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August 23, 2014

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The Premier League Action Kicks-off in High Energy

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The English Premier League kicked off this weekend. The 2014/15 season began as Manchester United and Swansea City went head-to-head in the first game.

With all the top sides improving their squads over the transfer season, the new season can be tipped as the most competitive since 1991, the year of inception of the Premier League.

With a shuffle in teams, many big-name players have joined the most viewed league in the world. Chelsea has rebuffed their squad by splashing millions in the transfer market. Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have arrived from the La Liga. The club has also re-signed the club legend, Didier Drogba.  Manchester City, on the other hand, has signed the French defender, Mangala. Also, Spanish midfielder, David Silva signing a new 5-year deal can be a huge boost for the team. Liverpool has lost their biggest asset/liability, Luis Suarez, who moved to Barcelona right after the World Cup. The club’s replacements have been Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren, all from Southampton FC. Manchester United has again been quite silent on the transfer front with only two signings, Luke Shaw and Anders Herrera bringing harsh criticism towards the CEO Ed Woodwards. The club has been linked with numerous players, like Angel Di Maria, Arturo Vidal and Cuadrado. However, deals are yet to materialise. The club’s manager still stands by his claim of buying when he feels it’s right.

Arsenal come from a early trophy-haul after winning the FA Community Shield against Man City last weekend while Manchester United come from winning the Guinness International Champions Cup held in the USA and winning all of their matches while doing so. Getting Louis Van Gaal has seen a very positive response from all stakeholders of the club, be it the player, fans or the management. The tactics-master is sure to bring an extra edge to United’s gameplay, as shown in the pre-season. Chelsea has also performed well, with both Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas netting goals. A match between Chelsea and Man United will be closely watched this season (if it wasn’t already) since Louis Van Gaal has previously trained Jose Mourinho and it will be interesting to see the apprentice go against his master.

However, the teams come from big pre-seasons and the World Cup which ended in July. Fatigue can be a major concern for many players as well as coaches in the early stages of the season. Regardless, the season is expected to be extremely competitive.

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Campus Central

Transgenders now recognized for Delhi University admissions

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After recognition of transgenders as a third gender by the Supreme Court in April 2014, Delhi University’s application form from this year gives space to the third gender. University has finally allowed transgender applicants to enroll in post graduate courses in the ongoing session. Due to the FYUP debate this year, this proposed change couldn’t be implemented for the undergraduate courses but the same will be done next year for the session of 2015-16.

This step by the University is surely ensuring equal education rights for the transgender community but controversies have already started gaining attention. For the post graduate admissions these students have been enrolled under a special category under the OBC quota. This hasn’t been welcomed by many.

“Years of activism by our community and by LGBT student committee of DU has finally paid off. Apart from change within the University, this move has established the precedent for other universities bound by the SC judgment now to follow. It is a step towards a progressive and liberal academic establishment. The community feels that equality and justice have now found their way and that University is moving closer to values and principles.” – Mayank Vashistha, a DU alumnus who is an LGBT activist.

Activists suggest a totally different quota to be introduced as these students are not necessarily from an OBC background. Nothing is yet clear on the reservations as University Grants Commission (UGC) hasn’t issued any notification for that.

Piya who comes from the transgender community says. “We have no category. Hum na general hai, na SC, na ST aur na hi OBC. Hmare liye ek alag se hijra category honi chahiye.”

This inclusion holds more value as the teacher recruitment forms also have the third gender category. Such a step now ensures more equality in the University. LGBT community also celebrates as the University administration was finally convinced to move beyond the gender binary albeit on the premise of a Supreme Court judgment.

Neelesh Sharma, the advocate of Pehchaan, an NGO which works for the transgenders feels that the decision has allowed the transgender community to project themselves in a better manner infront of everyone else but he also feels that efforts have to be made to make the ‘normal’ people aware about this community and their rights.

“There is a lot of discrimination in our country for our community. We are treated different from everyone which is why we can’t pursue higher studies which further leads to unemployment for most of us. I have just completed my class XII. Now that the laws support us, we are going to make full use of it. University has opened an opportunity for us to go and study. All we expect is that the mentality of other people changes soon and this too has an expiry date.” – Kiran, a transgender student (DU aspirant)

“After the transgender students are part of the University there has to be a proper system to protect the interests of these students. Orientation programmes and seminars have to be conducted in the colleges for increasing the awareness among the other students”, he says.

The University students are having mixed reactions to this move. “On one hand this step by the University gives recognition to this community and on the other it secludes them from the other people”, says Abhinav Modi, a student. It however has to be ensured that these students are treated well after they are admitted to the University and sensitization of students has to be worked upon. Shunning of these students also needs to be prevented.

The administration now waits for the orders from UGC to further look into this matter.

Featured Image Credits: www.straight.com

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Shri Ram College of Commerce

Papa CJ and Boman amidst inspiration at SRCC

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After inspirational speeches by Nirmal Dave, Jodi Underhill, Kartik Satyanaraya, Ajay Chaturvedi and Dhruv Viswanath, the afternoon session at SRCC Youth Conference 2014 Day 1 had some comedy and drama with little tadka of inspiration planned for its audience.

#iaskyoutoask – Papa CJ

Visiting SRCC for the second time, Papa CJ was welcomed at YC in a style. When audience was expecting some comedy act by the international stand-up comedian, CJ chose to have an interactive session with the students keeping in mind the motive of his visit of inspiring them and of course making everyone laugh. Declaring theme of his talk as #iaskyoutoask, Papa CJ not even once in his one-hour act allowed silence to make space in the college auditorium. Students were awestruck by his subtle comic timing even while answering extreme serious questions asked.

When asked by a girl-fan, Papa explained why he chose to be referred as a ‘father’ and refused to disclose what CJ stands for.

“When I started stand up in UK, the people there had a problem of looking down upon Indians. Prefixing Papa to the name was my way of telling then that ‘tumhara bhi koi baap hai’. Wherever I perform abroad, I try and project India in a positive light. I am proud to be an Indian.” – Papa CJ

He then went on to talk about his childhood, his dreams, the support from his family and his immense love for his country. In answers to the questions asked, he took everyone through the happiest and most embarrassing moment of his life and how he never lets a bad day or some personal problem overshadow his performance.

“For me my audience is everything. If they don’t laugh, I am not doing my job”, Papa says.

In another funny account he took the case of Sarthak Aggarwal, all India CBSE topper who associated ‘stand-up’ with something vulgar related to the male body. CJ mocked by telling him that not all knowledge is available in the books and gave him a lollipop for the only 0.4% marks he could not score in the board exams. The stand up artist who surprisingly knew a lot about the college continuously talked and joked about P.C Jain, the college principal and asked out a member of faculty for a coffee.

Behind his scenes – Boman Irani

Boman Irani at SRCC Youth Conference 2014 | Photo Credits - Mithun
Boman Irani at SRCC Youth Conference 2014 | Photo Credits – Mithun

Maamu’ who was dyslexic when he was a kid narrated his life story at the Youth Conference with lot of passion, emotions and of course, drama, as his profession demands. Bringing the much-needed Bollywood flavour to the conference, Boman Irani’s presence got no hands stopping to applaud the inspiring tale of the actor’s life.

All praises for the SRCC organizing committee, Boman appreciated the hard work put up by the prestigious institution. The Parsi man talked about his struggle first at school and then in the outside world. Boman narrated how being a waiter at Taj Mahal hotel he discovered his interests for photography and went on to be the official photographer of the World Boxing Championship.

“If you are willing to take forward your dreams, say good-bye to laziness and do your work honestly, you will get back 10 times of what you expected” – Boman Irani

His definitions of success and failure and his theories inspired students a lot. Boman explained the theory of ‘zero bulb moment’, which is that one moment of failure in everyone’s life that leads to a push, which then invites success.

Anandita Munjal, a fresher who attended Boman’s session says, “Boman really impressed me with his determination and story of life. The way the ‘zero bulb moment’ changed his attitude towards life was too inspiring. I now look up to him as a man who got paid for his hard work.”

“Who says you can’t debut at 44? I did. It is all about how you work and grow. Even after the release of Munna Bhai MBBS, I did not own a formal suit. I got it made a night before Star Screen Awards where I won my first award. Those were the days. Today, I am proudly standing here and delivering a speech for you all. As I say it is all about how you work.” – Maamu

He also explained his journey in the field of acting where he just started as playing Gandhi in the play Mahatma v/s Gandhi, doing short films and then finally striking the right chord with Munna Bhai MBBS. Talking about the importance of relationships in one’s professional life, Irani mentioned about his dear friends. His session ended with a question answer round with the students where he talked about the future of Indian cinema and what gave him courage to debut at an age of 44.

In picture: Papa CJ

Photograph credits: Mehr Gill

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Sex Amma

Sex Amma: I love my boyfriend but I don’t want to lose my virginity right now!

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Q. Dear Amma, I am a one-man woman and believe in keeping myself pure for my future husband. I have a very understanding and loving boyfriend who doesn’t incessantly force me to have sex, but I am very sexually attracted to him and at times find it very difficult to restrain myself. I love him loads, but I keep fearing what if we don’t end up together and lose my virginity to him. What should I do?

 

A. Uff my troubled little macchi! Amma fails to understand the sanctity people associate with one’s virginity. It is not THAT big a deal, honestly. Don’t you want a taste of different waters, possibly something from saat samundar paar, before you lock yourself up in an aquarium for the rest of your life? And even if you don’t end up with your current boyfriend, what guarantee do you have that your future husband would be a fresh-from-the-tree-coconut, like yourself?

Virginity is over-rated, my dear little idli. But if you REALLY want to stay this way AND get some pleasure, just do the things that won’t harm your sacred hymen. Ask your man to go down on you; that will keep you sated for days. Other stuff you must know, kissing, cuddling and cute things.

 

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Lady Shri Ram College for Women

The end of an era: MG retires as LSR Principal

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It’s time to bid adieu to Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath as her term as the Principal of LSR ends after almost 26 years as the Principal of the college and many before that as a student. As she retires this month, it’s time for an era to end.

Dr. Gopinath symbolizes the glue which has held Lady Shri Ram College for Women to its current stature.  Popularly known as MG, she is a person who exhibits aura and elegance. A lady with a mind like a pensive, she has been the pioneer of success.

She’s conceived LSR as we know of it today and has continuously worked in various fields of development, be it academically or in areas like gender and peace building.

The college is all set up to give its support system and backbone a farewell. A ceremony has been scheduled for August 28th, 2014 in the college auditorium. A compact and well-organized farewell is expected with performances by various societies and teachers. There is news that the Head of Departments (HODs) will have a small gathering with her.

Even though her shoes are tough to fill in, the search for a new guiding light is on. A popular choice would be someone from the college faculty only because of the intrinsic working ideas and values of college. However, a fair and unbiased system has been adopted with LSR inviting applicants for the required post.

LSR beats with the work and advice of MG. Now, as MG retires it’ll be tough to carry on the legacy. However, as it’s said the show must go on and hopefully, her empowered vision will continue to be with LSR always, because she carries with her the magic of LSR.

We wish Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, the outgoing principal of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, all the very best for her future!

 

Ishita Sharma

[email protected]

Image Credits: indiatoday.com

 

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DUB Speak

New ASCI guidelines for ‘fair’ advertising

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At a time when toothpaste selling ladies appear on the TV and judge you for not having enough salt in your toothpaste and companies drop every semblance of logic to convince you that their brand of deo will make you a female-magnet, it becomes easy to forget just how much influence advertising has on our lives.

From forming an ever-changing collective image of physical perfection to keeping on perpetuating that image, it nourishes not-always-so-sunny social constructs around body image like a mama hen. And one of the places where it out-does itself is when it plays with the your-skin-can-never-be-light-enough complex that south Asians harbour.

India’s obsession with fair skin has given fodder to a million social scientists’ research papers and has pumped in billions into the bank accounts of cosmetic companies. The cosmetic industry in India, currently sizing up to $950 million a year, is estimated to grow to $2.68 billion by 2020, a growth lead by the skin lighting creams hoarding up the market. From Virat Kohli vending creams meant to make the Indian male’s skin lighter to ‘intimate washes’ to make the female nether zone ‘fairer and tighter’, the companies have successfully cashed on the Indian’s insecurity about skin tones. When people see Priyanka Chopra winning her one true love back by daily layering of her face with the skin-whitening magic lotion, ad-makers only hope that mortals will squirm in their seats and finish one jar of cream after another.

At a time like this when the whole advertising industry seems to be conspiring to keep the country forever in their post-colonial hangover, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has come up with guidelines to ensure that the absurdity surrounding the obsession with fairer skin in India can be contained a little. The guidelines come as commandments for both the cosmetics and the advertising industries to make clear what should have been duh-ah obvious to them all this while; Thou shalt not make it seem that having a darker skin is a bad thing.

This means that Shah Rukh Khan can no longer tell you that the distance between you and Bollywood stardom is the length of a tube of fairness cream. Which is a good thing, because 44% of the fairness creams in India contain mercury, which is illegal and can cause your liver and kidney to blow up out of proportion. While this is one step forward towards the destruction of impossible beauty standards, it should also be simultaneously embarrassing that there should be any need for such guidelines. They come as a nod of acknowledgement from ASCI that the situation is not rosy, that things can’t go on as they are. This is in keeping with the signs of gradual, subtle change in Indian advertising that are becoming more and more visible in the last few years.

Be it subtle support for Queer people or showing a single (not to mention dark) mother getting married for the first or second time, depending on one’s interpretation. The Indian ad-world is slowly, almost too slowly, growing up and hopefully with these guidelines in place, the ad-makers will now finally sell things without making the buyers feel bad about themselves.

 

Image source: Getty images

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DUB Speak

Five reasons to enrol for the Teach For India Fellowship

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Teach For India is a not-for-profit that works with the vision that one day all children will attain an excellent education. Their mission primarily aims at eliminating education inequality that has for long been prevalent in India.

The Project has been distinctly divided into a two-part theory of change- short term and long term. The Fellowship program is part of the short term theory of change and the Alumni Movement is part of the long term theory of change.  And here’s why Teach For India is the ideal opportunity:

Leadership

The Teach For India Fellowship is a leadership development program. This is a two-year, full time, paid commitment where Fellows are placed in under-resourced schools across six cities. Some of the skills that the Fellows are likely to develop are creating goals, strategy-planning, data analysis, project and people management, building relationships with external stakeholders and effective execution. Professional approach and entrepreneurial skills are developed through the ‘Be The Change Project’ that all Fellows work on in their second year.

Personal Transformation

The Teach For India Fellowship is a personal and professional journey that allows individuals to find their potential, their passions and transform their lives as well as the lives of those around them. It helps its Fellow to basically find and nurture their true potential.

Challenge

The task of eradicating child illiteracy is tremendous and extremely challenging. If you are somebody who is sensitive about the fact 90% of all Indian children do not and cannot complete schooling due to various demographical and social reasons, this is the project to be a part of.

Teach For India believes not only in recognizing the gravity of the problem, but also in finding a timely and effective solution to it.

Impact

If you want to make a remarkable impact in somebody’s life and change it for the better, this is the best platform you can have.

In totality this program aims to impact underprivileged students in three basic areas:

  • Academic achievement.
  • Values and mindsets
  • Access and opportunities

These three areas constitute the Student Vision that Fellows work towards.

The Alumni Movement

While Fellows create meaningful impact in the lives of 30-40 students through the Fellowship, it is through the Alumni movement that they can impact the lives of hundreds and thousands of children. Currently, Teach For India has over 700 Alumni members working all across the world in different sectors. As a member of the Teach For India community, any Fellow has access to all their networks and experiences. We need leaders who will be at the forefront of this movement from various different sectors and create large scale and high-quality impact.

 

Teach For India is not alone in this struggle, there are various other countries all over the world struggling with educational inequality. Teach For India is part of an international network called ‘Teach For All’ that consists of 35 countries. Collectively, this network has 15,000 Fellows and 30,000 Alumni working for over five million children.

Update: The last deadline for the Teach For India Fellowship 2015 is 4th February, 2015. Head to www.teachforindia.org to apply!

 

Surbhi Sharma

[email protected]

 

Image source- www.sprinkolors.com

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Shri Ram College of Commerce

Inspiration and entertainment converge at SRCC Youth Conference

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SRCC Youth Conference (YC) 2014 brought together a line-up of speakers that truly captured the imagination of the students that attended the event. The first day of YC 2014 saw students turn up in huge numbers to be a part of the event. The speakers came from diverse fields but they all had one thing in common- the ability to connect with the audience and to inspire them. From waste management to music, the speakers provided an insight into their lives that kept the packed SRCC auditorium engaged despite the heat. In contrast to other speaker sessions however, YC managed to strike a balance between intellectual discussion and entertainment.

Nirmal Dave for instance talked about the realization that he could use his technological skills to positively impact the lives of people around him.

“Things that change your life can never be taught.” – Nirmal Dave

“You don’t need a degree in waste management, you need a pair of hands and a heart.” –  Jodi Underhill

Further, Jodi Underhill took students through the journey she undertook in her fight as the CEO of Waste Warriors to combat garbage, while Kartik Satyanarayan explained the fight for the conservation of wildlife like dancing bears and elephants.

Ajay Chaturvedi, the founder of HarVa illustrated the immense potential of rural India and the steps he has taken to tap into it. Dhruv Viswanath rather than simply going ahead and entertaining the crowd chose to take the opportunity to go ahead and explain the driving force behind his music. He mentioned the impact his father and family had on pushing him to pursue what he loved. The speakers received a standing ovation by the audience.

The morning session came to a close with a classic Dhruv Viswanath performance where he showcased his unique style of playing the guitar that is akin to greats like Ben Lapps.

“ Dream! Even if you are an engineer, dream! If you are an investment banker… not so much, but dream!”
“ Nobody wants to be an overnight success, you want to be stuff of legend. “
-Dhruv Viswanath

He performed two of his original compositions and concluded with covers of Get Lucky (Daft Punk) and Somebody that I used to know (Gotye/Walk off the Earth). The audience got a chance to hear real stories of real people who went out there and worked towards a goal they believed in.

In picture: Nirman Dave

Credits: Mehr Gill

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