School children as well as adults love medals and trophies as rewards for for hard work and mighty efforts put into any activity or competitive display of talent in organisations and institutions. While gift coupons are given sometimes in lieu of trophies, it was a one-day visit to Sapna Book House, on Dhanvanthri road in Bengaluru, to select prizes that was enough to make us teachers realise what an eye-opener gifting books could be to the vast treasure-trove of knowledge.

Every prize is treasured as a valuable achievement by the winners. While most homes display an array of medals and trophies won by children or family members, multiple trophies adorn the showcases and shelves of schools. Winning helps boost the morale and confidence of people, motivating them to realise their dreams and scale greater heights.

We once placed orders for a plaque to honour a special child with cerebral palsy, who had passed his class XII with first class in the CBSE board exams and had got admission for a B Com course. In our case, students who belong to the grassroots and the creamy layer sit side by side to receive their prizes. Today, the same students come back to visit us in school as jet-setters.

A visit to the workshop where trophies are crafted was another experience to understand the painstaking efforts made by dedicated young boys and girls, who sometimes sit through to the wee hours of dawn to to deliver prizes during the peak season of December-January. They give up food for long stretches of time to pace up their work.

Brijesh who designs trophies on the computer has files of even labels to match them. He works day in and day out to cater to the interests and needs of his customers. Viewing the vast variety of garlands made from sandalwood shavings, cardamom and rudraksha beads was a feast to our eyes.

Prajwal, who is thin as a pencil with a small head, is so quick at his work that in the morning he goes back home for a quick nap and reports back to deliver prizes to different destinations driving an auto. He reaches his evening classes for BBM in the nick of time. I asked him if he and his team had made the garland and memento with the wooden Mysore Palace for the Prime Minister and dignitaries on the stage who came for the inaugurate the National Science Congress. Indefatigably, in a soft and feeble voice, he said “Yes.”

Here is a thought to the makers of  trophies, to those unseen faces behind our tangible awards, who work round the clock to create rich dividends for those who have invested their energies to compete in right earnest. All of us owe to them for being a part of our progress at some point of our lives.

May kindness beget  kindness. Let their tribe flourish!