Stage events add to verve of university fete

Competitions in the inter-zone arts festival of the University of Calicut became intense and livelier with the inauguration of stage events by A. Vijayaraghavan, MP, on Saturday evening. The off-stage events had begun on Friday.

Sharat Kumar, film actor, who was the chief guest, called upon the youth not to be apolitical in an age of challenges. He said the youth had the responsibility to react to social injustices. “You should react,” he told them.

He said people should be able to rise above parochial confinements of language, caste or religion. Similarly, art should cross all borders, whether cultural or geographic.

Mr. Sharat Kumar said the issue of Mullaperiyar dam should be resolved through discussions between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Competitions in Thiruvathirakkali, Bharatanatyam and other classical dances followed the inauguration of the stage events.

The following are the winners of some events held on Saturday in the order of first and second positions:

Elocution (Urdu): K. Abdul Rasheed (Farook College, Feroke); T. Abdul Naseer (WMO Arts and Science College, Muttil, Wayanad).

Elocution (Tamil): M. Princia (Government Victoria College, Palakkad); Avudaiappan (Government College, Chittur, Palakkad).

Elocution (Sanskrit): P.S. Priya (PTM Government College, Perinthalmanna); M. Sruthi (Jyothi Engineering College, Cheruthuruthi).

Elocution (Arabic): K. Abdul Rasheed (Farook College); E.K. Mansoor (SAFI Institute of Advanced Study, Vazhayur).

Elocution (Hindi): Roshni Nair (IES College of Engineering, Chittilappilly, Thrissur); Sasindra K. (Government Engineering College, Thrissur).

Elocution (English): Vaishakh Shashi Menon (NSS College of Engineering, Akathethara, Palakkad); Mayadevi Chalisseri (Vimala College, Thrissur).