The valedictory function also marked the official inauguration of the English department’s blog ‘Les Professuers’. (Yes, you lucky readers, you are reading it!) The editor of the blog, Ms. Mifrah Abid introduced the blog and outlined the purpose behind hosting it the students.

Mr. Imtiaz Jaleel commented on the impressiveness of Azam Campus’ infrastructure. He applauded Mr. Inamdar’s efforts in facilitating quality education for thousands of students, especially from the underprivileged and minority groups in a variety of courses and specializations. He also commented that the society needed not just educated youngsters, but also youngsters who were well informed, aware and socially responsible. He called for the students to look at journalism as a promising career option.

Mr. Inamdar lauded the efforts of the English Department and promised them of any assistance that they would require to make the students of Azam Campus proficient in the use of English. He insisted that English had become the lingua franca of the world and as such, was a key to success. He asked Ms. Mukul Joshi, Head of the department to take up the challenge and build a base of future teachers who were dedicated to achieving this goal.

The suspense behind the names of the winners was killing, and as the prize distribution ceremony began, the students were filled with excitement. The department believes in encouraging reading amongst the students and so gave away ever green literary classics to all the first prize winners.

The applause for the winners was thunderous as Misbah Ansari from Second Year B.A. was announced as the Litt-Whiz for this year. Ms. Ansari is also one of the editors of the college wall-magazine, ‘The Wordsmiths Nook’.

What followed after the next day was a picnic trip to Mahableshwar and Panchgani. Arguably, the most picturesque hill stations in the state, the twin cities made an idyllic destination to unwind after three days of exerting excitement!

1. Buzz On! The Spelling Bee Contest

It began with the Spelling Bee with the students immensely enjoying the play of words. The students were amused as seemingly obvious spellings became their stumbling blocks to winning. The audience watched with excitement as one favorite was eliminated after the another. Finally, Ms. Nida Qureshi from S.Y.B.A. emerged as the winner.

2. Well Versed: Poetry Reading Contest

Aimed at sensitizing students to the aesthetic magic of poetry, the poetry recitation contest had them listening in attention as the contestants waxed eloquent on the acclaimed rhymes. Contestants were judged on the selection of the poem, diction and pronunciation.

3. Prose Declamation

The theme for the declamation was Francis Bacon’s essays. Students selected passages from the works of one of the most acclaimed essayists of English language and read them out to the audience.

4. Words Up! Scrabble Marathon

A fun way to create word consciousness. Three Scrabble boards were laid out as contestants competed with each other in this highly acclaimed crossword game. Many were playing the game for the first time and yet thoroughly enjoyed it.

5. Movie Mania! Movie Show

The audience was given a choice of two movies – The Tom Hanks’ starrer ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and the Kurt Russell starrer ‘The Miracle’. The students unanimously chose Russell over Hanks and so the movie was screened.

A brief review of the day’s events:

1. Methodical Madness: Mad-Ads

Six teams competed to create absolutely bizarre yet creative one minute ads. The theme was to market a product that would have no practical application whatsoever! Students had to invent a product concept that was totally useless and try to sell it innovatively through catchy slogans, role plays and posters.

2. Dramatrix: Play Enactments:

This year had four play enactments from the Commerce and Arts students. Last year’s winning team of First Year B.Com students made a powerful impact even this year. The now Second Year students performed an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the shrew’ with power house performances by the entire team. Special mention needs to be made of Ms. Shaila Bhat and Ms. Deepa Gaikwad who were perfectly cast as Katherine the Shrew and Petruccio, respectively.

The Third Year B.A. students also generated interest with their adaptation of Anton Chekov’s one act play, ‘The Proposal’. Ms. Anjum Shaikh delivered an impressive performance as Ivan Vassilivich Lomov.

The Second Year B.A. students performed on a humorous fairy tale play ‘Beauty is a Beast’ while the First Year B.Com students played ‘The crock, the cock and the candlestick’, a humorous whodunnit.

This year’s Litt-Fest commences on August 29 and continues till August 31 with the ritualistic Litt-Fest picnic on September 1.

THE LITT-WHIZ

The Department also announces a special prize for the ‘Litt-Whiz’. The student who participates and wins the maximum number of Litt-fest events deserves a trophy for her enthusiasm and creativity. Last year’s winner was Ms. Rooshna Rashid from SYBA. We only wait to see who it will be next!

Here’s a look at what’s in store for this year! A Litt-Fest flyer that’s been doing the rounds lately!

Abeda Inamdar Senior College for

Arts, Science and Commerce

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

PRESENTS

LittFest

2007

AUGUST 29, 30, 31, 2007; SEPTEMBER 1, 2007

POST IT! Poster Making Contest

BLOG IT! The Department’s Brand New Blog!

WORDS UP! Scrabble Marathon

METHODICAL MADNESS: Mad-Ads

LITERATI! The Litt-Quiz

BUZZ ON! The Spelling Bee Contest

FLIGHTS OF FANCY: Creative Writing Contest

YOUR 1 MINUTE OF FAME: J-A-M it!

CRITIQUE IT! Movie Review Writing Contest

WELL VERSED: Poetry Recitation

MOVIE MANIA! Movie Shows

DRAMATRIX: Play Enactments/ Reading

READ-A-THON: Prose Declamation

AND…

Essay Writing

Litt-Charades

Slogan Writing

PLUS

THE LITT-FEST P-I-C-N-I-C!

DRESS UP!

DAY ONE: ORANGE POP!

DAY TWO: LEAFY GREEN!

DAY THREE: CHIRPY YELLOW!

The winners? Stay tuned!

-William Shakespeare

First year Commerce students in Additional English class had a date on July 10. A date with the Bard.

In an attempt to revive the declining interest for one of most celebrated writers of English literature, Additional English teacher Mifrah Abid organized a poster making contest on William Shakespeare. Freshman Commerce students have Shakespeare’s ‘All the world’s a stage’ from ‘As you like it’ in their Literature class. To sensitize students to the art and life of William Shakespeare, the class was divided in four groups and were asked to present hand made posters on:

• William Shakespeare’s life

• Quotations from his famous plays

• Synopsis of the plots of some of his major plays and

• Selected sonnets of Shakespeare

The students gathered near the stage in the library lawn to display their colorful work. The Shakespeare enthusiasts also attracted the attention of other students near the library and the class in action looked more like a mini fest.

For many students, the whole experience was a first of its kind in many ways. Many had never known anything about Shakespeare except that he was “some famous writer”. Many had never searched for information online, or made a poster or even faced an audience to make a presentation. The ‘actual’ class for ‘studying’ the poem was on the next day, inside the classroom. The students were much better prepared for Shakespeare’s famed metaphors. Having being ‘on stage’ themselves, with each group member having a ‘role’ to play, they could better understand what Will meant when he said,

All the world's a stage, 

And all the men and women merely players: 

They have their exits and their entrances; 

And one man in his time plays many parts...

The students also displayed keen interest in going 'beyond the text book' as they 

began to appreciate Shakespeare's philosophy as displayed in his other works, 

particularly his sonnet, 'Let me not to the marriage of true minds..'

Needless to say, the participants became immediate Wordsmiths as they rushed 

to sign up for the Guild.  

And the prizes? Amazing books that would definitely add value to your collection! Winners of previous year’s contests will vouch for the fact that the Department puts a lot of thought in selecting books for the winners. From best sellers to self help to classics, its a read-a-thon all the way! Selected to make readers of even the most adamant ‘non-readers’! Well, at least that is the intention at any rate!

Here’s the list of topics to choose from:

1. The Book that changed my life

2. How technology has changed my life

3. One famous person I would like to meet

4.  When the media becomes irresponsible…

The Wordsmith’ Guild rolled its second activity with its Movie Club screening the Oscar winning Pirates of the Caribbean: The curse of the Black Pearl.
The multimedia room was packed to capacity as students came to watch the histrionics of Captain Jack Sparrow and his motley crew. With Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom and Goefrey Rush all in a single frame, it was a neat Saturday treat for the kids!

The Guild is not restricted to the Arts students alone. In fact, it’s where all the faculties converge. There is simply a HOST of activities lined up for the ‘Wordsmiths’ and it all began with the launch of the first two Literary posters on August 3.

Students from SYBA and TYBA did a hand made poster each. The sophomores commemorated Kiran Desai’s Booker Prize winner ‘The Inheritance of Loss’. One of them read the book and wrote her own review of the book. Similarly, the TY’s made a poster on Chinua Achebe who won the Man Booker International Prize this year for his contributions to literature. The students read his monumental ‘Things fall apart’ and wrote a review for the same. Here’s to the Wordsmiths-Cheers!