The rhythmic beats of drums and melodic notes of flutes filled the air at GSSS Boys as school bands from across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands competed in the State-Level School Band Competition, organized by Samagra Shiksha under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The annual contest, held under the nationwide initiative to promote patriotism, discipline, and teamwork among schoolchildren, aimed to identify the top band teams to represent the Union Territory at the Southern Zonal Level Band Competition in Telangana. Successful teams there will advance to the national level.
A total of seven teams , three boys’ and four girls’ , participated, with performances judged by eminent Band Masters from the Navy, Army, and Police Departments. Participants were evaluated on musical skill, synchronization, rhythm, and overall presentation.
In the girls’ category, GSSS Girls emerged as winners, while GSSS Model Sri Vijaya Puram and GSSS School Line bagged the second and third positions respectively. Among the boys’ bands, SSS VKV Lamba Line secured first place, followed by GSSS Boys and SSS Nirmala.
Dr. Jatinder Sohal, Director (Education) in-charge, presided over the valedictory ceremony as chief guest. He praised the dedication, discipline, and teamwork displayed by students, urging them to strive for excellence in the upcoming zonal and national events. Dr. Sohal also presented trophies to the winning teams, congratulating their instructors for maintaining the tradition of musical excellence in schools.
Earlier, the event was inaugurated by Gyansheel Dubey, Head of Office and DDE (Academic), who encouraged students to perform with passion and bring laurels to the UT through their musical talent.
The competition not only fostered cultural and artistic growth but also encouraged camaraderie and school spirit among students. Officials noted that such initiatives under Samagra Shiksha help instill leadership qualities, discipline, and respect for teamwork , all integral to holistic education.
As the winning teams prepare to represent the islands at the zonal level, the event reinforced the idea that music and education together can cultivate both creativity and patriotism among the youth.
