15 Dec 2017  |   02:31am IST

Celebrating the power of peace

Fr Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar in collaboration with the Village Panchayats of St Andre Constituency organised the first-of-its-kind India Peace Concert 2017, which also included the National Peace Awards awarded to personalities who have achieved peace in the midst of daily storms

Team Café

A grand musical concert

performed by students of Pilar institutions marked the first India Peace Concert on December 10, 2017, which was World Day of Human Rights. The students who performed were trained by professionals from the industry. The concert was held at the Fr Agnel College grounds, Pilar.

The peace concert began with the awarding of the National Peace Awards in various fields to four prominent personalities who have achieved peace in the midst of daily storms. The recipients were Sr Laurenca Marques sfn (Social Work), Fr Jerry Fernandes sfx, Kolkalta (Music), Tara Kerkar (Social Work) and Prisonio Tavares, Mumbai (Literature). These awards were bestowed by Justice P K Mishra, Lokayukta Goa, in the presence of Rev Dr Frederick Rodrigues sfx, Principal, and Rev Dr Menino Allan Tavares sfx, Administrator, of Fr Agnel College, Pilar.

Two books were also released on the occasion: ‘Sasnachey Mhurtik’ – a compilation of poems of Prisonio Tavares, which he had written when he was in prison for his contribution to Goa’s freedom struggle. These poems were compiled and converted in the Roman and Devanagari scripts of Konkani by Prof Carina Vaz and Prof Jayesh A Raut.

‘Pathanateya’, a book of street plays written and directed by Prof Jayesh A Raut and presented by students of Fr Agnel College of Arts & Commerce, Pilar for various state and national level competitions was also released.

The concert comprised five musicals and two comedy skits. The first skit depicted how in our society, the girl child has always been considered a burden. In the skit, these bias were depicted and in a humorous way, with the message that we should celebrate the birth of a girl child. The second skit depicted a futuristic scene where women will lead the society.

The musicals too were themed about women empowerment. The scenes for the musicals were choreographed by Mallika Powal and Prajyot Naik and those for the comedy skit, by Prof Jayesh A Raut. The college band Fr Agnel College Rhythm Vibes, under the guidance of Fr Jerry Fernandes sfx, also performed.

At the end of the concert, 110 girls from 55 wards of St Andre constituency were felicitated for their educational qualifications.