Excitement was in the air as students, faculty and the management of Annai Veilankanni's College of Arts & Science got together for the decennial celebrations of the institution.
Day two of the event was marked by the inauguration of ‘Astral ‘11', the annual inter-collegiate cultural fest hosted by the college, here Thursday.
Speaking at the event, Tamil Maiyam managing trustee Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj said art and culture came as a relief to people's lives that was often marked by pressure and stress.
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He said, “While popularity and mass appeal are factors that matter, one also has to look at the depth of the art form. We need to try and go beyond superficial art appreciation.”
He observed that profundity in art did not necessarily make them inaccessible.
Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj said that in addition to the classical arts, folk arts were very rich in content and feel, and still had wide reach and appeal.
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Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj commended the college management for choosing to set up an institution in the interiors of Saidapet for the benefit of students in the locality.
‘Astral ‘11' features several competitions for students and had participants from over 30 colleges, according to student-organisers.
S. Devaraj, chairman of the Annai Veilankanni's Group of Educational Institutions, and Celestina Jayasingh, principal, Annai Veilankanni's College of Arts & Science, were among others who spoke.
The Hindu NXg is the media partner.