Dear Sir / Madam,

A festival based only on economics... well that was unheard of in Mumbai campuses about eight years ago. Unlike many other college festivals that offer a little bit of everything, we decided to focus on enhancing students’ interest and enthusiasm towards economics by bringing the subject to life! That’s how Arth-Manthan was born!

We started in 2001 to celebrate 10 years of liberalisation. We campaigned for further opening up of the economy with a firm belief that it would lead India to finally reaching its tryst with destiny!

Arth – Manthan 2008 will be held on 16th & 17th December. Main highlights of this year’s festival:

ð    Two-day Maha Debate Competition on ‘Leadership’, Global Leaders Meet on ‘Saving our Planet’, Economics Songs and Skit competitions, Budding Economist on ‘The Global Financial Crisis’,

ð    Inter-collegiate Elocution on ‘The Agrarian Crisis’, What an Idea, Sirji! – The Business Plan, Quiz, Essay, Cartoon & Poster Competition, Ad-Masters, News you can use

ð    Exhibition of latest books on Economics, Business and Management

ð    Thematic speeches by leading economists on current economic issues

Thematic speeches by eminent economists and academicians is an important part of this unique event. During the festival eminent personalities who spoke on various current economic issues include G.N. Bajpai, Ex-Chairman SEBI, Shri Diwakar Gupta, Chief Gen. Manager, SBI, Shri Minoo Shroff, President, Forum of Free Enterprise, Dr. Narendra Jadhav Principal Advisor to R.B.I., R.H. Patil- Chairman of UTI Asset Management Company, Shri Sharad Joshi-Founder Shetkari Sanghatna, Shri M. N. Chaini, President (Corporate Affairs) Reliance Industries Ltd., Dr. Ajit Ranade, Chief Economist Birla Group, Shrimati Supriya Sule, Exe. President, Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mr. S.S. Bhandare - Economist.

Over the years, Arth-Manthan has received wide coverage in the media and has inspired many other colleges to introduce similar festivals. Also Arth-Manthan has now become a forum for industry-academia interaction.

It is a matter of pride that Arth-Manthan has become the largest festival of its kind in India and has even attracted the attention of international educationalists!  Arth-Manthan was presented to eminent academicians, university administrators and authors at the International Developments in Economics Education (DEE) Conference organised by the Higher Education Academy (UK) in Cambridge on 6th and 7th September 2007.

The details of various inter-collegiate competitions during the festival are enclosed herewith for your information. We request you to once again be a part of this unique event!

Thank You.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. D.M. Muley
(Principal)

THEME OF ARTH-MANTHAN 2008 – The Economics Festival

 Started in 2001 Arth-Manthan - The Economics Festival of Mumbai has become the largest festival of its kind in India ! In 2007 it was presented at The DEE International Conference at Cambridge , UK . 
 The festival provides a platform for students to debate on current economic issues and think like global leaders. Above all, Arth-Manthan makes learning of economics fun!
 Key issues at Arth-Manthan 2008 are Global Warming, The Global Financial Meltdown, the Indian Agrarian Crisis and Political Leadership.

  MISSION OF ARTH-MANTHAN

 "To attract and enhance students’ interest in and enthusiasm towards Economics by bringing the subject to life."

 EVENTS @ ARTH-MANTHAN 2008

 Arth-Manthan is a two - day festival laced with fun, learning, prizes and numerous events!!!

 YES WE CAN! The Maha Debate

(Round One: 16th December – 11 am) (Final Debate: 17th December – 8:30 am)
 Round One: There will be two rounds in this competition. In round one on 16th December, you have to speak your heart out on any one of the three topics given below for four minutes.
Theme for Round One: LEADERSHIP – Young India is crying out for change!

 Topics:

o        Can we produce a Barack Obama in India ?

o        Can a system of Presidential democracy solve India ’s problems?

o        Youth should enter politics – we can change the system

o        What does young India seek in a leader?

 Final Debate: 10 best speakers – fiery, passionate and sincere - will qualify for the Maha-Debate. Here they will be split into two teams for the final event, which will be held on 17th December. Topics will be given on the spot.

Last Date for submitting entries: On or before, 7th December

GLOBAL LEADERS MEET ON ‘Saving Our Planet’

(16th December – 2pm)

The participating teams will play the role of economic advisers of the various world countries allotted to them in advance. The agenda at this year’s meet is ‘Saving our Planet’. Key areas of discussion include:

§         Worries
Sustainable development
 Disaster management – dealing with natural calamities
Renewable energy – making it viable
Suggestions to India for protecting its environment
Well, you have to truly represent the country allotted to you; that could mean dressing up like them and speaking a bit of the native language too! 
No. of Members per team: 5 (One Team per College) (Call 9324818296 for allotment of your country)
Last Date for submitting entries and allotment of countries: On or before, 7th December

The team can choose speakers from among themselves. Each Team will have about 15 minutes to present at the final event using Power Point.

Quiz Wiz & Junior Quiz

(16th December – 12 pm [Elimination] & 3pm [Final])

Both are separate events. Quiz Wiz is for Degree College while Junior Quiz is for Junior College
Topic: Current Economic Issues
No. of Participants: 5 students per team (No limit on number of teams from one college)
Last Date for submitting entries: On or before, 7th December

For Junior Quiz, please get in touch with Prof. Arvind Srinivasan at 9323465377

Classic Collection

(16th & 17th December)

The Book Exhibition will include a wide range of books on Economics and Management.  Some of the most popular textbooks and reference books used in foreign universities will also be displayed.

War of Words - Elocution Competition

Meri desh ki dharti, soona ugale, ugale here moti…

(16th December – 1pm)

Elimination Round:

q     Is writing off loans a solution to the agrarian crisis?
q     How can we have a second green revolution?
q     Tackling the global food crisis
q     Demand for food grain is rising: How can India feed the world?

Final Round: Topics will be given on the spot.

Speeches can be in English, Hindi or Marathi

Maximum No. of Participants: 5 per college         Duration of Speech: 5 mins
Last Date for submitting entries: On or before, 7th December
Evaluation on the basis of Delivery Style, Substance and Body Language.

Business Plan - What an Idea Sirji! (16th December – 1 pm)

A salute to the spirit of Indian entrepreneurs! Entrepreneurship lies at the heart of a successful economic model. Hence we need to revive the spirit of entrepreneurship which existed in India .

Do you have an idea, an interesting business plan, or do you have the knack of sniffing out business opportunities???  Well come ahead and present your idea, the business model and the action plan to make your dream a reality.

Are you willing to challenge the way we do things? Do you love taking risks? Put on your thinking hats and come up with a business plan specifically catering to needs of Indians. 

Last Date for submitting entries and Business Plan: On or before, 7th December

The Business Plan must be hand-written or typed neatly on A4 sized paper and should not exceed 2000 words. Final Presentation has to be made in PowerPoint

Presentation on: 16th December

One team of three members (No limit on number of teams per college)    Duration: 10 minutes per team

Pen ‘em Down - The Essay Competition – Chak De India !

!  Topics:

§         Preparing for Olympics: Can we learn from China ?
§         An Olympics Gold medal, why does it seem like a distant dream…
§         I have a plan to revive sports in India

No limit on entries
Maximum 2000 words
Essays should be Hand-Written on A4 size paper.
Last Date for submitting Entries and Essays: On or before, 7th December
Announcement of results: 1 pm on 16th December

Toony Lunes - Cartoon Competition

Topic: AAMDANI, ATHANNI, KHARCHHA, RUPAIH

Students from various colleges can use this platform to express their concerns over INFLATION… Money hai to Honey Hai!

Last Date for submitting entries and cartoons: On or before, 7th December (No limit on entries)
Announcement of Results: 1pm on 16th December
Cartoons on white chart paper of 22” X 28” size with each participant’s name, class and college written at the back of the Poster/Cartoon.

DRAW ‘EM UP - Poster Competition

Students have to prepare Posters, which will be displayed during Arth-Manthan at the Poster Exhibition.

THEME: TERRORISM - AN OBSTACLE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH…

Last Date for submitting entries and Posters: On or before, 7th December (No limit on entries)
Annoucement of Results: 1pm - 16th December
Posters must be made on white chart paper of 22” X 28” size with each participant’s name, class and college written at the back of the Poster/Cartoon.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Students have to submit recent paper cuttings, photographs, cartoons etc. from newspapers and magazines on the given theme. These have to be pasted on A4 size foolscap sheets, neatly arranged in a file. ‘Cut, Copy, Paste’ from the Net not allowed!

THEME: OUR PLANET IS MELTING!

The cut – outs could include issues relating to all aspects of global warming.

Last Date for submitting Entries and submission of Cut-Outs: On or before 7th December
No Limit on number of entries
Results of the competition will be announced at 1pm on 16th December

AD - MASTERS - “Jaago Re…” (17th December 9 am)

In this event participating teams will be given a product each, for which they have to prepare and present a logo, jingle and television advertisement. 
No. of Participants: Maximum 2 teams per college (5 participants per team)
Last Date for submitting entries: On or before, 7th December

Economics ... It’s Rockin’...!!!

(17th December – 10 am) (Junior College students can also participate)

Ever wished Eco classes were as interesting as your favourite song... 
Here’s your chance to make economics more fun... Prepare your own economics song and we’ll offer you the mike to sing out loud!!!
Songs on the global financial crisis, inflation, Adam Smith or Marshall, on promises made by finance ministers, on demand and supply, diminishing marginal utility etc. Well of course you have the option to set tunes on latest Bollywood hits!
For inspiration, you can check out interesting videos on economics at You-Tube or other Internet resources!
Songs can be in any Language – English, Hindi or Marathi
Last Date for submitting entries: On or before, 7th December   (No limit on number of entries)

Budding Economist

(17th December– 10 am)

THEME: GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

• Students have to submit Reports and make Presentations on any one of the topics given below:

•  Behind the Global Financial crisis: who is responsible?

•  Is it the Death of Capitalism? Where is Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand?

•  Providing an Alternative to Wall-Street: Opportunity for Emerging Economies like India and China

•  The Global Financial Crisis: The Fallout

•  Rethinking Economics: Is it Time for Reform of the International Financial System?

•  Fighting the Global Financial Crisis - Lessons for India

•  Fixing The World Economy

• Last Date for submitting entries and topics: On or before, 7th December

• Submission of Report at the event: (Reports must be hand-written or typed neatly on A4 sized paper and should not exceed 2000 words.) Final Presentation has to be made in PowerPoint

• Duration: 10 minutes per team

• Maximum No. of Participants: One team of three members (Maximum two teams per college)

Yeh Hai Zindagi - Wah Bhai Wah!

(Economics Skit Competition) (17th Dec. – 11 am)

You can select any one of the topics mentioned below and prepare a skit on it. You will be judged on various parameters including presentation of the issue at hand, innovative thinking, acting skills, effective use of props, costumes, music. Here’s your chance to get funny, witty or satirical and to bring out that actor in you!

q     Power Crisis in Maharashtra
q     Jagoo Re! – We can fight corruption 
q     Only God can save India from its corrupt politicians
q No life without mobile
q     Diminshing marginal utility for the aam aadmi

Last Date for submitting entries: On or before, 7th December

No. of Members per team: 5 (Max. Two Teams per College)         Duration: 10 minutes per team

Dr. D.M. Muley
Principal
N.G. Acharya and D.K. Marathe College :
Tel: 25218797 / 25210962
Fax: 25214176
For any event related queries you can contact:
Prof. Amita Lal
M: 9819993827

Prof. G.S. Panikar
M: 9324818296
Email: arthmanthan@gmail.com

Prof. Anita Kumar
9323541895
www.arthmanthan.blogspot.com