The Hindu In School Cello Handwriting Wizard Contest Salem regional level finals, held here on Friday evoked overwhelming response.
The handwriting competition was an endeavour to encourage and recognize good handwriting skills and was held in two categories – junior and senior.
About 700 students from different schools in the city and elsewhere in the district participated in the event held at the Sona College auditorium and displayed their handwriting skills.
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The school round held recently too evoked tremendous response with the participation of about 40,000 students from a record number of 128 schools from the districts of Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri.
The school level winners competed for honours at the Salem regional round today held in celebration of the National Handwriting Day.
J. Jerald Bosco (class VII) of Holy Cross Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Salem won the title in the junior category.
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M. V. Manikandan (VII) of Kamarajar Matriculation School, Namakkal finished second, while the third prize went to D. Sakthi Priyanga (VII) of Kamalam International School, Dharmapuri.
P. Jaikeerthi (VIII) of Sri Venkateshwara International School, Gobichettipalayam, was the winner in the senior category. S. Arulambiga (VIII) of Nattamangalam P. R. Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Seelanaickenpatty, Salem, was placed second, and S. Poovizhi (IX) of Cluny Vidya Nikethan, Salem, won the third prize.
K. Arivazhagan, senior analyst, Green Garden Centre for Handwriting; Appadurai, Resource Persona and Career Development Consultant, Dr. P. Gomathi, Assistant Professor, Periyar University, S. Boopathi, Assistant Professor, Periyar University, acted as the panel of judges and selected the prize winners.
L. S. Sathiyamurthy, Additional Sub-Judge, Salem was the chief guest at the valediction.
In his address, he said that handwriting is an expression of leadership qualities. The great leaders of this century have risen to the top due to their writing skills.
Referring to the Martyrs Day being observed today, Mr. Sathiyamurthy said that one of the unique qualities of Gandhiji was that he was ambidextrous (one who could write with either hand). During his lifetime, he wrote many letters in his own hand.
More than one lakh letters written by Gandhiji in his own hand have been collected so far. Among them, 25,000 letters have been written using his left hand.
When Gandhiji got tired of writing with his right hand, he used his left hand.
In 1909, when Gandhi was on a voyage from England to South Africa, he wrote a book ‘Hind Swarad’ in his own handwriting. It is in this book, he introduced the word ‘Ahimsa’ as passive resistance.
Even in the era of feather touch and soft skill, the handwriting is most important because most of the investigative agencies are recording the statement and depositions of the accused persons and witnesses using only longhand.
Left hand writing is also unique, as August 13 is being observed as Left Hand Writers Day. Underlining the importance of writing skills, Mr. Sathiyamurthy said it will enable the student community to score high marks and the others to express their ideas in a crystal clear manner.
“We are overwhelmed by the response and are amazed at the sheer energy of the schools and the students. They have literally made the Cello Handwriting Wizards contest a powerful mass movement.
Expansion
“We are now looking at expanding this across the country. We are committed to supporting this initiative in line with Cello’s philosophy of recognizing talent in the education sector,” Permendra Singh, Director-Marketing, Cello Pens, said in a statement.
The participating students were also involved in creating a ‘Cello Wall’ to showcase their thoughts on the changes which they believe will bring success for the country in all fields.