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September 7, 2014

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DUSU Elections 2014: Behind the Scenes

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Delhi University Students’ Union, or DUSU, has never been the garden variety of students’ unions in the country. It has been the breeding ground for renowned national political leaders. The likes of Arun Jaitley, Ajay Maken and Vijay Goel have all hatched out of DUSU. It is also a great indicator of the national mood, as was evident in 2013 when ABVP nearly swept DUSU elections eight months before BJP swept the Lok Sabha elections.

The ways through which the various student bodies prepare for DUSU elections are as intriguing as the Union itself. Guidelines of the Lyngdoh Committee are going to feature heavily in this article, therefore, for the uninitiated: Lyngdoh Committee, headed by J.M.Lyngdoh, was set up by the Ministry of HRD to draw guidelines for elections of Students’ Unions across the country. Its report was submitted in 2006 and the guidelines were notified to all universities.

httpwww.academics-india.comLyngdoh-report.pdf
The recommendations of Lyngdoh Committee regarding the DUSU elections.

 

 

Top political parties begin hunting for possible candidates right after admissions cease. First years are the most preferred choice, which is so because Lyngdoh Committee’s guidelines require 2nd and 3rd year students to have a minimum of 75% attendance in the previous year. The rule, however, is not applicable to first years. How much of an impact a first year would have in the capacity of a DUSU member is worth giving thought to.

After zeroing in on candidates comes the phase of campaigning. Not known to many is the guideline that limits the expenditure of a candidate on their campaign to Rs.5000. This rule is generally flouted by everyone. Most candidates believe the limit to be impractical considering the size of the University. On the other hand, rampant bribes in the form of movie tickets and food vouchers are an undeniable reality.

DUSU
The electoral campaigns in the University of Delhi during DUSU elections.

 

 

Lastly, candidates file their nominations for various posts. It is a regular practice for a political party to initially nominate multiple candidates for a single post. Additional candidatures are later withdrawn when the party is sure of its decisions and the eligibility of their primary candidates. This is the answer if you’ve ever wondered why parties declare candidates much later after the last date of nomination.

 

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St. Stephen's

Ten Famous Alumni: St. Stephen’s College

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St. Stephens College is not only hyped for its top cut-offs but  also boasts of a long list of world renowned alumni who have indeed made the college proud and worthy of its fame. Here are ten of the former Stephanians-

1. Shashi Tharoor

Probably the most charismatic politician alive, Mr.Tharoor, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Stephens (1972-75) joined Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1976 where he went on to become the youngest PhD holder at the age of 22 in 1978. Tharoor’s career graph is certainly one to be envied. Starting as a staff member of UN High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR) in 1978 and later becoming the head of its office in Singapore, Mr. Tharoor served at various posts in the United Nations till he resigned as the Under Secretary-General in 2007.

shashi

On 28 May 2009, he was sworn in as the Minister of State for External Affairs for Africa, Latin America and the Gulf, after which he was re-inducted into the cabinet in 2012 as the Human Resource Development Minister. Even during BJP’s historic win in the 2014 general elections, Tharoor won the Lok Sabha seat from Kerala to become MP yet again.

Shashi Tharoor was as active during his Stephen’s years as he is in his career. He founded the Quiz Club in the college and revived the Wodehouse Society. He was also the Secretary of History Society and editor of campus humor magazine ‘Kooler talk’ till he relinquished the posts to become the President of the Students Union.

Apart from all of the educational qualifications, Shashi Tharoor is also known for his slapstick comments and intelligently opinionated tweets about day to day happenings.

2. Kapil Sibal

The man behind implementation of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in India, Kapil Sibal holds degrees of LLB and MA History from Stephen’s. Former lawyer and  now politician, Mr. Sibal has served in various ministries under the Congress led UPA Government, namely, Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of HRD, Ministry of Communication & IT, and Ministry of Law and Justice. He has also served as the Additional Solicitor General of India(1989-1990)  and President of the Supreme Court Association thrice(1995-96, 1997-98, 2001-02).

kapil

 

 

3. Ajaypal Singh Banga

Current president of MasterCard and former chief operation officer in the company, he attained the post of Chief Executive Officer in July 2010.

banga

4. Kabir Bedi

This alumnus of St. Stephen’s is one of the few Indian actors to have made a mark internationally with specialization in three mediums – film, television and theatre. He is also a contributor to media publications like the Times of India and Tehelka on political/ social issues.

bedi

5. Konkana Sen Sharma

Halfway down our list we have a pioneer of woman talent in Bollywood, parallel cinema actress Konkana Sen Sharma, best known for her roles in movies like Page 3, Omkara, Life in a Metro, etc. This critically acclaimed actress has starred in Bengali films as well. However, the lesser known fact about her is that, she too, is a former student of English from Stephen’s.

konka

6. George Abraham

This visually impaired cricket patron graduated from St. Stephen’s in 1979 with an Honours degree in Mathematics. He later founded the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) and Association for Cricket for the Blind in India(ACBI) in order to fulfill his dream of building a non-stereotypical, positive and active image of the blind. He also founded the SCORE Foundation in New Delhi.

raham

 

7. Khushwant Singh

Late Khushwant Singh, novelist, lawyer, politician and journalist was best known for his trenchant views on secularism and his humor which he incorporated perfectly in his literary work. Singh was bestowed with Padma Bhushan in 1974 and Padma Vibhushan in 2007 for his selfless service to the country.

Author And Editor Khushwant Singh Passes Away At 99

 

8. Amitav Ghosh

The Bengali author and former Stephenian is well known for his works – The Shadow Lines(1988), The Calcutta Chromosome(1995), The Glass Palace(2000), The Hungry Tide(2004), Sea of Poppies(2008) and the Ibis Trilogy.

ert

9. Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Mr. Ahluwalia, graduate from St. Stephen’s with a BA Honours degree, is an economist and civil servant with the achievement of being the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund and also the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission until his resignation in May 2014.

montek

 

10. Barkha Dutt

op

 

Indian television journalist and columnist with an English literature degree from Stephen’s is a group editor with NDTV. She gained prominence for her alleged over-the-top reporting of the Kargil War. Although controversies revolve around her reporting of the 2002 Gujarat riots, 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Radia Tapes Controversy in 2010, she has managed to gain substantial acclaim as a journalist and the title of ‘TV Personality of the Year’ in 2012 by the Association of International Broadcasting.

Bonus

11. Dinesh Singh

prof Dinesh Singh

Not to forget the famous Delhi University Vice Chancellor from 2010, Dinesh Singh is also an alumni of St. Stephen’s College. He completed his B.A. (Honors- Maths) in 1975 and M.A. Maths in 1977 from St. Stephen’s followed by M.Phil (Maths) from DU in 1978. Singh started his career as Lecturer at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi in 1981. He has been the face behind numerous academic reforms in the University of Delhi, be it the initiatives like Antardhwani and Gyanodaya Express or the famous for all the wrong reasons, FYUP.

Ishani Rajkhowa for DU Beat.

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

From the outland caterpillar to the Delhi Butterfly

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A journey of any outstation student at Delhi University is quite similar to the metamorphosis of a butterfly from a caterpillar, developing wings and getting all set to fly high in this big and often bad world. My journey into this ‘Walled City’ began two years ago with a dream to study in the most prestigious university of the country and thus I set on the trajectory to climb the walls of my ambitions by getting admission here. My initial days in Delhi taught me how to fly and explore the multitude opportunities that were yet to unfold upon me and here I am now, a proud and seasoned butterfly studying at Delhi University!

Living away from family, fending for daily provisions and adapting into a totally new atmosphere ,entwined with several hitches, encountered time to time at your college, PG or a hostel makes life of an outstation student here a one-of-a kind story to narrate. Whether it’s an awful meal that you have to force down your throat or a terrible remembrance of mom when you’re sick, life offers a new lesson at every stage when you’re living away from home.

The welcoming conduct of many Delhiites often takes you by surprise while you still go back to memories of school and home but by the time we understand that to live away from home is one sacrifice that we have to endure for a better future, we inculcate the signature ‘Delhiwalla’ traits in our souls. After all, being in DU, studying with people from different background and cultures is an experience in itself.

Though there is no substitute for the place where your roots are which you proudly call ‘home’, living away from parents is a chance to choose your own family, the ones you hope will keep you company on a sick day or a home sick night. To be an outstation student at Delhi University might make you jealous of Delhiites comfortably living with parents and family at first, but you never know how they might be missing the independence and the multitude learnings that you derive by living away from home.

So my message for all outstation students who are embarking on a journey at DU this year-It’s time to break the cocoon, flutter your wings and fly away towards your dreams like a butterfly!

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Campus Central

Teacher’s Day celebrations across Delhi University

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the Yagyashala where the Principal, Dr.V.K Kawatra, teachers and many students gathered and prayed for everyone’s happiness and prosperity. This was followed by a cleanliness drive organized by NSS Hansraj and a speech by Mr.Poonam Suri, Chairman of the DAV College Managing Committee. Lady Shri Ram College for Women also organized an hour-long program which started with an instrumental performance by the music societies of the College. There was also a collaborative performance by the Indian Music Society and the Western Music Society which impersonated the teachers and students respectively, voicing their emotions through well-chosen and witty songs. This performance was followed by an act performed by the Dramatics Society of the College with the Dance Society performing in between. The movie presented by Projekt, Film and Photography Society of the College, received a standing ovation by the Vice Principal. Cultural events were hosted at Jesus and Mary College. Students from the Commerce department at JMC gave dance performances which surely brought smiles to the faces of their teachers. Thus, the day which also marks the birth of Dr.Radhakrishnan was celebrated with great enthusiasm in colleges across North as well as South Campus. Shaurya Sahai [email protected] Image Credits: Mugdha [email protected]]]>

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