Goldwinner-SYMA Childfest 2024 - Drawing Judges - Dirt Bike racing !?!

Heard of ‘Hare Scrambles’ .. .. I was awe-struck when I read the CV of this young woman who had come to judge at SYMA Childfest 2024 !-  near MGR square in Marina beach you would have seen and wondered the ‘Labour statue’  - this statue shows  four persons  engrossed in moving a heavy boulder, signifying the Triumph of Labour. The sculpture highlights the intense hard work and effort put in by workers to shape India.

Srinivas Young Mens Association (SYMA) has been service to the Society since 1977.  Our main focus is on Medical service and quality Educational support.  Since 1989, we have been running a Medical Centre where we charge just Rs.2/- - provide consultation and dispense medicines.  We run a Medical analytical lab.  Since 2008, we are providing quality Educational support through SYMA Growth for more than 100 students every year. 

Besides our various social activities, we conduct a mega event for School Children.  This year Gold Winner – SYMA Child fest 2024 was conducted at NKT National Girls High School, Triplicane – hundreds of school and over 3500 school children participated in 12 events.

Napoleon Bonaparte  the French emperor was known for his military prowess. He was an art connoisseur too.  The Louvre Palace, which houses a great  museum, was begun by King Philip II in the late 12th century to protect the city from the attack from the West.  The Louvre  is a national art museum in Paris, France, located on the Right Bank of the Seine.  It houses thousands of paintings and fine arts.  The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace.  During  Napoleon’s era, it blossomed.

 

Alexander Hunter (1816 – 1890) was a surgeon in the East India Company's Madras Army who was also a skilled and trained artist. In 1850 he founded the Madras School of Art, the first school of art and design in India, which was taken over by the government in 1855. He was a pioneer of photography in India, introduced courses at the art school, and founded the Madras Photographic Society. He was also a collector of geological specimens.  

The Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai is the oldest art institution in India. The school was located at Popham's Broadway. In 1852, it was shifted to its present premises, a four-acre campus on Poonamallee High Road. In 1928, Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury joined as its vice-principal and in 1929, he became its first Indian principal. Devi Prasad Roy Choudhury MBE  5) was a sculptor, painter and educator. He is well known for his monumental bronze sculptures, especially the Triumph of Labour and the Martyrs' Memorial. In addition to painting and sculpting, he also wrestled, played the flute, engaged in hunting and wrote short stories in his spare time.  

The main attraction on Sunday  was ‘Drawing’ –  competition held in 5 groups attracting close to 2000 students.  Judging this was perhaps the biggest challenge – by sheer numbers as also by the artistic expressions !  

SYMA places on record our thank and appreciation to the 5 Judges of this event.  Mr K Jagannathan (DFA) Painting – Micro film technician (REtd); TN Archives, old records preservator;  Mr Gnanasekaran, DFA, Commercial Artist; Mr N Venugopal DFA, PDFA; Freelance- oil pantings; Ms S Roja, BFA, MFA – Ceramic Artist & Mrs Lavanya Sridhar, youngest of them all.  

She like the other is BFA (MFA) – art teacher in Vidyaniketan school .. .. and described herself as Tamil Nadu level dirt bike racer !  -  what ? 

Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved in the United Kingdom. When organisers dispensed with delicate balancing and strict scoring of trials in favour of a race to become the fastest rider to the finish, the activity became known as "hare scrambles”.  Internationally it is  "motocross racing’ – combination of  the French word for motorcycle, motocyclette, or moto for short, into a portmanteau with "cross country". 

The first known scramble race in the Camberley, Surrey in 1924 and so the 100th anniversary of the very first Motocross race will be commemorated in March 2024. This young girl looked a bit shy and very friendly but is a fierce competitor in a tough sport where even strong men could flinch.   

 

She has participated in 4 bike races and finished on the podium in 3 !! - Interesting indeed and good luck to you Ms Lavanya !! 
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
9.1.2024