February 14, 2010 witnessed a rare get together at Cochin. The venue was NUALS and Model Technical HSS Kaloor. Children from all parts of the State assembled there along with their parents and  attended the event conducted by the FOPIK (Federation of Parents in Kerala). The event was a tearful but colorful commemoration of a young boy who left the world on the same day last year.

In a State like Kerala, where every banal segment owns an association, FOPIK stands out with their unique vision and mission. This association has born out of tears and they meet together to work for a world without tears. It is an association of parents, a segment which possess the greatest responsibility and anxiety over the to-be-citizens.

It was on the same day last year, Nandagopan, a talented student, a late boon to his parents, has swept away in the Mullamkuzhi river, which is considered to be the jaws of death for the natives. At least 70 people had been drowned in its hood winking whirlpools of about 40 feet deep. The FOPIK members said that it was not advisable for any schools to conduct an excursion trip to such a dangerous place. In spite of these words  and the mandatory rules to be maintained while conducting a school tour,  137 students were sent with only 3 teachers to manage. This is happened just after the Thattekkadu boat tragedy.

Media was gagged when the tragedy came out, and Nandagopan’s parents lost their one and only child, for ever. The whole mass presented were left with no word before the heart broken parents and some of them have made a decision to instill the gravity of this event to the whole parent sector in the state. That was the origin of FOPIK, the name itself conveys the sense and sensitivity underlying its mission.

On gearing the launch, they conducted an Elocution competition, in Ernakulam District, under the banner Vinayan Memorial. This was in remembrance of a parent of Eroor Bhavans School.

As a part of their networking, this year, they conducted an Inter-School Drawing Competition at Kaloor, Cochin, with the active participations from the whole State. At the entrance of the venue, a smiling Nandagopan welcomed his friends coming from distant places. It was a pencil shaded picture drawn by his friend. It looked so natural that one must think as if life was blown into it. Little hands from all over the State, scribbled a lot of pictures with oil pastels and water color, which turned to be the tributes to a lost and unseen friend. When leaving the venue they turned back again and again to have one more look at the darling face of Nandagopan.

After the competitions there was a Painting Workshop led by the renowned artist Mr.T.Kaladharan. It was very useful as well as informative for the whole children irrespective of the medium with which they draw pictures. The presentations were done in the presence of the parents. It is also a part of their vision to make the parents aware of their part to nurture the talents inside their children. The organizers provided lunch in the premises for those who are coming from far away places.

Meanwhile, the evaluation process was also over and at about 4.30 p.m. the results were announced. Children were divided into 5 categories, according to their age group, and in each category 10 prizes had been given away. Amazingly, every first prize winner has got a cash prize of Rs.1000/- , 1500/- and Rs.2000/- as per their category and the 10^th winner got Rs.250/- under each category, along with certificate and a memento portraying  the smiling picture of Nandagopan.

Nandagopan Memorial Trophy for the Winning School has also been given away and incidentally it passed on to Bhavans Adarsha Vidyalaya, Kakkanad, Nandagopan’s own school. The trophy was given away to the exhilarated winners by none other than Nandagopan’s father

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1. Caricature artist Jayaraj Warrier felicitated