51st KERALA STATE SCHOOLS ARTS FESTIVAL GOT OFF TO A COLOURFUL START

      The  education Minister Mr M.A Baby declared 51st Kerala State Schools Arts Festival on Tuesday 18th January,2011 at the main venue set up at  the police Parade ground in Kottayam. Thrissur district led the tally with 96 points when results of 40 events were declared on the inaugural day. Mr M.A Baby  on his inaugural speech said" the role of co-curricular activities in shaping the attitude to life in impressionable minds and called upon adults to take a healthy out look at the competitions in the school arts and sports festivals. He sid co- curricular activities in the cultural field in schools helped not only to develop the talent talents in children but also to establish healthy linkages with the local cultural milieu. The festivals fundamentally acted as a tool of self discovery for the young minds. The minister said the children were actually innocent victims of parental greed
     Delivering his keynote address, Mathu Govindenkutty, guest of honour and veteran Kathakali exponent said such festivals had contributed much ti revive the traditional and classical art forms in kerala and as such, they were integral to the cultural stability of society. The ceremony was accompanied by panchavadyam recital and  a short display by students.

   According to authorities, 7,090 contestants will be participating in the festival. Alappuzha will have the distinction of sending the largest male contingent while Palakkad will send the highest number of girls. the festival,being organised at 17 venues,will also present cultural programmes every evening. This include a special programme dedicated to the history and culture of Kottayam scheduled for Tuesday evening, a science meet followed by gazal recital by Umbai on Wednesday, a star meet and media conference on Thursaday.Literary meet o Friday evening, and an education seminar on Saturday evening.
   The concluding day will witness "Makkalodoppam" an inteactive programme at which poet Sugathakumari actor KPAC Lalitha and other will participate.  the half- a century-old kerala state Schools Festival (began in 1957) is being organised for the fifth time in Kottayam

Prof.John Kurakar