‘Read N Grow’ inspires students to take to books

Nagpur: ‘Read N Grow’, an interschool contest organized by Sandipani, Hazaripahad, had something different to offer to students in the 18th edition this year with ‘Tales of Tails’ as the theme. Books for the contest made children understand that animals, like human beings, too have feelings and crave for affection.
Started as an intra-school activity in 2000-2001 with JK Rowling as the author, the contest has evolved over the years. In the very second year, it was converted into an interschool contest with Roald Dahl as the author. Subsequently various books were taken up as study material fo the contest.

The school aims to make children good human beings with concern for the society and animals. This year, ‘Read N Grow’ saw over 9,100 students writing the questionnaire on ‘Tales of Tails’ at Sandipani, Hazaripahad’.

Play ‘The Musicians of Bremen’ was staged which was appreciated by the students.

Over the years, books of various authors were selected for the contest with children showing keen interest in reading them. The participation increased with more and more schools joining every year.

The ‘Read N Grow’ took a new dimension in 2010 with the introduction of a ‘theme’ for the contest. Fantasy, classics, Indian authors and folk tales were some of them. In the silver jubilee year of the school, the theme chosen was ‘I love my India’. This was a tribute that the students paid to their motherland.

The contest is an endeavour by Sandipani to bring back students to written words and the world of books in the age where computers and internet rule the roost. Those instrumental in making the contests a success are president Rajashri Jichkar, trustees Maitreyi Jichkar, Yajnavalkya Jichkar, chief adviser Lata Thergaonkar, school manager Mrunalini Kale, principals Bharti Bijwe, Shanthi Menon and headmistress Malka Faizuddin.

(Reporting by Manshika Vaikkath)