Braving the cold on a Sunday morning, 400 students from 40 schools gathered to participate in the 16th The Hindu Young World On-the-Spot-Painting Competition. Held at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan on December 5, the competition saw enthusiastic response from not only the children, but their parents too.
The competition was divided into two categories; junior section for children from stds IV to VII and senior section for students of stds VII to X. Many of the kids were accompanied by parents and while others came in large groups from school.
Intriguing themes
Before the competition began, the children took their places inside the large tent that had been set up for them, chatting and talking to their friends and fellow participants. Once the topics were announced, it was a different story though. The chatter was quickly replaced by quiet but eager faces looking to do their best.
The participants in the junior category were given four topics to choose from. These were “Watching TV with family”, “Playing a game with friend/s”, “Your favourite animal/bird” and “Fancy dress competition in school”. The children in the Senior category had to choose from the topics, “Visit to museum”, “Village scene”, “Working on school project with friends” and “Travelling in train”. The topics were given keeping in mind that it would be easier for the children to effectively use their creativity and imagination if they worked on something that they could easily relate to.
In each category 10 prizes were be given – first, second and third and seven consolation prizes. While the first prize carried a cash award of Rs.5,000, the second prize was Rs.3,000 and the third was Rs.2,000. The consolation prize winners would receive Rs.500 each. The prize winners as well as the participants would also be awarded certificates.With the stakes set high, the children painted carefully and painstakingly for two hours. There was a lot of brainstorming, planning, drawing and erasing and redrawing, but these two hours were finally over. Eminent artist K. R. Subbanna, Vice Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, was the judge. The paintings were collected, the children served refreshments after their hard work and after a quick word of thanks by the sponsors, Miot Hospital, it was time for the results.
In the senior category, the first prize went to Mohit of std IX of Evergeen Public School, Vasundhara Enclave, while the second prize was bagged by his brother, Rajiv Kumar of std X studying in the same school. The third prize went to Deepali Anand of std X of Arunodaya Public School, Karkardooma, Delhi. The first prize in the junior section went to Tishya Kathuria of stds VI of Delhi Public School, Faridabad, while the second prize was bagged by Nikita Vimal of std VI, Ryan International School, Mayur Vihar Phase-III. The Third Prize went to Bhavishya Suresh of std IV of St. Columba's School, New Delhi.
Subbanna gave away the prizes. He is the recipient of the State award by the Lalit Kala Akademi, Karnataka(1981), the National award by the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (1984) and “Charles Wallace India Trust” awards for residency in UK in 2000,
