The success of any coordinated event depends greatly on gaining attention of audiences. When I attended in the Malyabanta lokmahotsav in Malkangiri as my maiden role of an anchor, it drew great applause for hours. I was taught in Key Resource Centre Nainital about “Johari window” which narrated the elements behind communications along two dimensions- exposure and feedback.
The four Johari windows are “known, unknown, blind and secret.” The “known” window is the information you as well as other can see where as the “unknown” window composes the factors that neither you nor others are aware about. Similarly, the “secret window” is the information very well known to you but unknown to others where as “blind window” encircles factors about you that other can see but not you.
Out of theses four windows of life, we were informed to expand the size of known window so that greater effectiveness in life comes in our way to remain in greater public domain. I stumbled upon the new facet of life when I was called upon to act as an anchor on the stage within very short space of time.
I revisited the Johari Windows since I was working in unknown windows for my exposure and shifted with styles to known windows to receive feedback from people to remain in greater public domain. Thus by little practice, I did it wonderfully in Malyabanta event using native language with right gesture to involve more people from jam-packed audience of more than 15,000 spectators. I felt much better on the first evening of the cultural event as I was hosting it with another anchor a well known TV actress where spontaneous poems and humours were delivered. I wanted to do something; so unpredictably unusual with utmost decency that people will be captivated in the event.
I was working as Executive Engineer in RWSS and learnt not only in the arena of water supply and sanitation but also in other welfare activities undertaken by various departments. Having attended district level meetings filled with much stuff, I could narrate well in front of the huge audience. The only practice I did a day before was to dispel my stage fear as I knew there were 10,000 people to attend.
I was called upon the next day by the then Collector Veenil Krisna, who suggested me to wear Royal Sherwani. I was in blazer and suit the previous night. Wearing Royal Sherwani, I anchored in the next evening with style and confidence which mesmerized my co anchors, guests and audience. I had gigantic round of applauses in every presence on stage, attuned with short poems and Sayerees. It didn’t happen that everything went well all the time. I too faced embarrassing situation in one of the appearances. However, I managed it somehow.
Since then I have not looked back. I have hosted many events with umpteen times as anchor in various platforms such as PARAB festival in Koraput, Raja festival in Jeypore, in meetings of lions Club of Internationals, and various events held in Puri, Rayagada, Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar and Nabarangpur .
(The writer can be contacted at “tapan.sahil@gmail.com)