Palamau: A remarkable artistic milestone was achieved in Medininagar on Sunday when 1,366 children participated in a simultaneous painting competition, creating artwork on the same theme, at the same venue, and at the same time. Organised by the Masoom Art Group as part of the Late S.M. Naiyyar Jamal Memorial Painting Competition, the event coincided with the first day of Sharadiya Navratri and the observance of International Day of the Girl Child, with the theme centered on “Nari Shakti” (Women Empowerment). The competition transformed the KG School campus into a vibrant celebration of creativity, social awareness, and youth participation, while also setting a landmark achievement in the region’s cultural history.
A total of ₹42,000 in cash prizes was distributed among winners across various categories. Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony, Palamu Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat paid tribute to late artist S.M. Naiyyar Jamal, describing him as a cultural icon whose contributions enriched generations of young artists in Palamu. He announced that the upcoming Palamu Museum would feature a dedicated art gallery in Naiyyar Jamal’s memory to preserve and showcase his artistic legacy. The Deputy Commissioner further revealed that a separate gallery would also be established in honour of renowned woodcraft artist Prem Bhasin, ensuring that his celebrated works remain a part of the district’s cultural heritage.
The event underscored the growing importance of art education and cultural engagement among children. Avinash Dev, Patron of Masoom Art Group and a member of the Mati Kala Board, announced that the competition would now be organised annually, making it a permanent fixture on Palamu’s cultural calendar. He noted that the overwhelming response from students, parents, schools, and art enthusiasts reflected the strong foundation of artistic talent in the region.
Among institutions, Sacred Heart School emerged as the standout performer, winning the prestigious “Champion of Champions” title while also securing the award for Best Supporting Institution. Bright Land School and Heritage International School finished second and third respectively in the same category. Individual winners were recognised across four age groups, with participants displaying exceptional artistic expression based on the theme of women empowerment.
The occasion also witnessed the presentation of the prestigious Naiyyar Rang Samman 2026. Veteran artist Shailendra Nath Chaturvedi was honoured for his significant contribution to the field of visual arts, while Rajesh Kumar received the award for excellence in press photography. In recognition of their dedication to promoting art and culture, active Masoom Art Group members Ujjwal Sinha, Shehzada Talib, Sangam Prakash, Adarsh Pandey, and Raj Prateek Pal were felicitated with the Karmayogi Samman.
The event was attended by several distinguished personalities, including Dolly Singh, Rajlakshmi Verma, Indu Tulsyan, Kahkashan Naiyyar, Dr. Altamash Naiyyar, Pandit Pradeep Narayan, Prem Bhasin, Vandana Srivastava, Asha Sharma, Harivansh Prabhat, Sumit Bhattacharya, Vikas Kumar Pappu, Debesh Moitra, Ashish Kumar Dubey, Shalini Srivastava, and Anup Kaur, among others. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Masoom Art Group President Vinod Pandey, who acknowledged the contributions of volunteers and organisers whose collective efforts ensured the success of what many described as one of the largest children’s art events ever held in the district.
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