Hamara Manch 2024
Hamara Manch by the students of Classes IX - XII was their way of celebrating Shikshantar’s 22nd birthday. For Class XII, this ‘Hamara Manch’ was their final curtain call in the school. The event was a medley of creative and memorable experiences explored around the year.
One could feel the pulse in the lead-up to working on refining their performances. The charged evenings at the Amphitheatre were set to the tune of original creations by school bands and songs from bands like Linkin Park and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The plays ranged from a light-hearted tale of superhero shenanigans to a political family drama set in an urban locality. Tremendous skill and passion were apparent in the various dance styles in the performances - graceful and expressive Kathak, Bhangra, and a fusion of Konkani and Western contemporary.
The preparations were intense, with much time devoted to the message each student wanted to convey. ‘Dear Future Me - A Musical’ spectacularly communicated children’s fear of failure and the anxious uncertainty of what their futures hold. ‘Dekho,’ an original song composed by the student band ‘Nuke the Sun,’ sought to champion the voiceless oppressed.
The process history of each performance revealed the challenges students faced, the highs and lows they went through, and every minor step the students took while putting their performances together. For some, it was finding the right song that resonated with their idea, the choreography, the intense practice sessions. For others, it was drafting a script with a unique voice and making required changes as the event approached.
This year, the theme for Hamara Manch art was the rich variety of flora and fauna in Shikshantar, which makes it such an inviting space! While volunteers from Classes IX and X worked on the art, students from Class XI painted the backdrop panels based on plant studies done as part of their curriculum.
The celebration, moving and exhilarating in equal parts, leaves a mark on the memories of parent and child alike!