Centenary celebrations

Patna, Dec. 19: The education department has tied up with Pratham, a non-government organisation, to create content for 100 illustrated story cards for children.

The aim is to create awareness about Bihar’s development in the past 100 years as well as its culture and heritage among schoolchildren.

The proposed project, with the likely title Sau Saal Ke Sau Kahaniya or Sau Saal Ke Sau Card, will also include children selected from schools across the state. The children would portray their imagination about the state based on the information given by the panel selected for the project.

The four-page story card, once complete, will give information on the state’s culture, its flora and fauna and varied art forms.

The panel for the project would include eminent writers, illustrators and teachers from the state. They will assist schoolchildren from government and private institutions to develop the subject matter on the story cards.

Sanjay Kumar, the state head of Pratham, said: “The main aim behind preparing 100 illustrated story cards is to develop supplementary reading material for children studying in classes I to V. Children will prepare the cards themselves with the help of eminent story writers.”

Sanjay added that the story cards will carry a glimpse of what the state had achieved in the past 100 years — right from its contribution to the freedom struggle, the Emergency, socio-political movements apart from important structures built in the period and development of art and culture. Elucidating on the cards, Sanjay said: “We all know about Gandhi Maidan. A card carrying a picture of Gandhi Maidan will give all information on the ground, its history and important events that took place there.”

Similarly, a card on Madhubani paintings will mention the changes that took place in Madhubani paintings in the past 100 years and list important personalities who contributed to its development such as Sita Devi, reputed among Madhubani painting artists.

The cards, which will have at least four illustrations each and around 200-250 words, will target children learning to read. Of these 100 cards, the 10 best will be released during the state’s centenary celebrations next March.

The state government will print cards on a large-scale for use in government schools. The cards will also be gifted to eminent personalities, including the chief minister, the deputy chief minister and heads of various government departments, in the shape of books.