Concert begins with difficulties, finishes stronger

Event features dancing, music, costumes

By Ravneet Padda

“Jhankar- 2004,” an Indian cultural event signifying the melody and beats of Indian music and dance, lost some of its rhythm because of technical difficulties Saturday.

The event, which featured extravagant costumes, Indian songs and dances, started almost an hour late at the Satellite Student Union.

Dearley Amara, a student technician at the venue, said the show’s organizers, the Indian Students Club, failed to set up the equipment on stage at the scheduled time.

“ Disorganization was their biggest problem,” Amara said. “Even though the (Satellite Student Union equipment) is a 1,000 years old, it works properly.”

Club member Kiran Rao Gorapalli attributed the delay to the late arrival of “Antariksh,” a participating band traveling from the bay area, and said he strongly disagreed with Amara’s claims.

“ (The Student Union) has the most messed up compact disc system in the world,” he said. All the material worked very well during the practices, he added.

Ex-president of the Sikh Student Association, Sharonjit Grewal, supported Gorapalli’s opinion.

“ The university needs to update their systems desperately,” Grewal said.

Grewal said she faced a host of sound and lighting problems during “Punjab Night-2003,” an event put together by her association at the student union.

Matthew Mileham, program production supervisor at the Satellite Student Union, said the newest piece of equipment at the union is a year old and the oldest is approximately 12 to 15 years old, but all is fully functional.

All the participants, along with the music material, weren’t present to iron out difficulties and ensure system compatibility during the rehearsals for “Jhankar-2004” on Tuesday, Mileham said.

Most events that are rehearsed with participants ahead of time take place smoothly, he said.

Despite the problems, the club put on a very good show, said Dr. Satya Mahanty, club adviser and chair of the mechanical and industrial engineering department.

“ The Indian community is very tolerant,” Mahanty said. “They were not disheartened and kept the show going.”

The show, co-sponsored by Associated Students, featured dances, skits and songs by more than 75 club members, coupled with performances by “Antariksh,” and “California Soul,” Indian bands of the Central Valley.

Mahanty commended the students for their efforts.

“ A lot of time, energy, and hard work went into (the event),” he said.

“ It’s been tremendous,” Gorapalli said. “The passion to show India in as many different lights as we could was immense.”

Daniel Chikwava, who majors in business administration, said he admired the Indian youth in America for keeping their culture alive.

“ I loved the dancing part, especially the Punjabi music,” Chikwava said

Ken Elder, a Fresno resident who is not familiar with Indian language or culture, said he enjoyed the show.

“ Even though I understood zero, it was interesting,” he said.

Student Melissa Younkin, another stranger to Indian culture, said she was amazed by the experience.

“ I have never seen anything like this before,” she said.

The event was the first time the club was able to come out in front of people to represent Indian culture, club member Meghna Dhir said.

Gorapalli said apart from aiming to create cultural awareness on campus, club members focus on helping new Indian students acclimatize to life in America.

“ This is the first family we have in America,” he said referring to the 175- member club, which was established in spring 2003.

Despite the loss of rhythm during “Jhankar- 2004,” Gorapalli said he believed the show made ‘his family in America’ dance to the same tunes.

“ We had a ball,” he said. “The show brought (the club members) together like nothing before.”