Zero Mile Fest 1.0, the inaugural cultural fest of IIM Nagpur, gets its name from the heart of the city that carries the significance of being the geographical centre of pre-Independence India and thus has the deep roots of the diverse culture of the country. ZMF is inspired from the carving on the stone that marks the ‘Zero Mile’ in the centre of the city, and thus signifies the origin of ideas and talent that abound in creativity, enthusiasm, innovation and have the vision to bring about change.
The fest began at 4 pm on 21st Feb 2020, with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries, followed with a spark ignited by an inaugural dance performance by the students of IIM Nagpur which depicted various dance forms that build the culture of India. From the aggressive ‘Tandav’ to the graceful contemporary and from the vibrant Bhangra to the feisty Maharashtra-inspired ‘Pinga’, all dance forms were highly appreciated by the audience.
This was followed by a singing competition, Celeste, wherein singers from various colleges in Nagpur performed on songs ranging from classical music to the melodies of Bollywood. The dance competition, Tarang, also saw participation from various premier colleges in Nagpur, whose participating teams set the stage on fire.
All these magnificent performances and the zest that the participants had while on stage proved to be the first stepping stone to the success of ZMF 1.0.
This was followed by the most awaited event of the day, a performance by the band ‘The Local Train’. The Local Train is a Delhi-based Indian rock band which is one of the most well-known musical bands in the country. Fans grooved on “Aaoge Tum Kabhi” and “Bandey” which are two of their most popular and beautiful songs. The Local Train made the event come alive with a different energy, and this was seen in the smiling and thrilled faces of the audience.
ZMF 1.0 aimed to sustain the spirit of a culture in students by conducting events that are focused on bringing everyone together and creating a light-hearted competitive environment where the main aim was not just winning but having fun at the same time. We look forward to taking this forward in the coming years with greater gusto.