SHIV KHERA TALK SHOW
The feather in the cap was the very unique event organised for the intellegentsia, principals and teachers of Bhopal. This event had received an overwhelming response as it witnessed a participation of more than five thousand people of Bhopal. Although the seating capacity of Campion Auditorium was just about twelve hundred but the remaining people were accomodated at the Campion grounds.
Thanks to Unieue Events and its preparedness, as they had installed three screens outside the hall for all the people to view the programme.
The most scary moments of the event were a stampede of sorts was created at the Auditorium gate, as hundreds of people thronged to get inside the hall. Sehgal maam as well as our DGM had been stuck outside the gates, which had been locked to keep the people from barging through the gates. Searching for the keys amidst all that chaos was a herculean task, but we managed to do that get our seniors inside the auditorium - honourably.
Thanks to the Circulation and Sales team Yogendra Chaturvedi, Dhiraj Roman, Nitin Mahajan, Vishal Arora who managed to get Mr Shiv Khera to the auditorium amidst all security through the back doors.
"Hats off guys!!! Congratulations to the entire PACE team for a stunning event. The event was a runaway success" said Sehgal maam. "Thodi tod fod nahi hui, to event kaa mazaa kaise ayega." she reiterated. And these words came in as such an encouragement at that hour, when our energies were at an all time low, after putting in twelve hours of efforts every day - continuously for almost a month".
Working with HT-PACE had been such a beautiful experience, as every endeavour of ours, for which we put in efforts was equally applauded by each and every senior. HT Vice-President (North) Mr Rakesh Sharma was all praises for the HT-PACE team, for each and every initiative. This was the fuel, which was the incentive, which kept us going through and creating waves.
We had literally run from pillar to post to get associates for the event and finally managed to associate with UNICEF and Variety Book House. Thanks to UNICEF State Head Mr Manoucher Assadi, UNICEF Project Officer Ms Ila Varma and Mr Wadhva, the properietor of Variety Book House for association with HT-PACE for the event.
We had promoted the Millennium Development Goals for the UNICEF through the event publicity as well as HT School Times.
We had generated awareness about the MDGs through School Times, as we had spread the word through almost all schools of Bhopal. The children had sent in their views as well as pictures to express their solidarity about the same. A signing banner had also been put up at the venue, which was signed by thousands of people who had gathered at the event. This banner as well as the special issue of HT School Times had later been sent to UN General Assembly by UNICEF.
In lieu of the same, we had to organise a press conference at the Variety Book House, Bhopal and a Book Signing Session by Mr Shiv Khera. Me and Kirti took up the task of inviting the press for the press conference. This gave us an opportunity to meet the editors and bureau chiefs of practically all big newspapers. The Shiv Khera Talk Show led to a trend in PACE across locations of arranging a celebrity to address the teachers of Bhopal. In August 2001, it was an era, when Shiv Khera was not quite a known name among the masses on a city like Bhopal. He was a management guru only at a corporate level. But it was HT-PACE which undertook this mission of creating awareness about him through extensive press coverage. We published almost ten-twelve articles, about twelve advertisements, stickers, 500 posters across the city, 300 banners across the city.
Interacting with Mr Shiv Khera and his team throughout the event was also a beautiful experience. A grounded person indeed, he was full of wit and interesting incidences throughout his stay. We had invited the school principals for dinner a day before the Talk Show. I still treasure his books "You Can Win" he had autographed and gifted us on this occasion besides the autographed Mug having the inscription "You Can Win" in golden letters.
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GLIMPSES OF THE TALK SHOW
Upcoming Sarod Artiste and nephew of the renowned Sarod artiste Ameen Ali Khan rendered a stupendous prelude to the mega event which won a standing ovation. The performance was overwhelming and was appreciated by each one present on this occasion. Ameen Ali also became synonymous to HT-PACE mega events. Be it Shiv Khera Talk Show or Arindam Chaudhuri Talk Show - the show would not kickstart without his performance. Currently in UK, Ameen is pursuing music carrying ahead the torch of musical glory that his Gharana has earned over generations.
Head, Education Hindustan Times Ms Annapoorna rendering a Welcome address at the show.
The signing banner carrying all the eight Millennium Development Goals, which was later sent to UN. 
Mr Shiv Khera reading an excerpt from his acclaimed book "You can Win".
Mr Shiv Khera along with the PACE Team members Ujwala, Kirti Sundram. Rosilyn and Iram Dastagir.
Being an editor of the HT School Times, I was responsible for the entire press publicity required for the events being organised by HT-PACE at Bhopal/Indore. The press coverage that followed throughout the month to generate awareness and create a hype for the event was as under. The then resident editor Mr Askari Zaidi was kind enough to assign a press reporter to cover the press conference, special interview as well as the final Talk Show.
Yes!!! Once again PACE Bhopal team had done it!!! An event par excellence.
PACE BHOPAL ROCKED!!!!
