New Delhi, Jan. 30 -- Picture this: a mother hurriedly whispers advice to her nervous 9-year-old daughter as they walk past a boy memorising words from a piece of paper clutched in his hands. Nearby, another boy, not more than 8 years old, anxiously looks around. But within minutes, as the three step onto the stage, the nervousness disappears. Instead, under a bright yellow spotlight, they are seasoned performers talking about everything from the climate and free speech to the necessity of kindness in society. On Wednesday, 24 students between the ages of 9 to 17 from across India - finalists shortlisted from hundreds of entries - performed at the first edition of HT The Next Voice, a storytelling, poetry recital, and spoken word competitio...