Bob Dylan turns 65: Celeerations dedicated to AIDS awareness in Shillong

[Guest guest]

Bob Dylan turns 65: Celeerations dedicated to AIDS awareness in

Shillong- India

On May 24, this year, Bob Dylan turns 65. His birthday is being

celebrated unbroken in Shillong for the 34th consecutive year. It's

grown from a small private celebration among close friends (1972) to

a much-looked-forward-to annual event that draws Dylan fans from

across the country and some parts of the world.

You only have to run a search on " dylan " and " shillong, " on the

Internet to see how far and wide word of the event has spread. In

fact the Shillong event is even listed on dylanbase.com - the most

popular of dylan websites worldwide.

This year, Lou Majaw and 'Great Society' - the brains behind the

whole gig - have decided to join hands with UNAIDS and Maitri (a

Shillong-based National HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention initiative) -

to fight the deadly AIDS virus. The objective is to build awareness

about HIV/AIDS and help the word spread, so the Virus won't!

Proceeds of the celebrations - raised largely from sponsorships,

munificent donations, ticket sales and sale of merchandise, would

contribute towards funding " maitrigram " a 9-acre village in the

Umbir area overlooking the picturesque Umiam (or Barapani) lake.

Maitrigram is being set up for the care and support of children

below the age of 10 who have lost one or both parents (orphaned or

abandoned) to HIV/AIDS and in need of compassion, care and a healthy

environment to grow up in.

There are two primary reasons for this strategic partnership:

1.We want to reach out to the Youth - they make the best

ambassadors; and,

2.It's going to take the same level of commitment and belief as

Great Society and Lou's (Shillong Unbroken 34) if we are going to

fight and win the war against AIDS.

We're trying to rope in as much support - a massive recruitment

drive as it were - to stop the Virus in its tracks and have it do a

turn around. It can only work with your unstinting help and support.

The 2-hour concert (1800-2000 hrs), will be held at the State

Central Library Auditorium (seating capacity 750 - so book early!)

and is being coordinated by event managers Cognet Solutions.

There will be performances by Ace of Spades - Lou Majaw, Arjun Sen -

Delhi-based music director of national acclaim (guitar), Lew Hilt -

respected musician and painter (bass), Nondon Bagchi - drummer,

educationist and columnist; Guest artistes: Anjan and Neel Dutt -

the father-son duo from Kolkata and Liz Cotton - English musician.

These will be punctuated by poetry and the announcements of the

results of fun contests organized as a build up to the show.

We've opened up a line of communication with NDTV to be our channel

partners in promoting the event and MTV to cover the event

as " electronic media partners. " The Telegraph has customarily been

the print media partners of the Event and this is most likely to

continue even this year. We are also attempting to rope in Radio

Mirchi to help build awareness.

Some of these fun contests include:

1. Members of the audience (men AND women) will be encouraged to

participate in the " Dylan Look Alike Contest. " An anonymous panel of

judges will decide the winner. Should there be more than one

exceptionally good look alike, there will be a sing-off!

2. One lucky " birthday boy/girl " from among the audience who shares

his/her birthday with Dylan will get a gift - a watch worth Rs

19,500.00 courtesy Longines. The winner will be decided by draw of

lots and would have to provide documentary evidence of date of birth.

3. Special 65th Dylan Birthday Celebration Merchandise will be

available at the venue and at select outlets thereafter as

souvenirs. These would include T-shirts, sling bags, scarves,

stickers, coasters, keychains, baseball caps, posters etc.

4. Every member of the audience would receive a " goody bag " - a

tradition with most birthday celebrations!

If you are concerned about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and wish to throw

your weight behind the movement, do mail me at

sanjay.sharma.cognet@.... I'd love to hear from you, whether

it's a suggestion, a good wish or even a critique!

Here's 10 ways you can help:

1. Get yourself screened for HIV

2. Volunteer your services to Maitri by becoming a member

3. Support an affected abandoned orphan who's lost one or both

parents to HIV/AIDS

4. Wear the AIDS ribbon

5. Fight the stigma and discrimination against people living with

HIV/AIDS

6. Buy the " Bob Dylan Shillong Unbroken Fight AIDS " merchandise (T-

shirts, caps, visors, keychains, sling bags, posters etc) available

for sale at select outlets and at the venue during the performance

and use or gift them.

7. Without exception - say " NO " to unprotected sex.

8. Participate in the Celebrations at Shillong on 24 May 2006

9. Support the Event through sponsorship or donations.

10. Download a free wallpaper of the event to build AIDS awareness

from http://www.maitri.org.in and save it to your computer's

desktop. Then pass it on to all the people in your address book,

including the person who sent it to you. It will save countless

innocent lives.

--

Sanjay Sharma

Director,

Maitri,

Pineview II, Nongrimmaw,

Laitumkhrah, Shillong - 793 011

Meghalaya, India.

Tel: +364-250-6050, +94361-61402

e-mail: director@...