THE HEMANT UTSAV - 2010

The most colourful event looked forward to by all Abhyasites, is the Hemant Utsav. This year's Hemant Utsav was very special for two reasons, the first being the Crystal Year and the second being the awesome venue-Shilpakala Vedika.

Everything was ready-the aesthetically set reception counters, the floral decorations, the staff and students all eager to present the programme. The programme started at 5.45pm on 24th December.

No one moved from their chairs and everyone was awestruck with the quality of programme displayed. Eminent personalities from various walks of life graced the occasion and were very appreciative of the programme. "It was a real qualitative evening that I have spent in my life" said one of the parents, who were enthralled by the quality of the programme.

The programme started by 5.45 in the evening with the Vedic Chanting, by the students of the primary school. This time they chanted "Sree Durgasuktam" and the tiny tots were loud and clear in their chanting. A team from the middle school sung the invocation song in praise of our Motherland,"JAYA JAYA JAYA PRIYA BHAARATA JANAYITRI…DIVYA DHAATRI". A power point presentation depicting the greatness of India was seen in the background, as the song was sung by the students.

Then started the Dance Ballet, "SREE GURUBHYO NAMAHA" – which portrayed the importance of the role, played by various, Great Teachers, across the globe. The ancient Indian ethos of a teacher's (Guru's) role in shaping the character of an individual and society at large was vividly depicted in this colourful dance ballet. The ballet began with sage Vyasa and retraced down the annals of history up to the contemporary Indian Gurus- Abdul Kalam and Sri Satya Sai Baba, emphasizing on the teacher's role in shaping of leaders.

After the dance ballet, all the students who worked their magic in the ISCE and ISC exams were honoured with medals and certificates. Master Sai Kundan Vemuganti and Miss Sushumna Ireni were conferred with gold medals for being the overall topper and over all girls topper respectively, in 2009-2010 ICSE examinations. Master Harshin Lalpet was felicitated for being the overall topper in 2009-2010 ISC examinations.

The Chief Guest Mr.Jayesh Ranjan, was very appreciative about the performance of the students and also Abhyasa for her excellent efforts in grooming the students for overall development. He also shared that Teachers and Parents should also play a major role in grooming the students effectively to create a better future for the country. The Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, also said "Did you know that out of 100 children who join class 1 only 12 complete their 10th class? Therefore we need to recognize the individual talent of students think beyond academics and allow the child to excel in it. As gone are the days of cushy jobs in corporate or government sector". Commenting about the programme, The Chief Guest said that by virtue of being the Principal Secretary, Tourism, he had the opportunity of seeing many cultural shows earlier, but he was amazed at the quality and standard of the programme presented by Abhyasites that evening.

Earlier,Dr. R.Prabhakar Rao, retd. IPS and Chairman Abhyasa Governing Body, in consonance echoed similar views in his welcome address, while eulogizing on the dictum of ‘Perfection Through Practice'. Underlining the significance of culture and how it enables to establish one's individual identity, he extrapolated on the age old Indian culture of knowledge seeking as a partnership between the Shishya and the guru, in Abhyasa.

After the medal distribution programme, one of the excellent shows in the History of Abhaysa, started – it was the Drama "Right To Freedom?!"… This was the highlight of the evening which was a play based on ‘Right to Education'. The play voiced many fundamental questions from a child's point of view on this issue verses the child's' Right to Freedom'. Does any child in this country have the fundamental right to choose what he or she wants to do? Does mere universalisation of education meet the objective of nation building? What about the fact that different children are differently abled? Does the new found fondness of pushing every child into a school in the neighborhood address the issue of diversity among children?  It also examined the conflict of value systems prevalent in various segments of Indian society today.

The story is that of a care free young boy named Raju, who lives in Gopalpur, a remote Indian village. He drops out of school because he wants to lead a happy life by working in a dhaba. At the dhaba, he overhears, some customers advising his owner not to employ children as they have a right to education. The Chief Minister launches the Right to Education Programme in Gopalpur village. As a part of this programme the boy is given an opportunity to study in an International School in his neighbourhood. However, the boy experiences a culture shock and runs away from school. His mother is shocked and persuades Raju to go back to school.Raju completes his studies with flying colours. He is forced to leave the school as the age limit for "free education" in that prestigious international school is over. His parents cannot afford his higher education. Raju's childhood friends make fun of him as he is pushed out of the International School. Some of his friends at least had a vocational training to fall back on but Raju had not really acquired any skills to fall back on. He attempts suicide and is saved on time. His father had to leave the village by pushing off all the assets and gets ready to live in the slums of the city to get his son educated. The drama also throws a lot of questions to the audience on the concept "Right to Education".

As part of Abhyasa's policy of: ‘No child left behind' each kid got a role to play. Parents of students from different parts of the country were also present to encourage their children. Some of the issues or expressions depicted in this drama forced one to introspect and appreciate a child's point of view. All the 430 students of Abhyasa participated in this programme consisting of cultural items.

Both the dance ballet and the play conceived by Vinyak Kalletla, the Founder Principal, Abhyasa School were produced and presented in a professional manner.

Mrs. Jamuna Ramna Rao, doyenne of Indian Cinema and Ex MP, Justice V Neeladri Rao were also present on the occasion among the host of dignitaries, academicians, parents and school children.