GLIMPSES OF ‘IGNITE 2015’ -
‘IGNITE 2015’ was a Literary, Cultural, Documentary, Book and Food Festival organized by the SBIOA Educational Trust on June 19th, 20th and 21st in SBOA School and Junior College premises.
It was a platform to create a fresh perception and ignite the young minds and the others on three major issues - Education in Transforming Society, Gender Sensitivity and Environment. The 3 day mega festival was inaugurated by lighting the Kuththuvilakku. The lamp was lit by Dr. T. P. Sasi Kumar, Space Scientist and Educationist, Dr. T. V. Venkateswaran, Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi and Mr. Rahul Easwar, Author, Social Activist & Educationist. Dr. T. P. Sasi Kumar appreciated the title of the festival ‘IGNITE’, which is ‘Prajodhayaath’ in Sanskrit, and implored the audience to ignite creativity and passion in their lives. Dr. T. V. Venkateswaran explained cultural evolution and the progress in food culture from the past to the current context. Mr. Rahul Easwar spoke about the uniqueness of every individual as responsible citizens of Planet Earth.
The Documentary Film Making
On all the three days the target audience, the students, witnessed discourses of eminent speakers in English and Tamil. They also participated in a unique session, ‘The Documentary Film Making’. Each day three sessions of Panel Discussions were held in English and Tamil, simultaneously. Overall, eighteen sessions with academicians, environmentalists and social activists kept the listeners gripped in emotions and contemplation. The alumnae, alumni and the students of the SBOA Schools were also one of the speakers in the panel discussions. In bid to encourage young writers, the Management of SBIOA Educational Trust honoured seven talented young writers who in their inimitable way have established a unique style of writing and are on their way to create a niche for themselves.
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| INAUGRATION - LITING KUTHUVILLAKU BY MR. RAHUL EASWAR |
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| INAUGRATION- LIGHTING KUTTHUVILLAKU BY DR. SASIKUMAR |
M. Siva Kumar, Director and a passionate teacher of Cinema
“Documentary films are not on capturing reality but in recreating them.” said Mr. M. Siva Kumar, Director and a passionate teacher of Cinema and the guiding force behind the Documentary Film Sessions. The documentary ‘Nammazhvar’ explained the initiatives taken by Vanagam to propagate Permaculture and the need to embrace nature. The impact of the film made one of the government school students to express his willingness to have a garden in his school. ‘Enakku Illaya Kalvi’ by Mr. Bharathi Krishna Kumar, ‘Jai Bhim Comrade’ by Mr. Anand Patwardhan, a renowned Documentary Film Maker and Mrs. Geetha Ilangovan’s Documentary ‘Menses’ grabbed the attention of the viewers.
The films ‘Village of the Water Mills’ and ‘Athisayam Arputham’ by Director M. Siva Kumar taught the tricks to learn Science through Films. One of the sessions featured the documentaries exclusively prepared by the students of the seven schools run by the SBIOA Educational Trust. Through films like ‘Wreck that Future’, ‘Hope Bound’, ‘Fakebook’, ‘Clean India’, ‘Embellishing the Earth’, ‘Women’ and ‘Flower Bird’s Lagoon’, students amazed the audience with their professional touch and won words of praise from the Director Mr. M. Siva Kumar. The Documentary Film ‘Understanding Transgender’ revealed the harassments meted out to the transgender by the society at large and Ms. Priya Babhu and Ms. Bharathi, Social Activists spoke in details about the expectation of the transgender community and came out with an earnest appeal to the Management to recruit qualified transgender as a teaching staff. To keep up with the SBIOA tradition of being a pioneer for noble ventures, the Management has readily agreed to it.
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| MOMENTO TO GUEST MR. AURN KRISHNAMOORTHY |
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| RECEIVING THE GUST OF HONOUR BY TRADITIONAL WAY |
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| VALEDICTION-GUESTS-MRS.VASUKI & MR. ARUN KRISHNAMOORTHY |
SBOA family gathered together to celebrate the three day extravaganza called ‘IGNITE – 2015
‘IGNITE 2015’ was done and done with a difference. It was performed by stalwarts for a different kind of stalwarts. It was not just an occasion. It was a momentous event when the whole SBOA family gathered together to celebrate the three day extravaganza called ‘IGNITE – 2015’. Mr. Arun Krishnamurthy, Founder, Environmentalists Foundation of India and Ms. U. Vasugi, National Vice President, All India Democratic Association were the Guests of Honour. Mr. A. Krishnan, President, SBIOA Educational Trust, delivered the Presidential Address, stating that the event was organized to impart interesting information for students to enrich their knowledge. Secretary & Correspondent, Mr. D. Thomas Franco RajendraDev wrapped up ‘IGNITE 2015’. In his speech, he expressed his confidence in the 36 year old SBIOA Educational Trust, which is now in a position to impress the Government Policy makers to bring a change in the Education scenario. He was amazed at the involvement of the children in the interactive sessions. Mr. Arun Krishnamurthy, the Environmentalist, gave the audience an insight into the natural history of Chennai and the dangers faced by the city losing its natural habitat at a rapid pace. He implored the students to join hands to protect and save our surrounding. Ms. U. Vasugi spoke on gender equality in a thought provoking manner. The curtain came down with toe-tapping traditional folk dances performed by the SBOA students.
People often ask, “What is so great about SBOA School?” A very difficult question indeed because it involves a distinct culture and a band of incomparable students and staff.