The goddess of learning, Saraswati, graced different institutions in the city, while engineering college students let their creative juices flow. If it's the month of Saraswati, learning new things could hardly be far away. So, students of one institution told their fellows about the importance of organic farming. Another college invited speakers to talk on the need for women to have access to information and communication technologies in today's age.
NIT-Patna students busy with a competition during Melange and Corona on the campus. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey
Festive feast
Over the weekend, students of different colleges were in a mood to pray. They couldn't afford not to. Goddess Saraswati was in and her blessings were of foremost importance.
Students of various institutions, including Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and Magadh Mahila College, celebrated the festival with gusto in their quest for knowledge and wisdom.
Celebrations at the health hub took note of everything - prayers and fun. On January 24, the students performed the puja and the next day, they organised a cultural programme.
'PMCH students have been celebrating Saraswati puja for the past 40 years. It is very important for us because this festival gives us an opportunity to spend quality time with our batchmates, faculty members and former students,' said Rakesh Kumar, the president of Junior Doctors' Association of the health hub.
The MBBS students also organised a grand feast for their seniors and faculty members of the college. While the feast after Saraswati puja is usual every year, this time was special because of Republic Day.
At JD Women's College, the music department organised a performance on Saturday. Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simhadri also attended the puja.
Creative mix
Melange and Corona, the techno-cultural fest of National Institute of Technology, amped up the competitive spirit at the college this past week. Starting on January 23, the fest came to a close on Tuesday.
Under Corona, students from NIT and other engineering institutes in the city tried their hands at nine events under Robotics and Yantriki (mechanical), Byte world (computers), Concrete (civil), Ohm (electric) and Aayam (architecture) rounds.
In the Robo relayto (robotics) competition, participants had to cross four obstacles with a robot, while in Embeddo coder (a paper-based objective test) participants' knowledge of integrated circuits and programming skills were judged.
Different clubs of the institution, including Sanhita (literary), Kalakriti (art), Nrityangana (dance) and Raaga (vocal), held as many as eight events during Melange. Clay modelling, an elocution contest and quiz also attracted the students.
The highlight of the fest was Streets, a daily free style dance show where the participants could dance as they please to a rhythm played by a dance jockey.
Carmel High School students attend the organic farming workshop at Patna Women’s College on Tuesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh
Back to roots
The eco task force of Patna Women's College organised an organic farming workshop on Tuesday where other students of the institution and girls from Carmel High School were made aware about the process of organic cultivation.
Close to 150 students took part in the workshop.
Smriti, one of the eco task force members, said: 'Organic farming is not a new concept, it's been followed from ancient time. We are trying to reincarnate the old method. Through this workshop, we are trying to educate the students about organic vegetation and its benefits.'
Principal Sister Marie Jessie was pleased with the students' initiative.
'I am happy that the eco task force is taking such things seriously. It's a good step to promote organic cultivation. Today, the world is steeped in pesticides and scientific agriculture but these techniques are harmful. We should try to adopt our old methods of farming to stay healthy.'
Tech boon
The computer science department of Patna Women's College organised a seminar on information and communication technology and women empowerment on Thursday. Faculty members of colleges in Delhi, Dehradun, Calcutta and Jharkhand attended the seminar as did students of the host college.
The faculty members first gave presentations and then invited questions from the audience.
Ranjit Kumar Verma, the pro-vice-chancellor of Patna University, was the chief guest. He said: 'Women's access to education and need-based technologies are imperative for sustainable development in developing, over-populated countries such as India. Information and communication technology is opening up new vistas of development. The college has given the students an opportunity to be a part of this discussion and be aware of the benefits of technology and its importance in modern education.'
Sister Marie Jessie, the college principal, encouraged her students to ask the esteemed visitors questions to clarify their doubts.
She said: 'Information and communication technology is a powerful tool for gender empowerment.'
Roshan Kumar, Shuchismita Chakraborty and Faryal Rumi
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