PRAGATI- THROUGH MY EYES AND EFFORTS-4 (The Operations)

Operations!! It was already sure that it will need work force and talent to achieve excellence in performance. It required work right from beginning to end or even after that. What an experience it was. From making the layout to post Pragati work, it needed all.

Layout designing was one of the important activities of the Operations team. It had to be functional, with maximum space utilization; it took us 9 layouts and 6 visits to the field to make the best one. The worry or the need was to build a layout that suits Indian citizens’ mindset, not too big in structure, a change from past years layout with no motive to cover complete field and we finally achieved it.  For designing we kept all our operational skills to increase the efficiency and effectiveness. This final layout was according to our all requirements that are the complete footfalls will visit all the stalls while moving towards cultural area which helps them for promoting their business and products. Also our motive was to keep 2 stalls of opposite side to be near to each other with enough space for fully loaded lorry’s to enter and this layout also helped to decrease the problem of dust which was eminent during previous years. We came to the final one just 3 days before the D-day. We had to struggle like anything to get lot of permissions to conduct this event; Police, Municipal Corporation, Fire, BEMC, Sports authority and what not. It made us cry for each and every point and at each and every point, not only for the effort and time but for money too. But we had to do it anyhow and we did it till the last minute of Pragati work.

We also were having lot of work in electrical field. Right from getting permission and then getting the transformer installed with enough supply and the generators for emergency (which comes surely lot of times in a day). We calculated the supply and all types of devices and electrical equipments needed from a switch board to the socket and gave it to the supplier. And off course, when you have a generator, it can’t run with water. And when workers declined to get the diesel, then we had to run every now and then to get the gensets refueled. You will say it was getting hectic for us, but frankly saying we were enjoying that too.

Finally the day had arrived too near. Now the main work started. The shamiyana supplier came with all their materials to build the stalls. They were doing their work during day and we had to invigilate them every minute to take care that nothing gets short for our customer’s operational needs. To get the sizes of stall correctly and placing at the right point and the toughest part was to build and place the cultural stage of right size with right requirement and it took the most time. Also the electrical supplier came with their equipments at just another day and they too started their work. We had to see the installation of all electrical equipments, the power supply and transformers at one go.  So we had to co-ordinate and take care of both of them together. It was a great learning for us how to manage more than one operational activity at once and in a short time with most efficiency.

It was again our responsibility to take care for all the materials in the field and so in night we were sleeping in the open field watching beautiful open space and stars and moons over us and at the same time battling it out with the mosquitos in a quest to protect our blood. We had to continue sleeping there at night till the end of Pragati with different students on different nights, except one day when I too slept there and that too alone in complete field killing mosquitoes complete night.

And finally the D day came. I went to field right in the morning 6 o clock. We were watching the complete structure that was in front of our eyes. It was hard to believe that finally it was happening for us. Tears came into my eyes at that moment. For the next 3 days we were looking for all the services that were needed by the stall owners. Sprinkling water 3 times a day and running after sprinkler every time so that they should not do any mistake and should sprinkle on each and every part, looking after the fault repairing, drinking water supplies, getting diesel and many more small activities. It was an achievement by us. Really operation team has done a splendid job. Makrand and Amit have a great hand in this to make it a success.

By:

ROHIT RITURAJ

Pragati Rep

KIAMS B13

PRAGATI- THROUGH MY EYES AND EFFORTS-3 (The Culturals)

If Pragati 2011 was a big hit, its culturals were even bigger. The three areas the shed area, the stage and open ground all of them were heavily jammed and one could hardly find space to keep one foot forget two. The excitement and the flurry in the eyes of the little children who had come from Harihar, Rannibennur, Davangare and nearby villages could be very well seen through their little heads popping with excitement here and there jumping around and playing. The reason being obvious, Pragati. It is one of those rare events of the area that gives a chance to all little children to participate in various events constituting arts and sports and above everything, I truly believe the thing which would excite them the most is a three day BONA FIDE bunk from their schools. Moreover, big proof of Pargati being a main event is the participation of around 600 to 700 students each day.

The first day, 19 January began with three events simultaneously in the three regions, the drawing contest in the shed region, slow cycling in the open ground, the crowd, and my personal favourite Fancy dress competition, where even the kids look no less than professional ramp models. I can still very well commemorate the innocence and charm on each one of their faces, the way they were carrying off their hot attitude and designer wear they sure looked like future Johns and Bipashas. Fancy dress was followed by the group dance competition for age groups 9 to 14 years followed by solo singing for the children of 5 to 8 years of age. Simultaneously around 50 students participated in drawing competition in which they were told to draw on whatever topic they felt like and they did not disappoint the judges. 

Now I need to take a deep breath because the condition of Ankur and Saurav was pitiful, gosh! Enduring lines of children for slow cycling, Hats off to both of them for handling such a magnanimous crowd. Some children so canny that they actually changed their names and stood up like first timers for re enrollment. 

Putting everything together I believe it was a great learning experience for them and also for us, after all in case we have some naughty and cunning kids in future it would be helpful to us as in how to handle them (giggle*).

And finally the slow cycle race came to a halt and was followed by solo singing and dance competition which ran till 6 pm in the evening. After that at 7.30 pm a rocking band performance was given by a local band which gave full throttle head banging and some sprained necks for the next morning. And yes please don’t go by the word local, there were enough of sheela and munni type numbers sung by them and trust me the quality of performance they gave was unmatchable, the craziness of crowd very well elucidated it.

The second day begun with henna (MEHANDI) competition under the shed area, the beautiful henna designs they made were worth appreciating. The girls of KIAMS took a leverage of the contest by giving a helping hand (by helping hand I mean the selfish girls wanted to get their hands full too). Followed by solo and group dance contest for age group 5 to 8 years of age and 9 to 14 years of age for which we had enormous number of sign ups, the response was so humongous that we had to close the registrations beyond 60 entries for each age group. Two local western dance groups gave a heart throbbing performance setting up the evening at great heights. The evening show was marvelous; the most popular band of Harihar “BONGOLE’’ gave a rocking performance during the same evening.

The last day was thought to be light as far as competitions were concerned because it was the prize distribution day. The chief guest for the day was the IG of Davengare. 

The organization of a Rangoli competition for girls and women of the surrounding areas colors marked the last day and flowers lit up the whole atmosphere and made the whole festival brighter. Just when we thought, it was over another round of solo singing for age groups of 5 to 8 and 9 to 15 years was organized followed by solo dance for age groups 9 to 14 years, just to make sure that no one was left out and everybody got an equal chance of participation.

The late evening began with award and certificates distribution ceremony from 6 pm onwards. The chief guest was felicitated with flowers. Anantram sir took over the stage and like always his words instilled a wave of excitement and motivation amongst students of KIAMS.

Altogether KIAMS cultural was a big hit and was a great experience of learning for each person who helped to organize it. May we encounter such auspicious moments as long as we are a part of the KIAMS FAMILY.

By:-

AANCHAL SETHI

Cultural Representative

B-13