The fact that the Central Board of Education made art education mandatory is a testament to the fact that art can really help broaden the horizons of the mind. And a good example of this is Aditi Anand, a 14-year-old who credits art for all the causes it has awakened her towards. Being passionate about art, she enrolled in several competitions and naturally, the competitions were themed around the different aspects of the environment. One thing led to another and before she knew it, she was participating in an art competition conducted by UNESCO and travelling to Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, as a part of it. On a separate occasion, she got to meet celebrated author Ruskin Bond as her reward for winning Landmark's Child Reading to Child Initiative. My word, hasn't she been a busy bee! But there's more. She recently received the Prathibha Pallavam award in Guntur and she even travelled to Bengaluru to attend the Young Leaders Achievers Camp. Quite a packed schedule for a teenager, we think. "The camp helped me understand better what I want to do," says the student of Delhi Public School, Secunderabad. 

So happy: Aditi receiving the Prathibha Pallavam award | (Pic: Aditi Anand)

As a child, Aditi was drawn to colours — everything from colourful balloons to banners would catch her eye. And since attending an art class in class IV, she has been experimenting with various mediums, "I haven't adapted to the digital medium yet, I still love the feel of holding a brush and paper," explains the class X student. Another one of her loves is reading and it all started with Enid Blyton. She even started her own blog recently called Hakuna Matata. But it was only recently that she realised that she can use her art and her words to bring about a change. Now, she's not only appealed to Natural Ice Cream (a popular chain of ice cream parlours) to stop the use of plastic spoons, she has even appealed to her own school to reduce the use of single-use plastics. She also wants to approach the Government of Telangana and request them to ban plastic. Being animal lovers, she and her family also provide care to seven stray dogs. Adding to all this, Aditi also loves writing screenplays and performing and is a part of the Nishumbita Ballet And Theatre Group. Oh I almost forgot the fact that she's also working on her own book! "I am passionate about understanding people which is why I want to pursue psychology when I grow up," says the young girl who clearly likes to keep her hands (and her heart) full.

Some of Aditi's art work