b) Website, Email-list and Information Dissemination : Grade A-
Website does not have "all" the current details. It does not map the information correctly as conveyed in the Email list. Confusion created in the process of information dissemination.
Suggested solution:-Two dedicated people who have the requisite skills should put up their hands and work on this. World will look at us through our website. It needs extreme care.
Comment:-It is miles ahead than any other Bengali Society related website I had seen, given the amount and kind of information we handle.
c) Pujo, Bhog, Ayojon and Purohit: Grade A+
Why was there no pujo-r nirghonto ? There was no prior public information, what is going to happen in Pujo and how. Do take into account, we perform the Pujo in an abridged manner, which might irk many people's sensitivities. We need to be more careful and vigilant on this.
Purohit, Subhrajit did an extremely good job, this time, by far the best. What if, he is not around next time, do we have a back-up ?
a) Can we have a Chondipaat next time when the Pujo is on, before or after ?
b) Can we have Bhajan songs when the Pujo is on, before or after?
Suggested solution:-More people need to brainstorm on this part, beyond the present duo of Nilanjana Di and Subhrajit. Anything else going wrong or misplaced in Durga Pujo is acceptable, but not this one.
Comment:- Given the resources we had and the significance attached, we did an extremely good and a brave job of this one, ably supported by volunteers.
d) Protima: Grade A
We can only add number of plusses to the alphabet A in future. Where would you see such an in-house effort, breaking the norms and subtly avoiding the traditional ? It happens only here.
Suggestions:-Do we know, what is going to be our next time's presentation ? Surely we are not thinking of getting one from Kumartoli, anytime in future, like many other NRI organizations do.
Comment:-Refer to e).
e) Pandal, Decoration and Lighting: Grade A-
Factoring in, we have the best of the best creative minds at one place, why couldn't we push the envelope in design? What is going on, is not only fine, it is extremely brilliant. Note, the number of fine design minds accumulated at a single place; much was expected from this section. Here is a section, where everybody can go wild with imagination and creativity and unleash them. Think about your school or college days or in your locality, wherein you came up with some stunning designs and installations. Why does it look constricted in comparison with the potential it has ? It has to improve. This is a major component where you can generate maximum feel-good factor and hence brand, value and legacy. Passion and spirits will sleepwalkingly follow.
a) Can we have a chandelier at place next time ?
b) Can we have arrangements for Dhaki next time ?
Suggested solution:-Get organized and focussed. Look at the other decoration examples from the web. Innovate. Remember, this is the only place where you can score points. And this is the only place where points are scored in a Durga Pujo. "jaanish toh, okhaane lighting-ta daruun hoyeche", "okhaane pandal-ta oshadharon korechilo."
Comment:-It was fine and dependent on the Venue we had. Maybe overall presentation could have been improved by a mere 5% , going by the initial plans we had. Executing 95% is no mean achievement and it means something and speak volumes about the desire and the efficiency of the volunteers who had put their hearts in it.
f) Culturals and Sounds: Grade A
Why wasn't there a list of participants ready with their items beforehand ? Why is there no "natok" in this section ? Why isn't there much variety in the overall cultural presentation ?
Why are we not getting the "sound" of pristine quality ? Why are there stop-s and start-s in between ? Why is it looking like, that the participants had rehearsed for few days and somehow managed to get themselves up in the stage and still deciding what to do and what not to ? Are all the individual talents or groups alike getting a space in the main show ? Are we keeping proper tabs to allow that? Are we ensuring an atmosphere that everybody is performing to the best of the their abilities? Is there necessary and sufficient communication happening between the interested participants during the time of rehearsals?
Suggested Solution:-More practise sessions and detailed planning are required if you want to give it any chance of improvement. There can be 101 points mentioned here. I will leave it for now.
Comment:-I know, how late everything began with respect to preparations of Pujo and I did not expect it would be such a superb one. Kudos to all ! Quiz was consistent and extremely a good show.
g)Food, Lunch and Dinner: Grade A+
Why was there no Bijoya-r mishti served ? Given that we are dependent on Indian restaurants to serve our food, and I don't think it can change in the next 10 years, there is no physical way of improving the quality of food. The resources we had in Twin Cities, it couldn't have been budgeted any better.
Suggested Solution:-Not one I can think of.
Comment:-It is commendable to serve out a Saturday dinner, Sunday morning Bhog, Lunch, Tea and Snacks and then Dinner.
h) Magazine: Grade B
Why were some of the copies have to be photocopied ? Why the formatting is dependent on Purnendu-da? Who is the alternative? Why isn't there a web-magazine ? Why are there no continuous contributions in the Blog ? It is unbelievable, that each BSSM member is exposed to world of information and facts and they are not sharing their views and opinions through articles. This is totally unacceptable. All of them have strong opinions and viewpoints and are extremely sensitive being, yet we had not been able to create a podium where people would feel free to share them. A student's society that don't have a good outlet of opinion and expressions, is bordering itself on an oxymoron !! You have to excuse me for I had to resort to such sardonic sarcasm.
Suggested solution:-Much like the Information affairs, dedicated people are needed for this as well. Increased participation from all is required.
Comment:-Given that we are housed in an University setting, we should have done a good job of getting the Magazine to perfection. We are falling short of our own expectations. We need to raise the bar more. We are still at School-level.
i) Finances: Grade B+
Approximately, 2400 dollars were used as opposed to 2800 dollars generated through various sources. The presentation that we had put up, easily 400 dollars of expenses could have been trimmed down, if we had planned it well and thought about the specifics much earlier.
Suggested solution:-Refer to a).
Comment:-It gives me great pride in sharing you this fact, this is one component which had led to split in so many groups and organizations in past, all over the world; but, BSSM has been intact in spite of the fact it handle finances of such amounts each year and for a continuous run of 5 times, without an iota of conflict. The grade awarded had to be a poor one. In these times, one can't afford to give a good grade to management of finances, for, that can give rise to horrible financial speculations. Each one of us know through the Forbes and the Fortune-s what can horrible financial speculations lead to.
Sincerely,
Saurav Mitra
P.S.:-This is not a self-complete comprehension.
