Titled Art in Fusion, a painting of Hazratbal Shrine in Sinagar and Humayun’s Tomb in the Capital overlapping with the domes of both monuments coming together as one, was created by students from The Dolphin International School, Pulwama, and Bluebells School International in the Capital as a part of a student exchange programme.
The painting captures the essence of the initiative by both schools which is being carried out as a friendship building exercise. Seven students from Classes VI and VII from Pulwama have spent eight days in the Capital living with host families and attending classes at Bluebells School International.
Speaking about their experience, the students said they were excited to visit the Capital, some of them for the first time, and were eager as well as nervous to travel by air for the first time. “I really enjoyed the light show at India Gate at night, shopping at malls and the food in Delhi. I particularly enjoyed the freedom with which we got to roam around at night as this is not possible back home, said Zaira a Class VI student.
Soha, another Class VI student, said she felt completely at home at her host Sohna’s house “On the first day itself I stayed up till late at night chatting with Sohna and her family and I told them about Pulwama and my life back home. The schedule is a little different in both the schools but overall it is quite similar. Delhi is really nice, especially Big Chill Cafe, where we had a nice meal,” Soha said.
Ayaan, who loves playing cricket, felt that it was unfortunate that people associate the name (Pulwama) with terror attack. “Many teenagers, who did not know about Pulwama, now only think about the terror attack when the name is mentioned. I think that more student exchanges like this will help show what a nice place Pulwama is as they will come visit and see for themselves,” Ayaan said. He added that he liked the hospitality of the people in Delhi.
Bonded well
The students of Bluebells School International were visibly excited to not only pay host but also to visit Pulwama soon.
On Friday, the students on exchange got to participate in a workshop organised by an NGO WISCOMP with five other schools in Delhi in which they were encouraged to pair up with someone they had never met before and share stories about their life, hobbies and fears. They were also taught the concept of identity and how they could build bridges and become ambassadors of peace.
