"All study and no play makes Jack a dull boy" – a famous proverb well entrenched in our minds since childhood.
Now, more than ever, campus communities need a place to come together. Many institutes of higher education and their respective event organizing bodies are seeking new ways to engage students digitally as events move from in-person to virtual settings in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
IIM Ranchi firmly believes that cultural and extracurricular activities are the best way of developing an individual's personality and trimming down mental stress. These are the platforms where a student can improve his/ her skills and enhance their confidence level. Students of IIM Ranchi, since the beginning of the pandemic, have been celebrating virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Following are some of the glimpses of events that were celebrated in the last year.
1. World Environment Day & Earth Day celebration: "Plant a seedling at home and on campus."
It is rightly said that a great deal is always struck when an initiative is taken up.
When challenged to demonstrate their caring side for mother nature, IIM Ranchi students, teachers, and staff members responded with zeal.
It was a sight to behold as the students shared pictures of them doing their bit for the environment, hoping that their naïve endeavours might help restore her. Students and professors participated keeping in mind the safety procedures that were necessary for such a dangerous situation.
2. Agon-rush 2021:
Challenges are what keep life interesting, and conquering them gives it purpose. We at IIM Ranchi always believe in the motto to stay more robust, higher, and brighter. Even during these testing times, the learning process has not stopped.
Students from all across India participated in the institute's Management, Sports and Cultural fest with zest and zeal, wherein they showcased various talents, management skills, teamwork, solidarity, and unity along with other cultural events.
The event was well received and appreciated, both internally and externally.
3. New year celebration:
The New Year brings with it new possibilities to start again, ride on it, and set goals to realize all of one's aspirations after challenging 2020. IIM Ranchi students bid farewell to 2020 and greeted 2021 with a slew of virtual fun activities.
4. Christmas Week:
Christmas, the season of giving and forgiveness, is signalled by the jingling of bells and the immaculate decorations at every corner.
The much-awaited festival of Christmas was celebrated for a week with fervour and zeal at IIM Ranchi, with Secret Santa and Joy of Giving being the highlights of the same, organized by the Cultural Committee and Samarpan (the social responsibility club) respectively. The various SIGs of the institute came forward to raise funds for the underprivileged with activities ranging from music to dance, drama and games.
5. Diwali Celebration:
On the auspicious festival of lights, the students of IIM Ranchi lit up their screens with pictures, celebrating the festival in their own ethnicity. SOUL organized some competitions on the occasion, one of them being a selfie competition where students could post selfies with rangolis, diyas and other Diwali related decorations.
HighNote, the Special Interest Group for Music, also brought a smile to our faces with their musical event; the experience of which was so soothing that it wiped away the virtual Diwali woes
Also, looking at the alarming pollution level, the IIM Ranchi students took the pledge to celebrate a healthy and eco-friendly Diwali by not burning crackers. The UNGC-PRME Steering Committee encouraged students to mark the festival by supporting local businesses.
IIM Ranchi has always been a multilingual and multicultural campus that represents India's diverse cultures and ethnicities. It embraces India's various colours with passion and devotion. The management gives these festivities its full support and encouragement and is just as much a part of them as the students.