Journalism of Courage
From work projects,NGO visits to house get-togethers,youngsters have their diaries full with year-end events
Christmas bells are ringing and celebrations being planned. The city is also gearing up to bid farewell to 2011. The following two weeks will be marked with fun and frolic,parties and events. Youngsters are bustling about,chalking out their itineraries. The year end is not only about party hopping,they say. In their little black diaries,they have pencilled in NGO visits,work-related events and future planning sessions.
Sahil Shroff,21,is already on his way to Goa. This third year engineering student has work on his mind. “I’m not going there to party but to dedicate my hours to work,” he says. Shroff is an expert fire spinner and would pursue it as a hobby till very recently. When I was in Goa for a recent trip,I spun fire for free. A party oraganiser noticed me and offered me a free party pass for the entire Christmas week if I performed there! says Sahil,whose fire-spinning tricks will take him to other venues in Goa as well. It feels good to earn a few bucks while partying at the same time, he grins.
There are some who want to spread Christmas and New Year cheer among the sick and needy. Sudhanshu Sontakke,a 23-year-old law student at DES Law College,will serve food to the patients at his family’s hospital in Khadki. On the last day of every year,we organise a grand feast for the patients in our hospital. It is more of a tradition now, says he. Post the party with patients,he will visit Harihareshwar,a beach located 300 km away from the city,”to start the year in the lap of nature. Partying at discs is a complete no-no for me, he adds.
For some other youngsters,stay-at-home is the way to go this year. Twenty-one-year-old Nalini Mangwani says,I would rather spend time with my near and dear ones than with people I don’t know!” So,a house party with barbecue,good music and friends” is on her agenda.
