SPIC MACAY’s virtual Anubhav series brings arts and culture closer to youth Celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav - 75th Year of Independence

PRESS RELEASE DAY 1
Inauguration of SPIC MACAY’S ONLINE SERIES ‘ANUBHAV 3.o’

Amidst the vibrant hues of the Navratri festival SPIC MACAY commenced its third edition of the coveted ANUBHAV series- manifested as an online convention known as “Anubhav 3.0” from October 9 to 15, 2021.

Even as India has stood strong for 75 years emerging from the shadows of British rule and regaining its own identity, SPIC MACAY, a nationwide, non-political, voluntary people’s movement has been striving tirelessly for the past 44 years with “Nishkam Seva Bhavna” to enrich the lives and education of our youth by raising awareness and preserving various aspects of our cultural heritage and motivating young minds to imbibe the values contained therein.

SPIC MACAYs ANUBHAV-3 series was inaugrated by Shri Suresh Prabhu, a Rajya Sabha Member, India's Sherpa to the G7 and G20 who was the Minister of Civil Aviation, Railways, Commerce & Industry.

Shri Suresh Prabhu emphasized the ancient culture and heritage of India dating ot a thousand years and appreciated SPIC MACAYs efforts to promote it followed by an appreciation by G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Regions.

SPIC MACAY continues to make efforts even during the pandemic to fruitfully engage our youth.

Our Yoga offerings throughout the year together with other modules of SPIC MACAY help our youth get a holistic exposure to our rich cultural heritage and stay physically fit, mentally alert, and emotionally strong.

This initiative also helps and supports our artistes who are affected by the COVID Crisis..

These pivotal undertakings are to continue at full throttle as various sectors in the Indian economy are gradually revitalizing.

Building on these milestone experiences we are organizing “ANUBHAV–III” from 09th–15th October 2021.

Anubhav 3.0 will be streamed LIVE on the official YouTube handle of SPIC MACAY from 9th – 15th October 2021.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK-LONG FEST

- Performances by 40+ great artists of the country, most of them Padma awardees
- 150+ workshops on different art forms for 15,000 students from all over India and overseas including Japan, Korea, Singapore, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
- Gurbani Live streamed from Shri Harmandir Sahib
- Artistic practices and performances from other countries including Whirling Dervishes from Turkey, Gregorian Chants from France and western classical music

ANUBHAV event is a cultural fest where 15,000 students will attend 150 workshops 750+ schools & colleges from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Japan, S.Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE. for 7 days . Students will attend 25 folk, 35 traditional painting, 50 classical dance workshops., Carnatic & Hindustani classical music, all 8 classical dances, folk music & dance, traditional paintings, theatre by established artists.

The concept of Anubhav has been specifically curated for students around the country to engrave them deeply with the nuances and intricacies of Indian cultural heritage embedded in its classical art forms.

This interactive series has been designed with the aim of giving students a creative outlet even while sitting at home - yet in an ashram-like routine and learning.

Presented with the opportunity to experience the Guru-Shishya parampara in the 21st century, participants will get an un-unparalleled opportunity to connect with legendary Gurus- doyens of their respective fields- via an extensive plethora of activities.

OPENING DAY’S SESSIONS:

9 am to 1 pm was time for Cinema Classic with the screening of Oscar winning film GANDHI by Richard Attenborough, followed by a discussion on the movie with Prof. Gita Dharampal of Heidelberg University, Germany.

1-2 pm Holistic lunch where participants are advised to eat Sattvic food as per SPIC MACAY advised menu.

3:20-5:00 pm was Orientation time to brief and acquaint the students with the 5 day cultural extravaganza.

5:30 pm The early Holistic Dinner time as per established SPIC MACAY tradition that prepares students to wake up early the next morning.

6:20-8:30 Final attraction of the day were two classical music concerts by Sheik Mahboob Subhani and Kaleeshabi Mahaboob (Nadaswaram) & by Begum Parveen Sultana (Hindustani Vocal).

Cinema Classic Screening

The first event on the opening day was the screening of the film ‘Gandhi’- directed by Sir Richard Attenborough- under the Cinema Classic Show at 9am.

More than 840 students attending the screening from various schools from different parts of the country like To name a few - Deewan Public School, Meerut, St.Anthony's, Rajasthan, Narayan School, Odisha, Doon International School, Dehradun, KLE School, Sholapur, Host institutions and Participatory institutions of workshops.

This is a biographical film, reenacting the dramatic events of the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

Released nearly 4 decades ago in 1982, the critically acclaimed and Academy award-winning magnum opus of Sir Richard Attenborough is praised for its accurate portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi’s life as a freedom fighter and the Indian independence movement.

The screening was followed by an informative and interactive session with Gita Dharampal Frick of Heidelberg University (Germany’s oldest surviving university) which lasted in excess of an hour.

Prof Gita Dharampal is also Research Dean, Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

Prof Gita answered many question on Gandhi like -

Why Gandhi chose non-violence?

Why violence is not better to achieve independence?

Why Gandhi opposed the British although he was friendly with the Britishers

Why Nathuram Godse kill Gandhi?

Prof Gita Dharampal answered the questions in a broad historical context. She appreciated the nature and depth of the questions and advised them to follow the philosophy of Gandhi - Be the change you want to see in the world.

It was a very lengthy discussion and many questions could not be taken up because of shortage of time.

She therefore suggested the students to send questions by email which she would be happy to answer.

She was very impressed by the nature of questions from the students and asked them to visit Gandhi Research Foundation where she is teaching and spend time there.

She ended by saying that she is optimistic about the future of the country based on the discussion with the children.

ORIENTATION SESSION

An orientation session- a hallmark facet of SPIC MACAY- by the coordinators of Anubhav 3.0 and SPIC MACAY’s senior volunteers took place.

Nikhil Nagar, a volunteer at SPIC MACAY- briefed participants on the guidelines and holistic learning approach that was to be espoused and followed by them throughout the week-long experience.

CS Panchamakesan, one of the senior volunteers of Spic Macay, beautifully started by expounding upon the relevance of the “overnight concert series” as an expression to be everlasting.

Here he played with words last, lasting and everlasting to emphasize the strategic importance of the overnight concert series.

Taking his interesting lecture forward, he explained the science behind ithe centuries old legacy adapted effectively by Spic Macay to the present times through the 12 time zones (samay chakras) of hindustani music the king of evening is raag yaman, late evening raaga being durga and midnight saga being Adana.. So is the purpose of Anubhav which is to eel, assimilate and absorb.

Another Illustrious volunteer, Mrs Supriti started by highlighting the integration of efforts of volunteers pan India to bring forth the fruits in the form Anubhav 3.

She brought forward a volunteer’s perspective and the zeal in learning various arts ingrained in Indian culture which is the very aim of Anubhav 3.

Not only this, but also that the gurus of the workshops are the best and the efforts of the students would bring the best outcome.

SPIC MACAY believes that this unique experience will enable each participating youth to reach the summit of their inner Mount Everest- pushing restrictive boundaries and reaching new peaks unbeknownst to the young minds.

EVENING INAUGURAL SESSION

The evening inaugural session was embraced by Shri Suresh Prabhu Ji through his encouraging video message.

The latter part of the session revolved around illustrious volunteers sharing their enigmatic experiences who tirelessly worked to make this Anubhav series a success.

Few of them were Smt Suman Doonga, Smt Kunda and Smt Shruti who motivated the participants to discover their best self through commitment and dedication.

INAUGURAL CONCERT (6 PM ONWARDS)

The inaugural concert of Anubhav 3.0 was graced with a Nadaswaram recital by PadmaShri Vidwan Sheik Mahboob Subhani along with his wife PadmaShri Kaleeshabi Mahboob.