Author: Ram Kumar

The POSH Advocacy Group, in collaboration with the Pride Forum and Syahi — the Literature Club of SIAS — organised an exhibition dedicated to the #MeToo movement. The event aimed to educate the student body on the movement’s significance and importance while sparking much-needed conversations.  

The Larger Picture
The #MeToo movement, coined in 2007 by Tarana Burke, gained global prominence in 2017 after sexual assault accusations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein came to light. The #MeToo hashtag went viral, empowering survivors to voice their experiences, break long-held silences and seek reparations. It also highlighted systemic patterns of abuse, particularly by individuals in positions of power and emphasised the movement’s core mission: reducing harm and fostering accountability, rather than simply “canceling” powerful figures.  

The exhibition showcased the movement’s milestones, from policy reforms to the empowering act of giving survivors a voice. It explored nuanced themes, shifting the conversation from a binary men-vs-women dynamic to a broader understanding of sexual harassment as rooted in power dynamics. Creative entries from students depicted these complexities, conveying that harassment is about power and impunity rather than gender alone.  

Driving Conversations
The event also contextualised the #MeToo movement within India, examining its impact on the Malayalam film industry and addressing intersectional struggles faced by survivors. The goal was to amplify the visibility of these struggles, provoke thought and inspire action.  

By blending education with creativity, the exhibition underscored the global resonance of the #MeToo movement — a reminder of the widespread nature of these issues and the ongoing need for dialogue and systemic change. While progress has been made, the work remains far from complete.

– A report by Catherine Jaison, Cohort of 2027, SIAS and Kanika Dua, Cohort of 2025, SIAS

The week-long Wellbeing Week at Krea University successfully brought together diverse initiatives to foster emotional, mental, and physical wellness. From creative expressions of gratitude to empowering workshops, the week celebrated holistic well-being and encouraged meaningful engagement within the campus community.  

Drum circle (November 17)
The Wellbeing Week kicked off with the Madras Drum Circle, a facilitated session that brought students together to experience the therapeutic power of drumming. In two rounds, participants played drums at varying speeds under the guidance of a facilitator who emphasised the stress-relieving and team-building benefits of this practice. Widely adopted by corporates to enhance productivity, drumming fosters teamwork, cooperation and empowerment while uplifting the group’s spirit.  

Gratitude letters and affirmation desk (November 18)  
A heartwarming initiative by ILS, this activity encouraged students to write gratitude notes and affirmations. Participants could pen down positive quotes or express their appreciation for friends, faculty, or staff. Visitors to the desk picked up these notes, reminding them of the importance of gratitude. At the end of the week, the letters were delivered to recipients, creating meaningful connections and spreading positivity across campus.  

A card-making experience (November 19)  
Peer Support Volunteers, under the aegis of ILS, set up a card-making stall to celebrate the spirit of giving. Students crafted heartfelt Christmas cards for children at RaiseAChild orphanage, a cause supported annually by Aikyatha, the SIAS social outreach club. Adding a thoughtful touch to International Men’s Day, the stall also distributed roses to men on campus.  

Filter Coffee, Unfiltered Conversations (November 19)  
This engaging discussion session, centered on Dealing with Rejection, brought together students, faculty, and staff over coffee. Led by Professors Nagarani M, Associate Professor of OB & HR, IFMR GSB; Professor Vijayalakshmi C, Professor of OB & HR, IFMR GSB; and Dr Pallavi Pandey, Assistant Professor, OB & HR, the session explored the emotional challenges of rejection, especially during the placement season. It aimed to destigmatise difficult conversations, encourage empathetic listening, and equip participants with the resilience to face setbacks, all in a warm and supportive atmosphere.  

Gratitude wall (November 20)  
Located at the Academic Block’s back entrance, the Gratitude Wall served as a space for students and staff to reflect on and celebrate meaningful connections. Visitors added their notes, fostering a sense of community and appreciation.  

Executive functioning workshop: Cognitive connections (November 20)
Dr Sharanya Anil, founder-director of DIRECT, led this workshop, providing insights into executive functioning skills. The session introduced mindfulness-based strategies such as Zentangle art therapy to enhance focus and organisation. Participants learned techniques to manage distractions and optimise planning, multitasking and self-control.  

Self-care kit workshop (November 21)  
Facilitated by Krea University’s in-house counsellor Aparna Raghavan, this art therapy workshop encouraged participants to prioritise self-care through creative exercises. Activities included drawing mood reflections, shredding written negative emotions as a symbolic gesture and crafting affirming bookmarks. Accompanied by soothing music, the session provided a relaxing and therapeutic experience for all attendees.  

Low-stimulation zone: The Zen Den (November 21)  
A collaboration between the Psychology Society and Embrace, the Zen Den offered a calming retreat for relaxation and mindfulness. Designed with soft lighting and calming music, the room featured activities such as mandala art, mindfulness sheets and sensory items like clay dough and bubble wrap. With laid-out mattresses for grounding, the space became a haven for those seeking solace and mental rejuvenation.  

Zumba session (November 21)  
Promoting physical well-being as a vital part of mental health, Kanika Dua, an SIAS student, conducted a lively one-hour Zumba session. Around 20 participants danced their way to fitness, enjoying the high-energy workout and its stress-busting benefits.  

Mindfulness session (22 November 2024)
The session was led by Dr Lakshman Varanasi, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, SIAS. It provided participants with techniques to slow down, destress, and embrace calmness through simple and effective mindfulness practices.

Journalling marathon (22 November 2024)
This guided session was facilitated by Peer Support Volunteers (PSVs). Participants were given creative and reflective prompts, along with worksheets for group discussions and individual exercises. The self-reflection questions encouraged participants to ponder their decisions, choices, likes, dislikes and evaluate how they have been approaching life’s challenges.

Filtered Coffee, Unfiltered Conversations (22 November 2024)
An engaging discussion took place with Dr Madhavilatha Maganti, Associate Professor of Psychology, SIAS; Dr Rakshi Rath, Assistant Professor of Psychology, SIAS and Dr Preeti Gulati, Assistant Professor of Psychology, SIAS at the Student Lounge. The conversation focused on recognizing the signs of burnout, understanding its causes such as familial pressures and academic expectations, and exploring ways to address it. Professor Rakhi clarified that & burnout is often misused interchangeably with exhaustion, emphasising that overcoming it typically requires external support.

Wellbeing fair(23 November 2024)

The wellbeing fair, held for the first time alongside Krea’s third celebration of mental well-being, offered a vibrant mix of activities, games, music, and delicious food, creating a fun and engaging environment for all attendees. The fair featured 20 stalls from various clubs, each contributing to the theme of mental well-being.
– Fashion Club of SIAS: Distributed booklets featuring self-reflection questions, encouraging positive body image
– Literary Arts Club: Offered poetry prescriptions and comforting books for sale, supporting the theme of mental well-being
– Other stalls focused on promoting affirmation and self-care, further reinforcing the fair’s commitment to fostering mental well-being. The fair was managed by several PSVs and led by SIAS students Sunita Makhijani and Himani Kanawala
– Additionally, Layam, the SIAS Music Club organised a lively karaoke event, adding to the festive atmosphere of the fair

A report by Shivani Pramod, Cohort of 2026, IFMR GSB

Pictures by Om Suryawanshi, Cohort of 2026, IFMR GSB

The SH3 on campus is packed and people are still pouring in. Sitting here in the front row, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with awe and pride. This show, which had been in the works for almost six months, was finally coming to life. Over the summer break, Rangasthala, the Theatre Club of SIAS, decided to take on Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, and now, here it was — the first Tamil play at Krea, completely translated and adapted by students.

The Death of a Salesman is a play that provides a commentary on the endless pursuit of “success” in the lives of the lower middle-class people in the 20th and 21st centuries. It was originally set in 1940’s America as a commentary on the American Dream. Rangasthala’s adaptation was set in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, and focused on Vicky Loganathan, a saree seller, his family and the final twenty-four hours of his life. The play explored themes of strained family relations, mental health and ambition. It showed how the meaning of success changes through generations and individuals.

While The Death of a Salesman is about the American dream, it is applicable everywhere because, at its core, it’s about how there is a lot of pressure in our society to be well-liked and successful. So even although we performed it in Tamil, the play still applies to all societies and doesn’t lose its universal appeal.

Team work is dream work
It was a long process, from selecting directors, producers, and scriptwriters during the summer break to finally performing the show on November 15 and 16. And yes, it was undoubtedly a long process, but it paid off in the end. All the actors, whether new or veteran, acted beautifully. It was truly magical to see the cast perform, and the amount of effort everyone put into the production was evident. We had actors who don’t speak Tamil perform in the language.

The entire crew, too, put in a great deal of effort, whether it be the quick saree changes, perfectly timed and planned lights and sounds, or the fluid set management and while this all seems momentary, the crew had been working since August to make this possible. Something unique about this particular production was the fact that we played with lights and shadows to create a puppet show, truly highlighting the feelings of the actors and the themes of confusion and anxiety in the play.

Lights. Camera. Passion.
Beyond the technical aspects of the play, this was the dream production for many people involved, so seeing it unfold so magically was a dream come true for a lot of us. Sitting there, watching it all unfold, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride — not just for the production but for the people behind it. Seeing how every single person involved had poured their heart and soul into this production was.humbling. The friendships and bonds we made through this production will be something we all will cherish forever.

And then there was the audience. Hearing their reactions during the play — gasps, laughter, tears, the silence during tense moments — was electrifying. It felt like they were fully immersed, travelling with us through Vicky Loganathan’s story. When we stepped off stage both nights, their applause and heartfelt feedback made all the effort worthwhile. Hearing them talk about how the story and its themes resonated, how they noticed the finer production details and how moved they were was deeply gratifying. It gave us a sense of accomplishment and validated every hour of effort we’d put into this production.

Our adaptation was directed by Aditya Chauhan and Subbu Karuppayee Bhavani and produced by Navya Khanna and Pranvi Khare. The show days were 15 and 16 November 2024 at SH3.

A report by Pranvi Khare, Cohort of 2027, SIAS

The Major Minor Mela, held on November 16 and 17 November on campus, was a great success. Hosted by the Ministry of Learning in collaboration with some of the academic clubs and societies under SIAS, the event aimed to give first-year students a comprehensive and interactive introduction to the diverse academic disciplines available at SIAS. This year, the mela offered a fresh, engaging take on the usual introductory sessions.

Day 1 revolved around the disciplines of Humanities and Social Studies along with Literature and the Arts, while day two was dedicated to the Sciences. Each morning featured an Open House, where senior students delivered presentations detailing the discipline-wise requirements, ensuring first-years had a clear understanding of their academic options. The afternoons presented an interactive fair where students could visit different booths, chat with seniors and get a more personal feel for the disciplines they were interested in.

The event was well-attended, with many first-year students eager to learn and participate. Feedback from attendees highlighted the interactive and informative nature of the Mela, and these insights will be invaluable in making next year’s event even more impactful.