Vellarmala school students to spread the message of survival

Anjal S. survived a landslide in Wayanad, now performing a dance of resilience at State School Arts Festival.

Anjal S., a Class X student of Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Vellarmala, Wayanad, was at her house near Mundakkai when a landslide struck early on July 30. “We did not feel the first landslide but woke up on receiving phone calls. We packed up to move out in the morning, but when we heard the rising crescendo of mud, water, boulders, and trees crashing down, we fled to a nearby estate bungalow.”

The rear of the house they lived in was washed away, but what has left deeper scars is the loss of six friends who studied in the same grade at the Vellarmala school. In all, 33 students of the school lost their lives in the disaster. “We still have not come to terms with their loss. It’s as if they are still somewhere around,” says Anjal.

The counselling that the school students received in the aftermath of the tragedy brought some relief. Now, Anjal and six other high school students are coming to the State capital with a dance performance that speaks of resilience and survival. They will present the dance at the inaugural of the 63rd State School Arts Festival on January 4.

“It is a big thing for us to present a dance with this theme. We were not qualified for the State event. Despite that we are getting an opportunity to perform at such a huge platform,” says Anjal.

Unnikrishnan V., former headteacher in-charge of the school at the time of the landslides, says the dance performance will trace the school history – from the time it was set up; its growth and how it shone in all areas, be it academics, arts or sports; the catastrophic landslides that snuffed out so many lives; and how the school has bounced back.

“The last part of the dance sees the school students establish themselves as doctors, engineers, teachers...It will create awareness among the people that the landslides did not destroy us. It will give the message of survival to children in any part of the world who have experienced suffering,” says Mr. Unnikrishnan.