Jubiliation after touching base at Howrah station. Picture by Aranya Sen

The train pulled up, doors opened, the youngsters poured out and mayhem reigned. “Long live India” and “long live Pakistan” were shouted in the same breath. Then, they sang a Pakistani song they had learnt in the three days spent at the Schools Educational Olympiad at Karachi High School. While one student was taught how to use the e-mail by a Pakistani friend, another was touched by the Hindi words of brotherhood from an illiterate taxi-driver. Here’s what some TTIS team members had to say about mission Pakistan.

The friendliness and warmth of the common people bowled me over. It was overwhelming. A sweet-seller talked to me about Haldiram’s, and a lady in a McDonald’s took a photograph of herself with us when she heard who we were and why we had gone to Karachi. The shopkeepers literally gave things away to the kids at throwaway prices. I had gone to Pakistan to ensure that no parent should feel the pain of losing a son to war, the way my husband and I have. We can’t often speak openly, but the grief is always in our hearts. I was moved by the understanding, sympathy and affection from people when I talked about my son (Anirban), even retired army officers. I learnt a lot from them, and I would love to do more such exercises in future.

Shukla Bandhopadhay,
Teacher, St Teresa’s

We had all thought the people would be conservative, but they weren’t. In fact, at one point, when we were going up on stage, a Pakistani girl, a student, wolf whistled. When I came back, I told her to do it for the camera, because no one would believe me if I told them in India. I had taken a lot of questions from my students for the children there, and I have brought back about 40 replies, taped on my handicam. And they’re all very interesting points of view. The rest, the kids promised to write in reply directly to my students. We invited all the schools there for a Friendship Fest in October, as a reciprocal gesture.

Michael D’Cruize,
Headmaster, National Gems

They thrive on everything Indian, from democracy to Bollywood, sandesh, rasogolla and laddu to clothes and jewellery. Our favourite pastime was playing antakshari, and they sang only Hindi film songs. And Karachi is so like any other Indian city, you won’t know it’s in Pakistan till someone tells you. And they’re so friendly. I’ve already received four phone calls from students in Karachi, and one from Lahore, just to say hi. The scroll of names of potential pen friends I had taken with me from my school, we presented to a Lahore school. Also, I have brought back 40 names and addresses from Class XI students.

Ankita Rathi,
Student, Mahadevi Birla Girls’

After our long journey, when we finally reached Karachi late in the evening on January 15, we were exhausted. But the reception we received made us forget about our tiredness. Wherever we went, people hugged us, and all the shopkeepers gave us huge discounts and reduced prices by more than half when they found out we were from India. One shopkeeper was almost in tears while talking to me. He said his sasural (in-laws) is in India and he loves coming here when he can. In fact, students from a Lahore school cancelled their flights just to stay with us for two extra days.

Satwik Ghosh,
Student, Apeejay School

 

My school principal was born in Lahore, and she hadn’t been back since she left as a child. So, before I left, she gave me a picture of herself to show there. When I told them her story, they were very emotional. I presented her photograph to the principal of Karachi High School. She then displayed it for all to see.

Swagoto Mallick,
Student, Modern English Academy, Barrackpore

 

Street legal

Continuing the mission of the founder vice-chancellor of NUJS, Prof N.R. Madhava Menon, to be a law school with a difference, the legal aid society, under Prof N. Konar, and a team of five students participated in the 2nd Legal Awareness & Counselling Camp in Kandi, a sub-division of Murshidabad district. The camp, held on January 14, was attended by more than 350 villagers.

The district administration supported the camp, with the block development officer, the vice-president of the local panchayat samity and the additional district judge of the Kandi court joining in. The secretary, faculty and students of BC Law College, Kandi, were also in attendance, along with the local Bar.

The NUJS team comprised Shameek Sen, Devika Banerji, Abhiroop Mukherjee and Bodhisattwa Das from fourth year and Paromita Dasgupta from second year. The villagers were made aware of their fundamental rights and duties, vis-a-vis the police, consumer protection, matrimonial laws and human rights. Around 60 legal problems were addressed by Prof Konar and Anandamay Dutta, both retired district judges.

The district magistrate of Murshidabad, Manoj Pant, MLA Atish Sinha and Prof B.S. Chimney, vice-chancellor of NUJS, encouraged the team to keep up the good work. The first of a series of such proposed legal awareness camps was held in Sanyalchar village of Nadia district last December and many more will follow.

 

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the valedictory session at St Xavier’s College. Picture by Amit Datta

Token of thanks

Valedictory 2004 was organised at St Xavier’s College on January 16, with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as chief guest. A welcome dance was followed by a video presentation and a report on the college for the year 2003-04. Then came the valedictory message from the chief minister.

A distribution of awards for excellence saw the meritorious students, retired staff and teachers completing 25 years of service being awarded tokens of appreciation. Father Patrick Eaton and professors Rohinton Kapadia and Kushal Sengupta were among the teachers who were acknowledged for their dedication to the college. A vote of thanks was presented by Father Eaton. Next up was a song-and-dance session, followed by the felicitation of some deserving students. The young people also had the chance to get themselves clicked with their professors and the administrative staff.

— Harsh Vardhan Sonthalia,
3rd year, B.Com, St Xavier’s College

 

Passion for fashion

Wigan and Leigh College (WLC), Calcutta, is organising a fashion design competition, Expressions, Year 2010, for Class XII and first and second year college students. This year, WLC has invited the whole eastern region, with Guwahati, Cuttack, Patna and Shillong participating. There are 192 schools and colleges which have signed up.

The only requirement from students is the imagination to visualise fashion in the year 2010, and interpret their expressions accordingly by creating two-dimensional designs in black and white or colour. The entries can be in water colours, colour pencils or paper collage. It should be handmade and presented in A3 format, with an explanation of the approach towards the theme and its expression in about 150 words.

The artwork should be either a male or female clothing item, an accessory (earring, pendant, scarf, hat, etc) or a textile print. The theme of Year 2010 is futuristic, enabling students to look into the future and challenge the ideas of fashion and set new trends.

The panel of judges will represent different sectors of the fashion industry, from fashion journalists and editors, to designers, retailers and artists. The first prize is Rs 5,000, second prize Rs 3,000 and third prize Rs 2,000. Results will be declared on February 5.

 

Fair weather

An international education fair had been organised recently at the Calcutta Ice Skating Rink, from January 16 to 18, by a’fairs. The fair was meant for students planning to go abroad for higher education, or looking for an international degree in India. Foreign education agents, as well as consultants and representatives from leading institutions in USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere, provided information regarding graduation, post-graduation, diplomas and vocational courses. The highlights of the fair were the seminars conducted by the United States Educational Foundation in India and the DAAD-German Academic Exchange Service.

— Suchi Arya
Ist year, English, Loreto College

 

Silver celebrations

The silver jubilee celebrations of Montessori House of Children were held on January 17, at Sukanta Mancha. Poet Krishna Basu was chief guest, while singer Indrani Sen performed on the occasion. Some teachers and ex-students were felicitated.

A cultural programme, was the highlight. Nursery rhymes by the toddlers were followed by a Bengali drama. Vande Mataram and other songs were sung. After the choreography show, some teachers took the stage for a dance. On till January 20 are exhibitions, competitions and shows at the school.

— Stuti Agarwal,
Class X, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan