Annual day

This evening within the portals of St Peter’s was as animated as any inn in Vegas. The air hung heavy and sultry. Pandemonium and nervousness churned in every stomach, rising in spurts right up to the Adam’s apple – “What if I get nervous on stage?” “What If I forget something?” “What if it doesn’t go as planned?” and thoughts such as these flitted through every brain. Tall trees surrounded the meticulously done up field and a whirlpool of chairs lay ready in the centre. Staff members fretfully striding the galleries examining, reexamining their assigned charges and doing the final touch ups.Smug students swaggered around volunteering for duty. The camera crew was all set in proper squadrons and light men were all geared up. Several screens to play the event simultaneously were put up besides a large screen perched at the top of the stage. The crowd of guests started pouring into the campus and the aroma of mingled perfumes, rendered the air stiflingly warm. It was the occasion of the much anticipated 162nd college annual day.

At 6:15 the chief guest and the guest of honor arrived. Anchors Madhur and Rohit welcomed Dr Albert d’Souza (chief guest), Mr. Sitaram Meena (guest of honor), media and parents. Achintya Prakash led us in prayer.Utkarsh Gulati introduced our chief guest Dr Albert d’Souza,the chairman of the school and the archbishop of Agra arch diocese which was followed by bouquet presentation to his grace by Vaibhav Nigam.Prankur Gupta introduced Mr.Sitaram Meena,commissioner Agra division who was presented a bouquet by Kunwar Singh. The show kicked off with a welcome song by the college choir (abhinandan)and the lamp lightning ceremony by most Rev Dr Albert d’Souza,Mr.Sitaram Meena,Fr Farrera,Dr Neelam.Mehrotra and Master Madhur Bansal.The college also greeted Mr. Brig Khandelwal (journalist I.A.N.S international news service and an active environmentalist) and Mr.Rahul Paliwal (chairman moon network).

It was only after the sensational performances of the young college band ‘the rhythmic tempest’ that the audience was swearing that they had never heard better guitarists and drummers. The chief guest felicitated the top scorers of ICSE and ISC 2007 and gave away the laurels and scholarships of an academic excellence Aditya Parek bore away the Archbishop Gold medal for being the brightest and the best student in addition to Haji Muhammad memorial cash award. Aditya advised fellow Peterians to be humble and modest and to grasp every opportunity which would guarantee success in life.Abhimanyu Singh got the principal’s silver medal. Next the chief editor, Dr A.P.Antony along with the chief guest released the college annual magazine.

Another great performance by the ‘rhythmic tempest’ (summer of 69 by Bryan Adams) had the audience nostalgically tapping its feet. Then St Peter’s stage presented ‘we’re the champions’ commemorating the achievements of St Peter’s in every field so that there were projected on the stage scholars, parading troupe, sports person,athletes,college spokesmen, debating group, thespians and academic toppers. It was written by Dr Neelam Mehrotra and composed by Mr.Sandeep Verma and Mr.Kapil.Fr John along with the students presented the annual report for the year 2007-08.After that the guest of honor addressed the gathering and highlighted the scalding issue- ‘global warming”- how mother earth is wailing under the brows of mankind, how the cause is within our self how the cost is often ignored before blind achievements, how the earths green cover is fast disappearing the Yamuna crisis-how the good gifts of god are being denigrated and that ultimately the cause is lack of optimism, spirituality and foresightedness.

The chief guest addressed this ponder able issue by stating that nature being the personification of his benevolence should be treated with reverence otherwise it revolts-we being supreme in the hierarchy of organisms should bear this charge of preserving it. He quoted Buddha-“ignorance is the root cause of suffering”.Therefor it must be that nature is the bridge to god-vigilantly preserved yet not mistaken with the ultimate goal – for those who get enchanted by the mundane of their real destiny i.e. god.

Now as the clock gave a cautionary blare everybody placidly turned their gazes unto the stage for the cultural presentation. For a second everything went dark then slowly the stage was lit all red and the velvety curtains drifted away to reveal the junior boys, impersonating traditional Bihu artiste, draped in red Manipuri attire, sporting gajras in their artificial braids and golden jewelry, tiaras, long dangling necklaces, flanked by boys wearing yellow tinseled satin dhoti and several golden rosaries across their jejune torsos. They presented the prayer dance in beautiful formations, bathed by assortment of lights and showers of artificial snow flakes and confetti.

The stage went dark again and all the eyes turned to witness the dance drama-‘global warming-ek dukhad satya’.After several poignant scenes detailing the truth about global warming it dawned upon the audience that they need to take collective measures to curtail this menace. Beautiful dances performed by boys blessed in resplendent white or blue dhotis highlighted the theme placards proclaimed the needs to save earth. The show ended with cheers applause from the audience. Everyone was called to take an oath to safeguard our planet.Rohit and Madhur delivered the vote of thanks. Finally with the singing of the Peterian anthem and the national anthem the annual day celebration ended.

There was yet another tumultuous uproar, this time from the students as the chief guest declared Monday as a holiday. All was well.

By-: Adwait Singh

Rahul Sujnani

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