Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103058590200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

The colourful portraits are silent, yet eloquent

Staff Reporter

Painting competition for students with hearing, speech impairment

— Photo: K.V. SRINIVASAN

Creative strokes: Participants at the inter-school painting competition organised by The Deaf Way Foundation in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: It was a very quiet student gathering, for most of them communicated in sign language. The Deaf Way Foundation, a voluntary organisation, organised an interschool painting competition and quiz contest for students with hearing and speech impairment here on Wednesday.

The painting competition, which was titled ‘Colours of silence’, had nearly 150 students from different special schools in the city taking part.

“Their work is so powerful and amazing…their enthusiasm and power of observation is very humbling,” said M. Ramya, an interpreter who works with The Deaf Way Foundation. No specific topic was given and students were asked to draw and colour anything that came to their mind. Participants had come up with brilliant portraits and landscapes, organisers said.

The second session of the event featured a quiz for the students.

As quiz master T. K. M. Sandeep, also a member of the Foundation, asked questions in sign language, students in the audience jumped in excitement, gesturing possible answers, even as the participants discussed among team-mates.

In one of the rounds, the junior students were asked to identify States on an image of the India map. Participants had to choose an option from four choices. In most cases, the students got it right in the very first attempt and their friends applauded by waving their hands above their heads.

“We want to make this an annual event…these students are gifted and this will be an opportunity for them to showcase their talents.”