our daily life, on Chinese history, current affairs,” said the teenager who wrote his own speech for the competition referring to his interaction with all things Chinese in daily life — from Made in China items to Chinese food! Acknowledging the close ties shared by Australia and China as trading partners and economic allies he hoped the two countries would further cement their relationship.

His fluency and confidence in addressing an audience in a foreign language wherein he offered personal insights on how his life is impacted by the study of Chinese impressed the judges and eminent scholars of Chinese language studies from leading universities in Melbourne, Monash and Deakin in Australia.

Shahzad Billimoria (center) and (above) performing the Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan Dance

For the second part of the competition Billimoria performed the Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan Dance having learnt the moves from Nancy Zhao and rehearsing sufficiently with the Melbourne Chinese Choir (MCC). Wearing the traditional black and gold silk costume he impressed the judges with his grace and accuracy of movements, both slow and fast whilst coordinating with the large golden fan. The youngest and only non-Chinese member of the MCC dance troupe since 2009 he has been performing with them "on stage for charity and other events since the last six months. It has been a memorable experience and I have been almost adopted by my Chinese extended family and they have given my family and me encouragement and affection,” acknowledged the dancer.

Last November Billimoria had performed at the Parliament of World Religions function organized by the Zoroastrian Association of Victoria when he had wowed the audience with his skills and understanding of Chinese culture.

Besides excelling in academics the gifted 11th grade all-rounder represents his school in science competitions, essay writing and sports like basketball, cricket and table tennis. Currently the debating captain of the school, last year he was the middle school captain.

In his busy schedule Billimoria makes time for Chinese movies too, whether at school or on TV. "Mandarin and Cantonese are quite different. Cantonese still uses the traditional script. Mandarin uses the simplified script. Also the pronunciations can be different,” he clarifies. "As I am in the exploration stage, I do not have a favorite Chinese author as yet. However I enjoyed the recent bestseller (in English) Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin and was entranced by the movie based on the book.”

He embodies multiculturalism. Born in India, he spent some years in Dubai before migrating to Australia. His knowledge of Arabic and French are limited but the languages he speaks fluently are English, Gujarati, Hindi and Chinese (Mandarin). "Zhongguo, wo lai le (China, here I come,” says Billimoria in Chinese.

Kersi Meher-Homji