Ekal’s Friends And Family Nite- Atlanta Dunia -

Ekal’s Friends And Family Nite

Photos & Review: Girish Modi

Elal Vidyalaya Foundation’s Atlanta chapter celebrated its fund raising event with gala musical evening on Friday September 10th at the Impact Conference Hall in Global Mall in presence of over 350 well-wishers, sponsors and friends. The program was free for every one with sumptuous complementary dinner catered by Ashiana.

It was originally planned as a 3-hour extravaganza, but continued past midnight for over 4 hours due to enthusiasm of the audience.

The program’s main participants included Nritya Natya Kala Academy students under the baton of Sandeep Savla, local artists from musical group Sham-e-Sargam, and some talented artists from South Carolina.

Ekal has been involved in eradicating illiteracy since 1986. It operates innovative, single teacher informal schools across India in tribal and rural communities, which lack access to basic rights such as primary education and governmental programs. The Ekal movement has helped unite the villages, sparked passion among tribal children for education, curbed social evils such as alcohol consumption, superstitions and inter-tribal rivalry and empowered villages to become self-reliant through knowledge. Currently there are over 34000 Ekal schools in operation all over India.

The first item of the evening was Ganesh Vandna dance performed by five students of Nritya Academy. It was a fitting tribune to Lord Ganesh, as the next day was an auspicious Ganesh Chaturthi. Next, more students sang a group prayer song “Ham ko man ki shakti dena”. Sandeep Savla choreographed and accompanied them as a keyboard player as well as vocalist. Sandeep also sang Mitwa song.

Later on in the show Ntritya Academy’s students performed medley of songs on Karaoke that included Barso re megha , Aap ki Nazrone samjha, Dance pe dance karle, Zoobi Doobi and Teri Bahon mein aakar.

Artists of musical group Sham-e-Sargam sang some memorable songs such as In Ankhon ki masti , Rahe na rahe hum, Kal ho na ho and Aye gulbadan and Mere Jivansathi Pyar kiye ja also on Karaoke. A Gujarati singer surprised the audience with a Gujarati garba Maro sona no kaludo re, ha panida chhalke chhe which attracted some Gujarati folks in the audience to come forward and do impromptu garba.

Yamini Sagar sang Suno Sajna and Sharmistha Diwan sang Lambi Judai beautifully. She also sang one duet with her husband. A Stand-up comedian made the audience laugh for over 15 minutes with his jokes about Shaadi, tv and biwi and Laloo Prasad receiving a letter from Bill Gates.

The stars of the evening were two sisters Jagati and Sudha Vempaty who sang Asha Bhosle’s classic songs Piya to Ab to Aaja (film Carvan), Dam maro dam (Film Purab Aur Pachchhim) and Ye mera dil pyar ka diwana (Film Don), Ajib dastan (film Dil Apna Preet Parayi) , Tujhse narzj nahin zindagi (Film Masoom) and Chura liya hai tumne (Film Yaado ki baarat). Their friend Sneha Chaturvedua sang a beautiful song Kabhi sham dhale to mere dil mein aa jana from Film Sur. Their brother Kumar sang Har ghadi badal rahi hai song from film Kal Ho Na Ho. Because they all sang with help of karaoke, their voices sounded melodious and their mistakes went unnoticed unless you have sharp ears.

Selection of heart-rendering songs like Tujhse naraz nahin zindagi and Kabhi sham dhale dil mein aa jana is commendable because they left lingering effect on the audience for many days.

Ekal received a lot of cash donations and sponsors for over 35 schools throughout the evening. Sponsor of each school pledges a donation of $365 in a year. Ekal also conducted a raffle by selling $1 tickets and giving out $50 gift cards from Kroger to two winners before the program was over.

Rachna Gupta was a charming emcee of the entire program, who not only announced the artists but also announced names of new sponsors and donors. While guests were enjoying dinner, a film about Ekal’s activites was screened. Dr. Basant Tariyal, Board of Director, also gave latest update on Ekal’s activities and announced that so far Ekal has sponsored over 35000 schools in rural Indian villages. He also told the audience that Ekal runs its schools very effectively and economically because all volunteers spend their own time and money and receive no compensation from EVF. Atlanta Chapter president Shiv Aggarwal gave vote of thanks to all the volunteers, stage and light decorator, sound system provider, Ashiana restaurant for subsidized food and all the artists, sponsors and audience for their participation.

For sponsoring Ekal schools or for further information about this noble cause that eradicates illiteracy in India, please check www.ekal.org or call Shiv Aggarwal or one of its local coordinators.