CHENNAI : Anyone can lend a hand. This was perhaps the metaphoric message in Chennai’s observance of International Biodiversity Day (May 22). To mark the day the Tamil Nadu state office of the Centre for Education (CEE), in association with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), attempted to set a Guinness record for the largest handprint canvas of 6,000 sq m. N Ramjee, scientist-in-charge of CEE’s state office, said, “The idea came to us at the very last minute. We want people from all walks of life to stop and support the cause of biodiversity conservation by leaving a handprint.”The event started at 5.15 am and white canvases were laid out near the Kannagi statue and Labour statue at Marina Beach, at Besant Nagar beach and outside the GRT Hotel in T Nagar. At each centre there was a biodiversity conservation pledge, in English and Tamil, on display to create awareness among the masses. The theme of the event, as explained by volunteers present, was ‘marine ecosystems’.“So far we have had close to 1,200 people showing their support,” said an enthusiastic Ramjee at 11.30 am, albeit a little weary of the summer heat. He quickly added, “That’s about 450 metres, let’s hope we make the record. We wrap up by 8 pm.”The fact that the campaign was held on a weekday proved a dampener, one must admit. Not to mention the low turnout of student volunteers. “In fact, our plan was to reach out to more people by sending these canvases to residential areas and the fishing community by the sea,” reveals Dr Shriji Kurup, programme co-ordinator of the state office, CEE. However there is no doubt that this effort has touched a large section of the city’s residents who weren’t aware of the cause earlier. Kurup smiles, “I remember we had a big bunch of enthusiastic kids this morning, laughing and dipping their hands in the paint.”That’s the beauty of a handprint; it doesn’t matter if you’re too young to read, you can still stamp your support. The most endearing sight was the ragpicker who stumbled forward uncertainly to ask, “Can I put my hand too?”
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