It was perhaps the oddest thought to have while the most emotional part of Fusion played out. The champions were declared; elated winners went berserk; cameras clicked non-stop; some even grabbed pictures on their mobile phones; almost all wanted to pose with the special invitees - and amidst the madness I quietly stood, wondering: Will the podium fall, or will it not?
For there were about 75 students on stage, enjoying their moment of glory, thumping and jumping in unison.
The seven E Week Champions 2008 are: Bengal College of Engineering and Technology, Durgapur; IPS Academy, Indore; Mount Carmel College, Bangalore; NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata; PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore; Sree Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain College, Bangalore and St. Joseph's College of Arts & Science, Bangalore.
Due to the incredible levels of participation, innovation and creativity that demanded to be recognised, NEN introduced a new category of winners: Champion Runners Up.
Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai; JJ College of Engineering and Technology, Trichy; M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore; MKSSS's Smt. Hiraben Nanavati Institute of Management for Women, Pune; Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad; Pailan School of International Studies, Kolkata and Sir MVIT Engineering College, Bangalore were declared the seven Champion Runners Up.
On the Honor Roll are Birla Institute of Management Technology, Delhi; Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Jaipur; Coimbatore Institute of Management & Technology, Coimbatore; Dr. B. C. Roy Engineering College, Durgapur; Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management, Kolkata; IFIM Business School, Bangalore, IIAS Group of Instituitions, Kolkata; IISWBM, Kolkata; Institute of Engineering & Management, Kolkata; International Group, Kolkata; International Institute for Business & Media, Bangalore; International School of Business & Research, Bangalore; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur; M E S Degree College Of Arts, Commerce & Science, Bangalore; NIPS School of Management, Kolkata; SSN College of Engineering, Chennai; St. Xavier's College , Kolkata; Stella Maris College, Chennai and Velammal Engineering College, Chennai.
But let me come back to the point: Though the podium was severely tested, it didn't buckle. I strongly recommend St John's Auditorium for events that end in a happy riot, like it did on Fusion.