QUILLS AND CAMERAS

Yuvabharathi hosted the 'Quills and Cameras' event on June 17, 2025, which included the launch of 'The Loud Silence' book and a Wildlife Photography Exhibition, authored and orchestrated by the students, showcasing the school's initiative for environmental conservation. The day also marked the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

Mr. D. Venkatesh IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore and Field Director of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, and Mr. N. Jayaraj IFS, District Forest Officer, Coimbatore, presided over the event. Mr. Anand, member of the School's Management; Mr. Sanjeev Anand, the Correspondent; Mrs. Nehaarika Sanjeev; Dr. P. Pramod, Senior Principal Scientist at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore; the Principals of the sister concerns; and other guests graced the event. Mrs.Geetha Jayachandran, the Principal, welcomed the gathering. Mr.D. Venkatesh unveiled the book and received the first copy from Mr. Anand. Mr. N. Jayaraj also received a copy from Mr. Sanjeev Anand.

'The Loud Silence' is an account of a yearlong student-led project titled 'The Birds of Krishnampathy Lake', completed under the guidance of Mr. Sathish Ramamoorthy, Founder of TREE NGO. The students of the school's Photography Club, Shutterbugs, mentored by teachers Mr. A. Abdul Rahim and Mr.R. Dineshkumar, took photographs and documented the birds spotted at the lake and their habitats during the 2024-25 school year. They spotted 106 bird species and studied the environmental deterioration of the lake, which led to the action of spreading awareness about conservation. The book features photographs of the avian diversity of Krishnampathy Lake, along with a detailed account of the project.

Mr. Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, IAS, Collector of Coimbatore, appreciated the thoughtful contributions of the students and the mentors in the foreword of the book. Videos on the Birds of Krishnampathy Lake and Bandipur National Park were screened, showcasing the fieldwork done for the book and photography exhibition. Mr. D. Venkatesh and Mr. N. Jayaraj praised the school's efforts to encourage young minds to work for environmental conservation. Dr. V. S. Senthil Kumar, IFS, appreciated the initiatives taken by the school management to promote ecological awareness and conservation.

The book launch was followed by the inauguration of the Wildlife Photography Exhibition by Mr. D. Venkatesh, which featured about 550 photographs of birds and wildlife shuttered by students during the "Birds of Krishnampathy Lake project" and their visit to Bandipur National Park. A section of the same featured the photographs clicked by the alumni, too. The exhibition, open to all students and parents on June 17th and 18th, 2025, garnered appreciation from everyone.