Punjab university wins ‘Tamasha’

Four-day multidimensional event concludes at FAST, Gujrat University stands second.

ISLAMABAD: University of the Punjab was declared winner of the Tamasha 2011 festival on Monday. The four-day event concluded at FAST National University Islamabad, with the Gujrat University declared as the runner up.

Aiming to ‘break the silence’ of the youth, Tamasha provided 1,700 students from 70 educational institutes of the country an opportunity to express their talent. The participants were invited to take part in various competitions this year, comprising theatre, painting, writing, visage canvas, sketching, declamations, cultural fusion, photography, calligraphy, Sufi music, movie competition, t-shirt designing, sports and muqadma-bazi.

On the final day of the event, students of various universities performed on the stage in the segment called ‘Rebuilding of Pakistan’. Through their performance, the university students told the audience that it was time to ‘whitewash the blood-stained walls of our country’.

The crowded hall of the university generously applauded the performance of their colleagues, who were giving a message of hope. “It is time to hold hands, it is time to start afresh,” said a participant.

The students of Gomal University presented the dream of a bright future for the country. “This can be done by defeating the evils of illiteracy, enemy’s conspiracy, flawed policies, ethnic and religious divisions, unemployment and social injustices and making a state built upon Quaid-i-Azam’s vision,” said a student of the university explaining their idea. The female students of Lahore Grammar School performed in the guise of males. They exposed dual faces of rulers and religious leaders who compromised on principles for their vested interests while putting poor people at risk.

The students of FAST University Peshawar, Punjab University Lahore and Gujrat University also highlighted the importance of bringing the country into the list of developed and civilised countries.

The programme organisers told The Express Tribune that ‘Rebuilding of Pakistan’ segment was included in the list because in the past years, ‘we have seen too much pain, too much loss, too much destruction. Now is the time to rise’.

“This time Tamasha expanded the scale and included every possible manner of expression and creativity, along with the purpose of awakening the youth,” said Usman Kahloon, vice president of the organising committee.

Director Current Affairs Express TV Quatrina Hosain, addressing the youth, said it is time to stand up to face the challenges of the time. She said, “Our eyes have been closed for far too long. The future of our nation depends on you.”

“It is time to rise against the corruption and tyranny like Egyptians. Don’t lose hope and direction,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2011.