Hassan City Municipal Council’s (CMC) initiative to hold a summer camp for children — Chinnara Mela — in Maharaja Park has been very well received by residents. Nearly 250 children are taking part in the 15-day camp, which engages children in activities like drama, folk arts, and clay modelling and other activities, besides science classes by experts. This is the first time CMC has organised an event like this.
Too many applicants
“We initially expected around 150 children to register, but the response has exceeded our expectations. In fact, we had to send back more than 100 students as we could not accommodate so many children,” said Anil Revur, camp director and a theatre personality, who graduated from drama school at Sanehalli, Chitradurga.
Mr. Revur has a team of eighteen theatre personalities who have been trained in Neeranasm in Heggodu and Shivasanchara in Sanehalli to assist him. It was P. Shadrak, a known theatre personality of Hassan and an active member of the Rangasiri troupe, who gave the idea of organising a summer camp for children to the CMC. “We suggested the summer camp idea to CMC president H.S. Anil Kumar. He readily agreed and assured us of his support. We are collecting only Rs.10 per child as registration fee. The remaining expenses are borne by the CMC,” said Anil Revuru.
Children in the age group of 7 to 4 are being given classes in folk art forms by Pooja Kunita, Somana Kunita and Veeragase. “We have divided the students into seven groups. Each group stays in a makeshift hut named after different family members. The houses have been named ‘Ajji Mane’ (grandmother’s place), ‘Ajja Mane’ (grandfather’s place) or ‘Atte Mane’ (Aunt’s place), to give the impression that they have gone to their relative’s place for the summer. Children join the camp at 9 a.m. and are involved in different activities till 5 p.m. They bring lunch from home.
Plays to be staged
“We have listed seven plays to be staged at Hasanamba Kalakshetra on May 6, the last day of the camp. Each group will stage one play,” said Mr. Revur. Some of the plays they chosen for the camp are Hakki Hadu by Kotiganahalli Ramanna, Maina Hakki Hadu by Vydehi, Chandramukhi by Kashyap, Parisara Golina Kathe by Neenasm Ashwath and Satru Andre Satraa by Vaidehi.
Nearly 250 children are taking part in the 15-day camp that offers classes in various subjects
