Satvam 2011

2.5 days of Satvam was so Satvam! I was very Satvam-ed all through! Satvam was Satvamly organised by our extremely Satvamous seniors with utmost Satvamness.
Wondering what's wrong with me? Nothing to worry. It's just a result of Satvamic activities in my mind.
Still wondering? Wondering why I have Satvamised the above two lines? It's because Satvam can only be Satvam, and nothing else.Satvam was not good. No, it was not even very good. It was Satvam. Just Satvam.

Here's a detailed account of Satvam 2011:
Day1:
However Satvam the fest was, the college had to set certain limitations for us. I have not the slightest idea why the college decided to start Satvam after half a day of classes. Well, complaints apart. The events:
Persona.
This event was the most hyped, most awaited for, and one of the most Satvamous event.
It's a competition that tests your personality. It kind of helps you define yourself. You would get a better idea of Persona if you witness it yourself. Worth witnessing, you know. There are no hard and fast rules here. You should do what you are asked to. Nothing more, nothing less. There were 8 finalists. Vasanti Hariprakash, the once Morning Sunshine of Radio City, was one of the judges!!! The one who deserved to win, won. That was the end of persona.
And that was the end of Day1 for most of the crowd. There were 2 more events for the day. But hardly any Kumaranite stayed back. That was rude. I stayed back till the next event and then went home(That's just lesser rude, I know... >.>).

Day2:
This day was fun! It kickstarted with.. Duh.. Inauguration. After "Duh Inauguration" was Satvam. So Satvam kickstarted with awakening, cheerful performances by Junoon! (a 2nd years' band which sang with Karaoke. Pinki was.. No, not in brackets!) Pinki was a part of Junoon! It was their "very own, awesome, mind blowing, amazing band that gave super duper performance blah blah blah"(Pinks: :-P ).
After a short break,there was first years' dance. They were fantastic! The crowd burst into shrill shouts for each and every move. The crowd includes me, Hello.
Now comes the much awaited, rib-tickling episode of Satvam - Mad Ads!! It was hosted by my Mantally Sweet, super-cute senior-friend! Mad Ads was judged by Pradeep, an RJ from Radio City. There was an other judge too, but I'm sure only a few would remember him.(His name's Akash btw).
So, that was day2.

Day3:
Day3 stared at around 10-15 AM. With Jam. J. A. M = Just A Minute. It was "really, really, really" interesting! The jam-master was too good! Then there was quiz. Quiz was good. Now was Rhythmic Colours, the 2nd years dance competitions. They too gave excellent performances. But 1st years were better.
Now there was Film Hits competition. Our college has the best singing talents ever!
Then there was dumb charades. It had too many rounds, which made it all the more dumb. It wasn't bad eitheir. And now, Physics Department was on stage giving us full-time entertainment instead of lecture.
Then, ramp walk. This event was much awaited too! But it got a lil' too monotonous. Meanwhile, remember, it was raining heavily which made a large part the audience suffer. Yet, the crowd was as enthusiastic and encouraging. Now it was the Faded Octaves! The Rock Band! They rocked, totally!

Now was the royally hyped, amazingly organised, stupendous, fantabulous, marvellous jhakaaas etc etc etc event. Surprise! Yeah, Surprise event!!!! It was a surprise! No, it was THE surprise! Absolutely unexpected things happened on stage!
And sadly, Satvam saw it's happy ending there. Can you imagine entire college life being spent Satvamously? Like this? Fun events taking place everyday, and a surprise after every three days? Haha. Impractical, I know.
Now, read the first paragraph again. You will understand its "satva" better. So wasn't Satvam a Satvam event?
Ok guys and girls, it's time I keep dust off my books. They need strict supervision. Too much of anything, even Satvam, is bad...
Bye people, keep Satvam'ing!

En route...

I have a hurried, limited(in one word: unenjoyed) breakfast. Then, I put on my bag and say Bye to Amma. And it all starts there - a (rather boring) journey of approximately 7 minutes. As I close the gate, I say Hi to Raja(or Kariya or whatever you want to call him - sweet doggie!):

Raja of the Street

Firstly, the whether outside is very cold then. I get to hear the harsh noises made by women sweeping the area in front of their houses. Residential as my area is, it is only houses that I get to see. And of course, some provision stores at random.
And I take my second turn. From now on, it is almost 1 straight road to Kumarans'(ignoring 2 minor curves). Usually, at this point, 2 or more dogs bark vigourously at each other. This road is relatively more active than mine. Ladies and Gentlemen of Padmanabhanagar prefer to have brisk walks here, at this time. It's time for grandpa's to go back home with their friends, after, or course, some gossip with their pals.
There's a very small playfield in this never-ending street. Here probably middle aged men of the neighbourhood play badminton with one another, and keeping all their household tensions aside for the moment, they chat, gossip and refresh. Opposite the field is a provision store where I sometimes encounter Rekha Mam. She castes one of her soothing, pleasant, sunshine-like smile at me, and sometimes even speaks to me, if possible!
Here you reach the journey's most pathetic part - the small bridge over the aromatic drainage. Everyday, when I get to cross the (so-called) bridge, I just can't stop myself from thinking "What if I lose balance and fall into this gutter one fine day?" And I go on, suppressing my stupidity.
Now I enter a narrow alley(believe me: There are houses even here.). And you can view the good(actually bad) old small white building.Once I cross the gully, I get a rear view of the main building of the college. Walk around 10 metres further and Lo! That's the building! The college canteen is not open so soon, but the Taatappa's bakery sometimes is. A few students, and of course Muttappa with his stick, are at the main gate and reception.
And that's all.

No no nooo! That's not all! I get a quick glimpse of my watch and try to look serious, rush up to the second floor and run to the Edge. Usually, the teacher is late *sigh*. So I sit on my chair, huffing and panting(Oh I've ran miles!). Actually out of this (approx.) 7 minute-journey, it is only while climbing up the stairs in a hurry that I hurt my leg. :-P

Well, that's the route to Education(college) for me. A few diversions in the beginning - uphill - slightly downhill - straight to destination(college again) - minor diversions in between - pleasant smiles and encouraging talks somewhere on the way(Rekha mam) - short, uncomfortable phase(the gutter and the gully) - the tiring last minute rush - and then - There You Are!!!

Destination
(Photo Courtesy: Anusha)

Musical Evening

Two and a half hours. Yeah, Can you sit for two and a half hours cross-legged, without a break? No? You think you can't? You are wrong. You can actually do so if you're listening to magical music. Particularly, an amazing vocal performance, by maestro Fayaz Khan and his Tabla partner Trilochan. Mr. Fayaz might be a little unheard of, but it does not matter to him(To me either.). The meticulous Aalaaps and the dexterous Tabla background wonderfully blend with each other. The Harmonium(played by Fayaz Khan again), also draws plenty of attention.

Fayaz Khan is a proficient Hindustani musician and trainer. Passionate as he is, he is deeply involved while singing. The ecstasy shining in his face, while singing, brings a smile onto your faces too! He takes careful(and, most importantly, interested) listeners to a whole new world when he sings. A humble, soft-spoken, jovial man with a passion for music, and great talent too - isn't he a boon himself?

Indian classical music is a paradise by itself. You need to be highly committed and dedicated to learn classical music perfectly. If you are a great musician, you wouldn't have reached where you are without constant practice and hard work. Classical music is the Maa of all other  forms of music. Even Bollywood(or any wood for that matter) musicians started off with Classical. So, if Film songs come under the "Bollywood Music" category, they have got to be inspired by Maa Classical(I don't want to use the term "Mother". And you know why if you are from Kumarans'). If you love Rock, you don't have to hate Classical.
Having learnt it for years, I feel guilty of having lost touch now.
Now, that was not the end of The Saturday Evening. My heart was filled by exotic music, the details of which you just read(if you have read it at all). Then my tummy was filled by exotic, mouth watering, utterly delicious garama-garam Idly-Vada-Sambar-Chutney AND Masala Dosa!
We South Indians just rock! Especially when it comes to food! What variety! What taste! Oh what not! <3