In a bid to encourage students to develop their handwriting, drawing and painting traits, Barasat Gate Cultural Association, Chandannagar, organised a competition recently.
The programme was held at the premises of the association called Sri Ramakrishna Vivekananda Sri Aurobindo Nilay.
160 students took part in the hand writing competition in both English and Bengali. Sanjay Bhattacharya, secretary of the association, announced that the winners will be honoured at a function on 22 February.
According to him, “During our students’ days, special attention was given to handwriting in both English and Bengali. There were workbooks, and the students were given training in cursive writing. There were teachers in our time who had excellent handwriting. However, over the recent years, neither the parents nor the teachers have given stress on the improvement of handwriting.”
He added, “Drawing and poster making have become important co-curricular activities now, and if children can be taught about this from school days, then this is bound to help them in the long run. The association is there to help the students who are in need.” The association organises youth conferences to propagate the message of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo. Regular lectures are held on their lives and work. The association is one of the first organisations to hold guardians’ meetings to make them aware of the present day education system.