THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “I want to see that golden trophy one more time. One touch would be enough. I just need that”; When 82-year-old Chirayinkeezhu Sreekanthan Nair said this, his lips were unusally trembling while tears filled his eyes. Sreekantan Nair is the sculptor of the 117 Sovereign Gold Winners trophy, the main attraction of the school art festival.

Sreekantan Nair still keeps dear every news coverage related to the Golden Trophy. However, a feeling evoked in him to see the cup one more time as the school arts festival is returning to his hometown, Thiruvananthapuram. But none of the organizers showed courtesy to invite Sreekantan Nair to the event. The first reception for the Golden Cup procession, which started from Kasaragod, will be given at Pattom government higher secondary school on Friday evening. Sreekantan Nair now lives in Pillaveedu lane in Kesavadasapuram. A simple show of generosity from the authorities would give a lifetime of joy to this octogenarian.

Valampuri Shankh raised in clasped hand, above folded book. This is the model for the trophy designed in 1986 by Sreekanthan Nair, a former art teacher in the Department of Education.

“The conch in the cup represents the sound, the book represents knowledge, the hands represent effort and the seven bangles represent the seven tunes,” said Sreekantan Nair.

Poet Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon came up with the idea of ​​a golden trophy for the School arts festival when he saw the gold cup awarded to the winners in a football match held at Maharajas College of Ernakulam. TM Jacob, the then-education minister, decided to make the concept a reality. Sreekantan Nair, who excelled in creating poetic pictures, was assigned the task.

The cup was expected to be completed with 101 sovereign gold but ended up with 117 sovereign gold.

Sreekantan Nair also worked as an artist for newspapers including Kerala Kaumudi for a long time. "Kerala Kaumudi nurtured the artist in me," he said proudly.