Navodaya schools' rural talents come alive

The colours and strokes spoke volumes of the quality of the budding artistes in the making. They were school students of class seven to 10.

The excitement inside the auditorium was of a different kind.

All the items presented were our own cultural dance forms  - mainly folk art. When the present trend of cultural programmes in schools and colleges are drifting away from our culture, this was a real surprise and a solace. The laudable effort of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samithi has made this possible.

Navodaya Vidyalaya stands apart among the education institutions of India with its unique features. There are a number of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas spread all over the country.

These are run by the Navodaya Vidyala Samithi an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

Their aim is to provide excellent quality education mainly for children from rural areas. Apart from this, children are given an opportunity to exhibit their talent in the ‘Regional Cultural Integration Meet’ every year held in different places.

The focus is on the staging of  various folk art forms. This year, Navodaya Vidyalaya of Mysore hosted this event and big chunk of Karnataka art forms came alive on the stage in vibrant colours.

Many schools from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Pondicherry and Karnataka presented 22
traditional dance items. Thamate, Dollu Kunitha, Kamsale, Nagaari and many more captured the audience with their vibrant performance.

A unique item titled ‘Guru-Shishya Parampara’ was an effort to preserve the fading tradition. There was also group singing or choir.

This was attractive with their different ‘parts’synchronising to create a different experience.

The schools are allowed to take help of specialists of the art forms to train the children.

Hence many rural talents were given an opportunity to train and create an interest among students to understand and continue the tradition as well. As the very targets of Navodaya Vidyalayas are rural children, there is no doubt in bringing out the talent in them , who are deprived of opportunities like the rural children.

The Principal of Navodaya School Mysore Siddaramegowda deserves an applaud for all the arrangements.