Our future is safe! That was proved emphatically over and over again at the Jawahar Bal Bhavan, Hyderabad. The children - our future - are participating here, in a unique display of formal and informal cultural events.
Be it speaking, fancy dress, recitation or painting, these kids show an amazing dexterity in all fields. Organized by the autonomous body of Samiti of Art and Culture of Hyderabad, this event provides a platform where these kids (younger than 13 years of age) pit themselves against each other and learn both discipline and sportsmanship, or so was the view of the Chairman in his opening address.
Thoroughly enjoyable, these kids danced, pranced, sang and recited over these past two days of pure masti and the festive spirit in the air seemed to have touched everyone, most of all the children themselves, who seemed to be having a field day in the sun. The only fly in the ointment, if any, was the dismal participation. One would expect more such events seeing the light of the day and more awareness being generated among the people. That would surely go lengths into creating a greater audience and more voluminous participation.
What was really heart-warming was the sight of parents matching the children in their enthusiasm. They seem to be eager to relive their childhood through their children, as one particularly overwhelmed father pointed out to this writer.
But let be that as may... what had us all in splits was this near-toddler, some four years old, barely able to mouth her words, decked up as Rani Jhansi, sword in hand et al. With such spirited kids, like I said, our future is safe!