Republic day-2013

A grand celebration at CMC hospital

Ludhiana, 26th Jan, 2013(Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria):The 64thRepublic day was celebrated at Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana with Patriotic spirit. The program started with thanks giving service for the country at college chapel, followed by Flag hoisting, March past and cultural events by staff & students of various colleges at Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest Sh. Darshan Arora emphasized the responsibility of every citizen towards the nation and then to enjoy the freedom, brought to us by our martyrs.Earlier Sh. Darshan Arora was welcomed & introduced by the Director, CMC - Dr. Abraham G. Thomas. Present on the occasion were the Administrative team, staff and students to mark the celebration. At this occasion staffs who had completed 35 years of dedicated service were honoured. The Program was organized by College of Physiotherapy and Vice Principal thanked everyone for the help extended.
Associate Director, Dr.Kim Mammen, Principal CMC, Dr S.M. Bhatti, Principal Christian Dental College, Dr.Abi M.Thomas, Principal College of Nursing Prof.(Mrs.) Ponnamma R. Singh, Principal College of Physiotherapy, Dr.Jeewan S.Parkash, Principal IAHS, Dr.Anup Benjamin were also present on the occasion.

Easter Program Organized by CMC Hospital

Significance of Easter reminded to society

Ludhiana, 3rd April, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria): 90 students and doctors of CMCL organized a special performance on 3rd and 4th to reflect on the life of Lord Jesus Christ during this Passion Week. The one hour pageant coordinated by the Fellowship department and patronised by Dr. Abraham G Thomas, Director, CMCL prepares the audience to experience the how Lord Jesus Christ lived,died and resurrected. He reminded all the Significance of Easter- of love, peace, tolerance, care of the poor and upliftment of society while welcoming the congregation to scommit themselves to be Christ-like.

Father Stanley in his Prayer asked for world peace along with happiness for the CMC &H staff and their families. He wished that the year ahead be one of professional contentment with the spirit of service worthy of the Healing Ministry of Christ.

18 songs was sung as solos, duets and choir along with choreography, shadowgraph and acting enlivening the audience experiencing the same life of the time when Jesus Christ lived.

The program concluded with a prayer. Associate Director, Dr.Kim Mammen, Dr.S.M Bhatti, Principal Medical College,  Principal College of Nursing Prof. (Mrs.) Ponnamma R. Singh, Principal Dental College Dr.Abi. M Thomas, Medical Superintendent, Dr.Kanwal Masih, Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr.Nitin Batra and Dr.Valsa Abraham were also present on the occasion.

Art face of medical line

Talent sets the stage alight at CMC Ludhiana

The Music and Theatre Workshop of Christian Medical College (CMC) Ludhiana comprises of doctors and students of various colleges of the institution who organizes regular productions. This year, the workshop organized a play entitled ‘Harvey’. The show was staged on three days commencing on the 22ndof march, 2012 at the Lady Willingdon Hall, CMC, Ludhiana.

Mr. Sajin Sunny Mathew, the student co-ordinator of ‘Harvey’ said, “We are glad that the rich tradition of high quality productions we have had in the past has been kept alive with ‘Harvey’ under the patronage of our director, Dr Abhraham G Thomas.”

The play ‘Harvey’ is a comedy in three acts authored by the American playwright Mary Chase. It is about an affable man named Elwood P Dowd (played by Manu Mathew Kurien) who claims to have an unseen friend named Harvey- a six-foot, one-half-inch tall rabbit. His social-climbing sister, Veta( Angela Elizabeth Eapen), and her daughter, Myrtle (Meriya Joseph), find his eccentric behaviour embarrassing. She decides to have him committed to the sanatorium and a comedy of errors ensues. As the play moves hilariously through various comic situations, there is an underlying message of goodwill and encouragement that the lead character always portrays. His philosophy of life is a message to us all. ‘Many years ago,’ he says, ‘my mother told me I should be either oh-so-smart or oh-so-pleasant. I was smart for years. I recommend pleasant.’ Through every stressful situation even in the face of anger, he remains calm, kind and courteous making him well-beloved character by the end. The message of love and bonding between family members which prevails eternally despite mutual faults, is powerfully depicted through the play.

Be it the well- coordinated production, the enticing props and costumes or the proactive backstage crew, the production holds together and moves seamlessly through the three acts. A collective team, comprising a cast of about 11 students and about 50 others pitched in their time, efforts and talents in the making of ‘Harvey’. “An amazing and witty play that’s bound to leave you captivated and entertained” adds Mr. David Livingston. “It was challenging but fulfilling experience  to put up a three act comedy on stage with the right expressions, timings, punch lines to deliver and even working off-screen and on-screen chemistry with the co-cast. It boosted our confidence and built on our positive traits allowing us to improve” said Angela, one of the actors. “Though there wasn’t much tedious work involved, we worked hard at depicting the scenes to the finest detail,” said Ansu John, a member of the props crew. “It was a gratifying job to design the costumes and transport the actors to a different era.” said Amritha Kurien, from the costumes team. The director of the play, Dr Dhruv Ghosh, a paediatric surgeon of CMC said, ‘It was a great joy to work with the students on the play. Their talents never cease to amaze me.’

The annual musicals and plays have been appreciated by the residents of Ludhiana city and surrounding areas for the many years. This year’s play, ‘Harvey’ was a break from the hectic routine of life as aspiring doctors entertained and enthralled the audience showcasing the power of voice and expression. Aditi George, one of crew members said,  “This year’s play is a must see. Funny and heart-warming, it’s a wonderful night of theatre for the whole family.” --Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

Therapist Uses Art to Help Troops Heal

The center provides treatment, recovery, rehabilitation and...
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

Creative arts therapist Melissa Walker offers a wealth of supplies to service members to complete their art projects in the Healing Arts Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Walker developed her program to help those with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk 

BETHESDA, Md., March 8, 2012 - An art therapist is using the power of creativity to help service members heal from traumatic brain injuries and psychological health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Melissa Walker designed the Healing Arts Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence on the campus of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here. She is the program's sole art therapist, and also serves as its coordinator. The program aims to help the recovering service members find a creative haven where their buried post-war thoughts and emotions can come to the surface through art and therapy.
With gentle encouragement from Walker, active-duty troops create their way to healing. By working on their art projects in a personal manner, they confront the circumstances of their injuries and begin to overcome the uncertainty they might feel, she said.

"What's bothering them runs the gamut of that moment in time: ... the frozen trauma, the frozen memory. They can't seem to shake what they've internalized," Walker said.

Service members with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries create an endless variety of designs on papier-mache masks to help them clarify their thoughts and sense of self, art therapist Melissa Walker said. Their designs vary from their war experiences to picturing themselves as healing while undergoing treatment at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk.Download screen-resolution                                    Download high-resolution

The center provides treatment, recovery, rehabilitation and, sometimes, reintegration to active duty for service members who have psychological health issues and traumatic brain injury. All have mild to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder, and most also have had some kind of head injury from exposure to a blast injury or fall, Walker said.

When these service members come to the center, they're often in a confused place, and some experience a loss of identity. Those who want to return to duty have a difficult time because they're passionate about their jobs, and those who will rejoin the civilian world wonder what they'll face, she said.

"They need to realize, 'It's time to take care of myself,'" she said.

Art therapy is one element of the center's interdisciplinary treatment. Walker, who designed the Healing Arts Program when the center opened two years ago, said creating art slows down the brain so people can focus and improve their cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination.

Walker's interest in the effects of war on troops stems from childhood memories of her grandfather returning from military service in Korea with what she now believes was post-traumatic stress. But, she said, "there wasn't a name for it then." White House, Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials have made traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress treatment and prevention a top priority during the past decade of war.

By their third week in the Healing Arts Program, Melissa Walker assigns service members montages to design that signify their experiences at the center and characteristics they see in themselves. One wrote a poem in a creative writing class and incorporated it into his montage, which Walker said brought him "full circle." The art therapy program is a four-week piece of the treatment plan at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for those with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries from their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk.
Download screen-resolution                                          Download high-resolution
  

Walker begins her treatment by meeting the service members one-on-one so she can get to know them and their goals while they are at the center. This also helps her meet the art therapy needs of each small group of about five people, she said. She has the service members design a mask, a montage and a postcard in any design with any materials they want, from magazine clippings to beads and paint. Most of their artistic creations, she said, reflect their inner thoughts concerning deployment, their injuries, various war experiences, and their futures.

Since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military officials have recognized family members' needs for support, and Walker's Healing Arts Program is no exception. One night a week, family members come to Walker's family class to do the same projects as the service members, to give this group of caregivers a break and a chance to "breathe," Walker said.

Service members' mask designs vary, she said, recalling a service member who divided his mask into the halves of two faces, depicting how he saw himself as both a civilian and a member of the military. The split-self has to do with identity, she said. Some who still have war images in their minds might design a scene of the injuries they and their fellow troops suffered.

The groups discuss their mask creations and what they mean. Walker said these discussions bring up personal and symbolic experiences. Sharing and discussing artwork establishes a sense of community and bonding with one another, which is particularly helpful to those with post-traumatic stress who tend to isolate themselves and don't trust others, she said.

"Some feel a lot has been lifted off their shoulders," she said of the group discussions. "Some will share things they never have before and feel validated. They realize they aren't alone."

Walker said the service members with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injury have "layers and layers of complications." In a similar manner, the montages they design often reflect the past, present and future of who they are, which helps them clarify their sense of self, Walker said.

The art therapist described the montage of another student who created a representation of himself in three stages: gradually coming from the dark side of war, opening a door labeled "NICoE," and stepping into brightness to depict healing, she said.

Walker's goal at the final week's commencement is to leave each
service member in "a forward-thinking mode," by asking them to design a postcard with a "positive" hand-scribed note for one of the center's recent graduates.

"One wrote, 'Remember what you learned here,'" she said.

Walker said she is confident future studies will bear positive results of art therapy for those with PTSD and TBI. For now, she added, she stands determined to help people confront and cope with their wounds by expression through art.

"I always tell them, 'I'm so glad you're here and taking time for yourself, and the biggest step you've taken is being open to this,'" she said. "That's huge. That's brave."

Related Sites: National Intrepid Center of Excellence Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Therapist Uses Art to Help Troops Heal

The center provides treatment, recovery, rehabilitation and...
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

Creative arts therapist Melissa Walker offers a wealth of supplies to service members to complete their art projects in the Healing Arts Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Walker developed her program to help those with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk 

BETHESDA, Md., March 8, 2012 - An art therapist is using the power of creativity to help service members heal from traumatic brain injuries and psychological health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Melissa Walker designed the Healing Arts Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence on the campus of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here. She is the program's sole art therapist, and also serves as its coordinator. The program aims to help the recovering service members find a creative haven where their buried post-war thoughts and emotions can come to the surface through art and therapy.
With gentle encouragement from Walker, active-duty troops create their way to healing. By working on their art projects in a personal manner, they confront the circumstances of their injuries and begin to overcome the uncertainty they might feel, she said.

"What's bothering them runs the gamut of that moment in time: ... the frozen trauma, the frozen memory. They can't seem to shake what they've internalized," Walker said.

Service members with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries create an endless variety of designs on papier-mache masks to help them clarify their thoughts and sense of self, art therapist Melissa Walker said. Their designs vary from their war experiences to picturing themselves as healing while undergoing treatment at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk.Download screen-resolution                                    Download high-resolution

The center provides treatment, recovery, rehabilitation and, sometimes, reintegration to active duty for service members who have psychological health issues and traumatic brain injury. All have mild to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder, and most also have had some kind of head injury from exposure to a blast injury or fall, Walker said.

When these service members come to the center, they're often in a confused place, and some experience a loss of identity. Those who want to return to duty have a difficult time because they're passionate about their jobs, and those who will rejoin the civilian world wonder what they'll face, she said.

"They need to realize, 'It's time to take care of myself,'" she said.

Art therapy is one element of the center's interdisciplinary treatment. Walker, who designed the Healing Arts Program when the center opened two years ago, said creating art slows down the brain so people can focus and improve their cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination.

Walker's interest in the effects of war on troops stems from childhood memories of her grandfather returning from military service in Korea with what she now believes was post-traumatic stress. But, she said, "there wasn't a name for it then." White House, Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials have made traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress treatment and prevention a top priority during the past decade of war.

By their third week in the Healing Arts Program, Melissa Walker assigns service members montages to design that signify their experiences at the center and characteristics they see in themselves. One wrote a poem in a creative writing class and incorporated it into his montage, which Walker said brought him "full circle." The art therapy program is a four-week piece of the treatment plan at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for those with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries from their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk.
Download screen-resolution                                          Download high-resolution
  

Walker begins her treatment by meeting the service members one-on-one so she can get to know them and their goals while they are at the center. This also helps her meet the art therapy needs of each small group of about five people, she said. She has the service members design a mask, a montage and a postcard in any design with any materials they want, from magazine clippings to beads and paint. Most of their artistic creations, she said, reflect their inner thoughts concerning deployment, their injuries, various war experiences, and their futures.

Since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military officials have recognized family members' needs for support, and Walker's Healing Arts Program is no exception. One night a week, family members come to Walker's family class to do the same projects as the service members, to give this group of caregivers a break and a chance to "breathe," Walker said.

Service members' mask designs vary, she said, recalling a service member who divided his mask into the halves of two faces, depicting how he saw himself as both a civilian and a member of the military. The split-self has to do with identity, she said. Some who still have war images in their minds might design a scene of the injuries they and their fellow troops suffered.

The groups discuss their mask creations and what they mean. Walker said these discussions bring up personal and symbolic experiences. Sharing and discussing artwork establishes a sense of community and bonding with one another, which is particularly helpful to those with post-traumatic stress who tend to isolate themselves and don't trust others, she said.

"Some feel a lot has been lifted off their shoulders," she said of the group discussions. "Some will share things they never have before and feel validated. They realize they aren't alone."

Walker said the service members with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injury have "layers and layers of complications." In a similar manner, the montages they design often reflect the past, present and future of who they are, which helps them clarify their sense of self, Walker said.

The art therapist described the montage of another student who created a representation of himself in three stages: gradually coming from the dark side of war, opening a door labeled "NICoE," and stepping into brightness to depict healing, she said.

Walker's goal at the final week's commencement is to leave each
service member in "a forward-thinking mode," by asking them to design a postcard with a "positive" hand-scribed note for one of the center's recent graduates.

"One wrote, 'Remember what you learned here,'" she said.

Walker said she is confident future studies will bear positive results of art therapy for those with PTSD and TBI. For now, she added, she stands determined to help people confront and cope with their wounds by expression through art.

"I always tell them, 'I'm so glad you're here and taking time for yourself, and the biggest step you've taken is being open to this,'" she said. "That's huge. That's brave."

Related Sites: National Intrepid Center of Excellence Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Kum. Selja addressing

The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Culture, Kum. Selja addressing at the inauguration of an exhaustive retrospective of Ramkinkar Baij, curated by sculptor K.S. Radhakrishnan, in New Delhi on February 08, 2012.  










                                {PIB photo}   08-February-2012

Role of Children in Water Conservation

Second National Painting Competition
Art on Water Conservation Organised

The first prize winning Painting of 2nd National Painting Competition, organised by the Central Ground Board under the Ministry of Water Resources, in New Delhi on January 21, 2012.

The Minister of State for Water Resources and Minority Affairs, Shri Vincent Pala presented awards to the winners of 2nd National Painting Competition, organised by the Central Ground Board under the Ministry of Water Resources, in New Delhi on January 21, 2012

Union Minister of State for Water Resources and Minority Affairs Shri Vincent H. Pala presented the prizes to the winners of the second National Painting Competition organised by the Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources at a function in New Delhi toady. The theme of the competition was “Role of Children in Water Conservation”. 

Speaking on the occasion Shri Pala underlined the need to harvest the rainwater in view of limited availability of fresh ground water resources. He said It is necessary that the young generation is fully aware about the water resource scenario of the country and understands the concerns and steps to mitigate the challenges in water resource management, in particular the water conservation efforts. He called for actively involving children in spreading of awareness on water conservation and efficient water use practices in the country. 

The first prize at the competition was won by Disha Roy Choudhury of Siliguri, West Bengal. She was awarded cash prize of Rs. one lakh. There were four second prizes of Rs. 50,000/ each. The winners included Bhavika Dugar of Coimbatore, A.Yokaran of Chennai, Yeerandip Debnath of Sealdah and Devjit Choudhury of Jamshedpur. The eight third prize winners with cash prize of Rs. 25,000/ each included Shreya Das of Faridabad, Kshitiz Rawat of Delhi, Sayani Das of Jamshedpur, A.Esha Rayal of Hyderabad, Shreeraksha of Mangalore, A.Priya Darsini of Coimbatore, Bhagyashree Kunwar of Mumbai and Imon Chetia Phukan of Guwahati. All the participating students were awarded Rs. 5000/ each as consolation prize and a certificate. 

About sixteen lakh students of 4th, 5th & 6th standards from all over the country participated in the painting competition organised at different levels. In all 23,475 schools in 27 States and Union Territories participated. Out of these, 50 students selected in each State were invited to participate in the State Level Painting Competition organised on 14th November, 2011 except in Pudduchery and Goa where it was organised on 9th November, 2011. The three winners of State Level Painting Competition were invited to Delhi to participate in National Painting Competition. 87 students participated at the National Level Painting Competition. (Ministry of Water Resources) {21-January-2012 19:56 IST} [PIB]

Reality Show 'Joins Forces' With First Lady to Aid Veteran

By Elaine Sanchez American Forces Press Service FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., Sept. 22, 2011 - �A TV reality show recently joined forces with first lady Michelle Obama and hundreds of military and civilian volunteers here to transform the life of a Navy veteran. First Lady Michelle Obama surprises Navy veteran Barbara Marshall on the set of the ABC reality series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in Fayetteville, N.C., July 21, 2011. The first lady appeared on the show to promote her "Joining Forces" military support campaign and to pay tribute to Marshall, who has dedicated her time and resources to helping homeless female veterans. DOD photo by Elaine Sanchez  This weekend, the season premiere of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will feature a home makeover for 15-year veteran Barbara Marshall, who has devoted her life to eradicating homelessness among fellow female veterans. Viewers will see the reveal of her new 5,000-square-foot home, as well as a surprise visit from the first lady. The episode airs Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. EDT.Marshall's new home, dubbed the Steps-n-Stages Jubilee House, offers shelter, job coaching, and other services and resources to homeless female veterans from all eras of war, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Before the show, Marshall operated out of a tiny, 1,500-square-foot house in which she crowded three homeless women and their families, a resource center, volunteers, and countless other veterans who came through seeking job-hunting assistance and resources. Now, thanks to hundreds of volunteers who converged here over a week in July, in her old home's place stands a sprawling, red-shingled home with common areas and a giant resource center -- topped by a wraparound porch, decks and a perfectly manicured lawn. The first lady toured Marshall's new home just after its completion July 21 and summed up the experience with one word: "amazing." The house is "light and warm and loving," Obama told American Forces Press Service after her tour. "It feels like a home and that's what these women need in times of challenge. They need to go to a place where they can feel incredibly special and this house definitely does that." Obama lauded Marshall -- whom she called a "strong and courageous woman" -- and her mission to eradicate homelessness among female veterans. "It's a powerful story of how veterans are continuing to serve this country even when they are no longer in uniform," she said. "The fact that this woman has opened her home -- which she didn't have much -- to other women who are struggling, is just a powerful statement of the courage and the strength that our veterans show." Like Marshall, the nation must take steps to eradicate veteran homelessness, the first lady said. Service members "put their lives on the line for us, and they do it without question or hesitation," Obama added. "When they are finished with their service, they should have a level of security and stability, not just for themselves but for their families. "We as a nation," she added, "should be outraged by the reality that there are any homeless veterans in this country." It's the nation's responsibility to step up to ensure service members, veterans and their families get the support they need, and deserve, Obama said. Earlier this year, the first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched the Joining Forces campaign, a national initiative that calls on all sectors of society to support troops, veterans and their families. The motto of this campaign, she noted, is "everyone can do something." Military families are proud and often don't ask for much-needed help, Obama noted. "It's incumbent on all of us to look in our own spaces -- whether it's in our churches or in our schools -- to make sure we know who these families are and to ask who needs help," she said. Not everyone may live near a military base, but veterans, families and service members are in nearly every community across the nation. "Whether a business owner or multinational organization or small nonprofit or church or school or neighbor down the street," she added, "everyone can find their own strength and gift and figure out how to share that with these families. "If we all do that, we will end this challenge of having homeless veterans." The first lady cited "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" as an example of people stepping up in a "huge, magnificent way." "This show is a show that really pulls people in," she said. "It highlights not just the good of an individual, but it shows the good of the nation, of a community. They are an example, a model, to so many other shows, businesses, organizations, that can step up by doing what they do best. "It's important to me to make sure these stories get highlighted," she continued. And "this episode is an excellent way to highlight what they're doing, and also give them something back; something more than they could ever imagine because they deserve it." Obama encouraged people, military and otherwise, to watch "Extreme Makeover" this weekend. "Make sure your kids watch it," she said. "Tell them about this issue and then think about what you can do as a family. It doesn't have to be big; it doesn't have to be grand. It just has to be something." The goal, she added, "is to make sure that these families know they live in a nation that cares and values the service and sacrifice they make." With this episode wrapped up, the producers of "Extreme Makeover" once again are seeking military families to feature this season. People can submit nominations via email to Jackie Topacio, casting producer, at jax@emhe.tv, through Sept. 29. The email should include the names and ages of household members, a description of the family's challenges, an explanation of why the family is deserving of a makeover or is a positive role model in the community, photos of the family and their home, and contact numbers.

Related Sites: ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Application ProcessRelated Articles:First Lady Joins Navy Veteran on 'Extreme Makeover' Family Matters Blog: 'Extreme Makeover' Seeks Military Families

Theatre Workshop For Working Proffessionals

Theatre Workshop For Working Proffessionals -
The Asmita weekend theatre workshop, conceptualised by Mr Arvind Gaur Director Asmita theatre group, is the first of its kind. This workshop provides working professionals a platform to pursue theatre on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The uniqunes of this workshop lies in the selection of its content, chosen to study contemporary acting. Socio-political issues become a subject of discussions, improvisations and script reading.Voice and speech work, quintessential in acting are taught by means of physical exercises, street plays and monolouges.
15 years of knowledge and experience of Asmita Theatre Group is carefully filtered into the minds of students by the senior most actors of Asmita, under the critical guidance of Mr. Arvind Gaur.
Finally the three month workshop culminates in a public production.
"Kharashe" a play based on short stories by Gulzar was performed by the second batch of Asmita Weekend Theatre Workshop at I.H.C on the 26th and 27th of july.A comprehensive documentation of this play is available at the Asmita Weekend Theatre Group on Facebook.

For More Details Contact: Shiv Chauhan-9958793683,Shilpi Marwaha-9540656537, Arvind Gaur-9899650509

Soldier-songwriter Serves in Afghanistan

By Army Pfc. Christopher Holton Task Force Duke KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2011 - A soldier serving in Task Force Duke here leads a double life. Army Pfc. Zachary William Charles Short strums his guitar in the motor pool at Combat Outpost Herrera, Afghanistan, Aug. 14, 2011. Short, under the stage name Zac Charles, has written and recorded several country music songs. Courtesy photo  In his Army life, Pfc. Zachary William Charles Short is a combat medic with the 1st Infantry Division's Battery A, 1st Battalion, 6th Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. But the 22-year-old native of Bend, Ore., records music under the stage name Zac Charles, and his single "Until I Get Home" became the third-most-requested song on country music radio stations in the Elizabethtown, Ky., area. This is an accomplishment in its own right for any aspiring musician, but judging by the number of fans he's amassed, it may be only the beginning of Short's musical journey. Short said he began writing music at age 12, and that he grew up listening to country music artists such as Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley and Jeremy Camp. Like that of many other artists, he said, his music reflects his life experiences. "I write about things I see and feel around me," he explained. I think music turns out better that way." Short said he put his music career aspirations on hold when he joined the Army at age 19 to support his family, because his wife and son are the most important aspects of his life. "My wife has been a big inspiration for a lot of my songs," he said. But today, his military duties and missions come first, he added. "It has been interesting to see my military career form," he said, "and I have learned so much." Writing and playing music in Afghanistan helps to lift his and other soldier's spirits, Short said. "My morale has improved greatly being able to do music out here," Short said. "I have also had the opportunity to improve the morale of the soldiers around me. On many occasions, a bunch of us have sat around at night after missions and sang a few songs." Short said his music serves as a constant reminder of how much he loves and misses his family. "I wrote ["Until I Get Home"] when I was away from my wife, and it reflects on the feeling I had then," he said. While in Afghanistan, Short acquired another supporter: U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Bova, a Houston native and fellow soldier in Battery A. Bova said he became an instant fan after hearing Short's music. "He could be an instant star in the world of country music," Bova said of Short's potential. "He just needs to be heard." Upon returning from deployment, Bova plans to be part of Short's public relations team. "Good Morning America" producers, he said, have expressed interest in having Short appear on the program. Bova said he hopes Short can obtain a record deal, "so people who haven't heard him can, and so his fans can hear him more often." Short said he plans to record some tracks in Nashville, Tenn., shortly after he returns to the United States from Afghanistan. "I've got a good studio lined up, and I'll be excited to start recording," he said.

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

Nobody cares if you can't dance well--Dave Barry

QUE  VIVA  LA  SALSA !

Rightly said by ~Dave Barry “Nobody cares if you can't dance well.  Just get up and dance.”
Dance is the only art form in which your body, mind and soul are completely in unison and one can enjoy the stuff of which he/she is made up off. An Ecstatic state of mind where pleasure takes over your worries and makes you free to float in the state of happiness .

Keeping all this in mind Ecstasy the dance studio by Gautam offered a free salsa and meringue workshop for beginners who love to dance but somehow can’t. Mr. Gautam the Director of Ecstasy is of view that through the platform of Ecstasy he always tries to fulfill the real aim of dance which is to spread happiness in today’s mechanized world we hardly take out time for ourselves, to treat our senses, to relax our minds from all the hellish work tensions .So through this workshop he tried to hit the target and it was indeed a success , as 30 to 40 people attended this workshop and danced their heart out , they learnt the basics of salsa and meringue dance forms.

 “learning salsa could be this much fun ,I never knew” these were the words of Sanya , one of the participant in the workshop she  was feeling at the top of the world as learning salsa was her dream but she never got the chance but in this workshop she achieved her dream. All the participants enjoyed the workshop and thanked “Ecstasy” for this wonderful workshop. --Shalu Arora