Archives: For Shades

For Shades

& all those who are still dreaming of it

4th August 2003 was the day I got myself registered at NITJSR and thus began my tryst with the journey of Jamshedpur; four years of a roller coaster ride, ups & downs, some great moments as well as well as some really bad experiences…………One thing that unifies our all the students of our dear college is that whoever is going to read the opening para of this feel shall be able to identify with sentiments expressed therein……. Now after 2 years of passing out as Batch 2k3, when I look back to the period of 2003-07 what I remember the most other than the wonderful friends I met there is SHADES. When I make this statement, many of the readers might find it to be kind of a superficial, superimposed speech, but I trust a few of those who have spent time with the shades team in 212 and 222, shall be able to reciprocate this feeling.

My first encounter with SHADES was under the guidance of 2k batch, and my first reaction was of a pleasant surprise. After so many disappointments of 1st yr college life, SHADES was like a breeze of fresh air, to see and join a handful of students turning an ED room into a fine arts exhibition hall and that too with such decorations where the room itself looked like an excellent exhibit. That year for SHADES 04, a very simple theme of Fire was chosen, we had decorated the walls in shades of yellow and red and a few other simple designs were put up at the entry/exit, but the overall outcome was very pleasant……

SHADES 05 was an experience where I got a glimpse of what goes on behind the scene and how things are actually executed to make the event a success. The theme that year was ‘Village’ and it was by far the most well executed theme, beautifully done and pretty simple as well. The walls were covered in brown using a hand made paper. Special hoods were made for the windows from hay and a beautiful mandap was erected in the center of the hall, again made from hay and decorated by earthen bells and pots. However, that year I learnt most about the execution skills from 2k1 batch seniors. The only drawback that year was that for a lot of Hay work, craftsmen were hired and this was the area we decided to work on for the years to come.

SHADES 06; well it brings me a lot of sweet and sour memories. A very diverse theme was chosen which called for a lot of skilled work; however we failed on the planning aspect involved. With due support from the senior batch, 2-3 of our batch-mates took charge of room no. 212 and with whatever little time we had, we tried our best to do justice to the theme – Universe. The effect was that whole solar system was fit into the ED room along with an alien’s colony as well. And for the all achievements of SHADES’06 credit goes to the enthusiasm of few dedicated new kids on the block J, well I m referring to the then 1st yr students of 2k5 batch. Well, whatever we could manage, overall result was okay, there were a lot of short falls (major one being that we could barely keep up with the assigned time schedule I had to attend the inaugural in the same dirty clothes I had been wearing during the work since past 3-4 days :D ). Some of the important lessons our group learnt during that phase were the aspects of time and resource planning and also the importance of keeping the individuals working with one-self motivated, involved, content and also to ensure that they get their due credit and recognition.

SHADES 07, is of course the one closest to my heart, because at all previous events, we had the guidance of our seniors and also had to rely upon their decisions for everything. They were no saints and nor were we. However for us, a group of 3-4 students of 2k3, SHADES ’07 was a challenge and an opportunity at the same time. We wanted to prove ourselves and also set up an example for all the SHADES to come. Our goals were clear; however the path was not so easy. First of all a lot of planning was done to decide the right theme and also its contents. Secondly the next most important aspect was to ensure availability of folks to work as the scheduled dates were just after Holi and hence it was essential to motivate crowd enough and well in advance. Vaise don’t get me wrong, its not that the entire 1st yr & 2nd yr batch turned up to work, however 500 students are not required to make one Shades. Once we were successful in calling students into the hall for the first time, it was the environment of the hall and the assurance that their efforts shall fetch them the deserving credit and accolades which made some 25-30 of them stay back and lend their helping hand. Also, our experience of previous year had taught us a bit about managing people, about dividing them into teams, making them feel involved and responsible in their team and also making them realise that their work was important to the club and Shades. Also, one of the most important aspects was to understand the fact that these students from 1st yr and 2nd yr were also humans and they might have some personal commitments/dreams. Nothing authorized us to treat them as either robots or bonded labour. When this kind of limited autonomy was given to one and all working for Shades 07, we were flooded with more and more unique and creative ideas and more importantly with people willing to execute those ideas and turn them into reality. Thence finally all were witness to a SHADES hall which could boast of a mermaid’s colony, wrecked ship with treasure box, a crocodile, an octopus and numerous sea creatures swimming on the walls of a huge Ocean. Looking back, if I am asked to state one achievement of Shades 07 which I feel was the greatest among all, I have only one answer; all of us got ample time to dress up well for the inaugural, the room was cleaned and exhibits displayed well in advance.

Well if anyone, after reading this article on Shades, feels that may be organizing shades was done as public welfare of college only, I have some clarifications to offer. Shades is an experience that I can never forget, not only because of the laurels it brought for the club and myself in person, but also because of the experiences I had, have helped me on every front of life. I have till date given three job interviews; two while in college and one after passing out. During the HR part of all of these, I was able to give reference to my experiences of Shades and could answer in a much better way. Also, during last 6 months I have had some near Shades experiences on my job front as well. And though time and space don’t permit me to describe it all in detail, I can assert with full conviction that those four Shades have really helped me to evolve as a person.

To all those involved in preparations for Shades 09 and dreaming of making it a huge success, here are a few tips from what I have learnt so far. First of all, your batch is immaterial, what matters most (even more than the skill) is your dedication and the amount of effort you are willing to put in. Shades is a team work and no single person can make or break it, however it’s the effort of one and all combined together which counts. Making shades happen doesn’t necessarily means being involved 24 x 7 but it does mean that whatever time u spend, u do it willingly with sincerity and dedication. Junior batches are full of energy, they just need a direction and it’s the duty of the senior batches to utilize their (the junior’s) energies in the right way, also it is your chance to set up an example and give them a glimpse of what SHADES is meant to be and how they should carry the tradition forward in years to come. Last but definitely not the least, planning is of utmost importance, a well planned complicated theme can be executed in a much better fashion than even a simple unplanned one. Lastly, my best wishes to all of you and the club. May dear God help and guide you all in making Shades 09 a grand success.

With best wishes,
Kinshuk
12.09.2009

(The above article was written on request of a 2k5 junior who was having difficulty convincing junior batches for working for FACES)