By Saketh Ram

While the world got laid down behind their doors, the organizing team of Saarang, IITM’s annual cultural fest have not stopped hustling to host the 26th edition of their celebration in the first week of February. Over the past few years, the organizers have created a great impact on the social front by addressing various social issues in the modern day lifestyle. With all the endeavouring success from the past, the team of Saarang have decided to start Mann, a mental health awareness campaign and continue on the mission to make an impact and cause a difference.  

Mann was launched in mid-year of 2020. The campaign strived towards the goal through various webinars with popular therapists and psychologists, a live series with various mental health specialists organized by the team of Saarang.

 In lieu of the home quarantine and online lifestyle, Mann has launched a unique set of comic series as an educational attempt to spread the word about mental health struggles of a group of students. The help was also extended with the effort of compiling numerous health resources and publicizing it on our social media pages. 

Their  Flagship programme Mann-Lonepack letter was conducted in collaboration with The LonePack – a non profit organization based in chennai. They have collected over 200 anonymous letters that are written in good faith about hope and health, and distributed them to people and expected a wholesome smile. 

Previously, Saarang’s LEAP Campaign was greatly successful by reaching out to over 2000 underprivileged children. The campaign received generous endorsements from high profile celebrities like Kailash Satyarthi, Kiran Bedi, Vicky Kaushal, Rana Daggubati, Ravi Dubey, Sunil Grover and Sargun Mehta. 

Saarang has pledged to undertake various social campaigns concerning important social issues and function under the well known tag of being India’s Biggest Student run College Festival. Our previous campaigns includes Bhoondh (2017-2018), around the issue of water conservation for which we have received a Limca record in process. Prakriti (2016) and  Eunoia (2013-2015), welfare campaigns conducted with collaborations with renowned NGOs of the space like CRY, Make a Difference and PETA with the interest of promoting cancer awareness, and children, women and animal welfare in our communities. Eunoia (2013-2015), worked on spreading the cancer awareness, welfare for children in orphanages. Through this campaign, Saarang (IIT Madras) wants to raise awareness on mental health and make the world a happier place.