Space and its mysteries have always fascinated mankind. From Yuri Gagarin’s expedition to space that opened up the unknown to more recent discoveries, it has been a fascinating journey. Space and its secrets perhaps appeal to no one as much as children. A little of what their boundless minds see and imagine could be seen at a painting competition organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in connection with the World Space Week celebrations.
The competition was on the theme ‘Human space flight’, mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day. Sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman, who inaugurated the competition, said paintings had a bigger role to play in children’s development than words. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) Deputy Director G. Narayanan presided over the function. He spoke on the role of paintings in explaining scientific truths.
Two categories
Over 1,500 students took part in the competition held in two categories — children from Class 5 to 7 and from Class 8 to 10.
There were three prizes in each category — for senior students, the prizes were a purse of ₹3,000, ₹2,500, and ₹2,000 and certificates for the top three winners, while in the junior category, it was ₹2,000, ₹1,500, and ₹1,000.
Artists Kattoor Narayana Pillai, Babita Marina Justin, and Tensing Joseph were the judges. In the senior category, the top three prizes went to Akshay V.A. of Nazareth Home English Medium School, Balaramapuram; Ashtami K.S. of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Vazhuthacaud; and Shreya K.S. of Vimala Hridaya school, Kollam. In the upper primary category, the winners were Aleena A.P. of Carmel Girls Higher Secondary School, Vazhuthcaud; Bhadra S. of S.N. Public School, Kollam; and Adeep Salu of Nirmala Bhavan Higher Secondary School, Kowdiar.
The competition was also held simultaneously at Mavelikara, Malappuram, and Kasaragod, said Vijaymohan Kumar, convener of the World Space Week steering committee.
