Students take part in a group dance at the annual Gloryfest held in Puri and (above) actor Sumit Suri and actress Reyhna Malhotra perform on the inaugural day of Kairavi at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Alma Fiesta 2014, the socio-cultural fest of IIT, Bhubaneswar, unleashed its epic fifth edition with an array of events on January 10. Traditional folk dance Gotipua, which was organised in association with Spic Macay and performed by a group of young boys, gave a befitting start to the fest.

The second and third days saw participants in large numbers taking part in various competitions. More than 450 participants from various colleges across India took part in the event. The fest saved the best thing for the last. The cultural extravaganza concluded with a concert by band Agnee. About 6,000 youngsters from across the city came to hear the mellifluous tracks of Agnee.

Students from 50 universities across India took part in the three-day national-level cultural festival Kairavi that was inaugurated at KIIT University on January 10. Actress Nandana Sen and actor Karan Oberoi graced the inaugural session. “Expressing freely is the most important factor of being an actor,” said Nandana Sen, while urging the young guns to do a little extra for the betterment of the society. Karan and Nandana answered many queries from the participants. Among others, filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda, Sahil Anand, Sumit Suri, Preet Kamal, Reyhna Malhotra, John Makinson, Bishakh and Kanish performed at the cultural event. Students took part in various sections such as music, theatre, photography, dance, painting and workshop.

The annual Gloryfest held in Puri concluded on January 12 after providing platform for the youth to showcase their talent. Dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, the 19th edition of the five-day fest featured as many as 21 types of contests including debate, extempore, group discussion in Hindi, Odia and English, singing in light vocal, folk and recorded dance. About 400 participants from 24 colleges and varsities across the country took part. A seminar on the theme “The Youth and the Vedanta: Swami Vivekananda’s Views”, in collaboration with Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi, was hosted on the occasion. The concluding evening witnessed a musical night where Sonu Nigam’s sister Teesha performed with reality show artiste Aman Trikha.

International Management Institute, Bhubaneswar, hosted its two-day annual fest, Phronesis, on its campus where management events such as Finplan (Financial acumen), Finquizitive, Optimix, Espiritu Equipo and cultural events such as RyhthIMIC Taps, Fashion Stylus Reflections & Maniacs etc were held. The fest concluded on Tuesday with a management conclave on “Emerging Trends in Luxury Market in India, Luxe 2004” hosted by mediaperson Ankit Vengurlekar. Students from various institutes such as the IIMs, FMS, Narsee Monjee Institute, SIMB, IBS, XIMB, BIMTECH, SSU, RCM, Utkal University, BIITM, OEC and IIT-B took part in various events of the fest.

Seminar on rights

A two-day national seminar on “Indigenous people and their rights: Issues and challenges” sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, was organised by the Centre for Canadian Studies, Berhampur University, on January 10. Vivek Pattanayak, former acting director-general, International Civil Aviation Organisation, addressed the gathering. He outlined the history of the aboriginal people and the process in which they have gradually been marginalised. He laid emphasis on protecting their social, cultural and constitutional rights.

In his welcome address, vice-chancellor of Berhampur University Deepak Kumar Behera dealt with the problems of the tribals and opined that their social-cultural traditions had to be protected while considering the development of these marginalised people. K.K. Basa, another distinguished guest, spoke on development of tribals in the era of globalisation and protection of their rights over land, forest and water. He also laid emphasis on the rights of tribal women. He said that any development in the tribal areas must take into consideration their partnership to avail future benefits.

In his keynote address, S.N. Ratha focused on the very definition of indigenous people with various interpretations and the problems being faced by tribals in the contemporary period. Prachi Kaul, programme officer, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi, discussed the possible areas of co-operation between Berhampur University and SICI. Biju SICI president Paul Abraham, who is also a professor of public policy and management at IIM, Calcutta, highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge of indigenous people and laid emphasis on its utilisation in modern industry, particularly biochemical and pharmacy industries. On this occasion, he released a newsletter published by the Centre for Canadian Studies. About 100 delegates from various parts of the country and abroad attended the seminar.

Arts and sports

A six-day workshop in sculpture making was organised by Charu Kala Mahavidyalaya, Balasore. The workshop, organised in association with Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta, saw 40 students of both the institutions taking part.

Balasore College of Engineering and Technology observed Fakir Mohan Jayanti on January 13 on its campus. The speakers on the occasion remembered the contribution and struggle of the doyen of Odia language when its existence was at stake.

Gangadhar Meher College (Autonomous) of Sambalpur recently organised its annual sports meet. More than 500 students of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of took part in the sports meet, which was organised on the ground of the institution.

Sports events, such as 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 5000m sprints, long and high jump, shot put throw, discus throw, javelin throw and many more games were organised during the 71st annual sports meet of the premier institution. Renowned athlete Sundermani Barik graced the occasion as chief guest on the concluding day of the sports meet and distributed prizes among the students. Somya Bibhar emerged as champion in the boys’ category and Sabita Ekka emerged as champion in girls’ category.

A student donates blood at a camp organised at Aryan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar and (above) a team of doctors and paramedics at the cath-lab of the Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital. Telegraph pictures

Cardiac care

Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar, signed a memorandum of understanding with Thiruvananthapuram-based Meditrina Hospital for expert care and guidance in cardiac care and cardio-thoracic surgery. It would help the medical college to have expert cardiac surgeons from across the country and abroad to come to Bhubaneswar and help solve the cardio-thoracic problems faced by the patients.

“There will also be options to get better services through affordable fees as we are going to have the experts who were innovators themselves in the various cardiac interventions,’’ said P.K. Pradhan, head of the cardio-thoracic unit at Hi-Tech Medical College.

Alumni meet

The alumni association of Elite Institute of Science and Technology, a residential college at Biribati on the outskirts of Cuttack, celebrated its annual cultural meet on January 19. With a melodious cultural programme, the present and former students staged a series of activities. Institute director P. Sarangi asked the students to concentrate on their day-to-day duty. Alumni of Steward Science School, Cuttack, met on January 19. Many achievers were felicitated on the occasion.

Blood donation

A blood donation camp was organised in Aryan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar, on January 15 in association with Bharat Bikash Parishad. About hundred students and staff members donated blood on the occasion. Additional commissioner of police Santosh Bala, inaugurated the camp as the chief guest and asked the students to lead a disciplined life.

Pratyush Patra, Sunil Patnaik, Subrat Mohanty, Sibdas Kundu