Thiruvananthapuram: A total of 110 contestants have won prizes in the International Children's Online Painting Competition held in memory of child prodigy Edmund Clint. There were 39,000 entries from the 4-16 age group across 96 countries.
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Tuesday announced the winners, of whom 15 are eligible for attractive tour packages with family. Ten of the 15 are from foreign countries.
The first prize went to Parth Joshi, 12, of Vadodara in Gujarat. He and four other top winners from India are eligible for a five-night Kerala travel accompanied by two members of the family, Mr Surendran told reporters.
Nafisa Tabassum Authay, 14, of Bangladesh won the second prize. She and nine other children from abroad, who won the top prizes, will be eligible for the tour with two members from the family.
Malayali girl P.G. Aaradhya, 6, fetched the third prize. She figures among 40 prize winners from the host state who will receive a cash award of Rs 10,000 each.
The first three prize-winners will get a certificate and a memento. Twenty other winners too will receive mementos. The artists whose works were shortlisted will get special prizes, while all the participants will receive certificates.
Clint (1976-83) was a Kochiite who drew more than 25,000 pictures in 2,522 days of his life before a prolonged illness cut short his life. Born to M.T. Joseph (who died earlier this year) and Chinnamma Joseph, the boy's life and works went on to earn global acclaim. Clint's life has found portrayal in seven books and two documentaries besides a 2017 Malayalam feature film.
Clint was aged four when he topped a painting competition where a 16-year-old emerged second. That led the organisers to fix the age bracket for this online event. "Nowhere in the world have we heard of a painting competition inviting attention to a place (Kerala)", Mr Surendran said.
The competition jury comprised experts comprising Bihar Museum Director Mohammed Yusuf, artists Vrindavan Solanki (Gujarat), Ms Vipta Kapadia (Mumbai) and Prof Suresh K. Nair (Varanasi), besides Kerala Lalithakala Akademi chairman Nemom Pushparaj and art critic M.L. Johnny.
Fifty-five people have become eligible for tour packages. They will be given a reception at Kannur airport, taken for the travel and presented with prizes in Thiruvananthapuram.
