Ramayana Contest:Kown banega Ramayan Expert

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Looking for a Ramayan prodigyATLANTA DIARY | Meeta Chaitanya

March 7, 2006

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The

search is on for an Indian idol in America. But unlike singing

sensations and theatrical amusement, this is a different kind of

odyssey, a different kind of treasure hunt.Balagokulam, a

flagship Children's magazine of HSS- USA (a not for profit organisation

for preserving and promoting Hindu culture among Hindus in North

America) is organising across the states for the very first time in USA

the Kaun Banega Ramayan Expert contest for children.This quiz

contest, based on the ancient Indian epic that has inspired generations

of mystics and philosophers alike will be harboured in the text as also

the context of the Ramayan. The contest and the well-oiled

machinery behind it are meant to be a positive thrust towards trying to

teach Hindu culture to young children in a fun way. Children who enter

the contest will, for instance, receive access to a Ramayan website

especially crafted with rich and comprehensive study material and

practice quizzes.Study material on the website is presented in a

catchy capsule format such as; Charitra Ramayan ( for children between

10-15 years of age) that describes the role of the epic protagonists as

Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman, Bharat, Lakshman, Angad among many others.

Similarly the Katharoop Ramayan showcases the Ramayan as short story to

simplify the understanding of the text. The contest is for

children of various age groups. The contest is open to anybody between

the ages of 5 to 15. Children are being enrolled in different

categories (there are 4 groups based on age) and in their journey

towards rediscovering the epic; they will be awarded various prizes and

certificates of recognition. The bigger awards for the winners amount

to a cumulative of a whopping $10,000. All eligible participants

however will win certificates and mementos acknowledging their

participation.The registration fee for the contest is $11.00 per

child and if they choose to buy the KBRE game kit ($15 and comprising

an interactive CD, flash cards etc) they get a $5 discount instantly.

Online registration however does give children 3 chances to take the

online qualifying exam. The competition began on the

auspicious Indian New Year day of Makar Sankranti, the 14th of Jan in

Denver, CO and the format of the contest entailed an online examination

for participating tots beginning on that very day through March 31st. Contestants

are being asked to register online first and qualify to enter the final

quiz programme. This will then culminate in the 'In-person contest' in

April where hundreds of Balagokulam centres across the United States

will be conducting the phase II. The winners will receive their awards

finally in May 2006.Most parents are excited about the contest,

which is seen as an extended manifestation of the popular Balagokulam

Magazine, a magazine for children with subscription rates as reasonable

as $11 for a year. The magazine, which has interesting regular features

as - Speak Samskritam, Vedic Math, Science Facts, Crossword, Your Poems

& Artwork- has by itself come a long way in igniting the nascent

imagination of kids.Instead of didactic lectures and a forceful

rote-routine, contests such as these, where children themselves are

accorded the primary prerogative to learn and exhibit their knowledge

successfully, are being hailed by NRIs as a laudable step in the

direction towards holistic education and value building. Similarly,

this initiative could be a hallmark beginning of innovative learning

for kids with emphasis not just on religion but on other significant

spheres of education.Only, while Hindu values without a doubt

are acknowledged for their innate inspirational and devotional

synthesis that goes a long way towards wholesome development, one of

the primary tenets of the religion is its embracing of world cultures

and values.Its innate inclusiveness would perhaps have found

even better expression had the contest been open to a child, any child

instead of just Hindu children. For the Ramayan may be a Hindu epic in

form, it is universal in essence. So also, one hopes, would be the

Ramayan expert.