Egyptian students connect with India through paintings

The Indo-Egypt friendship, Indian monuments and Bollywood were the themes of a painting competition held here by India which saw the participation of about 4,700 students.
'The Glimpses of India' painting competition has been held annually over the last 21 years to celebrate the creativity of the children of Egypt and their love for India.
This year's competition saw the participation of 4,700 students from 430 schools in Cairo, Giza and Alexandria. A three-member independent jury selected 100 winners from the entries.
Held in coordination with the Egyptian Ministries of Education and Culture, the popularity of the event has grown over the years and has become a regular feature in the school calendar.

The themes for the competition - India and Egypt best friends for ever, Indian festivals, Bollywood and Monuments - led to remarkable paintings of exquisite techniques and perception.
The braille paintings done by blind students disclosed the depth of affection and feeling between the people of the two countries.

The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), the cultural wing of the Embassy of India in Cairo yesterday organised a prize distribution ceremony for the competition at the Gomhouria Theatre in Cairo.
About 100 school children, including 25 children with 'special needs', were honoured at the event which included Egyptian dignitaries, NGOs, media and the families of the winners.

Well-known Egyptian Cinema and Television actress Yosra El Lozy along with Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharyya handed the prizes to the winner children.
An exhibition of the award winning paintings was also held on the occasion.
The performance by a Bhangra troupe livened up the evening and won the hearts of the audience.
Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador Bhattacharyya told the children that they "are bridge between India and Egypt and the torch bearers of a glorious future has been unveiled in their paintings".
One of the winners, Abdel Rahman Magdy said his drawing "comprises two most beautiful cultures in the world. I drew an elephant that symbolises Indian culture and dressed it with a decorated mask resembling the Egyptian culture."

Another winner, Mariem Khaled Omar said that she drew King Akbar and Jodha with Taj Mahal and Egyptian and Indian flags in the background to the most romantic love story and to keep the country safe.
Mohamed Osama Hassan Abdel Satter who drew Mahatma Gandhi in the front and Taj Mahal and blending of two National Flags of India and Egypt in the backdrop said that he was inspired by the peaceful struggle against the British regime.
Noor Mohamed Hanafy Mahmoud, who had shown Indian tiger in the front and different shades of saffron, white and green in the background, said "tiger represents the power of India".