Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Children’s brilliant ideas come alive on canvas

— PHOTO: RAJU V.

ENGROSSED: Some of the participants in The Hindu Young World Painting Competition held in Vijayawada on Sunday. (Right) Commissioner of Police K.V. Rajendranath Reddy with prize winners in junior and senior categories.

VIJAYAWADA: How do children react to events like terrorist attacks that they have so vividly seen on television screens during the last few days? How do they perceive the importance of national unity in the wake of such external threats and what form would they give to their thoughts, if given an opportunity?

These questions found a perfect answer at The Hindu Young World Painting Competition – 2008 in the auditorium of N.S.M. Public School at Patamata on Sunday. For, ‘National unity against terrorism’ was one of the two themes given to the seniors (students of Classes VIII to X), the other being ‘Watching Republic Day parade’. As many as 126 students competed in this segment.

The ones depicting Republic Day parade displayed rows of chairs occupied by audience glued to the flag hoisting. The blood and gore splashed across television channels that gave us minute-to-minute account of the devastation brought by terrorists in Mumbai came in handy for the young artists. The participants created replicas of Taj Hotel and a scene of blood-splattered ground with a group of gun-toting terrorists opening fire on the innocent public.

Aptly, N.R.V. Srinivas Kumar of Sivani Public School at Ongole in Prakasam district, who drew a ‘peace angel’ bringing about a rapprochement between warring groups, bagged the first prize in the seniors’ category.

The juniors (students of Classes IV to VII), who were 152 in number, had to choose between the themes of ‘A winter morning in my city’ and ‘Weekend with the family’.

The paintings were the purest of the thoughts translated into compelling patterns of colours that depicted an astute message relevant to the current scenario. Uncomplicated and unadulterated, it was easy to understand the varied moods and emotions expressed through the paintings.

Images of foggy surroundings, people warming up by sitting around a fire and pedestrians on the road wrapped in woollens were commonplace. Under the theme ‘Weekend with the family’, most paintings revolved around parks or other recreational centres. I. Rajasekhar of Vidya Vikas English Medium School at Avanigadda in Krishna district was adjudged the winner in the juniors’ category for his attractive portrayal of a winter morning scene.

Among seniors, N. Tejendra of Kanna English Medium School, Guntur bagged the second prize and K. Sravani of Buds and Blossoms School, Vijayawada, came third.

Among juniors, K. Basanth Arun of N.S.M. Public School, Vijayawada, came second, while the work of M. Swarna Bharathi of Spoorthi Creative Arts School, Vijayawada, was adjudged the third best. Seven students in each category were given consolation prizes.

Police Commissioner K.V. Rajendranath Reddy, the chief guest on the occasion, said such events served as a stress-buster to children weighed down by academic pressures.

He said parents must spot talent in their wards and encourage them in their respective fields. The Hindu Regional General Manager K. Chandrasekharan and R. Jayakannan, area sales executive of Lotte India Corporation Limited, manufacturers of Lotte BooProo Liquid Filled Bubble Gum, which was the national sponsor of the event, were present. Hitech Mineral Water, Swagruha Foods and Twins- Sweet & Spice were local sponsors.

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