Manipal: With new challenges and new fervor, School of communication brings back Article 19 of the Constitution of India, their core communication fest on the 18 to 20 February, 2016.

The commencement of the fest will be marked by the inauguration which was done by Dr. Narayana Sabhahit, Registrar of Manipal University by lighting the lamp. Along with him, the Director of School of Communication, Nandini Lakshmikantha as well as the Article 19 faculty coordinator Shruthi Shetty were present to grace the occasion.

During his inaugural address, Dr. Narayana Sabhahit said that it will be great that we have democracy and Article 19 is most important for us to talk freely. But the situation of the democratic country of ours changed now. There would be small things which could be very serious ones. Freedom will be necessary but not to the cost of environment pollution. There is no safety for the journalists. Several journalists were killed and some are behind the bar due to freedom of expression.

Earlier, Nandini Lakshmikantha welcomed the gathering. Article 19 faculty coordinator, Shruthi Shetty gave key note address. Arunitha Sircar delivered vote of thanks. Kehav Padmanaba compered the inaugural programme.

The fest this year promises to be something different. The planners of the fest, solely a student body within the college, have made lot of tweaks to their traditional fest by including numerous cultural as well as media related events and competitions. To execute the same, no stone has been left unturned to uplift the fest in every aspect. This year has also marked the maximum number of incoming delegates to have registered for the fest as well as seen some great response in terms of participation turn out.

The fest is also going to witness the presence of numerous esteemed guests this year starting with Nitin Gokhale, Sathya Saran and Prahlad Kakkar. In addition to this, there is a story telling workshop to be held by the well known terribly tiny Tales and a creative thinking workshop by Graffiti Collaborative. The pinnacle of the fest would be the event on the third day where a panel discussion involving eminent speakers would take place on a very current, yet sensitive topic that presses the Indian Society, AFSPA.

The fest will end with the panel discussion and will lead into the Pop culture themed fun fair which will include a festive evening along with music, food and a college filled with themed decorations and other events to end the fest with dynamic feel.