Our Invariable Cultural Catfights (ICC’s) began on the 14th of April amidst a plethora of rumours, speculations, predictions, apprehensions, and most of all, an intense air of competition.

Cul Sec's Sketch by Jobin'o7

After participating only in our stronghold events as baby juniors last year we, Batch of 2008 knew, that this year would come as a bolt from the blue, irrespective of our level of preparation. But we lumbered lugubriously from February, occupying the Music Room whenever we could, hogging up time during the potentially ceaseless Hostel Nights, fighting for Chaplaincy Centre practice slots, and towards the end, even practising during classes we conveniently bunked. New ideas were born in the hostel, taking shape during class hours and maturing into complete forms back in the hostel. Slowly, mime, movie spoof, mad-ads, Indian and Western Music, all shaped up, then fell in pieces, but just when it was about to be too late, they all fell back in place.

As we awaited the official curtain raiser, as a welcome change, informal events were held to set the spirit. Though we sat staring in awe (but sometimes totally in disbelief) at the dancers (quite a few of whom were first-timers) shed inhibitions and dance to Extempore tunes, lots of us tore our hair and cried our eyes dry when our classy med students cracked the worst PJ’s we’ve ever seen cracked. St. John’s, we know, has been accepted by Kerala as its linguistic capital. So the Malayalam Anthakshari was virtually a must; and it was quite a riotous success!

ICC’s got itself on the road, with little off-stage events like Movie Review bringing loads of interested movie-watchers reviewing the likes of Avatar, My Name is Khan, and 3 Idiots. The sheer spirit was defined when even sisters turned up for the review.

Mime proved an amazing trump card for us. We won in our first attempt at mime, with a script on the Navarasas. Indian Music the next day went under the scanner; with months of practice, we were disappointed with having been placed third after winning three out of four categories, but as truculent as we were about it, we moved on. We felt our backstage fiascos in the play were more dramatic than the play itself, while our dancers’ month long hard work ALMOST paid off with them placing second. But their effort was evident. Hats off to them!!

Yo-sista was bigger this year, and the sisters showed us that they could be as impulsive as us, and if I may say so, tons of times cheekier. Watching our very own sisters sweep the show was a treat. We couldn’t be prouder of them.

Mad-ads was a blast. Never have we witnessed a more emotional, cut-throat atmosphere before. It was a culmination of a lot of arguments, misunderstanding, mockery and disagreements, but thankfully, it all ended in a rush of on-stage drama. We all came out with a lesson. Competition never dies in John’s, but at the same time, we never take a jibe at anyone off-stage. What enmity exists, exists on stage alone.

On the final day we were feasted to some exotic dishes in Creative Cooking, ranging from Gol Gappa to chocolate pie; I even remember a dish with bread and baked beans, calle Mt. Fuji!!!!! While Spelling bee saw some unbelievable spelling by long-named Asians like our dear Avian, quiz displayed outstanding competition from all teams. JAM, as usual, was hilarious, with Paul and Senthil from the Batch of 03, monitoring some insane jammers.

When we played last year at ‘A ground’ for Western music, our guitarist’s fingers were shivering, and my knees knocking in fear. This year round we were ready; we were confident, well-versed, and were good enough to win, and win was what we did.

The Baby Juniors from the Batch of 2009 put up a brave show, taking part in everything they could, but some would feel it would have been wiser to watch and learn. Nonetheless, they showed some real spark, which only spells danger for everyone else next year.

Finally for the Batch that organized, and more importantly, won this year…2007. On hindsight, I can say without pride that I lost about 10 kilograms in the ICC ordeal. So I can only pity Nitin Yashas, the Cul Sec. and hope he’s lost nothing more than this. The chap was tossed around in the din that all the batches created, and just about managed to hold his own at the end. But for the creative initiative he and the Committee took this year, a pat on the back is only well deserved.

As always, problems arise to be managed. To err is human, but to err again and again is only stupidity. Hopefully, we can learn from this year’s Inter Class Culturals (ICC’s) and improve on some areas next time around. But retrospectively, ICC’s, Aurora 2010, was a fantabulous affair, with slitting competition, draining both physically and mentally, but most importantly, an event that unites by the most unusual means, leaving you tasting the spirit of unity, friendship, and determination, all virtues of the sacred Johnite cult.