The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : City students win international award

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 31, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

City students win international award

By M.L. Melly Maitreyi

D. Sujatha and A. Prakash, students of Sanskriti who won the International Children and Youth Graphic Art competition organised in Poland.

HYDERABAD, OCT. 30. The students of Sanskriti, a rural art workshop at Hyderguda village, have done it again. Less privileged they may be in material comforts, hailing as they do from humble backgrounds, but with their passion for art, they live their dreams.

This time, A. Prakash, a third-year fine arts student of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University and D. Sujatha, a ninth standard student of Government High School, Rajendranagar, have become the only Indian students from the city to bag prizes in the 11th Biennale of International Children and Youth Graphic Art competition, organised by Torun City authorities in Poland. The Ambassador to Poland, Anil Wadhwa, collected the awards on behalf of the winners.

Prakash and Sujatha's graphic prints in `wood cut' technique stood out among over 15,000 entries from 46 countries.

Humble backgrounds

For Sujatha, the daughter of a mason and a domestic maid, this is yet another feather in her cap. The Sanskriti Art Centre, set up by renowned art teacher B.A. Reddy, has opened the door to a new world to the girl.

Her innate talent in painting was honed and she has won several prestigious prizes, including a gold medal from the Sishu Academy of Bangladesh, the second and third international art competition of Portugal, et al. "Painting makes me happy and helps me dream of better things," Sujatha says. At home, it is her sister, Bhagya, and at school, her neighbours and teachers, who enthuse her.

Son of Group D civilian employee of MES, Prakash was Mr. Reddy's student right from his school days at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Golconda, where Mr. Reddy was the art teacher. "The training at the Sanskriti Centre gave me exposure." While painting is a solitary activity, the graphic art medium is more technique and team-oriented, he says. Happy to add another award to his long list, Prakash says

"We keep on painting and making graphic prints at the centre. And it is our sir who keeps track of various events and forwards our entries." Initially reluctant, his parents came round when he wanted to pursue Fine Arts. Now by giving art tuitions, Prakash can meet his own expenses.

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