Happenings at SCMC

Day 2:

The day began with an enlightening panel discussion titled “Intersections of Technology and Equity: Redefining Digital Ecosystems.” The panel featured Dr. Maya Dodd (Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Languages at Flame University); Dr. Avishek Ray (Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Science at NIT Silchar); and Dr. Padmini Ray (Founder of Design Beku). The session, chaired by Dr. Rajinder Dudrah, (Professor of Culture Studies and Creative Industries at Birmingham City University, UK), explored the intersections of artificial intelligence, digital archives, urban mobility, and design justice.

The conference hosted a series of specialized paper presentations following the panel discussion. One of the standout sessions was the panel on "Glimpses into the Future of Cinema in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Technologies, and Philosophies." Panelists from diverse media organizations and academic institutions debated on AI infiltrating Cinema as language and posing threats to labour, creativity, and skills. The conversation centered around striking a balance with AI to reach productivity and maintain creative integrity, sparking vibrant discussion among the audience.

Interactive Presentation sessions remained the highlight of the event, allowing attendees to present their work and give and receive insights to further enhance their work.

Pramana is not just a conference to present Media Research; it is a collaborative effort aiming for the collective good. Throughout the event, the attendees networked, exchanged ideas, discussed potential projects, and much more, fostering a collaborative atmosphere that underscored the event's emphasis on sharing knowledge.

As our esteemed Guest of Honour, Dr. Rajinder Dudrah, noted, "Pramana has given us the opportunity to bring together minds from different backgrounds to solve complex media challenges and interact with the new and younger generation. We’re excited to continue this momentum in the days to come."

The last day was wrapped up with felicitation of all the participants and attendees through a valedictory ceremony.

They were also introduced to various career options in the creative industry. The experiential learning made the workshop both fun and extremely useful. SCMC through CRY (Child Rights and You) has been long associated with The Bahujan Hitay Girls Hostel for various social outreach activities.

The main focus of the event was the 'Pitch Arena,' where participants pitched their business ideas, and the top three ideas won cash prizes. The event encouraged creativity and gave the aspiring business owners a chance to network with people who can be their potential mentor.

The award recognizes Sharma's exceptional academic achievements and contributions to the university community. She was formally honored at the 21st Convocation of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) on September 03, 2024, by Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the Hon'ble President of India.

SCMC extends its warmest congratulations to Ms. Charu Sharma on this remarkable accomplishment.

Ganjad nurtures many new artists and serves as the epicenter of Warli art for the country and the world. For this degree film project, ten SCMC students traveled to a village in Maharashtra’s Palghar District to explore the evolving lifestyles of the Warli tribe and understand the intimate relationship between the artists and their art.

Through interviews with villagers, artists, and their family members, students sought to unravel how Warli art reflects everyday experiences by the artists. However, this film is not only about the evolution of Warli painting as a form of storytelling; it also brings forth issues ranging from changing lifestyles to gender disparity.

Prof. Sriramesh shared his extensive knowledge and experience, providing valuable insights into global PR practices across different sectors. Participants, including faculty members and aspiring researchers, engaged in insightful discussions and gained a deeper understanding of empirical research methodologies.

SCMC is grateful to Prof. Sriramesh for his valuable contributions and for sharing his expertise with the academic community.

Practice and Praxis,” held from June 24 to June 28, 2024, at the Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication (SCMC), concluded successfully. Organized by SCMC in association with STLRC, this event was actively participated in by faculty members from different universities in India. The FDP started with a welcome address by Dr. Swikrita Dowerah, Assistant Professor at SCMC and faculty in charge of the FDP. This was followed by an address by Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan, Director of SCMC, who emphasized the significance of qualitative research in contemporary times. The FDP saw renowned experts in the field of qualitative research come together to train the participants on the nuances of this area of research. Noted experts included Dr. Madhavi Reddy, Dr. Ruchi Kher Jaggi, Dr. Aarti Wani, Dr. Rajni Palriwala, Dr. Shikha Jhingan, Dr. Dalia Chakrabarti, Dr. Anagha Tambe, Dr. Shalini Sharma, Dr. Suchetana Banerjee, Dr. Dhaval Maheta, and Dr. Jayashree Patnaik.

The program covered a cross-section of different methods in qualitative research, ranging from textual analysis to ethnography and participatory methods, case study methods, discourse analysis, and visual methods, apart from research on performances and sound cultures during five days of intensive interaction. During the five days, participants learned about the practical applications of theoretical concepts as well as various research tools.

The FDP concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Sunil Belladi and feedback from the participants. The participants expressed their gratitude to the organizers for the valuable opportunity to engage with distinguished speakers.

The students took charge of various aspects of the workshop, including Art & Design, Production, Hair and Make-up, Modelling, Camera & Lighting Crew, and Coordination. The pre-production and post-production work was handled by the Behind the Scenes and Digital Design teams.

The workshop featured photography for six themes: Coquette, Old Money, Indie-pop, Cyberpunk, LGBTQA+, and 80's Bollywood. Additionally, the students participated in a product shoot for "Bubblegum" and an advertisement shoot for oxidized jewelry.

On the first day, the Production and Art & Design teams set up the backgrounds for Coquette, Old Money, Indie-pop, and Cyberpunk, while the models did an excellent job. The Camera and Lighting assistants ensured the photo and videography process ran smoothly. The day ended with a successful Bubblegum product shoot.

On the second day, the students explored different photography techniques during the Oxidized Jewellery-Advertisement shoot, featuring the themes of LGBTQA+ and 80's Bollywood. The Coordination crew worked tirelessly to ensure effective communication among all teams, promoting teamwork and communication skills.

The workshop commenced with an in-depth exploration of the fundamental principles underlying camera operations. Students delved into topics such as sensor functionality, dynamic range, LUT, bit rate, sub-sampling rate, electronic shutter, and shutter angle, understanding how each element contributes to crafting a compelling image. Professor Surin adeptly addressed students' queries and uncertainties, fostering a dynamic learning environment through practical demonstrations.

In addition to technical insights, students were tasked with executing a scripted scene during the workshop. They honed their skills by operating the camera on a crane, mastering intricate camera movements, and experimenting with Track & Trolley setups to grasp the significance of track movements. The hands-on experience of using a shoulder mount added an element of excitement, allowing students to appreciate the nuances of handheld camera work and its impact on storytelling.

The workshop proved to be a valuable and enlightening experience, equipping students with a deeper understanding of the art of filmmaking. Beyond merely capturing footage, participants recognized the importance of the creative process in shaping a desired visual outcome, underscoring the multifaceted nature of image creation in the realm of audio-visual storytelling.

Following this, the speaker touched upon the kind and number of stakeholders required in the process and presented pointers helpful for dividing responsibilities among students and faculty alike.

In response to faculty questions, Mr Anand clarified doubts about shifting native-grown CMS to paid premium CMS services like Wordpress.com and others.

Finally, the speaker also discussed expectations about typical interaction with service providers and/or vendors, the specifications one needs to communicate, approximate costs and charges, and the usual array of services on offer regarding regular updates.

The interaction will help create a clear roadmap for developing SCMC’s student-run digital news platform, ChronicleExpress.com. It will also provide a blueprint for faculty participation and guidance.

The cast gave life to the characters with their refined skills. Kehan Chindy and Ishita Singh left the audience mesmerised in their roles of Tony and Maria, respectively. Shreyanjana Basu, as Riff, caught everyone’s attention with a commendable portrayal of the character. Karthikeyan Menon did full justice to Bernardo’s character, delivering its essence with grace. Opposite him was Arpita Mehra, whose character Anita showed passion and depth.

From the moment the curtains rose, it was evident that this production was unlike any other. The air buzzed with anticipation as a live band, led by the talented Arjesh Gupta, took its place, ready to infuse every moment with the rhythm of Leonard Bernstein's iconic score. The energy brought in by this troupe of 13 vocalists was unparalleled.

The dancers, embodying the spirit of the Jets and the Sharks, moved with precision and grace, their every movement a testament to weeks of preparation and rehearsal. What truly set this performance apart was the seamless integration of sound, light, music and even technology. Every element combined in perfect harmony, creating an experience nothing short of magical. As the different scenes unfolded, we were transported to the gritty back alleys of New York – replete with romance and tragedy.

Perhaps what stood out the most was the sense of community that ran through the auditorium. As an audience of almost 400 people, we laughed, cried and cheered, appreciating the incredible talent on display.

Ultimately, this production was more than just a tribute to the film. It was a celebration of diversity, creativity and the power of storytelling that transcends time and space. By bringing together a diverse range of ideas and perspectives, the students of SCMC crafted an experience that is as relevant and resonant today as it was when the story first captivated audiences decades ago. It was a day that would have surely left an indelible mark for the students who were fortunate enough to witness it.

Following the lighting of the lamp, Dr. Gopalkrishnan addressed the students and staff. Thereafter, the guest panelists were felicitated and shared their words of wisdom with the audience. Mr. Danait spoke about storytelling through photographs and how stories give meaning to the photos we click. Mr. Vikram Bawa, a well-known celebrity photographer, also joined the event virtually and addressed the ensemble of students, faculty members and budding photographers.

Aagaz, in its true meaning, implies the genesis of the creative spectrum in totality. Open to all photographers – in professional and unprofessional categories – the competition received more than 200 entries. Yogesh Subash Gurav from Pune bagged the award in the professional category, while Praveen Nayak won in the unprofessional category for the theme ‘Stories Around Us’. Suhani Sharma from SCMC’s Batch 2025 was the runner-up in the latter category. The theme of ‘Reflections’ saw some intriguing entries, from which Rajesh Dhar and Raju Das’s submissions won the first and second prizes in the professional category. SCMC’s Apoorva Sangal was a runner-up in the unprofessional category.

The submissions in the ‘Indian Wildlife’ category did justice to the plethora of fauna found in our country. Bibek Bibhupada bagged the first prize in the professional category for the theme, whereas Maanya Nanavati won in the unprofessional category. For the theme ‘Illusions’, Mridul Chaudhary won the first prize in the professional category, while SCMC’s Bohnisikha Mukherjee and Harshita Jain were the winner and runner-up, respectively, in the unprofessional category.

After the distribution of the prizes, the exhibition showcasing the best entries was thrown open to everyone. After the exhibition, Mr. Danait and Mr. Naik held a guest session with the students. They discussed the essentials of wildlife photography and the creative aspects of photography. A month of preparation, over 200 entries, and a wonderful exhibition later, one can say with faith that Aagaz was a success beyond any of our expectations.

In an interview conducted by Batch ‘24’s Shagun Dube, Mr Zaman talks about the changes that have shaped the media industry in the last decade and his learnings from his time here at SCMC. Edited excerpts below:

Q. What all changes did you see after you graduated from SCMC?

If we look at it from an industry point of view, a lot of things changed, especially on the digital and social media front. There was no curriculum or modules around digital media when we did this course. Social media was essentially being used as a tool to communicate with each other, and not so much for marketing communication and all of those things. Now after that, what has happened is that it (social media) has totally revolutionised the marketing space.

When you look at it from the networking point of view, our batch coordinators used to approach companies for placements or internships; they used to call on their landline numbers, try to fix a meeting and then get the person placed. Now you have something called LinkedIn, and other similar platforms, where you can directly reach out to the decision-makers in different organisations, create a rapport with them and tell them that this is what we are looking at. So, there’s very direct communication now. There are no roadblocks in communication anymore. So the opportunities for networking and collaboration are so much more. That makes it much easier for people to make a place for themselves in the industry now.

Q. If you could go back in time, would you change anything about what you learnt at SCMC?

I honestly think that the course was pretty comprehensive for the time. Comprehensive in the sense that I always thought studying from here gave me an advantage over other people from other colleges and institutes. And it was a real thing! In day-to-day life, right from operating an MS Excel sheet to being adept at editing tools like Photoshop and all those things. It gives us a huge advantage in the industry because we always have the answers to everything the management might ask us.

We live in an age where teams are getting leaner because of technology. AI is being implemented to do many of these mundane tasks for people, which means only the very creative and smart people will make it to the companies and their specific roles.

Now we are developing all these skills - digital marketing, social media marketing, moment marketing – all these things are happening due to this entire revolution around social media and the interconnected world.

It’s really encouraging that the college is also moving at that pace and adopting a lot of new things. The majors have increased; we only had four or five, and now there are seven in the course. So I think we are moving in the right direction; we are… adapting to what is happening in the industry today.

Q. What are your key learnings from life?

So that time (in college days), I was really sceptical because – I am sure a lot of that thought is still prevailing in the world that, you know – mass communication is not a very money-minting kind of a profession. It is looked down upon in certain ways.

But I’m so happy that I chose this for myself. I don’t have any regrets about doing this because, one, we are all passionate people. We are here because we are mad people. We have that passion for doing this. We can do a lot of creative stuff, which a machine or AI, no matter how much it evolves, will not be able to do. (We can) think creatively. So, I think from that point of view, the scope in this particular domain is limitless.

There’s so much happening every day. The landscape is becoming bigger and bigger… The opportunity for lateral movement within the space is so much already. A journalist can always move into a marketing role because he has the contacts, the know-how of how the industry works.

As for the courses and the modules being imparted as part of the curriculum, I think it’s a very good blend of academics, and exposure through internships and industry experience integrated into the course. This will really help (the students)... The way SCMC focuses equally on technical skills, hard skills, and soft skills will be really beneficial… Hard and technical skills will take you to a certain level, but after that, it is your soft skills.

Q. What advice would you give to the students?

Two things that are on the top of my priorities list are: Be consistent and patient. I have learned from experience that being consistent is important. Have the perseverance to keep doing one thing over and over relentlessly for things to fall in place. My ultimate advice is to be patient and consistent, to not give up in between.

Secondly, attend as many classes as you can. It’s a professional course, an experience, and you should try to imbibe everything possible for the next 3 or 4 years. It’ll help shape your career and personality, making you a very interesting person to talk to in general.

Q. What are you views and thoughts about mass communication as a programme and how would you grade that?

The best part is the flexibility of the course - it’s up to you how you can leverage the knowledge and tools that you have at your end to make something significant out of it. It’s a blend of science and art - analytics, research, selection of media and art. A part of it is actually doing and planning things. You can be a journalist and still find a place in the marketing department of a company. It’s well-connected – a filmmaker needs PR, marketing and even a journalist.

Talking of cons, in the initial stage of their career, one might feel out of place because everything is scattered, and as a media professional, you’re expected to do a lot of things simultaneously. But, eventually, being consistent is the key. There’s no substitute for hard work, and one should keep building on their portfolio.

The arrival of the new batch marks an exciting change for SCMC, as it shifts from a three-year programme to a four-year one. The curriculum is now designed with multiple entry and exit points, with options for a certificate, diploma, a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree with honours. As part of the revamp, the college now offers seven new major and minor options.

During the first two days of the induction, students were shown around the campus, and introduced to all the faculty members as well as the facilities of SCMC. They were also intimated about the administrative processes, along with information regarding eligibility, the student handbook, projects, examinations, etc. They were also introduced to SCMC’s student council, along with its different clubs and cells.

The formal orientation programme was conducted on 22nd July at the auditorium. With the students in attendance along with their parents, Professor Sunil Belladi gave the welcome address, motivating students to believe in themselves during their time at the institution. SCMC’s Director Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan then spoke about the vast opportunities in the field of media, and explained in detail the new curriculum and course structure. He also briefed about the internship and placement process, and highlighted the achievements of some SCMC alumni. This was followed by a Q&A session, wherein the queries of students and parents alike were addressed by the Director.

After that, the heads of four departments of SCMC – namely Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations and Audio-Visual – held briefings to introduce the students to specific domains within the vast field of media. Col. G.S Radkar then briefed those in attendance about the hostel facilities and introduced them to Yen and Euro, the girls’ hostel’s very own labrador dogs!

The audience was further intimated about the NEP guidelines and how they are being implemented by the University. After brief sessions by the teams from Symbiosis Centre for Emotional Wellbeing (SCEW), and Department of Sports, Recreation and Wellness (DSRW), the event concluded with the vote of thanks from Professor Juhi Rajwani.

Many Students of Batch ‘27 expressed their excitement about the new academic year, speaking of their interests in the field of media – from filmmaking to marketing. Others also looked forward to SCMC’s flagships events – Vaividhya and Maadhyam. The induction programme certainly left the new set of students eagerly looking forward to the quintessential experience of SCMC!

The workshop kicked off with a performance by the band, followed by an interactive Q&A session where students were encouraged to ask questions. The band also discussed how music can unite people and promote positive change in the world. It was a truly enlightening experience for the audience.

As the workshop drew to a close, the audience was treated to a captivating performance by SCMC's very own band, The Basement Project. The workshop concluded with a final performance by 2B1, in which everyone participated, and by the end, everyone was standing on their feet. The event provided an excellent opportunity for students to learn from professional artists and showcase their own talent and creativity. It highlighted the power of music to bring people together, spread positivity, and promote environmental consciousness. It was an unforgettable experience that will be cherished by everyone who attended.

Apart from her work on "The Elephant Whisperers," Garima has also made significant contributions to the industry as a screenwriter. She has worked on 13 profile films for a Boost campaign, two short films for Amazon MiniTv, and was a part of the writer's room for the popular Netflix series, "Little Things," where she worked on story development, screenplay, and dialogues. Additionally, she is also a freelance director and lyricist.

Her achievements reflect the excellence that SCMC strives for in its students. Her work in the film industry is a testament to the skills and knowledge she gained during her time at the institute. We congratulate her on her success and wish her all the best for her future endeavors.

Her hard work and dedication to the project has won India its first Oscar of 2023 for Best Documentary Short Film.

Pranav has been working closely with the team on its marketing and social media since August 2022. Despite being an intern, he was given due credits for his work and efforts in the YouTube trailer description along with the rest of the film crew. The movie stars National Award winners Prakash Belawadi, Anant Nag, and many others, and is directed by Ajay Sarpeshkar and is being distributed by Platoon Films in India and Lilac Entertainments in the US.

He used the colour tool to highlight the certain aspects of the theme of his film. Being a follower of BR Ambedkar’s ideology to stand for minorities, Bhuvanesh went with the colour blue throughout the film to create a sense of resistance in theviewer’s mind.

The 12-minute short film discusses a very crucial concept which is known to everyone and still, remains forgotten due to the inconsiderate conscious of the public.

On talking about this extremely impressive achievement, Bhuvanesh mentioned how happy he and his team were on knowing the film was selected for the festival, and said that they’d “cherish the memory”.

Then participants gathered detailed information about various institutions, e.g., village panchayat, health center, school, and self-help groups. There were group discussions and debriefing sessions after each visit.

The participants visited the village and understood the ground reality by engaging the villagers—participatory research aimed at getting community knowledge and information about facilities and problems. The use of various tools in Community research like the Venn diagram helped them understand the priorities of the villagers and the accessibility to multiple services.

Higher educational institutes across India will introduce a two-credit course on Participatory research the next semester as per UGC Guidelines. It will help students understand a community and integrate the knowledge for a policy or social change benefiting the community members.

The Master Trainers Training Program will enable our faculty to train other faculty and launch the new course the next semester. The techniques learned will also be applied while teaching other subjects.

The workshop started with a pre-requisite exercise to understand the participant’s perception of research and initiating them into reading academic literature. Spanning over two days, the workshop covered topics like Academic Writing as a Genre (Annotated Bibliography), Opinion and Claim, annotating for meaning/Annotating for function, Summary, Paraphrase, Description & Analysis, Befriending the Body Paragraphs, Free Writing/Free Thinking, Quotes as Evidence, Interview/Field Work/Data as Evidence, Using Style Guides, Writing Introduction and Writing Conclusion. The workshop was attended by 29 students who chose to write research papers in lieu of industry internship.

This article is Hannah’s second feature. She earlier wrote an article called “Unveiling Rainbows” for Pride Month, which urged readers to spread love, acceptance, and harmony.

Hannah has taken to writing recently, especially after the pandemic, and she is thoroughly enjoying it! She enjoys writing about topics spanning lifestyle, health, and self-development, and hopes to write about beauty and travel soon. Hannah describes her writing style as “personal,” as she aims to write about relatable, simple articles which help both herself and the readers.

When asked about what she is most looking forward to from her work with the Asian Chronicle, Hannah mentioned that she wants to “explore new topics and areas of interest” and “develop her writing skills, article by article” by implementing her seniors’ and editor’s feedback.

SCMC is proud of Hannah for her work with the Asian Chronicle, and wishes her all the best for her writing journey ahead!

Platform 3, another film written and directed by me was released on YouTube. I was also a part of this docu-series called ‘Beyond the Dust’ which was shot over a period of 4-5 months. I was the Assistant DoP and Editor. Talking about my upcoming projects, I have recently finished one more project with the protagonist of Dhaar as he is a director himself. It will hopefully come out in May or June. There is one more film I’m working on as the Director’s Assistant. I am looking forward to all the upcoming projects and even more excited to share them with all my fellow cinema lovers!”

Congratulations! SCMC is proud of your achievement, Sanbarta.

In conversation with Aditi, she perceived SCMC to be a gateway for her to not only meet people from a variety of backgrounds but also get accustomed to the multitude of situations and tasks. Quoting Aditi- ‘The three years that I spent here have made me a better person, and only helped me understand myself better. I have made memories that will last a lifetime, and I’m grateful for everything the college has offered.’

There are many roadblocks that everyone faces in their journey. Life doesn’t come across as easy. For Aditi, motivation to get through it is derived from the littlest things around her. There are tiny reminders that can make you go a long way in driving one to reach their aims.

After she had cleared the written, her next step was most certainly going to be the Service Selection Board (SSB). She had prepared a month before she arrived in Bangalore for the same. When asked about her preparation process, she said, “I took the advice of various reputed interviewers and psychologists to help prepare for the various kind of tests that are administered. Along with this, I made sure to diligently work on my physical ability for which I had an exercise regime. My family, friends, and teachers were helpful throughout this process as well!”

For now, she is extremely overwhelmed and is still processing the result. She is beyond ecstatic and cannot wait to start her training at the Officer Training Academy, Chennai.

When one has the commitment and drive to achieve their dreams, no force in the universe that can act as a barrier. Truly said, hard work and perseverance always pave the way and carry the person to their destination.

They are building their community via social media, while introducing guest writers and collaborating with others in a similar space. Following these accounts will allow everyone to keep up to date with their new content and initiatives.

Instagram : Click Here
Facebook : https://www.facebook. com/Youre-Doing-Great-1 1 1565940601971/
They can be contacted via email at : youredoingokaypod@gmail.com

Congratulations Avdhi and Akshay!

On 16th of July 2020, Ms. Ashwini Deshpande joined the batch of 2021 for an online guest session. She has extensive experience in the advertising and marketing industry and has worked for successful organisations like Kesari Tours. Her association with Symbiosis has been a long one as a guest faculty. To boot, she is a celebrated theatre artist and her performances can be witnessed not only in critically acclaimed plays but also in a couple of SCMC degree films!

The session started with introductions and later proceeded to discuss the basics of Advertising. Students were made to dissect iconic advertisements to understand the process of ideation, strategy and execution. Some of the advertisements that were dissected included the famous Cannes Lions winner, Happy Dent Palace released in 2007 which was a brainchild of McCann Erickson. The celebrated Indian Railways Campaign by Ogilvy Delhi was also a part of this exercise. The first half of the session was extremely perceptive and helpful.

Later, the class analyzed the effects of the novel coronavirus on the advertising industry. A broad insight on how brand marketing would undergo a drastic change in the post Covid-19 world was given by the lecturer. She also advised the students to be more empathetic as future marketers.

Furthermore, another interesting exercise was assigned wherein the students were made to brainstorm ideas on how a local 'ladoo' seller can advertise his product and reach his audience in a world hit by a pandemic. The ideas that the students came up with were quite promising and refreshing. The class was amused when one of the students suggested using 'Chota Bheem' as the mascot considering he is known to get his immunity from 'ladoos.’ Advertising the local ladoos as a method to increase immunity in the middle of a global pandemic using Chota Bheem seemed crazy but witty. Ms. Ashwini lauded this idea and suggested some additional strategies as well.

The lecture conducted by Ms. Ashwini Deshpande was definitely received with admiration by the students. Not to mention, the discussion that ensued was relevant and made perfect sense in the current scenario.

By, Anushka Ghadigaonkar

While a few of us felt that the participation made people participate and feel guaranteed through this process, we did agree to that it was slightly flawed. However, despite its flawed nature, it is possibly still the best out there and we as nation are closer to standing a chance as opposed to complete authoritarianism.

Moving on, an interaction made us mull over how public policy was often shaped. We managed to ponder over ideas like consistency to a policy need not show how good of an analyst one is. As the interaction progressed, we recalled a few instances as to what opportunities lead to the 2014 BJP win. Despite the differences many of us might hold, we all could convene to PM Modi being a good orator.

Through all this politically and ideologically charged discussions, the best takes away was that no matter who was in power or what policy is in place, politics, just like history, provides you with narratives. It could be different narratives, polar at best, but each view and belief are based on certain narratives, that one may or may not be fed but chose to stand by.

And though we were miles away, the session didn’t make us feel rather disheartened by the pandemic rather with the polls and quizzes quite the opposite. It was indeed a session that got us to thinking and be more aware of the narratives that often engulf us.

- Pranjal Nangare, Batch of 2022

He spoke about the role and challenges for the media in present times.
Students also interacted with Mr Pradyut Bordoloi who is a Lok Sabha MP from Assam at the Constitution Club of India. Mr Bordoloi briefed the students about the issues raised due to the Constitution Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, especially in case of the North East States.

The students also visited the India Gate, the National War Memorial, the Nehru Planetarium and the Qutub Minar.

Participants competed in basketball, volleyball, futsal, tennis, sports photography and sports quiz.

The men’s volleyball winners were Team Zeal, while FLAME University bagged the women’s title. The National Defence Academy (NDA) team won men’s futsal and Symbiosis Law School won the women’s title. The sports quiz was also won by NDA. In basketball, Sports Arena won the women’s trophy while Court Vision got their hands on the men’s trophy. Yash Joglekar won the Sports Journalism contest while Suprasana DN won the photography contest. Harsh Gurnani won the tennis men’s singles trophy and he also teamed up with Krishna Thakkar to grab the mixed double’s prize.

The panel discussion on day two was organized to give students a deeper insight into the world of sports in India. The topic chosen was “Barriers in Sports” in order to understand and tackle the various challenges that prevent sportspersons from reaching their full potential. The panel included Harsh Mehta, a Pune resident who completed an expedition to the Siachen Glacier; Milind Joshi, a swimming coach; Shirish Dattatraya Kulkarni, associate professor at Symbiosis Law School who specializes in sports law; Vivek Shivade, a city based mountaineer who will attempt to scale Mount Kilimanjaro; and Aditya Bhandarkar, a professional golfer.

The first ever SCMC Rush managed to exceed all expectations of those involved in its planning and execution. The three-day event saw great enthusiasm and effort by all participants and organizers. The event was conducted smoothly, saw a great turnout from across the country, and managed to produce great displays of skill. Owing to the resounding success of the first edition of Rush, it is well placed to become a staple of SCMC folk for years to come.

The keynote speakers this year were journalist Shekhar Gupta, Congress politician and Solapur MLA, Praniti Shinde, actress Rasika Dugal, musician and social activist Rahul Ram and bureaucrat Himanshu Khatri.

Dr. Ashok Kumar first presented the current possibilities of ICT in higher education. He then spoke of the new possibilities in the horizon. He then focused on the challenges he faced in implementing ICT during his time as a university administrator. Finally, he initiated a long discussion session with the faculty and the stuff on how they are currently utilizing ICT capabilities. He gave valuable suggestions on how to improve the ICT infrastructure in SCMC, Pune.

The training ended with the honourable Director, Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan, thanking Dr. Ashok Kumar for the rigorously structured workshop and the faculty and staff for their patience and effort.

ICT workshop Report

Throughout the entire show students from Batch 2020 gave the farewell to their seniors mimicking their seniors, to align with the theme of Batch of 2019 giving farewell to themselves. This innovative theme caught everyone off-guard and received hearty laughs.

The event saw ‘The 3 Years Challenge’, in which images of some students from when they started their journey in SCMC alongside their present ones. A very warm Yearbook video, which consisted of many happy moments, followed. The professors then arrived and wished the students the very best for their futures.

To brighten up everyone in attendance, 2020 had organized a unique award ceremony for their seniors modelled after their beloved shop- The Hiras of 2019. The highlight was the farewell special edition of Shipwreck. Rujuta and Anish pretended to be their batchmates Simran and Pranav respectively and attempted to convince the jury- which comprised of 2020 students mimicking the OG jury of Shipwreck- to take them on the ship. The original jury of Shipwreck - Aroush, Armaan and Ankita were also invited on stage to be themselves and convince the jury.

The Farewell also witnessed some amazing confessions, with one of them resulting in Ansh and Raj dancing to romantic numbers on the stage and delighting the crowd. Shreevar then thanked the batch for some amazing experiences and memories together and also declared the Batch of 2020 the best juniors ever, saying that he’d miss them as much as he would miss Batch 2019.

The cultural event started with Batch 2020 dedicating an emotional acapella number to the batch of 2019, followed by dancing to some peppy tracks. The seniors soon joined in the revelry, before a movie that articulated the tender moments from the farewell itself was screened. A batch photograph was taken for the last time before the mementoes were distributed.

One could not have asked for a better ‘SymBYEsis’ after three years of Symbiosis.

Anushka Ghadigaonkar (Batch 2021)

Parth Rahatekar (Batch 2020)

The event was inaugurated with the much anticipated ‘Cinema Day’, giving students and faculty the opportunity to cosplay their favorite movie characters. Several iconic cinema characters were brought to life by the students of SCMC.

At noon, the topics for the ‘24-hour Filmmaking Competition’ were released where the students had to put together a film in just a day! This was followed by the ‘Cinema Day Treasure Hunt’, where selected teams competed to find hidden treasure.

Day One of TESS came to a fitting end with the screening of a cult classic that changed the path of cinema: Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino. Students braved the evening chill, huddled together in blankets and snacks to munch to watch the film.

Day Two of TESS began with the lighting of the lamp in the campus auditorium by the chief guest for the event, Mr. Prashant Pathrabe, Director General, Films Division of India. The other guests were Mr. Rohit Adlakha, Product Evangelist at Fujifilm India Private Limited, and Mr. Pravin Mudholkar, Bureau Chief, IBN Lokmat, Network 18. The guests spoke about developments in the audio-visual industry.

The afternoon session, Kahaani - screening of short films in the fictional category, showcased some of the best works that SCMC students and others created.

The event concluded with the award ceremony. Best costume award for Cinema Day was bagged by Liora Bhite (Batch 2021), Parth Rahatekar (Batch 2020) and Saylee Gatne (Batch 2019). The first and second winners for Kahaani were May by Harold Antony Paulson and Listen to the Storm by Arnav Pingale.

Winners of the 24-hour filmmaking competition were Devansh and team for Kaam 24, and the runners-up were Akshat and team for Wacko. Team Han Solo won the first position for Treasure Hunt.

TESS concluded with the organizers and core committee members speaking about their experience

Roop Sawhney and Yamini Kinjra (Batch 2020)
Snigdha Jain (Batch 2019)

The third year journalism students of SCMC were taken to Shindewadi, a 'model' village just 30km to the east of Pune, the exact location being Saee Farmstay and Agrotourism hub. The date was 31st of January, 2019 and they left for the trip at around 10 in the morning, accompanied by Professor Vidyabhushan Arya.

They were greeted by Mr. Langde, who runs the agro tourism and farm stay property. He is a social activist, a politician and a prominent personality in the village and nearby areas, having twice been the sarpanch of the village.

The students were given a tour of the gram panchayat office to see its workings. They were informed about the three-tier structure of governance, and what it lacked in terms of effective functioning. Next was a trip to the fields where they saw a variety of crops in different stages of growth.

The batch had a free-wheeling discussion with Mr. Langde on a range of topics — from how the one-size-fits-all approach of the government has been ineffective, on how policies have impacted their lives, their views on the way out of rural distress, and so on. It was a thoroughly enriching experience and opened everyone’s minds to fresh ideas and perspectives.

Following this, the students were given a tour of the animal farms, learnt a bit about the farming process for a few crops and tried their hands at fishing. A sumptuous, traditional lunch served by the hosts topped off the visit.

Yash Agarwal (Batch 2019)