Wayanad: Students of Vellaramala GVHSS in Choorlamala reveal their story at the inauguration of the 63rd Kerala School Youth Festival

Seven young souls transported a tale of suffering, hope, and rebirth from the foggy hills of Wayanad, scarred by the wrath of nature, to Asia’s largest school cultural festival. At the opening of the 63rd Kerala School Youth Festival, the students of Vellarmala GVHSS in Chooralmala shared their story, their actions interlacing the themes of resiliency and survival.

These experiences were brought to life on stage by the seven young actors—Veena, Sadhika, Ashwini, Anjal, Rishika, Shivapriya, and Vaiga Shibu. These kids, who are from the landslide-affected area of Wayanad, amazed the audience with their survival tale. The dance weighed the burden of individual loss and communal suffering as it was performed on Central Stadium’s main stage.

Over 200 people were killed and countless more were left homeless when Wayanad was hit by a succession of enormous landslides on July 30. Vellarmala School was one of the most severely affected, and the effects of the tragedy are still evident there.

It was the beating heart of a people emerging from the ashes, not just a dance. The fear of the landslides, the power of community solidarity, and the will to rebuild and rise again were all shown in their performance. The youngsters, dressed in school uniforms, started their performance in a subdued manner, strolling as if they were going to class. However, the tranquility quickly gave way to mayhem, with the ground shaking, the waves roaring, and life vanishing.

Every action and gesture conveyed their loss—homes destroyed, hopes postponed, and futures unknown. The dance did not, however, finish in hopelessness. Declaring, “Vellarmala will rise again; we will rebuild, we will overcome,” it rose to a crescendo of optimism.

Neither getting to this point nor navigating the storm of their life was an easy road for them. They traveled over rough roads in buses and jeeps, traveled long miles by rail, and arrived at the capital city as brave ambassadors. The hearts of thousands of people who saw their narrative were their goal, not simply the Kalolsavam stage.

Their instructor, Anil Vettikkattiri, choreographed the dance, while Narayanankutty wrote the lyrics. Their performance turned Chooralmala’s strength into a live memory. The crowd stood up, applauded, and embraced these young warriors as their narrative was inscribed not only in the soil of Chooralmala but also in the hearts of all those who saw their trip.

Counseling sessions assisted the pupils in overcoming the trauma of the landslides. Their performance at the school youth festival served as both a release for their feelings and a ray of hope for others who had experienced such traumas.

Along with the cheers they received, they also took the hope of a better future for Vellarmala and beyond with them as they left the platform. They were honored with a souvenir by Education Minister V Sivankutty.