1. Cultivation of social and moral values: Explanation: Education should be a forceful tool for the cultivation of social and moral values. Erosion of social and moral values usually results from disengagement from environment and identity. Culture is an important source to understand the symbiotic relationship we share with our surroundings as well as the factors that go into formation of identity. Cultural awareness helps us become sensitive and responsible members of local, national and global communities.
MAC Application
i. Understanding “what is culture”
ii. Recognising plurality and diversity
iii. Each student encouraged to participate in one way or the other
iv. Working in teams, developing world views and value systems

2. Eliminate obscurantism, religious fanaticism, violence, superstition and fatalism:
Explanation: In the multi-cultural ethos like India, educational systems are expected to inculcate tolerance and co-existence. For that it is essential to dispel obscurantism and fanaticism and replace these with living syncretic knowledge and cultural traditions.
MAC Application
i. Exposure to empowering ideas and influential peoples and practices
ii. Introducing thought and philosophy behind epics, literatures, monuments and festivals
iii. Encouraging students to develop rational, eternal and universal approach to phenomenon
iv. Developing faith for right action and belief in self and agency over fate or passivity

3. Positive content, based on heritage and national goals:
Explanation: Participation in cultural fora can significantly broaden horizons beyond disciplinary boundaries. It can foster interest in heritage, national pride, global linkage and critical approach to narratives and mores.
MAC Application:
i. Tapping interest and potential in cultural participation
ii. Providing climate for inter-disciplinary amalgamation of skills and vision
iii. Motivating students towards comprehension and conservation of tangible and intangible heritage
iv. Developing excellence in performing arts and cultural spheres to further national pride

4. Bridging gap between classroom education and cultural traditions:
Explanation: The gap between formal education and rich Indian and global traditions can be effectively bridged by drawing attention to the soft skills, emotional intelligence and spiritual quotient enshrined in them. Technology today has become an over-riding presence in human lives, causing disconnect with the real, the past and the present. Immersing pupils in alternative modes of expression and perception develops enabling faculties and continuities. MAC Application
i. Initiating students to concepts like soft skills, emotional intelligence and spiritual growth
ii. Fostering mind and body health through wholesome living
iii. Using art and culture to deal with stress and depression
iv. Finding healing and bondings in shared cultural contexts

5. Develop sensitivity to beauty, harmony and refinement:
Explanation: Most philosophical traditions stress on the fact that beauty is truth, and truth is beauty. Refinement comes with practice and dedication. Harmony is the sense of peace and unity from without and within. Appreciation and devotion to any art form or cultural practice goes a long way in shaping true aesthetics, selfless service and sense of purpose and meaning in life. MAC Application
i. Replacing superficial concept of beauty with an expansive and profound concept
ii. Displacing ideas of high or low culture or elite and folk performers with inclusive cultural concepts
iii. Learning to appreciate and emulate lifelong hard work and zeal to learn in maestros and thespians
iv. Setting aside ego and vanity to perform not for fame but for art

6. Exposure to culture in myriad manifest forms including fine arts, performing arts, history, archaeology, folklore, Indology and everyday cultural practices:
Explanation: Culture as a way of life and as human accomplishment and achievement connects peoples and practices throughout the world. Cultural endeavour rests on the one hand on purity and precision and on the other, on innovation and fusion. The wider the circle of cultural integration, the greater is the possibility of path breaking excellence. MAC Application
i. Continuously reaching out to new frontiers of the cultural world
ii. Endorsing the values of unique collaborations and creations
iii. Making arts meaningful and relevant in contemporary contexts
iv. Giving cultural practices a new lease of life through new blood and fresh outlook

In view of the above ECA decisions taken till now:
1. Maximum students to be encouraged to participate in Cultural programmes
2. Hold an Introductory Session for members of the Cultural Council and MAC Societies to orient them to concepts like “culture”, “aesthetics”, “emotional intelligence”, “soul mind body integration” and “soft skills”
3. Mentor bodies like the Student Union to cultural possibilities and help set examples of good taste and best quality
4. Facilitate media visibility
5. Seek collaborations, partnerships, sponsorships
6. Participate in cultural exchange programmes
7. Motivate and prepare MAC Societies to host inter-college events
8. Ensure skill development by engaging coaches/ mentors for societies
9. Invite as many cultural icons as possible to inspire students
10. Include Lecture Demonstrations and Heritage Walks under the SPIC MACAY umbrella to increase cultural exposure
11. Introduce new areas of cultural endeavour in Yuvaan-the Cultural Festival of the College
12. Set out targets and domains of MAC Societies and carry out selections, activities, evaluations, and certifications accordingly
13. Adopt the strict criteria of attendance for participating students as per University rules. Discontinuation of membership/ participation as soon as attendance criteria falls below the minimum requisite.
14. Adopt transparent mechanism of holding practice/ rehearsal/ training with College approved space and permitted time slots to ensure academic performance of participating students
15. Have pre-approved and pre-informed criteria of “Sanskriti” award (best performer) and “Samayojak” award (best organiser) to incentivise excellence

Maharaja Agrasen College is renowned to be an institution which is characterised by diversity of talent and creative energies. Maharaja Agrasen College, one of the top ranked Colleges of Delhi University, popularly known as MAC and located in Vasundhara Enclave, offers a wide array of cultural activities for the students to display and hone their talents in various art forms. The Extra Co-Curricular Activity or the ECA Wing testifies to this diversity and presents it as an expression of interests by pooling in multifaceted talent across distinct frontiers. Whether it is theatre, dance, music or drama, the ECA wing of Maharaja Agrasen College testifies to a diverse range of talents and this is visible through a creative flourishing of its multiple wings like Nataraj, Septune, Samyantar, Abhinay, Chakraview, Srijan, Inquizitive, Markos, North East Society, Meraki, and Qissa. The students of our college, in addition to being proficient in academics, do establish their mettle in these diverse forms of outlets from time to time. This is evident from their participation in inter-college competitions as well as in competitions within the college as well. In addition to providing a platform to diverse range of talent, the ECA Wing of Maharaja Agrasen College is one of the most active ones in organising a range of events throughout the year. These include Freshers’ celebrations, Spic Macay, Yuvaan and the Farewell. From providing an encouraging welcome to fresh entrants in Delhi University to a cultural display of dance and musical talent in the form of Spic Macay to celebrating the zest of creative energies of the youth of the college in the form of cultural festival, Yuvaan – MAC ECA provides a suitable platform to the extraordinary pool of talent which Delhi University welcomes every year. One of the main events organized by the Cultural Society of MAC is Yuvaan, the Annual College Festival- a cultural extravaganza spanning three days in the month of February. Events like “Sargam” the annual Music festival, “Drishyantar”, the Annual Stage Theatre Festival, “Aaina” -the Annual Street Play Competition and organizing several events like “Aamad”, “Dharohar”, “Taal” and “Xuberance” of Nataraj - The Dance Society catering to multiple dance styles, “Jashn-e-Quiz” hosted by Inquizitive-The Quiz Society, “Marketing Bravado” organised by Markos- The Marketing Society exhibits the diversity and exceptional talent of the students.

ECA opportunities in the College enhance the skills of students by means of interaction with the peers and specialists of respective cultural art forms also through training and mentoring in the arts. The flurry of cultural activities begins from the last week of July with the rigorous trials of respective societies being held for selecting the students to the different cultural wings of MAC-ECA. The selection to different wings of ECA and to the Student Cultural Council inaugurates in earnest the zest for creativity, fun, novelty, and expression of one’s persona. MAC-ECA are not simply multiple societies catering to different art forms like dance, music, fine arts, theatre both stage and street, film-making or cognitive skills like quiz and debating, and marketing but they allow the students to embark on a journey to know both their cultural heritage better as well as realize their own immense possibilities The participation as members of a team fosters a wider understanding of our country’s rich cultural traditions and also, empowers them to excel in arts. The whole experience of being a member and participating in cultural activities of one’s choice is a means to spread one’s wings and translate creativity into a tangible form.

The various societies of MAC- ECA all pushed the boundaries of creative imagination while also, instilling the ethos of working in teams to encapsulate the values of hard work and syncretic co-existence, plurality and diversity. This year, the ECA committee is pushing for value-added collaborations with cultural patrons and discerning sponsors under the ambit of its Cultural Policy. ECA is also planning an Orientation Session for ECA as well as other students to understand the implications of culture in all its dimensions. Year 2018 promises to be a year full of mega-events and inter-college buzz offering something for everyone who connects with art and performance and growth and development.