In Conversation

With the Vice Chancellor


Q. What come to your mind with the word “MiRAAS”?
A. Music and celebration are the first things that come to my mind. The word, however, means ‘legacy’ and I think that it is a great choice for a name of a festival.

Q. How do you look at MiRAAS as a University festival?
A. The idea of a university festival is a great one. We do have department level festivals, but MiRAAS is an all inclusive pan-university festival which promises to bring students from different departments and Centers together on one platform. Another significant thing about the festival is the wide range of activities that it covers.


Q. What expectations do you have from the festival in terms of being a learning experience for students?
A. No expectations really. I only want the students to have fun, because it’s a festival. Class rooms and conferences are meant for teaching and learning. A festival is about having a good time and adding on to one’s experience.

Q. What is your message for the students involved in the organization of MiRAAS?
A. I want them to have a good time even as they work hard to make the festival a great success. There are no restrictions on having fun but I don’t want them doing anything that I would not do.

Q. How do you think will the fest affect the inter-university relationships?
A. MiRAAS promises to bring students from other universities to Jamia. This will offer a great opportunity for students to interact and meet new people and learn from each other.

Q. Lastly, please give a message for MiRAAS.
A. I hope that the festival is a grand success and everyone has their share of fun. I want the festival to truly become a legacy that we at Jamia can be proud of.

Wafia Kissa                                   Vismaiy Avasthi                                                  Kashif Shakeel
Interviewer                                       Transcriber                                                            Photographer            








In Conversation
With The Triumvirate
(Mansoor Alam, Momin Khan and Zakir Hussain)



Q.Who came up with the idea of a pan university festival?

ZH: Mansoor and Momin were the ones who conceptualized the festival. I came in upon their call.
MA: Momin and I had observed that, most universities have similar festivals beign organized annually so we approached the DSW with the idea of a pan-university festival for Jamia Millia Islamia.
Main akela hi chala tha jaanib-e-manzil magar,
Log Judtey rahe , caravan banta gaya”
I’m glad about how this caravan has been formed now; and I sincerely hope the legacy of Miraas continues in the future.  
MK: Bol, The Debating society, had organized the National Trilingual Debate the year before, which had sparked off the concept of a national level festival.
The Organizing Triumvirate

Q. What was the biggest obstacle during the festival preparations:

MA: Materializing a festival like never before at such a large scale was the biggest challenge. Organizing people at this level was an endeavour.  
MK: Fetching registrations, in my opinion.
ZH: It took us almost two weeks in confirming registrations, and until the festival morning we had several aspiring participants calling, to have them registered.

Q. Share your sentiments about this ‘Caravan’ that you talk about.

ZH: The volunteers have been supportive all through the festival. We have had them stay back late and respond effectively to our calls/orders irrespective of time.
MA: Along with the support of volunteers, Tasneem Maam’s support has been our strongest pillar of strength and a source of inspiration. She used to stay back throughout the late hour and arrive before any of us. All conveners and professors have been helping in every manner.

Q. MiRAAS seems to have happened overnight tell us about the period of preparation.

MK: we have been working for this fest for over three weeks and, we were having a hard time as I mentioned earlier, we were running short of registrations. That was when we handed the registration and publicity department to Zakir, and along with his team, fetched in an overwhelming response from universities and colleges across the country.
ZH: we cannot overlook the fact that the clerical staff at the DSW office has been working shoulder to shoulder with the organizers and have been helping in every possible aspect, ranging from making the budget, to taking care of the food and beverages for the people working at the office.

Please leave a comment for the Media Team

ZH: When you people (Wafia and Vismaiy) arrived at the scene, I was sure, “Tum log kar logey”
MK: The first name that came to my mind when it came to handing over the blog, was Vismaiy’s and yes, it was always there in our heads that both of you were sitting away from all the action updating the blog.
MA: You guys have been such dedicated workers. When the performances were on, you guys never left your places and made the reports on time missing out on all the fun. Your work has been very commendable.

Vismaiy Avasthi, Wafia Kissa                                                                          Shushank Jain
 Interviewers                                                                                                       (Photos)







In conversation
With Vijendra Sharma and Onkar Singh
(Judges: Mask Painting competition)


Q. What is your opinion about the themes given to the participants?

V.S.: the tribal theme is a good subject as it revives the lost Indian heritage which was seen in a lot of pieces of art at today’s competition.
O.S.: The tribal theme presented in a contemporary style is a wonderful concept to link the youth to its roots.

Q. Please shed light on your basis of selection of award winning entries.
V.S.: The first prize has been given to the mask with Urdu script intricately painted on it, though I have no knowledge of Urdu, I found the mask extremely aesthetic.
O.S.: It was the mask that caught our attention at the first look and was undoubtedly the best.
V.S.: The masks that have been awarded second and third positions are pieces of contemporary and tribal fusion. The mask on fourth position is a beautiful display of earthly colours.
Q. Is this your first visit to Jamia? How did you like the atmosphere here?
V.S.: I’ve been to the Department of Fine Arts earlier; but it is my first visit to the amphitheatre and I really liked the structure and setting. I had once had an opportunity to visit the M.F. Hussain Art gallery at night and found the ambience extremely beautiful. I wished that artists like us could get an opportunity to reside in similar surroundings.
O.S.: I am a former student of Jamia Millia Islamia and consider it to be a second home. A lot of changes have occurred here since my student days and they are all commendable. 

Wafia Kissa                                                                                                   Shushank Jain

Interviewer                                                                                                       Photo

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