17/08/2014

17/08/2014; 15:48:

We had a double RM-Research Methodology – lecture, on the morning of the 13th, where we learnt how to run the basic commands on SPSS- a statistical analysis software. Each term, there is at least one course, where you cannot afford to miss even a single class, coz well, the faculty is that good and the course that relevant. This term, it’s got to be RM.
Then, there was an e-mail, sent sometime in the day, announcing 'vertical heads' for the i-Help programme, since we've been making plans to increase scale of operations. I can now go by the title of 'HR Head- i-Help'. Sounds good; our job includes preparing the schedule, each week and arranging transport & packed breakfast for our volunteer visits to the schools.
By evening, the main entrance to the Acad Block was beautifully decorated, in colourful lights on occasion of the 68th Indian Independence Day.
Independence Day celebration on campus was rather grand. The The morning of 15th saw the Tricolour being hoisted, followed by the Director’s Address and a tree plantation on campus, courtesy Pragati- the PGP Social Committee. Trees were planted for some distance along the road leading from the under construction staff quarters to the under construction IPM hostels.

Once this was over, we received news that Atharv’s postponed Tree Plantation Drive, which was to take place at Treasure Fantasy, Indore was scheduled to happen at 2:00 p.m. aka in a few hours.
Transport, members of the Events Coverage team (along with their cameras) ,refreshments and an Atharv banner were arranged. The area itself is an under-construction housing project site and is rather green. There was a temple, half-completed, around which saplings- Rudraksh, Champa and Calendra – were planted by the Treasure Group MD, his team and our very own Atharv team. It was fun, fixing saplings in holes, adding manure and watering them. Post event, we sat by a waterfall which was by a lake, on the premises for around an hour. It felt like a perfect picnic! Were we glad we came!

Once we were back, we decided to do some ‘on-campus’ publicity for Atharv. Since we already had the Atharv banner- a decently sized 10 X 5 foot banner, we decided that it must be paraded around campus, which is exactly what we did! At the Pi-Shop, we saw that they had used the auspicious occasion to inaugurate a new ‘Grocery Section’. The Pi Shop now sells rice, daal and dhaniya powder, in addition to ice-cream, coffee and stationery. Also, I hear that they have expansion plans!

15th was rather eventful and it wasn’t even over yet!
Chirag, our IPM e-magazine was in the process of uploading their monthly release on their blog. A Cover Story was needed and I promptly sprang into action, penning a poem, that more or less fit their theme, ‘Patriotism’. Chirag had also organized a Donation Drive, for the benefit of war widows, on our Independence Day. Donation boxes were placed at 5-6 prominent locations on campus.
That night, two Chirag members and a donation box went around the girls’ hostel, collecting contributions.



16th & 17th August saw 2 seminars being organized as part of our course on International Relations. The topic on the 16th was ‘Oil is the main cause of the Middle East conflict’ and ‘Globalization is a blessing’ was discussed on the 17th. There was an introductory presentation made both for and against the topic, by one batch-mate each, this was followed by a healthy classroom discussion where people shared opinions, asked questions and added new dimensions to the discussion.
Later, the evening of 16th, was spent writing two Hindi articles, one about the Tree Plantation and one about Atharv in general, forDainik Bhaskar, Atharv’s media partner. Getting an article composed in formal Hindi (mainly done by Shruti) was easier than typing the thing out, using an online tool.

There is a series of events, scheduled this evening to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna! I love how India is a land of festivals!