Kollam is a very busy place these days. Hosting the state school youth festival has never been an easy task, as has been proved time and again, and this time too, the various cultural events are being conducted admist mixed reactions.
Though it brings up a lot of young talents, the youth festival these days, is considered to be a ‘harvest time’ for most dance and music teachers, with most of them charging hefty amounts to teach a single ‘item’, worthy of winning the prize. More than the inborn talents of the students, it is the money power of the parents which are often at display, dazzling the eyes of the common man. This is true especially among the dance items like Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Keralanadanam, etc.
Though the school youth festival started with the noble intention of familiarizing the upcoming generation with the art and culture of the state, I think it has reached a very sorry state, what with the unhealthy competition among the participants, supported wholeheartedly by their families and respective schools. Every year, we get to hear of accusations regarding the credibility of the judges, many of who have been judging the same items regularly, for more than a decade!
It is doubtful if this grand school gala serves its intended purpose in any way. The only aim of the participants or their parents, seem to be the momentary glory and fame, after a victory, and obviously, the extra 30 marks, which every winner gets in their board examinations, courtesy the Kerala State Education Department. For some of the female candidates, a victory may also mean an easy ticket to filmdom, as can be seen from examples like Manju Warriar, Kavya Madhavan, Navya Nair, etc, (popularMalayalam actresses of today) who entered the arena of films after excelling in the State school youth festivals. Otherwise, just how many of these winners follow their artistic pursuits seriously???
Yesterday, during a group performance, one of the dancers fainted and fell down unconscious. If you thought that the other group members immediately came to her aid, you are wrong. The others continued without her! No one , including the eminent judges, paid any heed to that poor girl’s plight for a few minutes. It was only after a considerable time had elapsed that people came to help her out. Today again, a Kathakali performer, in the midst of her performance, had to discontinue it, due to a near fainting spell. Forget about first aid kits, they didn’t even have drinking water nearby to give the breathless girl!
Psychologists say that the number of students getting treatment for stress related problems, growing from inability to cope up with failure, is on the rise. Many of them are not able to come to terms with disappointments, and react in unpredictable manners.
I think it is the parents and teachers who ought to get psychiatric help. Why are we subjecting our children to such atrocities? Why don’t we let them develop their talents as per their will, and guide them accordingly, instead of pushing them into this mindless stream of competitions???
It is definitely time we started thinking of alternate means to promote our art and culture! Is anybody listening???
Though it brings up a lot of young talents, the youth festival these days, is considered to be a ‘harvest time’ for most dance and music teachers, with most of them charging hefty amounts to teach a single ‘item’, worthy of winning the prize. More than the inborn talents of the students, it is the money power of the parents which are often at display, dazzling the eyes of the common man. This is true especially among the dance items like Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Keralanadanam, etc.
Though the school youth festival started with the noble intention of familiarizing the upcoming generation with the art and culture of the state, I think it has reached a very sorry state, what with the unhealthy competition among the participants, supported wholeheartedly by their families and respective schools. Every year, we get to hear of accusations regarding the credibility of the judges, many of who have been judging the same items regularly, for more than a decade!
It is doubtful if this grand school gala serves its intended purpose in any way. The only aim of the participants or their parents, seem to be the momentary glory and fame, after a victory, and obviously, the extra 30 marks, which every winner gets in their board examinations, courtesy the Kerala State Education Department. For some of the female candidates, a victory may also mean an easy ticket to filmdom, as can be seen from examples like Manju Warriar, Kavya Madhavan, Navya Nair, etc, (popularMalayalam actresses of today) who entered the arena of films after excelling in the State school youth festivals. Otherwise, just how many of these winners follow their artistic pursuits seriously???
Yesterday, during a group performance, one of the dancers fainted and fell down unconscious. If you thought that the other group members immediately came to her aid, you are wrong. The others continued without her! No one , including the eminent judges, paid any heed to that poor girl’s plight for a few minutes. It was only after a considerable time had elapsed that people came to help her out. Today again, a Kathakali performer, in the midst of her performance, had to discontinue it, due to a near fainting spell. Forget about first aid kits, they didn’t even have drinking water nearby to give the breathless girl!
Psychologists say that the number of students getting treatment for stress related problems, growing from inability to cope up with failure, is on the rise. Many of them are not able to come to terms with disappointments, and react in unpredictable manners.
I think it is the parents and teachers who ought to get psychiatric help. Why are we subjecting our children to such atrocities? Why don’t we let them develop their talents as per their will, and guide them accordingly, instead of pushing them into this mindless stream of competitions???
It is definitely time we started thinking of alternate means to promote our art and culture! Is anybody listening???
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