CONVERGE 2014Kushagr Tantiya, The Literary Club

The Delhi team le+ the campus at 18:45 in the evening of 20th for ISBT, Kashmiri gate, which marked the ocial, kick o to Converge 2014. The host this year for Delhi and Rae Bareli was Kangra.

The team reached ISBT by 19:30 and boarded the bus to Kangra by 20:15 a=er all the luggage and requisites were secured. Even though the space in the bus wasnt enough for the enHre team and the chaperones that went along with the students, the high spirits of the parHcipants didnt diminish. We reached Kangra at 07:10 in the morning and thats when the eects of the congested connes of the bus were evident as everybody was Hred and famished, despite that the convicHon of the students was unwavering and steadfast.

The following morning students are elated to receive their jerseys, which is a signicant thing for those who can understand its importance. A=er gePng ready, the boys in blue leave for Yuva Seva Aivam Khel Vibhaag, Himachal Pradesh, a lovely ground in the scenic town of Dharamshala for the opening ceremony of Converge 2014.

There were co-ordinators at the Kangra bus staHon to help us out and give us instrucHons as to what was our next line of acHon. We were told to get ready and show up at the campus as arrangements for our breakfast had been made there. The lodging facility for girls had been made in the Kangra campus itself whereas boys had to bunk at the boys hostel which was around a kilometre and half away from the campus. A=er everybody had se[led in and were ready, the students rendezvoused at the canteen of the campus to get their mi[s on some refreshments. The day was meant for rest and pracHces and so the enthused students complied accordingly. A meeHng had been scheduled with the director in the evening at 20:00. This was followed by tea and refreshments. The day closes with dinner being served at a make-do pandol put-up in the campus itself.

They are joined by the girls shortly a=er. It is here that they receive their IdenHty cards and given a brief run-through of the rules and regulaHons. A=er this, breakfast is served in the exteriors of the indoor stadium of the Khel Vibhaag.

Picture 1: Kangra Campus | Picture 2: Converge Flag Picture 3: NIFT New Delhi Converge Team paying respect to

the Converge Flag

The mountains surrounding the NIFT Kangra Campus presenting a scenic view of the nature.

The football, cricket and basketball matches were scheduled to take place at the Police ground, Dharamshala which was about two kilometres away from the stadium of the Khel Vibhaag where the track events were taking place.

The lazy winter morning forced the opening ceremony into a deadlock delay; this Hme was well uHlized by the students for warm up exercises and pracHces. A=er a march past by the parHcipants, the ceremony was nally underway at 12:40. The ceremony concludes with the ag hoisHng which served as a beckoning to everyone that its hunHng season and the director delivers a short speech to make it ocial.

The volley of events unravels itself with the commencing of the races. A slight readjustment of plans, leads to the rescheduling of a few events, nothing too major though and the day ends with the compleHon of many events in the best of fashion and clockwork precision.

A=er a hard day of work(or, play rather), the students get back to the campus for dinner a=er which the boys depart for the hostel and the girls make their way back to their rooms in the campus. The day ends on a good note but with the obvious postponing of some of the events to the later days which is not welcomed in the best of spirits.

The next morning is pre[y much the same with one li[le twist in the story this Hme, the twist being the Hmely execuHon of scheduled events which is a brilliant factor in smoothening out the kinks introduced the earlier day. With most Sports events nally a[aining fruiHon, it is Hme to move onto the cultural events which take place in the campus in the evening. The evening is a lively and jovial one with everybody enjoying, dancing and grooving along with the contestants. The day ends with everybody shaking a leg spontaneously, as students bomb the scene with demands of dancing their heart out on chummy tracks which is reciprocated to, well by the volunteers.

Judges and Guest of Honour, seated in the NIFT Kangra campus during the cultural events on the second day of Converge

Students in action on Day 2 of Converge at Police Ground ,Dharamshala.

Athletes engaged in the running event on the first day of Converge 2014 at SAI Ground, Dharamshala

The last day of events is a highly enjoyable one, also really hecHc as events are happening simultaneously at all 3 venues the campus, the Police ground and the Khel Vibhaag stadium.

In the evening everybody converges in the Kangra campus of NIFT and it is here that the purpose of this 3 day esta nally comes full circle as we see students from all 3 campuses gelling well with each other and enjoying each others company. We see crowd of excited spectators eagerly waiHng for the prize distribuHon ceremony to start as it here that their handwork will be rewarded in the form of medals and trophies. All the teams performed well and rightly earned their stripes but if one team towered over all, it was team Delhi; with seven trophies and numerous medals.

On the 25th the home team had planned an excursion for the guest teams and so as part of this trip the students are taken to Mcleodgunj which is a small town not too far away from Kangra. Here, the students were allowed to roam free and enjoy their Hme and so everybody split into groups and covered ground as they saw t. When everyone was done they leave for the campus to bid their adieu. The students leave for Delhi with a lot to reect upon and an experience worthwhile.

Students in action on Day 3 of Converge at Sports Authority of India, Dharamshala Ground.

NIFT Delhi Converge Team posing for group photo on the concluding day

Photography: Harshit Ranjan and Mohit KumarCorrespondents: Kushagr Tantiya and Harshit Ranjan

The Literary Club