Sowparnika (2nd from right) with her mother Archana (2nd from left), father Sundar Raj (right) and brother Siddharth (left). Photo: ManoramaKannur: Sowparnika's commitment to art has earned her a house. The Sree Satya Sai Orphanage Trust at Thonnakkal has offered to build a house for the family of the teen artiste who spent two nights at the main venue of the state school arts festival for want of money to rent a room.
Sowparnika, a student of the Government Higher Secondary School at Thonnakkal, returned home happy. The promise of a new house adds to the A grade victory in the folk dance category.
Manorama had earlier reported the steely determination of the family to let the daughter make her debut in dance at the school arts festival in Kannur. Her parents Sundar Lal and Archana accompanied Sowparnika and her little brother Siddharth to Kannur with virtually no help at all.
Read earlier report: A grim tale of penury from glitzy school arts fest
Since Sowparnika was the only student participating in the state-level arts festival from her school, there were no teachers to accompany her. They were just given the phone number of a local contact who was not available.
Sundar Lal, an auto rickshaw driver, could not raise Rs 800 to rent a room for his family. The family stayed put in the main venue after the last performer left the stage. They spent the nights crammed on the empty chairs, hugging their children and their belongings, including Sowparnika's dance costumes and paraphernalia. They relied on the pubic wash room to change dress.
The family managed to raise a little money with contributions from their relatives. Archana even had to mortgage her gold chain at a pawn broker.
Her story has struck the right chords. The Sree Satya Sai Orphanage Trust will build her a house, executive director K.N. Anandakumar said. Sowparnika is assured of a house on a three-cent plot near the Sai Gram at Thonnakkal. Sowparnika lives with her parents in her ancestral home because they do not have a house of their own.
The trust has also promised to take care of her education.
Manorama had offered a Nalla Padam scholarship to help the student pursue her dance training. Sowparnika is also helped out by her teachers and relatives.
