While the entire nation responded overwhelmingly to the most vibrant summit of India, I discerned hundreds of people working unitedly to make Vibrant Gujarat Summit (VGS), 2015 the best thing since sliced bread. It is a fact that nothing comes for free, and from this perspective this international event which saw a mad rush of hundreds and thousands of people nationally and globally didn’t come easy.
The story behind the scenes is applaudable and incredible. With almost 200 civil officers, administrative executives, thousands of police personnel and a number of agencies both – government and non-government working, the summit had to be a hit, rather grand hit. What goes unmentioned, however, is the cumulative talent invested by masses for this grand success. Perhaps the law of attraction works this way too; efforts of masses attract visits of masses.
Gujarat is better known as a fulcrum for business and trade. Some developments in Gujarat, albeit slow while taking off, have transcended way beyond mere success. Vibrant Gujarat is one such global event. And lately, the efforts of Gujarat and Gujaratis’ have been recognized all over the world and some countries have tightened their threads of relationship with India due to VGS. Booker Washington was perhaps right in saying “You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals.”
Since VGS began, Vama Communications has been playing a small but significant role. This year too when we were given the responsibility of conceiving and putting together a museum on Mahatma Mandir spread over around 3,000 sq. mtrs., we felt over the moon. With this highly challenging job and four weeks on hand our studio buzzed with tremendous energies while we also rode on excited apprehensions to meet the tight deadline. It was a combined frenzy of over a 100 people toiling day in and day out. Those moments were literally out of breath; I mean, just imagine someone doing research, finalising content,others putting in proper illustrations and pretty color schemes while others animating, still more people recording audio, and chopping it off, some making models, other programming, some buying hardware others finalising soft content and some others throwing tantrums and in all this maintaining sanity. Also, technology is a crazy deal and since this had to be an interactive.
With this highly challenging job and four weeks on hand our studio buzzed with tremendous energies while we also rode on excited apprehensions to meet the tight deadline. It was a combined frenzy of over a 100 people toiling day in and day out. Those moments were literally out of breath; I mean, just imagine someone doing research, finalising content, others putting in proper illustrations and pretty color schemes while others animating, still more people recording audio, and chopping it off, some making models, other programming, some buying hardware others finalising soft content and some others throwing tantrums and in all this maintaining sanity. Also, technology is a crazy deal and since this had to be an interactive high tech museum, we thought of playing innovative with this one and the team was get-set-go for it. In a nutshell, the entire team slogged and kept their lamps burning beyond a couple of weeks.
VGS had its huge scale of impact across the country, which could be evidently seen in rush for passes. People putting in use their every contact to get the coveted golden/silver/Blue passes. The pass issuing office was as mayhem as it could be – it was interesting to see people of various origins literally clamouring for them even the night before the event. Remember those special VIPs who were sent by the UP government…cant help but smile at all the snooping copy cats of the world!!!
Coming back to Vama, sometimes the trust clients put in your work amazes you; making us more vigilant. Time and again it has happened with us. On the night of 7th January when our client visited Dandi Kutir Museum (for the 1st time just to ensure if things were good enough to be inaugurated the next day) their reaction, in a single phrase, was – “they couldn’t stop smiling”. Although there were a couple of small glitches but overall things were measured in smiles.
On 8th morning, we got in around 7.30 a.m. The security arrangement was terrific; the clients again visited again to check the technologies, and they went pleased. Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi opened the museum by lighting a candle and accepting a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He for sure was enamoured as he spent considerable time in our space. However, the revolting thing that happened afterwards was when we were alleged for doing unwarranted things such as making the PM light the lamp and giving him flowers by the security incharge…and for this the entry and exit into our museum was blocked for a whole one and half day. I mean who does this??? Sometimes there cannot be logical argument with security forces! Anyways, we eagerly awaited for the museum to be opened for visitors and after the blocked period, it was the sunshine period…literally!!! The museum had visitors of all kinds; this included CM of Goa, Cabinet Secretary, Ministers, Biz Tycoons, NRIs, local bizmen& women, bureaucrats and saints of various sects and many others.
Our museum also had a Augmented Reality Photo booth with the option of taking out printed copies; this later on turned into a really tedious option. How…? We had long queuesof folks wanting multiple copies and that apprantly wasn’t feasible so we put down the printing lid and welcomed the Smartphone Clicks. Same with the 3D Stereoscopic theater- to quell huge crowds we had to convert the 3D film for a couple shows into 2D to accommodate as many people as possible and avoid stampede situations. My teams terrific presence of mind contained the situation in time.
Politics and smart play could quite be noticed in VGS 2015. There was minimum coverage in the media about our museum @ DandiKutir, makes me wonder if media seriously doesn’t believe in pursuing someone or some things unless you don’t approach them. But then that’s life’s harsh reality. It is another matter altogether that the museum besides us did manage to place insensitive ushers who would wongly inform visitors that our museum was closed and they certainly didn’t want anyone to visit us. Just like you, we too are still wondering why would anyone do this.
The energy levels and experience of 2015 VGS was very similar to 2013 VGS wherein we’d curate “Gandhi to Mahatma” Museum in the main complex of Mahatma Mandir. The review of the common man about the DandiKutir Museum has been very encouraging, they love the museum and we love their feedback.
The summit witnessed the blend of the Americans, Europeans, Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Thais, Sri Lankans, Africans, NRIs and many more. The Vibrant Gujarat Trade Show was another major attraction. We did our bit there as well. Our pavilion developed for the Urban Development department drew in crowds in big measure. Interactive technologies played centre stage here too. Setting new benchmarks in content disbursement is our mainstay!!!
Our gesture-based waste segregation gaming zone in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan pavilion got tremendous response from every class and every age-group. We registered thousands of volunteers for becoming “Swachh Warrior”, distributing Swachh badges and certificates. Some NRI’s were so impressed that they offered donations for the Swachh Abhiyan on the spot itself. Our Hon’ble CM too played and tweeted about her gaming experience – another high for us. All in all VGS 2015 has been an exhilarating ride for all of us at Vama. We hope and pray that the ride continues smooth and unabated as we have miles and miles to go!!!
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