By Matters India reporter
Chengalpattu: Caste atrocities, consumerism and pollution topped various themes a group of children drew at a cartoon drawing training in a southern Indian town.
As many as 36 Dalit Christian children aged 12 to 16 from remote villages attended the May 26-28 training at Chengalpattu, near Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu state.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Office for Dalits and Backward Classes organized the training.
The purpose of the training was to inculcate creativity and critical thinking in the children, explained Father Devasagayaraj, secretary of the bishops’ office. According to him, the children made cartoon according to their interest like environment. Some drew about road safety and water conservation.
Ahimsa artist Ignatius Xavier from Hyderabad trained the students. Father Bagya Regis, vicar general of Chengalpattu opened the training program at the diocesan pastoral center.
The organizers displayed the children’s cartoon on May 28 in the cathedral campus, drawing applause from visitors.
Bishop Anthonisamy Neethinathan of Chengalpattu, chairperson for the CBCI office, distributed the certificates and applauded the artist and the students.
“I came here without knowing anything about drawing and now I am able to think and make a cartoon,” said Tina a 14 year old girl.