Students take part in the painting competition at the College of Arts and Crafts in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Jan. 11: Bhavya Sinha, a Class V student of St Joseph’s Convent School, woke up at 7am to take part in the painting competition held at College of Arts and Crafts here this morning.

There were many like Bhavya, who were not deterred by the cold weather conditions prevailing in the state.

Bhavya was one among 11 students between classes V and X, who took part in the painting competition organised by Centre for Media Studies (CMS), Delhi, partnered by Saakar foundation. The topic for the competition was “Climate change and sustainable technologies.”

When asked what drove her to fight the severe morning chill to come and take part in the competition, she said: “Yes, it is very cold. It was not easy to get up so early in the morning. Honestly, it was the theme of the painting competition that brought me here.” She added it was her mother who pushed her to take part in the event.

Bhavya’s mother Rakhi Kumari, a professor at the graphics department in Patna Arts and Crafts College, said: “Everybody is working despite the cold weather. When such serious issues need to be addressed, weather should never be a barrier.”

She pointed out that the competition was a good exercise for children who are sitting idle at home with their schools remaining closed because of winter.

Students from classes V to X came up with different ideas in the competition. The number of participants was not high, but the ones who came, made sure that they made the most of it.

Abhineet Kumar, Class X student of St Michael’s School, showed the drastic change in the environment over the last couple of decades.

Suman Saurabh, Class IX student of DAV Public School, made a painting with the theme “Let mother earth smile again”.

Thirteen-year-old Aman Saurabh portrayed the impact the industrial revolution made on global warming, while Adheesh sketched a desert.

Some students failed to understand the topic when the principal-in-charge was briefing them on the competition. Then he simplified the language, which helped the students understand the topic better.

“It was a lovely experience for me, to think like a child while understanding their imagination,” Pandey said.

Talking about “CMS Vatavaran”, senior project manager of the organisation

Sundeep Srivastav said: “We have initiated competitive film festivals and travelling film festivals every alternate year. Various filmmakers can take part in the competition with their documentaries and short films. In 2009, we received 400 films from 60 countries. The subjects included environment and wild life.”

He added that since the number of participants in today’s competition was less, the competition may be rescheduled and the results would be declared in the middle of February.