On 14 November, we organised the Ankur Pratibha Samman Drawing Competition at Januganj High School, designed not just as an art contest but as a meaningful contribution to student development. This initiative is part of our ongoing CSR effort to support learning ecosystems that encourage creativity, self-belief and the joy of independent thinking.
Children think in stories, symbols and colours long before they learn to express through polished speech or writing. Art gives them a safe and powerful space to communicate who they are and how they see the world. Our role as an organisation is to nurture that voice instead of shaping it. That’s why the competition was theme-free. Students were free to explore, imagine and express without fear of judgement.
The energy inside the classroom was enough to reaffirm our belief that creativity isn’t a talent of a few, it exists in every child when given the right environment. We saw nature sketches, dreams painted as landscapes, thoughtful social messages, festival memories, fictional characters and imaginative worlds that blended innocence with surprising emotional depth. Some entries were technical, some minimalistic, but each one felt honest.
The recognition process focused on idea clarity, originality and storytelling through colour rather than perfection. At the end of the event, winners were honoured with awards and certificates, yet every participant celebrated a personal milestone. Many students shared that this was their first attempt at drawing competitively, and that they felt encouraged to participate in more creative activities because their effort was valued.
For us, CSR isn’t about checking a box with donations or campaigns. It’s about creating meaningful impact where it directly helps shape young futures, confidence, curiosity, communication and resilience. Art education, although often underrated, plays a crucial role in building emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills, both essential for tomorrow’s citizens.
The Ankur Pratibha Samman initiative will continue expanding to more schools, involving more students and adding more learning formats such as storytelling, craft-based problem solving, visual awareness challenges and theme-based social projects. Our commitment is clear: inspiration must be accessible, not selective.
This was just the beginning. We’re proud of the students, grateful to the school and excited for what’s next.