Calling all JainsIn a move to cement unity among the various Jain communities, five major parent bodies have got together to organise Action 99. To be held on February 14, Action 99 is an occasion where discussions, free exchange of ideas, thoughts and deliberations will be held. The participating bodies are Teerthakshetra Raksha committee, Dakshi Bharat Jain Sabha, Digambar Jain Mahasabha, All India Digambar Jain Parishad and Bharatwarshiya Digambar Jain Sanghathana. Among the issues discussed will be the problems faced by the community at the local and national levels. At the end of the conference, an action plan will be chalked out. There will be a yuva-yuvati milap and guidance sessions from the elderly.ELAN get-togetherElan (Ex Loyola Alumni Network) held its annual get-together on February 6 at Loyola High School. The well-attended function began with an address by Captain Naren Bhatt, managing director Selandia Marine Services and former Loyolite who held forth on the importance of networking. This was followed by an update on the past activities of the former students' body along with a presentation on the projected activities for the coming year. The latter comprises a new website designed by Atul Mundra, another former student, that is going to have the ELAN directory and bulletin board on it. But perhaps the most ambitious plan is the construction of a multi-purpose hall in the school premises, the design for which was prepared and presented at the meet by Rajesh Chaudhary. A lively dance and sumptuous dinner followed bringing the evening to an end.Visit to Osho CommuneSpectrum, a women's study group, visited the Osho Commune on February 1 to focus on Osho's contribution to the holistic development of women. The visiting group was led on a conducted tour by Ma Amrit Sadhana, features editor of Osho Times international. At the end of the session, Ma Sadhana conducted a meditation camp. Nirmala Agarwal, secretary of Spectrum, proposed a vote of thanks.Laying the foundationThe annual day celebrations of Sant Gadge High school were held on January 25 on its campus. Bhoomipoojan ceremony of the school boundary wall was also performed by Prataprao Godse, president of the Dagdushet Ganpati Trust. The prizes and certificates for the essay and public speaking competition were also distributed. A musical programme was organised at the venue. A science exhibition was also inaugurated with various demonstrations of projects in Physics, Chemistry and Zoology. The Rotary Club of Pune Riverside announced that they would bear the cost of the boundary wall.Camp for the soulA three-day yoga retreat camp was held at ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF), Pune from February 5 to 7. The fully-residential camp provided a rare opportunity for spiritually-minded youngsters to experience the Vedic way of life. The day began at 4.30 am with shloka recitation. A video show based on Vedic principles was also shown. The evenings were highlighted with dramas, quizzes and colour slide shows. Prior to this camp, two more camps were conducted on the previous weekends. IYF will conduct a similar camp for youngsters in July. Details can be had at Hare Krishna Temple, Tarapore Road or on phone at 841855.Award for NimbarkarDr Krishnabai Nimbarkar was awarded a sanmanpatra posthumously by the government of Maharashtra on the occasion of Republic Day this year. Nimbarkar was honoured for her role during the Emergency. She was a member of the first central Social Welfare Board and later served as an advisor to the Women's Programmes in the Community Project administration. Nimbarkar was also the founder of the Bharatiya Mahila Grameen Sangh.St Mira's girls excelSt Mira's College for Girls recently organised a number of inter-collegiate competitions in connection with Sadhu Vaswani's 33rd Mahayagna. Among the competitions held were an elocution contest, a cookery contest and an inter-collegiate bhajan competition. The Weikfield trophy for the best entry in the cookery competition was won by them.Annual novenaThe Church of the Lady of Perpetual Health is celebrating its annual novena from February 5 to 14. The feast will be held on February 14, this year being declared the year of the father, the previous two years being the year of the son and the holy spirit. Bishop Valerian D'Souza presided over the function on February 7 and the feast on February 14 will be presided over by Father Felix Medes, vicar general of the Pune dioceses.
