Sri Vijaya Puram: When brushstrokes and words become tools for advocacy, awareness takes a creative turn. This was the spirit behind the World No Tobacco Day competitions held on May 31 across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where the power of visual storytelling and personal reflection merged into one mission: a tobacco-free future.
Organised under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the day saw two island-wide contests, Poster Making and Essay Writing, that invited entries from people across ages and backgrounds. The theme, “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference,” served as both a warning and a rallying cry, asking participants to reflect on how targeted marketing and cultural acceptance of tobacco continue to impact younger generations.
In the poster category, Amar Biswas (28) emerged as the winner with a visual that reportedly merged stark imagery and subtle symbolism. L Lishma Shann Mathew (27) took second place, while the third prize went to 12-year-old Saamvee Kaligithi, who was also one of the youngest contestants in the top bracket. Consolation prizes were awarded to Nandini Mistry (23) and K Shruti (18), whose entries were praised for originality.
The essay contest, meanwhile, turned into a stage for personal storytelling, social critique, and policy appeals. Diya Bawali (20) clinched the first prize for an essay that traced tobacco’s influence across generations in her community. Samira Banu (31) and Prajakta Roy (17) followed with strong second and third-place finishes. Consolation awards went to B Sirisha (18) and Shaheen Begum (31), whose essays also touched upon media influence and school-level awareness.
What stood out across submissions was a shared urgency, each piece, whether drawn or written, was not just an entry but a statement. Many participants wrote about personal encounters, such as family members struggling with addiction, or classmates exposed to tobacco use at a young age. The posters, too, avoided generic slogans and leaned into bold metaphors, lungs turning to ash, toy packs resembling cigarette boxes, or slogans warning of a “smoke that never clears.”
The contest awarded Rs. 3000 to the first prize winners in each category, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 1500 to the second and third positions respectively, and Rs. 500 each for the two consolation awards. But beyond the prize money, it was the visibility and validation of these young voices that gave the event its weight.
The NTCP team emphasized that involving citizens through participatory platforms like contests brings nuance to awareness efforts. “It’s one thing to hand out a pamphlet about the dangers of tobacco,” said one of the organizers informally, “but when a 12-year-old illustrates that message, or a college student pens a story that feels real, people listen differently.”
And that different kind of listening is what the campaign hoped to spark. With increasing reports of youth exposure to e-cigarettes, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco even in remote areas, the need for early intervention is more critical than ever. This year’s theme, with its specific focus on shielding children from industry tactics, seemed to strike a nerve, and activate a community.
Schools, NGOs, and youth clubs across the Islands played a key role in mobilising participants and spreading the word. In some areas, teachers conducted pre-contest sessions on tobacco impact; in others, parents got involved, helping their children conceptualize posters or refine essays.
As the entries now make their way into digital and public exhibitions, the hope is that the contest will have a ripple effect, igniting conversations in homes, classrooms, and public spaces.
Because if a poster can make someone pause, or an essay can make someone reconsider, then the first step toward a tobacco-free Andaman has already begun.
