“I love getting wet in the rain. The colours of rain, sounds and smell make me very cheerful. I have painted a cloudy sky, rain drops, water pools with a family of colourful paper boats. Do you like my painting?” said a little note by Habibunnissa.
The painting by the student of class VIII of Chennai Middle School, Begum Street in Royapettah, was definitely liked by the gathering of corporates and sold in an auction held here on Saturday.
Habibunnissa was among eleven children from various Chennai Schools whose paintings were exhibited at an event organised by Omkara and Hotel Grand Chola, in aid of NalandaWay Foundation.
The children rubbed shoulders with senior artist A.V. Ilango, whose paintings under the title ‘bovine principle’ were also exhibited on the occasion.
NalandaWay’s Sriram Ayer said under the ‘Achieve Through Arts’ project, 100 teachers from 50 Chennai Schools were provided training for them in turn to train students. “Art training has led to children staying at school for other subjects and becoming more attentive in class. The proceeds from the sales of paintings would go to NalandaWay, which aims to train 100 teachers from 100 Chennai Schools this year,” he said.
P. Lokeshwaran of class VII of Chennai Middle School in Arumbakkam, whose painting was on the evils of drinking, said, “I chose this subject as I have seen families break up because of drinking,” he said.
The head mistress of his school, D. Jayalakshmi said Lokeshwaran will now become a role model for other children in his school.
Chennai Corporation commissioner Vikram Kapur and joint commissioner (education) T. N. Venkatesh were also present on the occasion.
