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Dedicating their creativity to sir, with love

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

Braving the heat: Students at work on the 1500 metre long banner at the marathon painting event on Puducherry beach on Wednesday.

PUDUCHERRY: It was a riot of colour on the beach! As many as 4,000 students from primary school children to postgraduates lined up on the Puducherry beach from 10 a.m. on Wednesday to paint a 1,500-metre-long white banner.

“The purpose is to celebrate Teachers’ Day in a novel way,” says G. Sakkaravel, principal of Acharya Arts and Science College.

When the students, belonging to 11 units of the Acharya group of educational institutions, thronged the beach from the Kargil memorial to Dupleix statue, they were given a warm reception by the scorching sun, though the mild breeze offered them a slight respite from the heat.

The thought that the banner, made colourful by their creativity, would be presented to former President and legendary teacher A.P.J. Abdul Kalam helped the students fulfil the task three hours ahead of the deadline.

Students belonging to each unit were earmarked a specified space on the canvas to fill with their creativity, Mr. Sakkaravel said, pointing to the helping hand extended by volunteers and the 350-odd staff members to the brush-wielding students.

Even the late arrival of some of the top brass of the administration to the venue did not dampen the spirit of the students. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and Education Minister M.O.H.F. Shajahan greeted the students.

‘Sarva Yogi’ was the title given to the collective endeavour. “The teacher is always considered to be an eternal ascetic dedicating himself to the cause of shaping the students. Hence, ‘Sarva Yogi’ has become the theme of the mega effort,” a spokesman on behalf of the students said.

Classical dances, monuments, places of interest, sportspersons and games, places of importance, self-contained villages, and India’s achievements in the fields of agriculture, science and technology, industry, and information technology were the themes chosen by the students to highlight.

Without public participation no event succeeds. Realising this, the organisers of the marathon painting event allotted space on the banner for the public belonging to different walks of life to make their contribution.

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