Arthotsav Diaries: Day 1

Our fifth-intercollegiate season of Arthotsav began with not a bang but a gentle thud as our chief guest Dr. Neeraj Hatekar from the University of Mumbai inaugurated the three-day fest with a prayer to the Almighty, along with the college’s Department of Economics. Speaking in front of a crowd of an eager 100-odd Economics students uniformed in a standard blue tee and badge, some adding their own touches here and there, he recounted his own experiences in the field and mentioned that our college had given him some of the best Masters students he had had the pleasure of working with. After that it was Anita ma’am and some of our own volunteers who spoke and motivated the already energized audience.

The first event of the day—The Wolf of Dalal Street—seems to have set the pace for the rest of the day. With its loud atmosphere and the quickness at which shares rose and fell, it truly felt like the inner stockbroker in the participants had emerged. In the heat of the action the challenge was ending the game rather than beginning it, with the determination of the guests intermingling with the enthusiasm of the hosts.

Noon came and went, and soon enough the next event (Vogue gone Rogue) was all set up and ready, albeit a bit late. Players were tested on their creativity along with their moolah savviness in this event, with them having to bargain for materials while simultaneously having to create a costume for a superhero in the short span of an hour or two. Volunteers sat and cheered in the stands as the teams worked furiously on, braving the sun and brainstorming to balance their needs with their desires. Some truly innovative costumes came out, with one team using their mobile’s flashlight as part of a crown for their superhero. It was truly enlightening!

Although the sun began sinking by the end of Vogue gone Rogue, the same could not be said about the volunteers, who immediately began prepping for the final event of the day, A Game of Fire and Ice. The quiz-cum-board game saw a fantastic turnout, with thirteen teams competing on a life-sized board to reach the end by answering as many questions as the could correctly. The volunteers became part of the gradually-thinning crowd, cheering and infecting the players with their gusto as they applauded and whooped for every right answer the players gave.  “It was well-organized and enjoyable”, said a participant with the widest grin, even though her team hadn’t been able to reach the end fast enough.

We congratulate all the winners, all the people who go forward to day three, and we can’t wait for tomorrow to come and bring us yet another packed itinerary! -Vishal U.,FYBA.