Did you know that Ratan Tata, the business magnate, and Samuel Jackson, the iconic actor, pursued architecture? Yes, they studied architecture. Then, they thought out of the box and pursued their calling. Now, they have built a legacy of their own. They chose their unique paths, breaking the barriers of myopic vision and making the crowd follow them.
Following the crowd is easy, but it takes courage to shift the gear towards the road less travelled, and that is what people who made history have done. This is exactly what we wish for our students. Though they pursue architecture, we don’t want them to be cocooned into the cubicle of academics. We want them to explore the world outside textbooks and find expressions for their inherent talents and potential. That is why we conduct NAVA -the annual college fest.
Though TKMSA – NAVA facilitates more learning on architecture, it is all about widening the horizon beyond architecture. When students participate in various cultural and extracurricular activities, they get platforms to showcase their talents. Moreover, NAVA is an icebreaker event that fosters camaraderie between juniors and seniors. Through this blog, let’s sketch just an outline of NAVA.
NAVA, an exploration of World Architecture
Beyond a cultural event, NAVA was a programme that embraced architecture. Events were conducted based on different architectural themes. For example, we turned the college decoration into a competition that permeates the beauty of architecture. Accordingly, students were divided into four batches and were given different architectural themes. The themes ranged from Roman architecture to Egyptian and Babylonian architecture. Thus, it helped students to delve deep into different architectural themes and timelines.
Similarly, offstage competitions also exuded an architectural aura. Competitions like model making, face art, and doodling revolved around unique architectural themes. Likewise, the fashion show was conducted based on architectural themes, and the trophy design followed an architectural theme too. In essence, NAVA unfolded as a festival of architecture.
NAVA, the Icebreaker
Beyond the glitz and glamour of an annual programme, NAVA was an icebreaker. It provided a unique opportunity for students from all four batches to come together and mingle. For instance, the Vertical Studio, a unique feature of NAVA was a platform for seniors and juniors to come together and exchange ideas. As part of it, we introduced the concept called ‘Lateral Dimension’, where students were split into groups, and each group was given projects. It fostered an environment for freely exchanging and respecting ideas. Thus, it served as an icebreaker that helped to break the barriers between senior and junior batches.
It was all about the pre-preparation days
Students thoroughly enjoyed the pre-preparation days, where they squeezed in time to plan, coordinate, and execute NAVA. Besides, students from all batches got an opportunity to work as a team which resulted in breaking the ice between seniors and juniors. Moreover, these pre-preparation days forged a bond between students and teachers that goes beyond the traditional teacher-student equation.
That artistic flair
Amidst the hectic schedule of lectures and seminars, NAVA came as a breath of fresh air. It was not just an annual fest; it was a celebration of talents and creativity. Through competitions such as duet songs, group dances, spot choreo, story-writing, poem writing, caricature, and more students found the space for their creative expressions.
Let’s wrap up
Did you know that only 20% of architecture students pursue it as a profession? Celebrations like NAVA can provide them with an opportunity to discover their passions other than architecture. If they realise that these passions are their inner calling, they could be the next Ratan Tata or Samuel Jackson.
