IIT-B Techfest's anti-smoking message flies into Limca Book of Records

Students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay have added another feather to their cap, by creating a national record for the maximum number of doodles used for Techfest’s social initiative on spreading a message against smoking among youth on social media.

A doodle, as described by the Techfest team, is a picture of a person holding an anti-smoking message. The doodle was then spread using social media websites such as a Facebook and Twitter. The doodles was an important tool of the ‘ISMOKE - I Support the movement to kill cancer’ campaign which Techfest has started in association with the Indian Cancer Society.

The record is certified by the Limca Book of Records. “As part of Techfest, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, ISMOKE was conducted in 64 colleges in 32 cities all over the country, during which 21,383 doodles were collected between August 26 and September 26, 2013,” said a certificate used by Limca.

Describing their modus operandi for the campaign, Aman Mantry of Techfest, said, “We distributed sheets to various college students and asked them to write a message on it, hold up the paper, click a picture and upload it on social media. We also received doodles from 20 other countries.”

The campaign apart from the doodle exercise, also involved reaching out to students in different colleges. “In colleges we organized for a lecture where the doctor informed students about the harmful effects of smoking. We also created an android application which provided information about cancer hospitals in India, medication reminders and a provision for student queries to be answered by Indian Cancer Society,” explained Mantry.

Kick started by actor Amrita Rao on July 29, the campaign will conclude during the Techfest, which is scheduled to start on January 3. It was also supported by actors, Darsheel Safary, Ayushmann Khuranna, Sana Saeed and Prachi Desai.