The indefinite close down of educational institutions which has forced them to stay indoors due to the pandemic, a collective of 45 children in the 10-15 age group drawn from the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are making the maximum out of the lock down period.
While parents, teachers and psychologists burn midnight oil trying to find a solution to any psychological crisis affecting these children, Lakshmi Roy and Swagatha, two students of 12 years of age decided to launch their own on-line group as an avenue to express their extra-curricular passions like reading, acting and of course quizzing.
The result? Every morning at 7 all of them assemble for an on-line session of one hour where they sing, act, recite the poems they like and conduct quiz shows resplendent with quiz master, scorer and expert members.
On Thursdays and Sundays, they are joined by corporate honchos, teachers, professionals like engineers, lawyers and medical doctors to share with them about the lively experience they had in their careers.
“We do not feel any sense of loneliness or unhappiness as the on-line sessions fill our minds with more than what we get from schools,” said Swagatha who along with Lakshmi anchor the shows.
They are guided by Asok, a teacher from the Sainik School at Coorg. “Because of these on-line meetings, we learnt Aithihyamaala , a collection of legendary stories in Malayalam authored by Kottarathil Sankunni.
The series Parayipetta Panthirukulam, which we learnt from these legendary stories is a new experience which we would not have got from regular classes,” said Lakshmi, an upcoming TV artist.
It is not the children alone who take part in these webinars. “Their parents are equally or more interested in watching live the intellectual prowess of their wards,” said Asok, who logs in at sharp 6.55 am in spite of the chilling weather of Coorg.
In addition to quiz competition, the children stage scenes from famous Malayalam plays which has brought them closer to the classical literary works of yester years. “I am sure they will not find wanting when they are probed about their familiarity with the classics in Malayalam,” said Bimal Roy.
Some of the children who were reluctant to wake up in the morning have developed the habit of waking up early to be ready for their little but important webinars.
Who told indefinite lock down may affect children and internet/ i-phones pose a threat to them?