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September 1, 2015

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Conquest is a first of ­its ­kind effort to promote entrepreneurship globally, thus reaching out to millions. This pioneering effort, in its eleventh edition, is supported by some of the biggest names in the market, DCB Bank, CitrusPay and Accel Partners.

It’s the celebration of Spirit of Entrepreneurship, Conquest 2015, propelling small scale startups to glorious pinnacles.

As global start-­up revolution rapidly emerges, a prominent place for India is reserved. Conquest constantly endeavors to showcase to the world the wealth of talent Indian start­-up ecosystem has to offer.

Finale Registration

Wherever Conquest has left its mark, it has provided a big idea an impetus to emerge successful. And it’s time of the year again, to give India its next million dollar tech giant!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen! Young boys and girls! The Grand Finale is here and it just can’t get any better.

The finale is going to be a day full of activities and certainly an affair to remember as our Top 10 gear up for a cut throat encounter with each other. They will share the stage in New Delhi on September 6th, at the grand ITC Sheraton along with distinguished VCs and potential investors as a whole new world of opportunities unfolds for them! The itinerary consists of two panel discussions, pitching rounds, keynote speech, networking lunch and dinner along with interaction of the jury with the audience.

Grab the exclusive chance to meet Entrepreneurial bigwigs, potential investors, media personnel, mentors, even business enthusiasts. Samay Kohli (Grey Orange Robotics), Greg Moran (CEO, Zoomcar India), Accel Partners and many more, we have them all on the guest list. Experience the grandeur of the world of Entrepreneurship as we crown the winners of Conquest 2015 and their lives change forever. Gear up for the experience! Gear up for the insane! Register now at www.conquest.org.in!

 

DU Beat is media partners with Conquest 2015.

Hailing from Chandigarh, Divya Beniwal of Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, has been playing Fencing for four years now. We spoke to this Political Science student about her offbeat sport of choice:

1. Fencing is quite unheard of, especially in Delhi University. How would you describe the sport to someone who has never heard of it, in one line?

Fencing is basically a royal sport of sword fighting. It has three events (Epee, Sabre and Foil) with different rules and techniques depending on the body target area. The sword is blunt and there’s protective clothing so there are minimal chances of injury.

2. What made you take up Fencing over the more commonly played and watched sports like Tennis or Badminton?

The fencing practices in my hometown, Chandigarh, are held in the school my mother was the Principal of; so every time I went there, this game fascinated me. One of the reasons is that it involves swords and another that it’s unique. Even though it’s not so popular in India, but in Ivy League colleges abroad it’s quite famous. With little practice people can mostly play other games and Fencing is something which requires proper training, equipment and coaching.

3. For someone who wants to learn Fencing, who are the athletes one can look up to?

As such I have no knowledge of the famous athletes from across the globe, because fencing is something which does not have consistent results at the Olympics or other international championships. The results tend to vary every year. While playing, one requires stamina, tactics, physical strength and mental focus all at the same time. For me, the inspiration has always been my coach and the senior players from other states.

4. What is the scope for the sport in India? Do you see it improving in the coming years?

This sport is gradually becoming popular and a lot of people find it quite interesting. There are a lot of fencers and coaches in India who have been involved with the game from the past 20 years. Every year a lot of them participate in National and International Championships. The results have started improving and 3 medals were bagged by India at Junior Commonwealth Championship in Cape Town recently. But still, Team India lags behind in terms of facilities and provision of foreign coaches for improvement in techniques.

There’s also a quota in defense services for fencing.

Another thing that hinders good fencers from playing at the international level is the availability of funds. The Sports Ministry of India should be more encouraging towards other upcoming sports as well. They should provide with better infrastructure so that athletes can perform better at international level.

5. Does DU provide you with sufficient sports infrastructure? How can DU bring more attention to offbeat sports like Fencing?

Personally, I’ve never faced any problem regarding the infrastructure and other related facilities. And the support of the sports teacher has been incomparable. But I would like to add that students in other colleges that do not rank high are not vested with the same opportunity, which is very unfair on the part of the management. I just hope that the increasing awareness changes the “game” for them as well.

The equipment and sports kit of this sport are expensive which hinders participation. This is one of the reasons that fencing has not gained popularity among the students. I think if other colleges of DU take the initiative of promoting the game and providing equipment and coaches then only fencing can be on a broader platform.

6. How do you manage to strike a balance between being a sportsperson and a student?

I think in today’s time being good only in academics is not enough, one has to give in extra efforts to stand out in life. Being involved in sports enhances leadership qualities, physical fitness and improves one’s confidence. I have been involved in sports since class 5. I used to play roller hockey earlier and then started fencing in class 10. Since then I have always been regular in my practices. But I have always made sure that I do not miss my classes and have been a regular student. It is only during my tournaments that I am unable to attend classes. I have been as passionate about my game as I have been for my studies. I hardly studied at home after school but am always attentive and regular in school and college.

7. How does being a sportsperson give you an edge over others?

I have learned a lot because of fencing, I got the opportunity to interact with athletes from all over the country, almost all the states take part in the national championships, I became independent, self-reliant and learned how to travel and accommodate without the comforts of AC and good food. I think it has given me a unique identity and I’m very proud of it. It just feels good to be different.

 

Divya credits her coach, Mrs. Charanjeet Kaur, parents and sports teachers for being a constant source of motivation and providing her with the opportunity to play 13 nationals and 1 international championship, the Senior Asian Fencing Championship, so far. She is all set to start training interested students from JMC in fencing very soon.

 

Vani Vivek

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For a country infested with the epidemic of poverty and hunger, any initiative aimed at eradicating hunger from the streets of the capital city, New Delhi, is a boon. One such organisation is the Fulfilling Dreams Foundation.

Founded by a conglomerate of students and ex-students from Delhi University, Amity and other universities in NCR, Fulfilling Dreams Foundation carries out mass feeding campaigns across highly impoverished areas like Nizamuddin, Kale Khan, Old Delhi and R.K. Puram every fortnight. They provide healthy food to children twice a month. The expenses are borne by the members who are quite a few in number. A sum of Rs. 500 donated by the members suffices for a month.

Fulfilling Dreams Foundation was founded a year ago with the intention to redistribute excess food wasted by the privileged to the ones in desperate need. The primary community is school and slum children. The organisation is also in talks with corporate firms for sustaining their activities in the long run. Currently, the members comprise of volunteers from various Delhi University colleges. The organisation also conducts blood donation drives and distributes essentials other than food too. From distributing food from the boot of cars to collecting over 600 kg raw materials for the Nepal quake victims, FDF takes its work of making the world a better place for all seriously. Fulfilling Dreams Foundation is in search of dedicated, compassionate and students who want to make an impact in the lives of those who are devoid of the privileges enjoyed by the upper class. Their next drive will be on Saturday, the 5th of September to Yamuna Pushta. Apply through their Facebook page!

 

Photo credits: FDF Facebook Page

 

Legendary British Parliamentarian, Tony Benn, rightly stated that those in positions of economic, social and political power should always be asked five questions: What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you use it? To whom are you accountable? And, how do we get rid of you?

The very essence of a truly democratic nation remains implicit in these questions. Taking away the right to ask these questions spells the death knell for democratic principles, more so for a country that claims to be the largest democracy.

The Government of India, in the Supreme Court, has opposed a plea to bring political parties under the purview of the Right to Information Act. A petition filed by RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agarwal, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan and the NGO, Association for Democratic Rights, suggests that all political parties be placed within the ambit of the RTI act. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has declared all national and regional political parties to be public authorities under the RTI. The petition has been filed against the non-compliance of political parties towards this order of the CIC.

The primary argument that the Central Government puts forth against political parties being placed within the RTI, is that opposing parties may misuse the RTI as a tool to hinder the functioning of other parties. Furthermore, they argue, political parties are not created by an act of parliament or by the constitution and hence, cannot be termed ‘public authorities.’However, this argument contradicts the principles within which a democratic nation is firmly rooted. It is in the interest of maintaining an efficient, working democracy to have political parties accountable to their voters. Voters must be ensured the right to know the sources of the financial resources of their parties. After all, it is the members of these political parties who claim to represent the people. Are they being funded by big businesses? How are various parties placed in terms of financial assets? It is important for voters to ask such substantial questions and get them answered in order to lend credibility and legitimacy to political figures as the true representatives of the people. If political parties had nothing to hide pertaining to their financial assets and its sources, they ought to have no opposition to being placed within the RTI, allowing the public to question their activities.

It is is an autocracy that individuals are denied their basic rights and freedoms. In an autocracy, the authority of the leaders is not allowed to be questioned. Autocracies are not representative of the people they govern. Denying people of the largest democracy a right to inquire about the details of the parties from which their leaders are elected, shakes the very foundations of a democracy that has been carefully built and sustained over time.

 

 

 

Abhinaya Harigovind.

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As election fever grabs Delhi University, a vivid picture of its political culture is reflected in all colleges affiliated with it. From widespread campaigning to fliers scattered all around the campus, from exuberant slogans to demonstration rallies, from promising posters to utmost commotion – the entire ambiance of elections isn’t a thing worth missing. But, we do.

Being a part of Jesus and Mary College, one of the few colleges exempted from the Delhi University Student Union election procedure and working, election time for us is just like any other time during the year. While an atmosphere of zeal and vibrancy captures most of the colleges in the political whirlpool, we have normal classes scheduled for us. No one is aware of the candidates, no one is concerned about the result. The possibility that we’re missing something huge strikes us only when the final day of election arrives.

The obvious handicap of this system is that we don’t have a say in the political affairs of the University that may directly or indirectly affect us. We are not allowed the right of representation in the Students’ Union of the University we so proudly belong to.

But there is a silver lining. With the ebullient atmosphere comes the political controversies, fights, lying and more.  Do the disadvantages exceed the advantages when it comes from being excluded from the Delhi Union Students’ Union? I think so.

Lovleen Kaur

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This year, St. Stephen’s College did not see the riot of fervent election campaigns or the heated debates at the legendary ‘Open Court.’ When an announcement on the notice board declared Aina Singh of 3rd year, English Honours, as being chosen the President of the Students’ Union Society (SUS) of St. Stephen’s College unopposed, most Stephanians wondered if it might be a prank by the notorious Wodehouse Society of the college. An official declaration made by the Principal cleared the air. Of the five candidates standing for the position of President, four had been disqualified on the basis of having inadequate attendance, leaving Aina as the only eligible candidate. In our conversation with Aina, we find out what’s going on in her mind as she takes on this responsibility.

What are your thoughts about the circumstances under which you have been chosen?

Like most other people, I initially thought this was a prank. Being the only valid candidate was not something I expected as I didn’t even have a campaign for the elections. All I wanted to do was give the voters another alternative to the candidates who were already standing. But as the news is sinking in, it seems strangely satisfying. It feels like an opportunity has been served to me on a platter without me having to fight for it. What scares me the most right now is the resentment and anxiety of the student body since I have not been elected by them. My most daunting responsibility would be to convince the students that the SUS is not unstable just because it isn’t elected.

How do you feel about being the second female SUS President in the history of St. Stephen’s College?

It is important for women to take up posts from where they can make a difference and fight patriarchy in the country. Representation of women is highly significant and much needed. But being a woman President of the SUS is not the be all and end all. That in itself will not solve any problems.

What are the ideas on your agenda for the year?

I hope to focus on sanitation as well as inclusiveness of karamcharis working in college, the differently-abled and women. I also hope to start a conversation on trans-gender students and how they might be included in the life of the college. We, as a college, need to have a conversation about issues such as allotment of residence blocks to trans-gender students. I know my emphasis on equality sounds ambitious, but we will try.

With regard to leadership positions, Aina says that she has never been a part of Students’ Union earlier. “But as long as the ideology is sorted in your head, go ahead, do what you have to do and ignore popular opinion which is usually wrong and unfair,” she signs off.

Image Credits: ststephens.edu

Abhinaya Harigovind

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Dear Auburn,

The weather in Delhi has become extremely oppressive! It’s way too hot and the scorching sun is merciless! Given the heat that our city is boiling in, could you suggest comfortable yet fashionable clothing options for college?
– Heat-averse Chica

 

Dear Heat- averse,

Your query is absolutely legit. I, too, feel really uncomfortable these days. Thank goodness I have my Umbrella for protection!

Given the heat wave that Delhi is caught in, try wearing loose and comfortable cotton clothes. Summer dresses in floral prints, long and short skirts (depending on your personal level of comfort), and shorts are your best bet. If you like wearing Indian attire, go for short kurtis or kurtas that are minimalistic and don’t weigh you down. Palazzo pants, harem pants and dhoti-pyjamas are fluid and comfortable too.

Avoid denims. They’re really heavy, clingy and non-sweat absorbent. They’ll make you feel claustrophobic and trapped. Also, go easy on the accessories. Don’t wear very heavy earrings, necklaces or bangles.

The key is to dress like you’d want to feel: cool, comfortable and free. So make a wise choice from the above options, and you’ll breeze through the next two months!

 

wooplr auburn umbrella