The Farewell frenzy has spread like wildfire among the students, especially the seniors, most of whom can’t stop gushing about how they are going to look in saris.  “I’m really excited for the Farewell. Everywhere in college, it is the only topic of discussion. Everyone is asking the same question to each other, ‘Which color sari will you be wearing?’. I’m really looking forward to it.” said Harika Jain, a final year B.A. student. Malise Paul, another senior said,   “I’m really excited about wearing a sari. However, I’m also a little sad that college is over. I’ll miss all my friends and lecturers.” Some students have also made plans to party after the programme. Neha Singh, a 3rd year Mass Communication student said,  “My friends and me have pooled in money and we are going to go to 10D after the programme. We’ll dance and have lots of fun!” She further added,  “We are really excited about dressing up in saris. Yesterday we went shopping and bought heavy and expensive saris exclusively for the Farewell. Later, we’ll be going to buy matching accessories.”

The juniors have come up with a short programme for their beloved seniors which includes 2 group dances, one by B.Sc students and the other by B.Com students. The former has a fusion theme whereas the latter’s theme is a girl’s journey from school to college. Dona Ghosh, a 2nd year B.Sc student and one of the dancers in the first dance said,  “We started practicing on 3rd march and are really excited to perform. We will be dancing on a medley of Desi girl, Twist, Taal, Uff teri ada and Zoobi doobi. We are trying to create a fusion between Indian and Western.” Surabhi Bhandari, a B.Com student and one of the dancers of the other group said,  “We are going to depict the various stages of a girl’s life from childhood till the college farewell. The songs that we have chosen are ABCD….., Chak dhoom dhoom, Paathshaala, Aaj main upar, Khud ko kya samajhti hai, 10 on 10, Remix, Main tera dhadkan teri, Hai junoon and Jaane nahi denge tujhe. We are really looking forward to performing for our seniors.”

Apni toh Paathshaala, Masti ki paathshaala! Credit:Mystical Vigilante

Members of the Miss Francis organizing committee at work. Credit:Mystical Vigilante

Taal se Taal mila! Credit:Mystical Vigilante

The programme also includes the prestigious ‘Miss Francis’ contest, which is like a beauty pageant for the outgoing students, but with a francisian twist. Over the years, this contest has gained immense popularity and the number of girls vying for the coveted crown have greatly increased. Aditi Rao, a 2nd year B.Sc student and one of the members of the Miss Francis organizing committee said,  “We are working really hard to ensure that this year the contest sets the bar at a great height for the ensuing year. There were many entries this time, so we conducted a preliminary round which was a written test with personality based questions and picked out the final 15 who will compete on the day of the event. The upcoming rounds are Introduction and Talent, a quiz to test their know how about St. Francis & finally, judges’ question.” She further added,  “We arranged for sashes and crowns for the winners. The crowns are really pretty. I’m going to compere the event for the 1st time. I’m really excited about it.”

The Miss Francis contest has become a thing of  tremendous importance and honor to the participants. Sheetal Iyer, one of the finalists this year said,  “The whole idea of Miss Francis creates excitement. It is a privilege to bear that title. Even being a part of the contest is an honor. Being one of the finalists shows that we have carved a niche for ourselves in college over the years.” Disha Pancholi, another finalist said,  “I won the Miss Fresher 1st runner up title in my 1st year, it was then that I decided that I want to be Miss Francis. I am very attached to St. Francis. So, when I saw my name on the list of finalists it was like a dream come true. If I win, I will be deeply touched.”

However, not everyone is going gaga over the Farewell. Sunaina Bhagwandas, a B.A. final year student said,  “After 3 years of being in the same place, I’m so tired that I can’t wait to get out of here. I’m not really looking forward to the Farewell. Mostly I won’t come on that day.”

Love it or Hate it, but the Farewell at St. Francis has surely got all of its students talking about it and they definitely had one hell of a time preparing for it!

The food at the canteen seemed to get mixed responses from students.

While some students loved the food, others thought it was oily and unhygienic. Haritha Singh, a student of B.Com 2nd year said,  “I really like the canteen, especially because everything is so reasonably priced. I love the muffin, sujon sticks and dosa. The music that is played there is amazing!”. Apoorva Maramraju, a student of B.Sc 1st year said,  “The food in the canteen is awesome! Especially the chole bhature, aloo tikki and the ice creams. Even the prices are reasonable. The only problem is that the food is too oily.” She further added,  “There are some rocks in front of the canteen. We climb on them and eat our food on the rocks! It is a different high!”

The fresh fruit juice stall. Credit:Mystical Vigilante

Frooti "on the rocks"! Credit:Mystical Vigilante

Inside the St. Francis Canteen. Credit:Mystical Vigilante

The food being too oily emerged as the common complaint regarding canteen food among students. However, many of hem thought the food was tasty inspite of this flaw. Aditi Rao, another student of B.Sc said,  “Yes, I agree that the food is very oily, but it is very delicious. My favourite is sujon sticks, which is like a desi version of french fries. It is yummy!” Another common complaint was that the food was not very hygienic.  “The food is too oily and is unhygienic.”, said Hansika Sawhney, a student of B.Com 3rd year. She further said,  “The food is just not that good and I wouldn’t prefer eating there. One can’t expect too much from the ambience too.”

But, for Afshan Musani, a final year B.A student, the canteen is much more than just a place to get good food as she said she has many memories attached with it.  “I will miss the canteen a lot. Especially the dosa and the Chinese bhel. Even the people who manage the canteen are really friendly and the atmosphere is very welcoming.” she said. The people who manage the canteen at St. Francis are almost like stars in the college as most of the students can’t stop singing praises for them. Deepika Phakke, a 2nd year student of B.M.S. said,  “The people in the canteen are very cooperative.I am a representative of the

Placement cell of the college and they helped us many times in arranging for refreshments for our guests during various activities. Sometimes they even kept the canteen open till 5 pm.” She also said,  “I really like our canteen. When we are low on money, it is our last resort. Even though the food is oily and not very hygienic, when we are really hungry all that doesn’t matter!”

Garama-Garam Dosa! Credit:Mystical Vigilante

The menu of the canteen. Credit:Mystical Vigilante

Students enjoying a plate of Sujon sticks. Credit:Mystical Vigilante

However, there are a few students, who do not hold a very high opinion of the canteen. Samantha Moss, a student of B.A. 2nd year said,  “I don’t like the food served in the canteen. I think it is very unhygienic and it does not even look appealing.”  It is evident from students’ comments that inspite of having some strong positive points, the St. Francis college canteen leaves much to be desired. Perhaps this is why the students are overflowing with suggestions to make the canteen better. Monisha Dorothae Pinto, a student of B.M.S. said,  “The menu should be revamped as it is very monotonous. Apart from that, I think it is pretty good. It is the perfect place to sit while bunking classes.”  Snigdha Agarwal, another student of B.M.S said,  “The canteen is crowded and stuffy all the time. Something should be done to tackle this problem. There should be more variety in the menu and recharge cards for all leading mobile phone networks should be made available.”

Though the canteen at St. Francis is not perfect and has a wide scope for improvement, it manages to carve a niche for itself in the hearts of all francisians. It is a place where friends unwind while listening to foot-tapping music infused with sounds of hearty laughter and munching on tasty food. No wonder it lingers on in the hearts and minds of all students in the form of cherished memories for a very long time.

The much-awaited programme began with a lovely prayer song by the nightingales of the college. They invoked the Muse of St. Francis of Assisi to grant serenity and grace in their natures, wisdom and courage as their shields during adversities and to ensure that the beacon of love and empathy for fellow beings in their hearts remains forever shining. Attired in purple robes, laced with gold, the members of the choir lent their voices in true spirit of love and humanity. The Lamp Lighting Ceremony served as the auspicious beginning to the show. The Principal, Dr. Sr. Alphonsa Vattoly was then called upon the stage to address the gathering and inspire the students with her encouraging words. She said, “My beloved students, you are at the threshold of a new phase in your lives as you leave this great academic institution. I welcome you to the event with the prayer song. I wish that you may blossom and prosper with the divine guidance illuminating your lives forever.”

The Celebrated Choir. Credits : Zainab Rangoonwala

Appreciation of meritorious students in academic and extra-curricular activities is imperative so as to motivate them to work harder and achieve their most cherished goals. The Prize Distribution was thus next on the agenda. Gold Medals, Certificates and Awards were given away for Proficiency, Scholastic achievements in individual subjects, Scholarships and excellence in sports, community awards for services to NCC (National Cadet Corps)/NSS (National Social Service), et al. It was indeed a pleasure to see the audience cheer the deserving students. On this occasion, numerous shields and awards were also given to the faculty and administration in acknowledgment to their loyalty and services. “I own this prize, but truly I owe it to God, my family and my lecturers”, remarks Aarthi Rajendran from B.A IIB, a recipient of the Silver Medal for Proficiency.

The Prize Distribution Ceremony having successfully ended, gave way to the equally anticipated second half of the programme for the day – Farewell to the outgoing batch. The Farewell Party is a formal event of every educational institution in which the senior-most batch is bid adieu after having completed their term of study. It is a nostalgic occasion, evoking bitter-sweet emotions amidst tears and smiles and bringing back happy as well as sad memories. “As goes the saying, ‘what you have is not as important as what you become, it is my prayer and sincere wish that the quality education that has been offered to you in this college has helped you become better individuals and empathetic to others. Wish you all the Best”, observed the Principal, Dr. Sr. Alphonsa Vattoly.

The Principal addressing the gathering. Credits : Zainab Rangoonwala

The Prize Distribution. Credits : Pens Eve

The Winners of the Proficiency Award. Credits : Pens Eve

“The Farewell was a great experience. We bonded with the entire class and also with the teachers”, shares Esha Kedia, a final year student of B.Com Professionals. “These three years have shown me my true self, exposed hidden facets of my personality and made me my true being. All possible opportunities are given here to make a person a better human being. From vital values to pride, from strict rules to lovely Principal, from simplicity to latest trends, from knowledgeable teachers to freaky friends, from open-gate system to 75% attendance, from regular classes to superb canteen, this college has it all. What more can a student ask for?”, gushes a nostalgic Disha Pancholi, a final year student of the college. “Everything has to come to an end and so will these pages of my life. I wish I had got an opportunity of never turning these pages. But life has to move on and so I will walk proudly out of St. Francis, with it as my shadow, with the values given by it as my wings, to break through the skies and go beyond rainbows”, she adds.

Prizes for the faculty. Credits : Pens Eve

The Miss Francis Contest was the eagerly awaited segment, in which, fifteen accomplished final year Francisians, selected by staff and student advisors, participated on a common platform, displaying their expertise in respective fields for the much-coveted title of ‘Miss Francis’. The Contest was no less than a renowned beauty pageant. Dressed in ethnic traditional wear, the Farewell hallmark, glamorized saris, authentic jewellery and fashionable footwear, the contestants walked with panache, answered questions with poise and performed with élan. The ‘Show Your Talent’ round was a complete entertainer with someone playing the piano, another dancing on a popular Bollywood song, someone rendering the soulful rendition of another popular number, something out-of-the-box like displaying clothes designed by them and radio-jockeying. This was a reflection of the widespread talent present in abundance in today’s youth.

“I think the contest was amazing, a great experience for them as well as for me. I was surprised to see the amount of confidence that they portrayed while speaking, dancing, singing or walking. And I’ve surely taken good tips from them. It was fun watching too!”, exclaims Divjyot Chawla, from B.Com Professionals.

The Miss Francis Contest. Credits : Pens Eve

In the next round, the contestants were asked mind-boggling questions about their Alma Mater. “My friends and I usually put up a dance performance for any programme in college and we were expected to do the same this time too. However, we chose to organize the prestigious Miss Francis Contest as we knew we wouldn’t get this opportunity again. We thought of whacky and interesting questions to make it ‘hatke’ and the round became a big hit. We asked questions about college and not many knew the right answers in spite of spending three years here!”, says Jui Mukherjee, a second year student of Mass Communication. “Over the last two years, I’ve made some really good friends among the seniors and I’m going to miss them”, she adds.

The results of the Contest were announced to the jubilant cheers of the audience. Sneha Kothari from B.Com was the proud owner of the Miss Francis title. She was also given the title of ‘Miss Talented’. Isha Anjali Chandra from B.A Psychology was the First Runner-up along with the titles of ‘Miss Best Dressed’ and ‘Miss Bindaas’. Sheetal Iyer from B.A Mass Communication was the Second Runner-up as well as holder of the ‘Miss Popular’ title.

'Show Your Talent'. Credits : Pens Eve

It was then time for the seniors to sit back, relax and enjoy the afternoon with their friends. The celebrated choir presented a medley of songs appropriate for the occasion and the second year students of B.Com and B.Sc performed dances. “I’m obviously filled with a certain amount of sadness. It isn’t easy to leave familiar and well-loved people and places. However, Farewell also brings with it a great deal of excitement about what lies ahead”, says Swathi Kandru, a final year B.A Psychology student.

The programme ended on a solemn note as the words of the Principal remained upper-most on every student’s mind, “Life is precious. God gives us just one life to live and we must make it beautiful.”

Here’s wishing a warm farewell, good luck and sincere wishes to the outgoing batches of this academic year!

Cheers to a bright future!

The day began with a seminar by Mrs. Anita Punj, IPS, who is the Deputy Director of the Academy, Research & Coordination. She briefed the students about the following points

• The history of the Academy
• Its development over the years
• Its various traditions like formal dinners, passing out parade, shramdan etc.
• The facilities available on campus
• The organizational structure of the Academy
• Its activities
• The basic course of the trainees, their co-curricular activities and
• Annual events

Students with Mrs. Anita Punj, IPS. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Demonstration in FATS room. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Ready, Aim, FIRE! Credit: Mystical Vigilante

The students were intrigued by the various aspects of the course of training in the Academy. Nivedita Chakravarti, a student said,  “The trip was a good wake-up call for people aspiring to get into the private sector to join the Civil Services and serve the country. It is very easy to sit back and criticize the police. After seeing the tough training that they go through, I have new-found respect for the police. It has given my aspirations a new dimension. My favourite part of the trip was the presentation by Mrs. Anita Punj, which was very informative. Even the demonstration in the Fire Arms Training Simulator (FATS) was interesting.”

The FATS i.e. Fire Arms Training Simulator is a recent development in the Academy that allows trainees to practice shooting without the wastage of bullets and cartridges. In this system, the guns are real but the cartridges aren’t. It uses a laser which shoots the virtual target on a large screen in the front. One of the trainers and 2 trainees demonstrated its working to the students and many students even volunteered to try their hand at shooting. Karthika Anagha, another student said, “The FATS demo was the best part. The entire trip was very informative. The Academy is named after the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel. It inspired me to take up a career in IPS. I also liked the library, which had many books on police subjects as well as general knowledge and fiction. The gym was well equipped and it inspired me to stay fit!” Mona Agarwal, one of the students said,  “The trip was very nice. I didn’t expect government facilities and infrastructure to be so well updated with the latest technology. The academy focuses on churning out mentally, physically and morally efficient police officers, which is great for our nation. The way Mrs. Anita Punj made a mark in this field inspired me to do something similar. The shooting in FATS room was amazing. I also liked the Forensic Dept. where various crime scenes had been simulated for training purposes.”

Students examine a simulated crime scene. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Elementary dear watson! Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Explaining the crime scene. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

The students were also shown the Forensic Department, where 3 crime scenes had been created using mannequins. A trainer explained to them how little details in the crime scene speak volumes about the crime and the importance and procedure of collecting evidence properly. Pramoda Ayapilla, a student said,  “I felt the crime scene simulators were the best part of the trip.” She further added, “I realized after going there that I actually had no idea about the Civil Services. My interest has grown now. The entire Academy is so well maintained. I’m really inspired to write the UPSC exam now.” Sushma Nanduri, another student said, “I loved the firing demo in FATS and the crime scene simulators. Now that I know how IPS officers get trained, I really want to pursue a career in this field. After seeing Mrs. Anita Punj, I want to see myself in that position someday.”

However, not every student was inspired to join IPS after the trip. Poonam Jain, a student said,  “The trip was refreshing & it made me feel proud. But, I don’t want to join the police force because I really love Psychology, my other subject and want to build a career in that field.” Shabnam Malani, another student said,  “It was really good to see that such good training is being imparted to future police officers. However, I’m not really inspired to join IPS.”

Gymming Hard. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Library Facility. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Awards. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Finally, the students were taken to the guest house, which had a beautiful view of Mir Alam Tank.  “The view from the guest house was really beautiful!” said A. Shiva Tejaswini.

It can be concluded that the trip was a success and it inspired many students to give a serious thought to a career in IPS. The demo in FATS and the crime scene simulators emerged clear winners when it came to the best part of the trip according to students. The rigorous training that the police officers undergo and the complexity of their jobs makes it evident that a career in the IPS is highly taxing & demanding. Hats off to the Police officers of our nation!

The SVPNPA is located at Shivrampalli, Hyderabad. It trains IPS officers who have been selected through the All India Based Civil Services Examination. The duration of the course is a little over 2 years.Earlier in 1948, it was called the Central Police Training College & was situated in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. In 1967, it was renamed as National Police Academy. In 1974, it was re-christened as Sardar Vallabhai Patel national Police Academy, named after the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel and in 1975, it was shifted from Mount Abu to its present location.

For more information about SVPNPA, visit the Academy’s official website www.svpnpa.gov.in

Flags of various nations. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Landscaping at SVPNPA. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Students enjoy the view from the guest house. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

A resident of Purana Pul, Mr. Narsing, started this business of his in the year 2004. He has a wide array of accessories that young girls use these days – from ear rings, bangles, bracelets and necklaces to studs, hair clips and rubber bands. The price of these ‘must-haves’ is very reasonable, ranging from Rs. 5 to Rs. 100. Not only does he bring simple and stylish accessories from Begum Bazar, Secunderabad and Char Minar, he also manages to rope in a few from Mumbai as well. These items are served by him to the students of St. Francis College as if on a palette, for affordable prices. “My brother visits Mumbai and I update my stock once in 15 to 20 days”, he says. “I started my business with a very small heap of rubber bands and ear rings. The response of the students is very good, and I now have larger variety”, he adds.

At work. Credits : Shubhra Jain

He is at work six days a week, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, outside St. Francis College. While on Sundays, ‘his avenue self-revenue’ changes to General Bazar, Secunderabad. When asked about what he does when the educational institutions are off for holidays, he says, “I go to other colleges like Bhoj Reddy College at Santosh Nagar, Vanita College at Nampally or the Government College at Begumpet.”

“We can’t enter or leave college without noticing his collection, which is hung very appropriately. He’s planted himself outside a girls’ college and that’s a brilliant strategic plan”, feels Nandita Mahajan, a second year student of the college.

Mr. Narsing’s assortment of fancy jewellery is popular with the students as well as the lecturers. “The way he keeps things is very attractive, knowing very well that youngsters like junk jewellery”, says Celeste Li, a student of Psychology. The customers are not restricted to St. Francis College alone. “Students from Villa Marie College often buy things from me too. However, the residents of the area do not buy much”, he says.

Conversing with the students in Hindi, English or Telugu accordingly, Mr. Narsing has made a mark for himself. “He is aware of the college timetable and has his schedule worked out accordingly. He winds up early when there are fewer students or when there’s some important function in the college. With very flexible marketing strategies, he is an ideal business person”, opines Mrs. Ritwika, Lecturer, Department of English.

Although the ‘pavement store’ does not have boards like ‘Fixed Rate, No Bargaining’, his reputation for the same is quite established among his customers. “I have a fixed rate for all products and do not entertain bargaining”, he states. Pointing out the difference in rates, he says, “Hair bands cost Rs. 90 in regular stores, while I sell them for a meager Rs. 10. My profit margin is only 10% while it is as much as 60% in the bigger outlets.”

The Wide Range of Collection. Credits: Pens Eve

He does intend to expand his business and open a store, but realizes that, “there are too many issues for opening a store. Things will fall into place when the right time comes”, he shares.

“It is the appropriate blend of target customer, right product and perfect timing. I like the constancy in the prices – it adds to his values, says Titiksha Jain, a first year student.

Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a success, rather try to become a man of value.” And this is exactly what Mr. Narsing is trying to do.

patterns with prices which were easy on the pocket.It helped many trend-conscious youngsters give their wardrobe an awesome upgrade in a reasonable price, especially the girls from St. Francis College, most of  whom sport a new Numaish kurta or chappal almost every day!Some of them voiced their opinions about the Numaish. Saheli Chakravarti, a BA student of St. Francis College expressed her views “Awesome stuff in reasonable prices!” she said.

It is a widely accepted fact that shopping is like therapy for women as it performs functions like De-stressing and rejuvenating . But, the shopping at Numaish seemed to strike a better chord with the girls in the city as most of the times, the mere mention of ‘Numaish’ brought a big smile and an expression of barely controlled excitement to their faces. The reason for this is evidently the affordability of the items sold. Karthika Anagha, a Mass Communication student said,  “Youngsters like us need a lot of variety, and variety doesn’t come cheap. Numaish is like a boon for us. There is a wide range to choose from and it is easy on our pockets too. You can’t expect the stuff to last for a long time though. The trick is in buying a whole lot which lasts till the next Numaish!” She further added,  “I bought 4 pairs of stylish chappals and 2 kurtis from Numaish within a budget of just Rs. 800!”

POMA chappals! Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Converse look-alikes for just Rs. 125! Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Stylish pencil heels from Numaish. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

B. Priyanka, a Literature student said,  “I bought 3 pairs of chappals for just Rs. 150 each, a Kashmiri kurta for Rs. 350 and a Bandhni sari for only Rs. 200.”  Not only is the collection at the stalls affordable, but it is also very much in vogue.  Swayam Siddha, a final year student said,  “My friend bought red pumps for just Rs. 200 and a cool watch for Rs. 150. I bought a pair of yellow peep-toes for Rs. 125 & a kashmiri suit.”  Nivedita Chakravarti, a 2nd year student said,  “Within Rs. 2000, I bought 9 pairs of chappals which include gladiators, tie-ups, buckled sandals, ethnic kolhapuri mirror-work chappals, oshos and POMA chappals!”

Fake brands like POMA & RKB were also available at the Numaish, but this didn’t seem to bother the buyers as long as the items looked fashionable and pretty. Jui Mukherjee, a BA student said,  “I bought a pair of POMA chappals inspite of it being a fake brand because they looked very cute. I wanted to buy a nice pair of converse shoes from a very long time which would have cost me at least Rs. 600, but I found these converse look-alikes at the Numaish for just Rs. 125. I also bought a very trendy pair of pencil heels which look very expensive. My friend and I bought two pairs of chappals, one in pink & one in yellow and exchanged one chappal of each pair. Now we have a pair of chappals with two different colours for each foot! It looks really cool!”

Students compare their Numaish chappals! Credit: Mystical Vigilante

A student shows off her kurta from Numaish to her friends. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Cool chappals with different colours on each foot! Credit: Mystical vigilante

Although chappals & kurtas emerged as the most popular items among girls, even bags and accessories like artificial jewellery had many takers. Deepa Bisht, a Psychology student said,

“I got anklets, bangles and black metal jewelery from Numaish for just Rs. 200.”  The hip city girls also know the tricks to obtain the already affordable items at even lesser rates. The 1st trick, which is the most popular, is bargaining and the other is tactful timing. Neha Singh, a BA final year student explained,  “We went on the very last day of the exhibition and bought chappals for prices ranging from Rs.20 to Rs. 40!”

An affordable wadrobe upgrade from Numaish. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

Rajitha Sanaka, a Mass Communication student spoke about the reason for Numaish’s wide appeal. She said,  “The reasonable prices are the first thing

that appeals to us students. The main plus point is that we can buy many things at a lesser price. We spend Rs. 1000 on 1 dress outside, but at Numaish we can buy 4 dresses in the same amount. The added advantage is that we can go with friends and have fun while shopping & bargaining.”

The Numaish is a sure shot hit with the trendy girls of Hyderabad. Those who have missed the opportunity this year need not worry, there are just 10 months to go for the next Numaish. So, keep counting the days.

To read further on Numaish the event, please read an article by our reporter Silent Beeper “Numaish – Fun Filled Exhibition“

There was also a ‘dance therapy’ in the beginning, where students danced their worries away to some foot-tapping music. There were stalls for kurtas, accessories, stoles & scarves, nail art, chocolates and chat. Shwetha Rachel Deshbandhu, a student of MSc said,  “The fete is nice, it is new and fun. I feel there should’ve been more stalls. I got nail art done. It was a little expensive, but it was good.” The nail art stall was crowded by onlookers as students got intricate designs painted on their fingernails.  “I’m getting nail art done. They are charging Rs. 150 for both hands. I think it is reasonable.” said Pooja Jain of BA.

The kurtas’ stall was another one, which attracted a big crowd. Other stalls, which seemed to be a hit among students were the stalls for chat, stoles & scarves, chocolates and accessories. Priya Shanti, a student of B Sc said,  “The accessories are good & fashionable. The kurtas are good, but their rates are too high. Even the accessories are overpriced. I picked up a simple bracelet and it was for Rs.150.” Majority of the students seemed to think that the kurtas were too expensive as the prices ranged from Rs. 200 to Rs. 650. Bhanu Pravadanvita, a B Com student said,  “The kurtas are nice, but they are costly.” She also said, “I went to the chat stall, the pani puri was amazing!” The chat stall was among students’ favourites. Divjot Kaur, another B Com student said, “The chat was really good. I enjoyed it.” Though many students loved the chat stall, Divya J., a 3rd year B Com student was of a different view.  “The chat stall was a complete rip-off!”, she retorted.  “One plate Pav bhaji is for Rs. 30 and it doesn’t even taste that great. I prefer the Pav Bhaji in the canteen where it for just Rs. 2o.”

Dance therapy in full swing! Credits: Mystical Vigilante

The nail art stall. Credits: Mystical Vigilante

The chocolates stall. Credits: Mystical Vigilante

The rates being too high appeared to be the common complaint of every student.But, it was a completely different story at the stoles & scarves stall where the prices ranged from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100. An elated Afshan Musani, a BA student said,  “The stoles are amazing and ridiculously cheap. I already bought 2 and I’m going to buy another one. The colours are vibrant and the material is good too. It is very reasonable.”

When it came to the most popular item at the fete, the chocolate mousse at the chocolates’ stall emerged a clear winner. Amina F., a student of B Sc said,  “The chocolate mousse is out of this world!” The mousse was priced at Rs. 40 a cup, but no one seemed to complain this time.   “The chocolate mousse is awesome!”, said Shwetha Gandhi of BA. However, there were a few students who weren’t all praises for the mousse. Snehapriya T. of B Com said,  “The mousse is just liquid chocolate. But, it tastes good.” Harpreet Chawla, another B Com student said,  “I know how to make chocolate mousse and this is not chocolate mousse. But, it is tasty.”

Though the fete brought a smile to many francisians’ faces and provided a much needed break from routine, it did not really make up for the cancellation of the fests.  “This didn’t really make up for the fact that we didn’t have a fest this year. It was more of shopping than like a fest”, said Afshan Musani. Sree Varsha, a BA student said,  “The fete was nice. But, it didn’t make up for the fests being canceled.  Still, it was a great way to break monotony, it offered some relief.”

Deepa Bisht, a member of Psycon explained the reason behind organizing the fete.  “We had taken money from the sponsors for the fest and we spent a part of it on posters and publicity. Then, it got canceled and thus, we need to repay the sponsors. So, we thought of having a fete.”, she said. Sushmi Wilson, another member of Psycon said,  “The fete was a success. The turnout was good. At first, we were instructed not to disturb on-going classes. But, students actually bunked classes and came for it. When the Principal saw the response, she invited all students and teachers to join.” She further added, “Though the fete was fun, it didn’t make up for the cancellation of the fest in any way. A fest is something totally different.”

Students at the kurtas stall. Credits: Mystical Vigilante

Students eating Pani puri at the Chat stall. Credits: Mystical Vigilante

The quadrangle buzzing with acitvity. Credits: Mystical Vigilante

The void created in students’ hearts by the cancellation of the fests may be too large to fill as a college fest is something, which can’t be replicated. Despite this fact, the students of St. Francis came forward and had fun on Wednesday, thanks to the fete.

The 20 minute ballet consisted of 3 classical and 3 folk dances namely; Mohiniattam, the classical dance of Kerala; Ghoomar, the folk dance of Rajasthan; Kuchipudi, the classical dance of Andhra Pradesh; Bengali folk dance; Kathak, the classical dance of Uttar Pradesh and Bhangra, the folk dance of Punjab. Each dance form was performed by 2 students in the above mentioned order and finally, everyone came together for ‘Jai ho’.

The Bhangra dancers go "Balle Balle'! Credit: Karthika Anagha

Deepika Shankar, a B Com student said, “It was really great to see various regions of India represented in one performance. Usually, the dances are not so well choreographed.But this time, the coordination was excellent. People aren’t normally interested in classical & folk dances, But as this had many short performances put together, it left a mark.”  Sushma N, a 2nd year BA student seemed to second Deepika’s view, “I loved the way many cultures of India were brought together in one performance. Though everything was done by students, it appeared very professional”, she said.

The performance struck a chord with the students and some of them even picked out their favourites out of all the dance forms shown. Karthika Anagha, another student of BA said, “I loved the Kathak and the Bhangra.” She also pointed out that it was the ‘desipann‘ of the dance that made it so popular. “It was the indigenous element of the dance that made it so appealing.”she explained.  Snigdha, a student of BMS said, “I liked the fact that the dance wasn’t western for a change. The Bhangra was ‘jhakaas‘! It was so full of energy that even I felt like dancing!”

Some students even managed to pick out a favourite among all the dancers. Monisha Dorothae Pinto, another BMS student said, “I really liked Aditi’s performance in the Kathak segment. Her expressions were amazing!”.  She further added, “The message of unity in diversity was clearly put across through the dance. It was vibrant and colourful. Thankfully, the programme didn’t have a boring skit like always. The performance was appropriate for the occasion. I’m sure the guests from Italy learnt a lot about India from it.” Mohua Mazumdar, a B Sc student said, “I didn’t come to college that day and I’m really sad that I missed the dance. I heard from my friends that it was really great. Roopa, one of the Kathak dancers was praised by everyone.”

The Bengali and Kathak dancers strike a pose. Credit: Mystical Vigilante

It was evident that Kathak was the most popular among the students.Aditi Rao, one of the Kathak dancers, a student of B Sc said, “We were happy to showcase our Indian Culture for the guests from Italy. It made us feel very proud and brought out the spirit of patriotism in all of us. We all had a lot of fun during practice sessions too. I am actually not a Kathak dancer, inspite of this my performance was appreciated. After this. I’m inspired to learn Kathak. ”

It was incredible how a dance seemed to cast a spell on so many people and ignite the spirit of oneness and love for the motherland in all of them. Ashritha, the only final year student of all the performers shared her feelings

about the dance, “It was an opportunity for people like me who learnt just one dance form to see a lot of other dances. Dance is a highly communicative medium and that day, it created a different atmosphere in the auditorium. The video shown as a prelude to the dance helped in setting the mood. ‘Jai ho’ in the end was the icing on the cake, the song symbolizes a lot and it established an immediate connection with the audience as it got us many awards recently and made us proud.” she said.

In a mood to celebrate after the show. Credits: Karthika Anagha

However, just as it seemed like the performance was absolutely impeccable, Chalin Sawang, a student of BMS pointed out a negative aspect of it. “Nothing was included from the North-Eastern region of India, it was completely left out. Something from that area should have been included.” she said. Despite this flaw, she still liked the dance, “The costumes were awesome. The Bengali dancers were looking fantastic in those saris. It was a refreshing change from the usual Bollywood remixes and Hip-Hop dances.” she added.

It can be easily concluded that ‘Dances of India‘ was a huge hit at St. Francis. This stands testimony to the fact that even the jeans clad, hip-hop fans are still desi at heart. After all, ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.‘

Several organizations like the IYCN (Indian Youth Climate Network), NGOs like Spoorthi and service organizations like Helping Hands for All and COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), the Rotary Clubs and the Rotaract Clubs of various colleges joined hands towards a common motive to spread awareness among the general public and minimize the use of plastic bags. Swetha, Anil, Bharat and Ranga Prasad from IYCN, Mahesh and Bhargav Raju from Spoorthi, Sampath from Holy Mary and Vyshnavi from Human Resource and Development College were the brains and the back stage workers behind the event.

The entire General Bazaar comes to a standstill and is completely bowled over by these environment enthusiasts! Credits: Candy Floss

A whopping total of 200 youngsters had gathered at the Parking lot of the Sanjeevaiah Park at 12 pm to discuss the strategy of the programme and to prepare banners and posters. A total of about 150 banners and placards were prepared with the centre of attraction being the huge ‘Plastic Man’ and ‘Cloth Man’. The Rotaract Club of St. Ann’s College, the JNTU College of Architecture, St. Francis College, Holy Mary College, the Human Resource and Development College along with the Andhra Pradesh Environment Connect (APEC) contributed a great deal towards the success of the rally. The actual rally began at 3 P.M. when this huge group of youngsters started off from the Mahatma Gandhi statue at General Bazaar. The participants were divided into many groups and had their respective team leaders leading them.

These budding environmentalists marched through Park Lane, taking a left at the traffic signal from where they took a left at the Paradise junction. On their way back, they came to a halt at two or three shopping complexes and gave the public a ‘flash mob rally’. All through the rally, there were slogans like “No fun with plastic, more fun without plastic!”, “Chodo chodo plastic bags, lao lao cloth bags” high up in the air. “Participants turned out in such large numbers that we, the organizers, were taken aback! In fact, as the rally gained momentum, many passersby and NCC cadets also joined us. Mahesh and I had to run around the Superintendent of Police and the local traffic police to grant us permission to allow the rally to proceed”, says an enthusiastic Anil.

The cops find it difficult to control these spirited youngsters! Credits: Candy Floss

“It was mast to see such a long queue in rows of two, all dressed in white, marching all across the streets of Secunderabad an being the cynosure of all eyes! I’m sure we even caught the eagles’ eye!” chuckles Mahender from Helping Hands for All. Meanwhile Bung Bung from Manipur representing another organization called Green peace, proudly shows off his signature white T-shirt, which reads, “Green your machine, the youth awakens to make India a better nation!”

The entire event was covered by the print and the electronic media alike. A live footage was covered by local news channels like HmTV, ATV and Zee News while a detailed report was given in all the leading newspapers like the Times of India, the Hindu, Eenadu, Deccan Chronicle and Sakshi, the next morning. “I’m extremely glad Swetha, Ranga Prasad, Sujatha, Naresh and all the other event managers put in their best efforts to make this rally such a phenomenal success! I really appreciate the team work of all the participants. Some of them had come from towns as far as Ongole, Karimnagar and Tirupathi to join this rally. The rally has caused quite a stir among the public, which would make them think twice before polluting our environment further. It is heartening to learn that just 20% of the world’s population today, uses cloth bags. Climate change and Global Warming have begun to take their toll. Hence a global campaign, called 350 is going to be held on the 24^th of October, 2009, the ‘International Day of Climate Action’, wherein an alarming number of 110 countries are coming together and hosting innovative and creative events to check climate crisis.

The Cloth Man Vs the Plastic Man! The ultimate war won by the Cloth Man! Credits: Candy Floss

The natives of Maldives are hosting scuba diving events wherein they would form a figure of the digits, 350 underwater! The Climate Network in India is also aiming at forming a similar figure close to the Mt. Everest that day!” informs K. Chaitanya Kumar, the National Convener of IYCN. “We also tried to highlight this day of Global Action through our rally. We’re really satisfied that we could draw the attention of one and all just by yelling out slogans, distributing cloth bags and stealing away all the limelight! We could notice that all the onlookers were aghast by the goings- on”, seconds a cheerful Ranga Prasad, who stepped into the shoes of the Plastic Man!

“The educated people are aware of this. The problem, especially in India, lies in the fact that nobody is willing to take the initiative and lead the way. I’m relieved that he masses are waking up to such social and environmental concerns, thanks to the Gen X, who have created a ripple this way”, opines Mr. Raghuveer, an Indian Forest Services Officer.

In another interview with the HmTV, Mrs. Ram Lakshmi, another IFS Officer stated, “Pollution because of plastics is like a price tag put on the earth. The plastics lead to clogging of drains and also choke some cattle to death, when consumed. Plastics contain some carcinogenous chemicals which in turn affect the milk from such cattle. So it is hazardous all the way”. “Plastics, in general contain certain crystals of crude oil called Nuggets, which are obviously imported. So it is yet another way by which we are contributing to the revenue to other countries. On the other hand, cloth and cotton bags are completely Hindustani so they make us feel patriotic too”, says Swetha, the secretary of the Rotaract Club of Secunderabad Sunrise.

HmTV interviews Mrs. Ram Lakshmi Ma'am, an IFS Officer! Credits: Candy Floss

The cloth bags prepared by the volunteers and distributed to the shopkeepers! Credits: Ranga Prasad

One eye - catchy placard! - Advocating 'No plastic bags'. Credits: Candy Floss

The entire rally came to an end at around 5 pm with Mr. Jay Prakash and Mr. Vijay Bhaskar, from a Software Company called Premalayam, which also manufactures paper bags, distributing their produce to all the participants. The participants, then went to reach out to the shopkeepers in the Bazaar to encourage them to replace cloth bags with plastic bags. They enlightened them about the ‘Carrot Mob’ competition, which was a contest for the shopkeepers on who gives away the most number of paper bags and uses minimum number of plastic bags. The incentive to the winner being, total media glare and publicity for his shop.

For all the environment lovers, who would love to contribute their bit, they can get registered with IYCN. Contact Mr. Chaitanya Kumar on 9849016371 or register online on www.350.org , www.iycn_hyd@googlegroups.com or on www.carrotmob.org. After all, planet Earth will continue to sustain life only if we ‘Go the green way and chuck plastic everyday!’

The picture says it all! - A shopkeeper inspired by the rally contributes his bit! Credits: Mahender

Mr. Vijay Bhaskar's daughter, the youngest participant, distributes paper bags! Credits: Candy Floss

A detailed report on the rally published in the Hindu, the next day! Credits: www.thehindu.com

St.Francis College for women offers a wide variety of courses in Bachelor of Humanities & Social Sciences (B.A) and the following are the different combination of courses:

• History / Literature / Political Science
• Economics / Public Administration / Political Science
• History / Public Administration / Political Science
• Psychology / Literature / Political Science
• Economics/Political Science/Computer Applications
• History/Political Science/Computer Applications
• Psychology / Public Administration / Political Science
• Economics / Literature / Social Management
• Political Science / Literature / Mass Communication & Journalism
• Mass Communication & Journalism / Public Administration / Social Management

There are totally two sections under which, these combination of courses are classified. There are 8 departments in Arts and the total strength of the teaching faculty sums up to 19, which includes lecturers and HODs of all departments.

Courses with mass communication and psychology combination are the most popular in the college. With increasing number of students wanting to take up the fields of mass media and journalism, the cut offs are sky high for these particular courses. An average of 40 students gets admitted into these courses every year.

As cited earlier, psychology combination courses are opted by many. The interest generated by the subject is one of the main reasons. Sheena, a second year psychology student explains, “One will never regret taking psychology as a subject. The syllabus structure, the teachers and the subject itself is very welcoming. Personally, I feel it is a much better choice than any science course because I’ve seen the hectic schedule of science students. They don’t even have time to breathe!” Talking about the best lecturer of the department she adds, “Tina ma’m is definitely the best! I like her because she helps us come out of our closet. Her teaching style is marvelous and so is her warm persona”. Ms Tina Fernandes is also the HOD of the psychology department. The vice principal of the college, Dr. Sr. Christine Fernandes is also a lecturer in department of psychology.

The future of this field is very promising and students have various options to choose from. Most students of psychology interested in further studies in the subject consider pursuing post graduation in clinical psychology, child psychology, criminal psychology, counseling etc.

Mass communication is another sought after branch in the college. The department presently has only one lecturer, who deals with students of all years. “All our lecturers are quite good but I think our mass communication lecturer Ms. Richa is the best lecturer of the lot”, says Nivedita, a final year Mass communication student. A well equipped multi media lab cum studio containing audio/video teaching aids is provided for the UG students.

Some students think, the infrastructure is quite good whereas some feel, there’s room for improvement. “The course work and the syllabus are good but I think the infrastructure should improve in proportion to the fee collected”, admits Nivedita. The department however organizes various programs to give the students exposure. Last year, which was the golden jubilee year of college, a south Indian documentary film festival was organized. It was a huge success and saw an active involvement of students and staff. Also, students get to do internships with some of the top media firms. It helps the students both in terms of experience and resume building.

The multi media lab Credit: Miss tick

The surplus options that exist in this field make it a favourite for all those, who are interested in film making, journalism, mass media and related fields. “I feel in terms of future prospects our combination is the best. Having mass communication as a subject itself offers many different career options”, says Shikha with pride.

Having public administration as a subject is also extremely advantageous for students as it makes clearing UPSC exams a lot easier and thus students, who are interested in getting into administrative services can opt for a combination course with this subject. Also, with the growing popularity of professional social service and increasing number of people involving themselves with various social service activities, social management is also an important subject for B.A students. Presently, Ms. Vamshika and Ms. Margaret are the lecturers of the Public Administration and Social Management department respectively. The political science department is headed by Dr. Shashwati Chowdhary, who is known for her great teaching style and is a favourite among students.

With an overall emphasis on giving  exposure to students combined with fairly good infrastructure, B.A in St.Francis College is a great choice if one wishes to have all round development along with subject knowledge.