St. Xavier’s College Calcutta Alumni Association (SXCCAA) presented its first calendar event of SXCCAA Women’s Forum — Annual Tea Meet 2023, in association with The Telegraph, on November 18 at Fr Depelchin Auditorium in St. Xavier’s College Park Street campus. This annual event, organised by the women’s wing of the alumni association, saw the reunion of the college alumni — a memorable evening of cultural performances, networking, food and games. The highlights of the evening were the performances by Nikhita Gandhi and Tanusree Shankar. The General Council members were also formally introduced and felicitated by the principal of St. Xavier’s College Calcutta, Rev. Fr Dominic Savio, following the tradition of the event. Glimpses:
Students of Tanusree Shankar Dance Academy along with the veteran danseuse performed for the guests. “The presentation, Amity, is basically the life that a woman goes through from morning till night. The fisherman’s dance was a peppy performance, where we show how the women, too, play a major role in the profession. Maitreyi is based on women's friendship. We also presented an elaborate court dance. Ayurdehi highlighted nari shakti. I was happy to know that this occasion is organised by the women’s forum. So, I presented certain women-oriented pieces,” said Shankar.
“The women’s forum has worked hard for today’s event. As far as I know, I do not think any other alumni association has got a women’s forum separately. We give importance to the women in our college in whatever we do. This forum has grown a lot. They do almost 12 activities of different types in a year. It brings them and us together, which is very important,” said Rev. Fr Dominic Savio, president of SXCCAA and principal of St. Xavier’s College (Calcutta).
SXCCAA Women's Forum Committee members with Rev. Fr Dominic Savio and Firdausul Hasan, honorary secretary, SXCCAA. “Women’s Forum started about 18 years back and with father’s blessings and Firdausul Hasan's support it has propelled to a different height. One can surely see the euphoria around it. There are wonderful team members who are consistently working and it's growing stronger with each passing day,” said Sudeshna Roychowdhury (fifth from the right), founder member, Women’s Forum Working Committee.
ALUMNUS SPEAK
“Being one of the seniormost members here, I have witnessed the golden and silver jubilee celebrations and much more. In our times, we did not have women. But interestingly now, women outnumber men. The dance performances by Tanusree Shankar’s group were unparalleled,” said Abhijit Sengupta, an alumnus of the 1958 B.Sc batch.
“Annual Tea Meet being the first event of the calendar year, we always look forward to it. Specially, given this time my mother was a convenor, it gives me more impetus to come back. Of course, it was a fantastic evening of performances,” said sitarist Kalyan Majumdar, an alumnus of the 2018 B.Sc batch.
