Children Create a New Landmark in Chennai

U.S. Consul General Andrew Simkin helps NalandaWay children fill in the colors of the Indian flag on the mural.

On January 3-4, 30 underprivileged school children painted a colorful mural on the outside wall of the U.S. Consulate General Chennai (Anna Salai side) designed by Padma Shri Thota Tharrani. Teaming up with NalandaWay Foundation for this project, the mural painting was part of NalandaWay’s Children’s Festival “Art, Arattai, Aarpattam.”

Set against a backdrop of famous American and Indian landmarks, the 115 foot long and 4 foot wide mural portrays the challenges, hopes and dreams of the children as they look towards a bright future. The underlying message is that children everywhere, in the U.S., India and across the globe, share these dreams. The multi-colored mural has already created a buzz in the city, through media reports and much appreciation from the thousands of people and visa applicants who pass it every day. Consul General Andrew Simkin said that he was “thrilled” to be part of the project, which worked with children to produce messages and themes of Indo-U.S. cooperation and brotherhood.