PRAVAD Final Copy

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INDEX Centre of Social Action P1 P 2 Editorial Note Events P2 to P10 P10 to Conversation board P12 Recomendations P13 to P14

About us Aplace where learning and fun come together, the Centre for Social Action gives an op- portunity to students to not only understand but also share their understanding of vari- ous issues with others. It is a student-led movement for a more humane and just society that prioritises children. Child rights, women’s, youths’, and farmers’ socio economic develop- ment, community mobilisation, and environmental/climate change issues are all addressed by CSA. Several creative minds put in their efforts to bring alive the motives of CSA. Its 4 wings (Drishti, Prayatna, Activity Centre and Media & Communication) work harmoniously to spread awareness, share knowledge, conduct events, etc. regarding a variety of matters. As part of CHRIST, CSA works on student communities and their enlightenment on a variety of issues impacting disadvantaged and vulnerable segments of society). This is being done in order to encourage long-term changes in the lives of the poor and oppressed through ac- tive student participation, as well as to teach students concepts and values that will enable them to contribute successfully to society. CSA focuses on student communities and their enlightenment on many issues affecting the disadvantaged and vulnerable areas of society as part of CHRIST (Deemed to be University). In this edition of Pravad, the bi-annual newsletter that is one of the undertakings of the Media and Communications Wing, we focus on the theme “Celebrating Diversity”, where students as an integral part of the society learn how to respect and understand differences and showcase their contributions to the world.

Page 2 Editorial Note This semester was a light in the end of a dark tunnel for most of us. We slowly re- turned to normalcy and started our college life for real. Coming to campus was a new experience for most of us, the culture and diversity that the campus offers and incorporates was way beyond our wildest dreams. In the midst of all the friendships and relationships, what we managed to create was another beautiful and memorable spot - the Centre for Social Action. CSA gave each and every one of us a safe spot, an abode, a group of friends to rant with and laugh with. Every meeting of CSA was a new experience, of learning new things and meeting new and interesting people. This is exactly what the theme of this edition of Pravad focuses on - Celebrating the diversity around and within us. Everyday we meet new faces, new personalities and learn more and more about the beautiful world and the populace who reside here. It is all about acceptance and respect - understanding that each individual is unique, and recognising our individual differences. During the making of this edition, we got to meet new people, interact with them and end up creating this newsletter- a semester’s worth of blood, sweat and tears. Yes, we did face a lot of ups and downs but what is life without a hint of sadness and learning through them? Because when life gives us lemons, we go all in ans make lemon pies. But at the end, we were another family with multiple talents and ideas, all incorporated into this edition. Throughout the creation of this magazine, it wasn’t just instructing people what to do. It was us learning from them too. Finally, it goes without saying, we weren’t just volunteers, we were volunteers with a pinch from every direction of India. For those of you, who are going through the magazine, we hope you have a fun time reading through it. We hope CSA’s activities motivate you to dedicate and help sustain the earth we reside in. Thank you! Have a fun reading. CSA is a ‘Students Movement for a Humane and Just society’ where student communities are sensitised on various issues affecting the poor and marginalised sections of the society. Ms. Alona Aby Ms. Varnikha Shekar

Events

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Ground To Glory The Center for Social Action has always attend school drop out for various reasons. found creative ways to help our commu- Education benefits us not only financially nity. In their most recent venture, Ground but also socially. It is regarded as the most To Glory, the team organised a football essential way of strengthening humane val- tournament to raise money to sponsor the ues, overcoming obstacles, and providing education of underprivileged children. greater opportunities for long-term well-be- When it comes to education in India, there ing enhancement. Education is the root of is a severe deficiency. Even though we have a civilised society, and unless we educate a constitutional right to education, it is still our children, there will be no development. a dream for a large number of children in There is a serious need to bridge the gap India. This lack of education is the result of between policy and practise when it comes a lack of awareness and funds. Since people to the matter of education and its reach. do not understand the importance of educa- The Ground to Glory was held at Decath- tion, they do not try to invest in it. And only lon, one of the event's sponsors, from the by investing ourselves in education can we 9th to the 12th of April. This tournament be aware of its importance. This vicious cy- included 32 teams in total, who contributed cle is the bane of our system. Mohnish Pab- around Rs. 1400 each. All of the money was rai very correctly put it, \"People see poverty forwarded along to the children’s educa- all around them in India, but they are de- tion. The provision for refreshments for the sensitised or immune to it. I concluded that players and volunteers was also provided. poverty is driven by a lack of education. \" Even though the event faced some hiccups According to the report of the National on the first day, they were quick to rectify Sample Survey Office (NSSO), 32 million the errors. Wastage of resources was also Indian children aged up to 13 years have seen at the event, though the food items never attended any school, the majority of were not wasted. All in all, the event was a them belonging to the socially disadvan- success and gained contributions to spon- taged class (2014). The remainder that do sor the education of around 16 children.

CSA Football Tournament

Reimagine Reimagine the three-day event organised campus. A professor in the English and Cultural by the Media and Communication wing of Studies department, he has completed his PhD CSA conducted a panel discussion on its sec- in linguistics and has extensively researched in ond day. The event began with an energetic disability studies and wholesome performance by the Activity Ms Shruti Sharada is a Queer Feminist Writer, Centre area kids of Tilak Nagar. The three days Communications Manager, and Editorial Strat- were full of workshops and different activities egist with 16 years of multi-faceted experience for the students to take part in. in the fields of journalism, feminist advocacy, NGO and community-based organisational For the panel discussion, esteemed guests support, PR, community media and podcast- like Ms. Shruti Sharada, Ms. Ankita Mehra ing, mental health awareness, and social media and Ms. Alina Alam were invited. The guests community-building. Her writing, editing, and were welcomed by the emcees by giving a de- strategy work focus on inclusive representa- scription of their lives and achievements. The tion, queer visibility in society and workplaces, moderator for the event, Dr Santosh Kumar and the true tenets of feminist leadership. An introduced the topic of discussion for the day enduring love for storytelling in the written, as which was “Reducing Inequalities”. Dr San- well as oral forms, suffuses all her work. Her tosh Kumar is an assistant professor at Christ personal writing and activism speak on gen- der-based violence and trauma recovery, queer (Deemed to be) Universi- ty, B G R rights in India and Asia, and mental health rights and realities. “I came out in na- tional television,and let me tell you, that was one of the best things I ever did. “ By Ankita Mehra

Page 8 Ms Ankita Mehra, a recipient of the “Young speak about their struggles and how they Achievers’’ award by rotaract, was also hon- overcame it. All of them had a unique story oured by the Indian Express as the “Voice and journey. After they spoke about them- of Equality” and has featured in 80+ news- selves, the moderator Dr Santosh Kumar, papers. She has 6+ years of experience in began with asking them questions regard- the corporate world and has also raised her ing their views on inequality and how it can voice for the cause of diversity and inclu- be reduced. With an enriching discussion sion. She is among India’s top 10 diversity on this, the event moved further towards a and inclusion leaders. With this she is also question-answer round with the audience. an active LGBTQ+ activist and has been The audience engaged with guests in a very vocal about the cause of providing very enthusiastic manner and asked several equal opportunities. questions about mental health, issues of in- Ms Alina Alam is the founder of “Mitti Cafe” equality, gender discrimination, inclusivity, which is a chain of cafes that provide expe- etc. Overall the panel discussion included riential training and employment to adults a serious talk on pressing issues along with with physical, intellectual and psychiatric some interesting anecdotes that made the disabilities. The organisation outreach ini- discussion light-hearted from time to time. tiative also helps create awareness about At the end of the event, the vote of thanks inclusion and disability rights. Mitti cafes was presented to all the guests, faculty across India are managed by hundreds of members, the moderator, volunteers and adults with disabilities who have in the last staff. few years served over six million meals and beverages. The discussion began with each guest sharing the beginning of their journeys, where each of the guests talked about some very personal experiences of theirs. Further each guest one by one, went on to

Book Donation Drive Books are timeless and im- ran up until the 4th of March. portant aspect of the de- During this period a number velopment of a child’s future. of books were collected by Books and education play an the team. Students from all essential role in imparting in- over the college could come formation to individuals, and and donate books in the CSA in many circumstances, possi- office throughout the period. bilities for education are lim- ited, while children lack ac- To increase the awareness cess to books and other key of the drive, CSA also put up reference resources. There is a stall in our quadrangle with a major gap in the availabili- fun games and quizzes for ty of reading materials in or- all the book-nerds out there. phanages and other NGOs They handed out charming across the city. With this idea handmade bookmarks to any- in mind, the Activity Centre one who won at the games. of the Centre for Social Ac- The books that were collect- tion (CSA) organized a book ed will be forwarded along to donation drive. The drive be- NGOs and other gan on December 26th and organisations.

Page 10 AASARE Food security and inadequacy of it is certainly one verse conditions like food shortage being one Image Courtesy: istockphoto | elenabs of the most severe problems that our country has of them. Many have lost their jobs, leaving them been facing over a long period of time. Although helpless. The ration distribution drive conducted significant changes can be made only with the as- by CSA further took a fair step to ensure that ev- sistance and guidance of the government, we as eryone got an equal ration – that is each person ethical citizens can take small steps to work to- who had registered for the same was given three wards a better future - to ensure zero hunger and packets of meal after their identity was verified us- improved health and nutrition. ing their Aadhaar card ids. With this aim in mind, Centre for Social Action Thereby the drive provided the underprivileged (CSA) had organised a ration distribution drive, sections a hope in these difficult times, providing Aasare, on the 27th of February this year. The event them with a means to live life and cherish it. It also was sponsored by Rise Against Hunger India, which helped in preventing food scarcity among the most is an international hunger relief organization. The vulnerable groups and in turn raised community organization at large works with volunteers to en- awareness about hunger. This in turn also motivat- sure zero hunger and reduce food shortages by dis- ed the volunteers to help those in need and which tributing rations to the underprivileged. further made this event a success. This has proved The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has left that even the smallest action you initiate can have many backward communities vulnerable to ad- a huge impact on the society. Ration Distribution Drive

Conversation Boards

Page 12 Interview with Govind By Siddhi Gattani What is your name? was hard getting through the pandemic. My Name is Govind and I am originally But now things are getting back on track. from Rajasthan. Do you see a diverse range of people How long have you been here? here? It has been ten years since I’ve moved to All the time. I have seen students from all Bangalore and five years since I’ve been across the country. in Bannerghatta. What are your opinions on the diversity How much is your customer base other of the students here? than Christ? I have never seen such a diverse group I think my customer base consists more anywhere else. This is the first time I’ve of students from Christ since there are ever come across such a thing. many pgs and hostels around. This lane itself has four pgs. Have these interactions changed you in any way? Did the pandemic affect your business? Ever since I have been here and have met Yes, the pandemic affected my busi- all the people, I have realized that most ness severely. I had to sit at home for a of the people are nice. There obviously long time. With the colleges and the pgs are some unfriendly people but that has closed most of my business went away. It nothing to do with stereotypes.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY MUSIC MOVIE 1. Excuses 1. Friends 2. Trampoline 2. Slumdog Millionaire 3. Illahi 3. The Family Man 4. Atlantic City 4. The Prestige 5. Eleanor Rigby 5. Scent of a Woman 6. Saiyan Ruth Gaye 6. Dil Chahta hai BOOKS 1. I’ll Give You The Sun 2. The Forests of Enchantment 3. Beloved- Toni Morrison 4. Rich Dad Poor Dad 5. A Thousand Splendid Suns 6. You only live once Recommendations

Page 14 Team PRAVAD April, 2022 Editorial Team Head Alona Aby | 2EMP Content Generators Varsha Talari | 4BBAHB Shamatmika R | 4ENGH Siddhi Gattani | 2ENGH Aditi Kothari | 2BBAHB Gautam Bhatia | 2ECOHB Designing Team Head Varnikha Shekar | 2JOUH Image Manupulator G Swathi | 2JOUH Student Coordinators Nameera Khan | 4JOUH Karan J | 6JOUH Ananya Aggarwal | 4BBAH