Jamshedpur, April 18: With their power-packed performance, special children grabbed a special place in everybody’s heart today.

About 20-odd students of School of Hope (a school for special children), presented a maiden play during the inaugural ceremony of the fifth inter-school short play competition at Madrasi Sammelani auditorium today.

Organised jointly by Jamshedpur Theatre Association and Madrasi Sammelani, students from 12 schools would perform during the three-day short play contest

Students of School of Hope staged Hum Hindustani where they exhibited the importance of national integration.

The play started with a story of a locality where families of different religions lived happily. But, a quarrel soon erupted over a plot of land, where members of two religious communities wanted to set up a place of worship. An old man from the same village finally resolved the tension by reminding them about their nationality — the common factor that bound them together.

At the end of the play, the students sang a patriotic song.

The director of the play and principal of the school, Shyamala Raju, said that it was the perseverance of the children and other faculty members of the school that helped them to perform on stage.

“Though it took more time to help these children get over their stage fear, with their performance today, the children have proved their talent. If they are encouraged, they can excel in other fields, too,” she said.

The students of Loyola School also presented a Hindi play, Nayi Subah. Their chosen subject was about a youth, Prashant, who gets addicted to drugs and consequently loses all moral and human values.

Around 19 students jointly staged the 30-minute play.

Loyola was followed by students of Motilal Nehru School who presented Hindi play Saza. Students of Kerala Public School, Burmamines, presented the last play Sab Kuch Bhale Ke Liye Hai on the first day of the short play contest.

Secretary of Jamshedpur Theatre Association Nagesh Rao said that the objective of organising such an event was to nurture the talent of children in acting and to develop their interest towards theatre.

“We want the next generation to associate themselves with theatre and drama, which not only explores their talents but polishes their personality,” said Rao.