FETE
Alak's Lit-Soc Scene has witnessed quite a few ups and downs over
the past few years (Actually more downs than ups). When I look back at the
various Lit and Soc experiences in the three and half years here I find two
that stand apart from the rest. I'd like to share my nostalgia for the Fete
with you guys.
When we arrived here in September '97 we were late by about a
couple of months. So acads had to be kinda speeded up and many of us didn't
participate in the events at the Hostel or at the Insti level. In fact the
Lit-Soc was last on our priority then. Alak's poor show that year wasn't a
novelty. The Lit-Soc tally had rarely crossed the fifty mark in the previous
years. However one bright spot was the triumph in the Fete.
For the freshies and second year guys who haven't witnessed a Fete
yet, this is what it is about: Fete is usually hosted in the odd sem (I think
it is in the even sem this time) either at Sangam or at SAC, depending on the
weather. Every hostel has to put up a stall with a creative game. Junta coming
to the stall play the game after paying an entry fee. Judges award prizes to
the top three game stalls. Points are awarded for stuff like innovation,
creativity, backdrop and props. However it is advisable to avoid being too
high-funda 'coz the judges crib that Junta (read Mataks) find it too tough.
Alak has won two consecutive Fetes. The onus is on us to achieve a
hatrick this time round. You guys have to come up with ideas for a funda game.
The Soc and Lit Secs are in charge of the game. A successful Fete campaign
should kick off with an intensive brain storming session involving the Secs and
all enthu junta. There will be a lot of chopping and changing before you hit
upon a winning idea. But when you get one, that is more than half the battle
won.
Let us move on to some of the themes that were successfully
executed earlier. In the first year we had a kind of chess game. No elaborate
sets or anything. But there wasn't too much competition back then. The next
year we had a Treasure Hunt in which a team of two had to find a treasure on an
island. One guy was given a map and the other had to traverse the island, which
was a of clay model with a bamboo grid. The backdrop was a picture of Long John
Silver gazing out an approaching galleon! There was a spectacular picture of a
skull (drawn by Ghosh, Class of '99) on the banner (which read 'Fear of the
Dark') at the entrance to the stall. I am sure this sketchy description doesn't
do justice to the magnificent piece of work but I ain't got too much space to
elaborate.
But the big picture is this:
It's a great event. Great fun! But lots of fight, creativity and enthu needed.
If you think you've got any of these hop on to the bandwagon! Believe me, these memories
will stay with you a long long time. Far longer than a nine
pointer that you are probably aiming this sem!
Sandy