CHENNAI: A week after the Minister of Human Resource and Development, Smriti Irani, announced Thiruvalluvar’s birthday celebrations from next year, CBSE has announced a national poetry contest for CBSE (or any recognized state board) students to be held on December 11 - Subramaniya Bharathi’s birthday. However, analysts see in it as an attempt by the BJP to gain a foothold in State.
Students, who are interested, can take part and write poems in the poet’s honour, in the language of their choice by sending in original poems in English or 22 other scheduled languages. Top 36 poems will be awarded.
The contest invites poems from students in different categories. According to the circular from the Sadhana Parashar director Academics, Research, Training and Innovation, CBSE, an interview will be conducted once the entries are selected.
This is a chance for the country to appreciate Subramaniya Bharathi’s work, according to some heads of institutions. “Through this, someone in the north-east will know about Bharathi, whose works are otherwise known to Tamils alone,” said A Jain, secretary of Chennai Sahodaya School Complex for CBSE Schools.