Another year has gone by...

I know time just flies by but you kind of say "that" when you experience few things. This year I again asked Navayugam trust members if we can conduct drawing and essay writing competition like last year in the governement school in mugaliwakkam (closer to my house) and ofcourse it was an yes. The competition was schedule to happen on the same date we conduct last year 25th march. The only thing was it got bigger and better than last year.

There were more takers for drawing competition when compared to essay writing but the overall students number grew which was good. It was so nice to see a full hall packed with students with so much confidence that they are the won who is going to win. The titles were well thought thru suggested by the founder of the trust. Unlike last year where we had essay for 8th and 9th and drawing for 6th and 7th... This year we had both essay and drawing for both the groups...the topis were as follows:

Drawing: Magizhchi (Happiness) for 6th and 7th, Vanmurai (violence) for 8th and 9th. I was a bit skeptical about the topic vanmurai at the first but kicha (the founder of navayugam) told me that let's see what they think violence is. In the process of thinking what to draw for this subject they will surely realize deep down this is violence I should not indulge in it. It turned out to be so true the students had done a splendid job. Some of the visuals were as simple as scolding someone doing on the road without courtesy, communal violence, No big weapon is bigger than violence huamn beings do to each other, jalia wala bagh tragedy, libya war what not... the judges had a tough time deciding on the winners. Every piece of submission had a message which was worth remembering.

Magizhchi was like the topic turned out to be a happy experience... from a small boy playing with kite, a girl with flowers, UNO peace symbol and how people should live in harmony, a jungle scene, but the winner was an entry where the student had visualized 3 poor kids eating from from a banana leaf and a lady happily standing next to them. This drawing had a small write up... it said "when you feed poor and hungry kids you see happiness in their face and it doubles up the happiness in the face of the woman who served it" well written and in tamil. I was one of the judges for this competition.

Essay writing: 'Ketta pazhakangalum athai thavirpathum' (bad habits and how to avoid the) for 6th and 7th, 'Nandraga padipathu yepadi' (how to study well) for 8th and 9th class. This is the best part the first prize winner for 8th and 9th category was the same girl who won last time. Past event.

There were some freebies but unlike election free stuff these kids put their efforts wnich had to be recognized :) Essay writing students got a geomentry box and drawing students got art materials which they can take home after competition.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3 prizes were kitchen utensils... they will find a great value in these kids household. Apart from that all the first prize winners got a letter from the trust with a guarantee that their higher education will be sponsored once they comeplete their schooling. We also donated the school with 2 tables and a book rack.

What a day to rememeber. I was happy that amidst my selfish, self centric life style I was able to do this small thing that brought in a good feeling.




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