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Sanskriti 2002- witnessing a spectacle
One short look
at Sanskriti 2002, the Jadavpur University Arts Faculty organised
annual college fest
The college
fest (or University, or faculty fest) that is held at Jadavpur
University is, perhaps, unlike any other. Unfortunately one cannot
use words of high praise while describing this fest, which is
rather unique for some unfortunate reasons. While in other college
fests the student attendance increase, here at JU, it decreases.
Reasons could be many, and my guesses would include:
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In Jadavpur
University at least three fests are organised by the three
faculties in the University - all of them called Sanskriti,
by a peculiar Bengali chauvinism. Thus within the short span
of about one month during the winter fest season we have three
Sanskritis organised by the Engineering Faculty, the
Science Faculty and the Arts Faculty. Needless to say that besieged
by such profusion of festivals, the student loses interest and
attachment in such events.
-
The sense
of belonging towards an institution that is evident in other
places is miserably missing in this university.
-
The events
are held in such lacklustre fashion, and feeds upon such
monotony of tradition and dull imagination, that the student
cannot be held culprit if the events deny any temptation.
-
Except for
the Engineering Sanskriti, which receives rather heavy
patronage from the corporate world, the events lack
sponsorship and are thus dull events. The onus of attracting
sponsorship lies, however, with the organisers.
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The event
is held over a three-four day period. The interest is thus
dissipated.
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This year
the Sanskriti (organised by the Arts Faculty) has been staged
at the Open Air Theatre (OAT) which is situated at the fag end
of the campus. It loses out on patronage from the Engineering
students who have their classrooms at the other end of the
campus.
-
In general
the JU students are very unexcitable.
It wasn't
surprising, therefore, that we found so little reason to disturb
our daily routine at college, and introduce such a shoddy and
lacklustre event as Sanskriti into our consciousness. However, I
found reason enough to go the the OAT. This is the first time in
my stay at the University that the fest had been organised at this
spot, and naturally there was curiosity as to how it looks. But
the real tempter was the Choreography competition. For as long as
I have witnessed Sanskriti, I have always felt that the most
popular event is the Choreography competition. One gets to see all
the beautiful and talented girls of the university dancing on the
stage, and if one remembers that all girls worth watching are in
the Arts Faculty, then it becomes crystal clear why the event goes
house full.
For the last
three years (if my memory does not deceive me) three girls from
our class have been winning the event. Their dance had attained a
very predictable feature, and one could guess extra-meritorial
considerations coming into play- all the girls were popular,
extremely vivacious, and beautiful. This year as well three girls
came on the dance floor- the same winning combination, with one
player being replaced. The introduction saw the incantation of an
incomprehensible mantra which nobody could make a sense of (keep
in mind, they were from the English Department), a feature which
had been used the previous year as well. And then the surprise
package- the very popular dance number Jiya Jale from the
film Dil Se was played in Tamil, instead of in Hindi- God
knows why! It would be inappropriate for me to comment anything
upon the quality of the dance, but it was rather interesting for
reason which cannot be specified here. And that one of them danced
a lot better than the other two was more than perceptible.
Honestly, the
most enjoyable number was given by a group of seven guys from the
Economics department. The best number was given by a male female
duo who danced with the Bengali song 'Kono ek gayer bodhu'. But,
as far as I am concerned, the most interesting number was given by
the girls from our class. True, one of them stumbled at the fag
end; true, they could not repeat the previous three years when
they won the event, but they did well to step upon the stage.
Perhaps participation is more important than winning, and more so
when you don't have to prove anything, when you have already
proved your credentials.
19 January,
2002
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