All dressed up: Some of the participants at the fancy dress competition

On the bright sunny morning of February 8, St John’s Diocesan Girls’ H.S. School had its annual sports day. The school ground was ready for the occasion. Students from nursery to Class IV participated with great enthusiasm in the three-hour battle between the Green, Blue, Yellow and Pink houses. The first event of the day was for pre-primary students. It included races like flat race, off to market, off to school, baby’s day out, at the zoo, choose your partners, jalebi race and shoe race. From angels to tribals to brides, the fancy dress competition had them all and was a big hit with the audience.

It was then the turn of the primary students who participated in various events like a colourful drill display, freehand exercises, gathering fruits for winter, packing picnic boxes, a clown race, a memory test and a skipping race. There were also special games for teachers and staff.

At the prize-giving ceremony, gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to the winners. Blue House emerged as the overall winner while Pink House got the silver. A vote of thanks by the head of the pre-primary department brought the event to a close.

Shatabdi Jayaswal,
Class XI, St John’s Diocesan Girls H.S. School, Calcutta

Assam
Rok Rak ’n’ roll

The 35th annual college festival at Diphu Government College (DGC) was held from January 17 to 22, 2008. Various competitions — from sports and debate to music — were held to showcase the talent of students. A prize distribution ceremony was held at Rangshina auditorium on the last day of the fest to honour the winners. Ratul Teron, secretary of the badminton association, Karbi Anglong Sports Association (KASA) and S. Dey, an international volleyball referee, were the guests of honour.

In the evening, there was a musical programme in which students performed to the latest Bollywood hits and Shakira’s ever popular Hips Don’t Lie. The audience loved it and screams got even louder when the popular Rok Rak, a modern Karbi rock band, took the stage. Rok Rak has Sarnongja as lead singer, Eduardo Millick on bass guitar, Jimmy Tisso as lead guitarist and Langkai Terang on the drums. They had everyone on their feet with their great vocals and rocking rhythm.

All in all, the college fest ended well and although the participants and audience were fewer in number this year, the event was successful in discovering the hidden talents of students.

Atom Taro,
H.S.-II (Science), Diphu Government College, Diphu, Karbi Anglong, Assam

CALCUTTA
Junior champ

The quest of Nat Geo Junior Hunt 2 was to find an Indian kid who embodied the values that National Geographic stands for. The National Geographic Channel (NGC) chose 20 students from among four lakh participants from classes V to VIII across 10 cities. Jahnvi Popat (Class VI) and I (Class VIII) were chosen from Calcutta, after a gruelling set of tests.

We were then taken to an adventure camp organised by NGC in collaboration with Youreka at Sitlakhet, a scenic spot in the mountains, about 35 km away from Ranikhet in Uttaranchal. Here, we were tested on our adaptability skills among other things, and eventually, three other participants and I reached the finals.

We then went through extensive grooming sessions with the British Council in Delhi, where we were given tips on how to improve our public speaking, extempore, debating and teamwork skills.

At the end of it, my joy knew no bounds when cricketer Rahul Dravid announced my name as the second Nat Geo Junior. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a great learning opportunity. I hope that such programmes are conducted in the future as well to provide students with more exposure and a platform to showcase their potential.

Neha Jain,
Class VIIIB, Birla High School (Girls)

CALCUTTA
Filmy fun

Giving students three full days of “infotainment” as they call it, the students union of Calcutta University organised the 12th film festival and academic exhibition at the centenary auditorium of its College Street campus. Held from January 30 to February 1, the festival was inaugurated by film-maker Gautam Halder. Films like Bhalo Theko, Parzania, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Ajantrik, The Great Dictator, La-Strada, Hazaron Khwaishen Aise and Chak De India were screened, drawing a full house each time. The success of the film festival reinforced the fact that films still a hot favourite with Calcuttans.

Ananya Dey,
Journalism & Mass Communication, CU

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