CPS, Amt Road Bypass, Emerge Winners

Sandeep Dabhekar

Nagpur: TOI’s tiger anthem left an indelible impression on school students who participated in the inter-school environment quiz championship organized by Children In Progress (CHIP) on Saturday. The anthem proved to be an befitting end to the event organized to create awareness about environment conservation among young minds.

After the final round, the stage was taken over by Sairam Iyer, a singer gifted with the ability to sing both in male and female voice. Everyone at the venue was transfixed, literally, as Iyer started presenting the tiger anthem, which garnered over 100 million views within a fortnight of its release on May 24 this year.
Students too hummed the signature ‘tanda na tanda na’ tune. While the quiz left the students more informed, the tiger anthem touched a chord.

The event was organized in association with The Times of India, SOIL, Ran Mangli Foundation, and Maharashtra forest department at Nagpur University’s Guru Nanak Hall.

Over 70 teams participated in the competition. Sukesh Gandhi, the man behind CHIP, said that the response was overwhelming. “Seeing the enthusiasm of the schools, we were forced to accept two entries on the quiz day. I pray that this initiative keeps growing,” Gandhi said.

After the qualifying round, six teams made it to the finals. Quiz master Anirudh Chaoji kept on chipping with informative anecdotes in between firing questions.

Mridula Nerkar, a Std IX student of BVM, felt goosebumps listening to the tiger anthem. “It touched my heart. I love going to jungle safaris. The anthem’s music, lyrics and especially the visuals transport you deep into the jungle. It has that kind of surreal feel to it,” she said.

She also learned a lot about the environment and the need to protect it. “Every student should participate in the future editions of this quiz. It makes one realize the gifts given to us by nature,” said Mridula.

Parents said that the quiz has achieved its aim. Alka Punyani, whose son studies at CPS, Wardhaman Nagar, was all praise for the organizers. “Normally, children get stuck with subjects like maths and science. Thanks to this quiz they studied in detail about the environment,” she said.

For Viraj Bhambwani, a Std IX student of CPS, Katol Road, the tiger anthem is one of his favourite songs. “I have heard it many times. I had participated even in the first edition of the quiz. My father works with CHIP, so I too have been involved with its activities. The quiz not only makes students learn about the environment but also creates awareness regarding steps needed to protect and restore it,” he said.

According to Sarakshi Yadav, a Std VIII student of DPS, the event made her and others from her school more aware about the need to conserve nature and wildlife. “I enjoyed the songs by Sairam sir. The TOI tiger anthem was amazing,” she said.

Sairam Iyer, Bharat Singh Hada, deputy conservator of forest, Geeta Narnawre, divisional forest officer, and Parineeta Fuke, formar corporator, gave away the prizes.

Jaydeep Das of CHIP anchored the event.


PODIUM FINISHERS

Winners | Centre Point School, Amravati Road Bypass (Parth Sahave, Dhruv Mor, Aahan Thakur)

Runners up | Bhavan’s Lloyds Vidyaniketan, Wardha (Anay Pandit, Abhinav Shivaji, Anisha Badge)

Third | Narayana Vidyalayam, Chinchbhuvan (Shlok Lonarkar, Himanshu Gabhane, Harshi Thakre)

Top Scorer (written round) | Himanshu Gabhane

Active Quizzer | Anay Pandi