Jamia's Talimi Mela (Educational Fest)

(pics and text by Neyaz A. Farooquee)

Whatever be the reason, a fest is a fest... And when it is organised in Jamia Millia Islamia, a completely new fervour comes into play. These are the seven days of eternal fun, rousing learning and open-hearted dissemination of knowledge and warmth. And when it is organised in such a way to give a fine balancing act between fun and learning, it has to be exciting.

Welcome to the Educational Fest (Talimi Mela), Jamia Millia Islamia.

Annually organised on Jamia's foundation day, 29th october, this 7 day 'mela' is a bit different from Trade Fair or Book Fair at Pragati Maidan, but somewhat it carries the flavour of both without losing its own 'originality'.

From the famous Chat to the Shawarama, it carries all the flavour for the devourers and for the Book worms it has the publications by the Oxford to the Maktaba Jamia's (serving Jamia community since 1922) in the Book fair. For the friends of environment it has the stalls selling eco-friendly items and on the other side, for the better understanding of 'Chandrayan', Physics Deptt is teaching enthusiast about the 'how' and 'what' of satellite system. Amidst all this, Amnesty International is there to give you a peek into human right abuses around us or far away. And after piling-in your favourite items get your teeth cleaned for free at Dental Check-up stall put by Jamia's Centre of Dental Studies. There is free HIV test centre. Dont feel shy, go and get yourself checked. And there is mobile van announcing repeatedly, "Donate blood, save lives".

At one stall you can see the Fine Arts guys are ever-ready to show their fine skills, they ask you sit infront of them and in a few minutes they'll sketch you on papers and you'll be amazed to see your smiling caricature.

Jamia news is their give you a every minute detail of hot happenings in the campus. And Jamia's Awam theatre group cant lag behind. They present entertaining 'Nukkad Natak' (street play). Throughout the campus they keep on shouting 'Naatak dekho, Natak dekho, bina paise ka natak dekho'. For a moment many thoughts come into mind but soon it is quelled by their performances which ranges from hilarious to heart-wrenching to thought provoking. Messages are always there but way of giving and instilling it is very pragmatic.

Stall put by Deptt of Law gives you the 'legal advice'. Most of the question put by visitors is related to RTI.

Stalls and services are plenty, you have to visit yourself to get a proper panorama, I cant give a better overview than this.

Many distinguished personalities like Honble Tejinder Khanna, Lt. Governer of Delhi, Honble Gopal Gandhi, Governer of W Bengal, Honble Justice Sachar, Former Chief Justice of Delhi High court, Naseeruddin Shah, Shayam Benegal, Shabana Azmi and Tom Alter, eminent actors, Irfan Habib and Sabasyachi Bhattacharya, eminent historians, Harsh Mander and Asghar Engineer, social activists, Satish Gujral, eminet artist and many more are expected to visit this Educational fest.

All this orderly chaos are being efficiently managed by Proctorial Deptt with the help of their security staffs and CCTVs and Jamis's NSS volunteers.

More updates are coming. Keep visiting...