Tezu, Jun 7: Book lovers in Tezu were treated to a feast of storytelling during the first-ever Amar Chitra Katha Storytelling Contest, themed “A Hero(ine) I Admire,” held at Bamboosa Library on Saturday evening. Students from Classes VI to X representing six schools across Lohit district captivated the audience with inspiring narratives about their favourite heroes and heroines.
The event was organised by Bamboosa Library and the Forum of Library Activists as a tribute to renowned Amar Chitra Katha scriptwriter late Kamala Chandrakant and journalist Mypalli Chandrakant of Mumbai. DTO Dr Asmi Mega and Arindam Sarkar, teacher at Govt Hr Sec School No. 2 served as judges for the competition.
Lauding the participants for their spirited performance, Dr Asmi Mega said that experiences gained through such competitions would benefit them throughout their lives. Arindam Sarkar, a noted library activist, emphasized the importance of conducting similar training sessions in schools to further enhance students’ learning and communication skills.
DACO (Tezu) Bitchey Rijiju, who attended as a special guest, praised the participants for their excellent performances and encouraged them to speak from the heart rather than rely solely on memorisation.
Introducing the late Kamala Chandrakant, the Coordinator of the Lohit Youth Library Network, S Mundayoor fondly recalled his five-decade association with the celebrated writer and the guidance she provided during his early writing career.
“Kamala Aunty was an ever-energetic personality. It was because of her support that I could write the story of Kanaklata as a part of an Amar Chitra Katha title in early 1980s – the very first time the Kanaklata’s inspiring story appeared in a nationally popular children’s publication,” he said. He also noted that even after the start of Bamboosa Library, she remained an ardent patron of the youth library movement.
In the keenly contested junior category, Solong Krong of Class VII from Nimkay Vidya Niketan won the first prize. The second prize was jointly awarded to Ome Olung Tatak and Kalung Odi, both Class VI students of VKV Sunpura, while Rehanso Kathak of Nimkay Vidya Niketan won third prize.
In the senior category, Arpita Ram of Class X, GHSS No. 1, won first prize for her impressive narration on Dr Varghese Kurien. Kanyan Jami Kham of Class X, VKV Sunpura, secured second place, while Asni Yun of Class IX, VKV Tafrogam, finished third.
Manisha Halai, senior volunteer at Bamboosa Library and an ace storyteller, proposed the vote of thanks. She expressed gratitude to Maharishikaa Preeti of Goa, daughter of Kamala Chandrakant, for sponsoring the annual contest in memory of her illustrious parents. She also lauded the efforts of teachers and parents for encouraging children to participate in innovative literary activities, noting that a storytelling contest of this nature was being organised in Tezu after a decade.