Chennai: In what has brought joy to Chrompet in the city suburb, a 14-year-old resident has won the title of ‘Nalaiya Kalam’ after emerging as the winner of Kanchipuram district at a recently concluded Science exhibition.
The event that was organised by Kalam International Association based in Ramanathapuram along with Kanchi Muthamizh Sangam, saw K Vedagiri, a class nine student of Sri Seshadri Matriculation school in Chrompet, trumping over 257 other students.
A total of 33 winners representing each district in the State and one for Pondicherry were adjudged during the competition, sources said.
Speaking on his win, the youngster’s Tamil teacher G Mani, said,”He made a still camera using old toys, cardboard, thermacol and other discarded things. He had spent only Rs 1,200 on this project.”
Vedagiri, who is the school pupil leader, is said to excel in academics and is also a volley ball player.
On this, Mani noted,”Fellow students voted for Vedagiri and made him the head this time. He is inquisitive in nature,” and added that he was thrilled when the lad eloquently read Kamba Ramayanam with right pauses and pronounciation.
“I had asked him to explain the meaning of the poem to simplify my job,” he says light-heartedly, adding that Vedagiri who hails from a financially-backward family, has a real thirst for knowledge.
“He has wide interest to know about things around the world. He is a student who astonishes me,” he smiles.
The school president, Sridhar Babu and principal S Bhuvaneswari have come forward to guide and nurture this young mind, it is learnt.
For more details, contact G Mani at 99623 86809.