Kannada Department creates history; launches Infomedia

September 23, 2009 made a mark in the history of St Joseph’s College, as it saw the opening of Kannada Infomedia, a website initiated by the students to propagate Kannada as a language and culture and help the non Kannada speaking community to learn the language.

The inauguration witnessed the presence of Padmashree M S Sathyu, Fr (Dr) Ambrose Pinto and Dr Vijayaraghavan (HOD of the Kannada department). The chief guest of the day was M S Sathyu, an Oscar nominated director and film maker.

M S Satyu said, “It is very important to learn Kannada language and culture if you are in Karnataka. Kannada Infomedia is a very good idea and a platform for non-Kannadigas to learn this language.”

Principal, Fr Ambrose Pinto in his speech explained the importance of Kannada and said, “Our institution has students of different countries. This website will help them communicate and facilitate education outside the college campus.”

Harshitha of III PCM, President of Kannada Sangha said, “Our main objective is to teach the students who wish to learn Kannada. The website will display four words each day and explain the meaning and pronunciation in Kannada and English.”

The team that worked to see to the launch of the website comprised of a few Kannada students from the association with the help of the Kannada department. The team was led by Vibin Varghese, III MCZ, and Aniruddha of III MCZ. The website can be accessed at www.kannadainfomedia.com

- Sijo and Moses I MS Com

‘Indo-US ties have greater potentiality’

Mr Michael Pelletier, a consult for Public Affairs in Chennai, said here on Thursday that there was tremendous potentiality of collaboration between India and the US.

He was speaking at a lecture organised by the Political Science department of the College under the theme, ‘American foreign policy’.

Mr Pelletier focused his talk on the American foreign policy that came after George Bush’s administration. He also highlighted on the political, cultural and trade ties, America maintains with India.

Mr Pelletier further spoke on the linkages being created in the corporate sphere which had further strengthened these affirmative links. “Democratic governance is crucial in the modern world and must be adopted by all developing countries,” he said.

He also accounted on the popularity of America and said that America was a hugely preferred destination for higher education among Indian students.

- Jenin I MS Com

NSA has unique events in the pipeline

The Natural Science Association (NSA) of SJC has made conservation of wildlife as one of their goals. This association was started three years ago and its activities include conducting various programmes about wildlife via mediums such as talks, visual quizzes, seminars, presentations, etc.

In the recent past, the association has held a talk on H1N1 by a renowned doctor from the Apollo hospital, Dr Suhana. This activity basically aimed at creating awareness among students of the grave consequences of the disease.

The annual programme conducted by the members of the NSA is “Paws and Claws”, which is a pet show organised to judge various abilities of pets. The criterion for judging includes ‘best maintained’, ‘most bubbly’ and ‘most disciplined’, among other things. There is an assortment of goody bags provided by various sponsors to the prize winners each year. “The event which has been open to all students of this college will now be an inter-collegiate event,” said Rachna Patwardhan of III CBZ, the President of NSA.

Upcoming events by the NSA include what will be known as the Conservation Week, held in the first week of October, which will concentrate on creating awareness on the critically endangered animals of today.

“There has been a lot more awareness in College because of the NSA. While our main objective is to focus completely on wild animals, we also aim at creating a strong bond between humans and animals in the near future,” said Rachna.

- Veda, Afreen I MS Com

NSA has unique events in the pipeline

The Natural Science Association (NSA) of SJC has made conservation of wildlife as one of their goals. This association was started three years ago and its activities include conducting various programmes about wildlife via mediums such as talks, visual quizzes, seminars, presentations, etc.

In the recent past, the association has held a talk on H1N1 by a renowned doctor from the Apollo hospital, Dr Suhana. This activity basically aimed at creating awareness among students of the grave consequences of the disease.

The annual programme conducted by the members of the NSA is “Paws and Claws”, which is a pet show organised to judge various abilities of pets. The criterion for judging includes ‘best maintained’, ‘most bubbly’ and ‘most disciplined’, among other things. There is an assortment of goody bags provided by various sponsors to the prize winners each year. “The event which has been open to all students of this college will now be an inter-collegiate event,” said Rachna Patwardhan of III CBZ, the President of NSA.

Upcoming events by the NSA include what will be known as the Conservation Week, held in the first week of October, which will concentrate on creating awareness on the critically endangered animals of today.

“There has been a lot more awareness in College because of the NSA. While our main objective is to focus completely on wild animals, we also aim at creating a strong bond between humans and animals in the near future,” said Rachna.

- Veda, Afreen I MS Com

The Stamp

Photo exhibition shows subaltern suffering

“A Pourkarmika’s legs as he steps out of a main hall, earning Rs 60 per day, no holidays.”

This was a caption of one the photos exhibited at a the photo exhibition held on the campus on Thursday.

The theme of the exhibition was ‘Destructive Creation’. Most pictures portrayed vividly the suffering of the underprivileged.

Eshwarappa, who is a social worker and a photographer, has gotten into a new role of being a representative of the under-represented. His photos at the exhibition drew a lot of attention from the students of the College. Eeshwarappa (Eshu), said, “Each picture carries a story.”

According to him, the priority of the government should be all-round development, but the concept of development has changed. “The new development programmes have benefited only a section of society whereas the labour community has been exploited in the process of development,” he regretted.

He further stressed that development should not take place at the cost of the labour community. This was his third exhibition and he said there were three more down the line, of which two exhibitions would be held outside the state, in Delhi and Mumbai. Asked about his upcoming projects, he said that they would be based on ‘Tribal Communities’ and ‘Women’.

The exhibition saw good response from the students. Mario, of I CEZ said, “A lot of hard work has gone through. No words to describe it. Hats off!” Harshita from III PCM said, “Development happens when either side is balanced. We should think in the lines of humanity.”

- Vito and Tanmay I MS Com