BY SONAM MIRPURI
TORRANCE, CA - In hopes of growing and expanding, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata held a musical fundraiser for survivors of human trafficking at the Double Tree by Hilton here on May 28. The enchanting evening was filled with Bollywood music. St. Xavier’s College is a premier academic institution founded and run by...
TORRANCE, CA - In hopes of growing and expanding, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata held a musical fundraiser for survivors of human trafficking at the Double Tree by Hilton here on May 28. The enchanting evening was filled with Bollywood music. St. Xavier’s College is a premier academic institution founded and run by...
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the Jesuits, it has been imparting quality and value education for the last 155 years.
Now it has begun SXC Vision 2020. A project to achieve building new campuses to illuminate the minds of many with enduring Post Graduate departments and academic research in various fields. Also, with new campuses for new centers for management and communication studies, new hostels, new research centers, modernized library, and a new block. The aspiration behind this growth is to help the girls who are survivors of human trafficking to attain a higher education, by providing them lodging, and boarding so they can become self-sufficient.
The evening consisted of speeches, a PowerPoint presentation, and singing. It began with prayers: one in English conducted by Father Djus and one for the goddess, Sarasvati, sung by Shorbani. Emceeing the event was Hasnu Mukherjee and the host was Chanda Zaveri, renowed molecular biologist and Found of the Xavier Calcutta Foundation.
Reverend Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., President of the St. Xavier’s College and University, came on stage to say a few words about the college and plans for expansion. “We want to reach out to as many as possible, especially the weaker sections of society,” he said .He hoped that everyone who came to the college would be given an opportunity to thrive without any obstacles.
“No student who comes to the campus should be turned down due to financial hardships,” he said .
Continuing the evening was a singing contribution provided by Maya Ganguly who came on stage with Ajit Pathak. Ganguly sang and played the harmonium while Pathak played the tabla. Together the two performed bhajans and ghazals.
Another singer, Ana, came on stage to sing “Beautiful” an original song she had written for the cause.
As they both sang, the audience was mesmerized with their music and applauded them.
Taking a break from all the music, Sarah Symons, Co-Founder and Executive Director of ‘Made by Survivors,’ an international non-profit organization, made a presentation to the audience.
“We have to be honest about a difficult subject,” said Symons who spoke about how the silence of the subject of human trafficking is contributing to the growth. After she completed her PowerPoint presentation, Zaveri came on stage to tell the audience about what is important to help the girls, thank everyone for coming, and to request the audience to donate to the cause.
“These girls are beaten, raped, starved, anything to break their identity,” said Zaveri.
Rev. Raj and Zaveri presented Symons with a shawl and plaque to make her an honorary Xavier.
Rram Tasildar, Bollywood pop and playback singer, came on stage to sing to the audience as they ate their dinner. Tasildar sang “Ae Mere Humsafar” from Qayamat Se QayamatTak, “Muskurane” from CityLights, as well as a few other songs.
Then it was Bhavna Chawla’s turn to perform and continue the singing. She sang the title song from Prem Ratan Dhan Payo to which the audience clapped along. “Kaisi Paheli Zindagani” from Parineeta was the song that got the guests out of their seats and on the dance floor. Chawla then came off the stage to sing and sway as she sang other songs on the dance floor. Tasildar joined Chawla to sing a variety of old and new songs. Together the two singers sang the night away.
Now it has begun SXC Vision 2020. A project to achieve building new campuses to illuminate the minds of many with enduring Post Graduate departments and academic research in various fields. Also, with new campuses for new centers for management and communication studies, new hostels, new research centers, modernized library, and a new block. The aspiration behind this growth is to help the girls who are survivors of human trafficking to attain a higher education, by providing them lodging, and boarding so they can become self-sufficient.
The evening consisted of speeches, a PowerPoint presentation, and singing. It began with prayers: one in English conducted by Father Djus and one for the goddess, Sarasvati, sung by Shorbani. Emceeing the event was Hasnu Mukherjee and the host was Chanda Zaveri, renowed molecular biologist and Found of the Xavier Calcutta Foundation.
Reverend Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., President of the St. Xavier’s College and University, came on stage to say a few words about the college and plans for expansion. “We want to reach out to as many as possible, especially the weaker sections of society,” he said .He hoped that everyone who came to the college would be given an opportunity to thrive without any obstacles.
“No student who comes to the campus should be turned down due to financial hardships,” he said .
Continuing the evening was a singing contribution provided by Maya Ganguly who came on stage with Ajit Pathak. Ganguly sang and played the harmonium while Pathak played the tabla. Together the two performed bhajans and ghazals.
Another singer, Ana, came on stage to sing “Beautiful” an original song she had written for the cause.
As they both sang, the audience was mesmerized with their music and applauded them.
Taking a break from all the music, Sarah Symons, Co-Founder and Executive Director of ‘Made by Survivors,’ an international non-profit organization, made a presentation to the audience.
“We have to be honest about a difficult subject,” said Symons who spoke about how the silence of the subject of human trafficking is contributing to the growth. After she completed her PowerPoint presentation, Zaveri came on stage to tell the audience about what is important to help the girls, thank everyone for coming, and to request the audience to donate to the cause.
“These girls are beaten, raped, starved, anything to break their identity,” said Zaveri.
Rev. Raj and Zaveri presented Symons with a shawl and plaque to make her an honorary Xavier.
Rram Tasildar, Bollywood pop and playback singer, came on stage to sing to the audience as they ate their dinner. Tasildar sang “Ae Mere Humsafar” from Qayamat Se QayamatTak, “Muskurane” from CityLights, as well as a few other songs.
Then it was Bhavna Chawla’s turn to perform and continue the singing. She sang the title song from Prem Ratan Dhan Payo to which the audience clapped along. “Kaisi Paheli Zindagani” from Parineeta was the song that got the guests out of their seats and on the dance floor. Chawla then came off the stage to sing and sway as she sang other songs on the dance floor. Tasildar joined Chawla to sing a variety of old and new songs. Together the two singers sang the night away.
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