The Dehradun-based students activist group, Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD), completed their 7th wall mural in the city on Monday.
Having already transformed shabby stretches of walls on Neshvilla Road, Jakhan, Bhandaribagh, Old Survey Road and near the Railway Station, this was an addition to MAD’s ongoing campaign. As the MADdians were painting the wall, top officials from the bureaucracy and the police department also witnessed the students absorbed in their work. Over 20 volunteers participated. The team first gathered and cleaned the two walls where the paintings were to be drawn. This was done because the walls were greased.
There were also open public urinals in the vicinity. After washing and cleaning the two walls, the group divided into two. Both teams whitewashed the patches of walls where the murals were to be drawn. Karman Kaur, a Class XII Summer Valley School student, and Prakshi Goyal, a 3rd Year D.I.T student, drew first by pencil so that the rest could join in.
MAD, with all its members in the 15 to 23 age group, has been funding such activities on its own. Many onlookers complimented the young activists for their efforts and offered to join in. Painting the shabby stretches of walls sends a message for keeping localities clean, the spokesperson of the outfit said.
Those who actively participated in the activity included Nandita Khanduri, Alok Bhatt, Bhumika, Pragati, Srishti, Kartikey, Rhea, Shubhangi, Awnish, Sameer, Manisha , among many others.