Mysuru:  It is always amazing to see incredible talent in children and that is why many of them are called child prodigies. There is one such prodigy in our own city that has this capability to write alphabets of not one or two languages but 13 languages including English, Hindi and Kannada at a time when most children find it difficult to memorise and write alphabets of one language.

Her other talent is to write with both hands not only alphabets but also eight different types of figures. She is M. Shalini, daughter of A. Manjunath and Latha, residents of Sunnadakeri in city, who can write alphabets with both hands at a time and also draw figures. Shalini, who used to write alphabets from a very young age, has now added one more talent to her repertoire that is drawing figures.

She draws the figures of Ganapati, Saraswathi and other Gods and Goddesses with both hands that too upside down, drawing admiration from people. Shalini so far has exhibited her talent in about 145 places and won several talent awards and her aim is now to create a world record.

Thirteen-year-old Shalini is an eighth standard student at Ideal Jawa Rotary School who with the encouragement from her father has been practising relentlessly to draw figures. She is the winner of ‘Kalashri’ Award (2010) instituted by the State Government and has also participated in the Zee Kannada TV’s ‘Shahabash India’ and Tamil TV’s ‘Makkala Rangan’ and won awards.

“Seeing Shalini write with both hands on the slate at the age of two-and-a-half years, we got scared and showed her to a doctor. After examining her thoroughly, the doctor said that she had no problem. Further the doctor said that this was a special talent she had which should be nurtured. Hearing this, we were very happy and after that we have supported her. My main desire is to see that Shalini’s name appears in the world record books,” says A. Manjunath, Shalini’s proud father.