It was a rendezvous that the six winners of the 36th national-level "learn to live Together Camp" will not forget in a hurry. Aged between 10 and 12 years, Puja Kumari, Sheela Kumari, Salma Khatoon, Dharmendra Singh Ghatwar, Trilochan Mahto and ShivShankar Kalindi were invited for tea with the Governor Syed Ahmed, as an appreciation of their achievement.
They were accompanied by a 12-member team of the Jharkhand Council For Child Welfare (JCCW), led by its president Rooplekha Prasad.
The group, including two special children were adjudged the best performers in the inter-state cultural programme that concluded the camp, for their performance of "Mahishasurmardini" in the Chhau dance style. 13-year-old Puja Kumari was also declared the best all-round performer.
The six-day camp was held from May 6 to May 12 in lucknow, under the aegis of ICCW. Roughly, 150-odd children from 22 States participated in the event.
"As per the central criteria, all the children belong to families that are below the poverty line and study in Government schools. The girls are from the Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalaya in Silli, while the boys study in Gram Vikas Vidyalaya in Silli," said Purnima Das, a JCCW functionary. The children were accompanied by one teacher crom each of their schools.
This being their visit outside Ranchi and the state and their first train trip as well, the children were very excited by the experience and enjoyed it thoroughly.
"We made lots of friends from so many different states like Gujrat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, UP and Karnataka. We stayed together, learnt about each other's culture, languages, native places and lifestyles. It was very nice," said Puja Kumari.
Her team-mate Sheela, however, was more enthused by the sights and sounds of lucknow. "We visited Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Hussainabad Picture Gallery, Raj Bhawan, Science Centre, Indira Gandhi Planetarium, Bird Sanctuary, Sahara Tower, Ram Manohar lohia Park and Parag Dairy during our stay there," She recited like a litany, perhaps rehearsed by its innumerable retelling to friends and family members.
The children were also trained in yoga every morning and martial arts thereafter, something the boys particularly reveled in.
All three unanimously stated their intention to show-off their newly acquired skills to their friends back home. Movie screenings and magic shows were the evenings' highlights; and post-dinner, it was time to chat— discuss their experiences of the day, share jokes or simply remember e their families back home.
The children's families, on their part, are understandably proud of their wards' achievements. Their schools too, gave them arousing receptions and a hero's welcome.
"We were asked to address the morning assembly of our school and share our experiences with our school-mates. The principal and teachers also held us up as examples for others to follow," said Puja.
And the best part of it allIJ "I got to see new places, new people and two-two Raj Bhavans! No one in my school can beat that!" said Trilochan concluding the speech.