‘Multi-tasking? Learn it from your mother!’

KOLKATA: Communication students from Birla Global University and Kolkata University enthusiastically participated in a seminar on Public Relations : New Trends and Challenges, hosted jointly by the PRCI, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar Chapters in association with the YCC units,  in Kolkata, recently.

A student posing questions at the seminar

The Public Relations department of Eastern Railway supported the event by organizing it at Riveira, Eastern Railway Officers Club (Howrah Division).

Dr Badri Narayan, Divisional Railway Manager, who was the chief guest, advised communicators to be innovative even while conveying simple messages such as Swachh Bharat . For instance, a series of Swachh  Bharat messages using Bollywood themes caught the attention of not the passengers visiting Howrah station,  but the entire twitterati. The campaign went viral in no time, he said.

Kolkata Press Club chairman and Doordarshan senior correspondent Snehashis Sur said young communicators should be good observers to succeed in their communication endeavours.

Dr B K Das, director of Birla Global University which co-hosted the event, said the institution always encouraged interactions among students to help broaden their knowledge horizon.

B N Kumar,  national president of PRCI, delivered the keynote address and narrated how PR has changed over the years. Social media now offers ample opportunities,  but communicators must use this double-edged weapon with a sense of responsibility.

A collage of the event: Top: B N Kumar, Ashok Panda, Ravi Mahapatra addressing the seminar. Bottom: selfie to Banta Hai!; B K Sahu felicitating Dr Badri Naraharan

He pointed out to the students community that Indian mother is a shining example of multi-tasking and communicators and managers have a lot to learn from her. “She is the first to get up in the morning and last to go to sleep, working like a perfect machine with a human touch,” he said.

B K Sahu, eastern regional chairman of PRCI, thanked the Eastern Railway for its support to promote knowledge among students. R N Mahapatra, CPRO of Eastern Railway and Kolkata chapter chairman of PRCI, and Dr Ashok Panda, Bhubaneshwar Chapter chairman, played stellar roles in organizing the event.

The students later visited the Railway Museum to get to know the history of railways.