Enactus Motilal Nehru College is currently working on ‘Project Parivartan’ which aims to bring a change in the lives of underprivileged women. Furthermore, they are also in the process of bringing a change in the mindset of people about stray dogs by improving their living conditions and giving them social acceptance.
For this, they have designed a DESI MODEL.
The DESI MODEL is a prototype which focuses on entrepreneurial action along with social offerings. Their primary agenda revolves around the Duty to Empathize, Sterilize and Immunize (DESI) model for all stray dogs.
Under the ‘duty to empathize’, all the dogs within their campus are cherished and are living in a shielded environment at the campus itself.
Under the ‘duty to sterilize’, Enactus MNC in collaboration with PAWS has been successful in sterilizing the dogs at a nominal cost.
They are also successful in immunizing the dogs and making their campus rabies-free under the ‘duty to immunize’.
They have, therefore, successfully implemented DESI MODEL in one such external body- SECTOR 50 RWA NOIDA where around 200 dogs were sterilized and vaccinated and 5000-7000 people affected through this model. The model is also recognized as an innovation by NAAC, has been presented at World Sustainable Development Summit 2016 and won a Campus Impact Challenge as well.
They now, want to implement this model program in various colleges and localities of Delhi and NCR to create a sense of compassion and kindness towards the dogs along with a shift in the conventional mindsets due to which the stray dogs often live a life full of human atrocities.
To implement The Desi Model, they have initiated a Campus Leader Program where students from various colleges will be chosen to be the representatives of this project in their colleges and neighboring areas as well.
DETAILS ABOUT THE CAMPUS LEADER PROGRAM (CLP):
Enactus Motilal Nehru College presents Campus Leader Program (CLP) 2017. The aim of CLP is to form a team of individuals in every college who will work as the extended hands of Enactus Motilal Nehru College for ‘Project Parivartan’, which aims to teach the underprivileged women useful skills in improving their standards of living by making them self-sustained entrepreneurs. They will also work towards the implementation of the DESI (Duty to Empathize Sterilize and Immunize) Model in various colleges and localities of NCR to change the perception of people regarding stray dogs and improve their present conditions by giving them social acceptance.
For an overview of the tasks and responsibilities to be assigned visit: goo.gl/J4pWNV
In a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court, the judicial body has passed governance wherein no political party can conjure votes on the foundation of religion, caste and creed.
The verdict by the apex court was announced as a result of deliberations by a seven-member bench and was a follow-up to a petition filed in 1996. Seeking to retain the secular ethos of the Constitution, it takes into account the vague nature of Section 123 (3) of the Representation of the People Act (1951) which states that appeals made by candidates on the grounds of religion, race, caste, community, or language would be banned. The ruling is sought to shed clarity on the wordings, so as the conclusion to be a wholesome ban on the use of religion in campaigning practices. This shall have rippling effects on the forthcoming state elections coined to take place in UP, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Manipur; three out of five states where caste politics is a major factor in soliciting alliances and votes.
In its functional representation, a wall is being endeavored to be built between state and religion. The Constitution ascribes India as a secular country, and this move pushes the foundational strength of that claim. It can be understood that by the rule of extension, elections should also be viewed as a secular practice. Thus, the aim was to embellish the secular character of India; a country which is characterised by its confluence of diverse backgrounds.
This judicial activism aiming to fill the gap between one of the laws can be deemed promising, yet is a long throw from being effectively implemented to becoming successful. Firstly, there is the argument of Free Speech according to which discussions on religion and caste are constitutionally protected and cannot be restricted. Thus, any party genuinely working towards the escalation of minority classes will find itself in a predicament. Secondly, the law has existed before, and only a certain aspect of it has been modified. However, its working remains inadequate since Independence. Thirdly, the implementation is a major hindrance which needs to be entangled. Appealing for votes by pulling the banned strings is not done in the open, and is subtle in approaching voters which may prove to be hard to monitor. Fourthly, this controversial move can prove to be an advantage for BJP as it lobbies for Hindus and Hindutva particularly, which the Supreme Court in 1995 ruled as ‘a way of life’ and not a religion, and thus handing them a rabbit’s escape.
The apex court’s ruling is plausible for national reasons but unfortunately is also rigged with loopholes which might result in it being one of the forgotten laws of the land.
Amidst various ups and downs, 2016 was another year of significant happenings in Delhi University. Let us take a chronological glance at the events that shaped the year for all.
January
photo credit: dnaindia
Ram Janmabhoomi Seminar
The much talked about Ram Janmabhoomi Seminar which was kicked off by Subramanian Swamy in the arts faculty of Delhi University led to heavy opposition and protests by parties like NSUI and AISA, who opposed the seminar as an attempt by NDA govt. to saffronize the campus.
Ramjas College starts yearlong centennial celebrations
Ramjas College which completes 100 years this year, kicked off its yearlong centennial celebrations with Tonga Rides and the releasing of balloons in the air.
February
Photo Credit: CMI Education World
St. Stephens College gets a new principal
Prof. John Varghese joined as the new principal of St. Stephens College after the end of the controversial term of Valson Thampu.
March
Photo Credit: Indian Express
DU gets a new Vice-Chancellor
After a month of his appointment and bureaucratic hassles, Prof. Yogesh K. Tyagi joined as the new Vice Chancellor of Delhi University.
April
Photo Credit : NDTV.com
Priyadarshini Chatterjee wins Femina Miss India 2016
Priyadarshini Chatterjee, a student of Sociology at Hindu College won the Femina Miss. India 2016. The beauty pageant veteran had won the Femina Miss. Delhi too, which gave her an entry to Miss. India.
Bhaskar Sen wins Karate US Open World Championship
Bhaskar Sen, a student from Sri Venkateswara College won the Karate US Open World Championship. Having won many more championships earlier, this one was just adding another feather to his hat.
May
Photo Credit: Indian Express
Hindu College cancels girls’ hostel admission
After heavy protest and strikes by students and teachers of the college and later by DUSU led to the intervention of Delhi Commission of Women (DSW) in the issue of exorbitant fees of Hindu College girls’ hostel, the college cancelled the girls’ hostel admissions for this year.
Tina Dabi tops the UPSC Civil Service Exams
Tina Dabi, an alumnus of Lady Shri Ram College topped the much sought after UPSC civil services exam. She cleared the exam in her very first attempt.
June
Photo Credit: Exam Watch
Delhi University admissions goes entirely online
In a first attempt, admissions of Delhi University was made entirely online. But the glitches in the online mode like the web server crashing on the first day of admissions made the process draw some criticism.
July
Photo Credit- DU Beat
DUTA protest delays results of students
Teachers of Delhi University protested against an UGC notification that increased the working hours of teachers and this led to Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) boycotting the admission and evaluation process of University. Only after the notification was withdrawn, teachers joined the evaluation process.
August
Photo Credit- NDTV.com
DUSU Elections goes paperless
Worried over excess paper wastage, National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered Delhi University to conduct paperless elections this year. Although the authorities tried their level best by damaging hoardings and tearing posters of candidates, many candidates were still seen wasting paper.
Ceiling collapses in Daulat Ram College
Owing to its sad history of maintenance, a ceiling collapsed in Daulat Ram College injuring a couple of students and blew up the lid of pathetic condition of infrastructure in the University.
October
Photo Credit – Arindam Goswami for DU Beat
Law faculty students go on hunger strike
The students of law faculty went on a hunger strike demanding supplementary exams and rechecking of their papers. The strike also found the dean of the faculty going on a parallel hunger strike. The strike was called off after discussions and assurance of the Vice Chancellor.
AISA’s meeting disrupted by ABVP
AISA’s seminar on ‘Idea of University’ was disrupted by ABVP members who latter even roughed up several members of AISA including its president. Both sides got into a scuffle, after which the event was cancelled. The surprising fact was, all of this happened even after heavy police presence.
November
Photo Credit: DU website
DU holds its 93rd annual convocation
Delhi University held its 93rd annual convocation in the University Stadium, which awarded PhDs and gold medals to successful passing out students.
Prof. Nandini Sundar arrested
Prof. Nandini Sundar, a sociologist from Dept. of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics who authored the popular book “The Burning Forest- India’s war in Bastar” was arrested by the Chattisgarh police. The arrest which drew lot of criticisms from academic circles was dropped after the high court pulled up the police for its malicious attempt to frame the teacher.
December
President visits St. Stephens College
Shri Pranab Mukherjee-Hon. President of India visited St. Stephens College on account of its founder’s day.
There are some happenings that drew everyone’s attention across the year.
Pinjra Tod Movement
Photo Credit- DU Beat
The Pinjra Tod Movement which began as a facebook page turned into a great call for revolution within academic institutions to relook on its hostel policies which cage students with curfew times. The movement not just grew largely in Delhi University but also spread to other parts of the country.
Amidst all these happenings that marked our calendars of 2016, we grew a year older. We at DU Beat kept you updated with happenings around the campus in 2016 and promise to do better this year. With hopes of good days ahead and cash filled ATMs, we wish you a happy new year ahead.
2016 has been a significant year, in both national and international political arenas. Political events all around the world have made headlines this year, and these developments will leave an impact for years to come. The whole world had its eyes on the US Presidential elections and its results in November, while simultaneously Narendra Modi went forward with the boldest economic-political reform of Demonetisation. Here is an overview of International and National politics in 2016:
International Politics:
Donald Trump elected as the Presidential successor to Barack Obama in USA:Photo credit – National Review.
After Barack Obama served 2 successive terms as the President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 as a representative of the Democratic Party, Donald Trump was elected as the new president of the United States of America as a Republican Nominee on November 8th, 2016. He chose Mike Pence, the sitting governor of Indiana, as his running Vice Presidential candidate. Trump won the election against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by popular vote, even though exit polls showed Clinton winning over Trump. Trump’s populist positions in opposition to illegal immigration and various trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific partnership earned him support in male voters and white blue-collar
Rising Unrest in Aleppo:Photo Credit- CNN
The Battle of Aleppo is a part of the ongoing Syrian Civil War which began in 2016. Aleppo has been a prime site for open and major military confrontation involvingthe Syrian opposition (including Free Syrian Army, and Sunni fighters, including Levant Front) in close cooperation with the Army of Conquest, which includes within it Al-Nusra Front, formerly al-Qaida’s Syrian branch, against the Syrian Armed Forces of the Syrian Government, supported by Hezbollah and Shiite militias and Russia, and against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units. This war has created enormous humanitarian unrest in Aleppo, due to which the civilians face death, bombing, constant patrolling, lack of food or medicines and a general loss in life and livelihood. Many Syrians have been lucky enough to migrate from their homeland and seek better lives outside their nation, however many of them still live in Aleppo with a constant fear of death. The current state of Aleppo has created major international uproar which aims at rehabilitating the lives of those who have been suffering.
Initiation of the new Secretary General of the United Nations:Photo Credit: moroccoworldnews.com
On 13 October 2016, The United Nations General Assembly appointed by acclamation the former Prime Minister of Portugal,António Guterres, as the next United Nations Secretary-General, to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on 31 December 2016.
Assasination of Russian Ambassador:Photo Credit: CNN
Andrei Karlov, Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was shot dead by an assassin who told him: “We die in Aleppo, you die here.” The gunman was an off-duty policeman who opened fired at an art gallery in Ankara as Andrei Karlov was making a speech, then stood triumphantly over his body shouting revenge for Syria and Aleppo. Russia described this event as a ‘terrorist act’.
National Politics:
Photo credit: www.indianexpress.com
Demonetization:
The demonetisation of ?500 and ?1,000 banknotes was a policy enacted by the Government of India on 8 November 2016, ceasing the usage of these banknotes as legal tender in India from 9 November 2016. The announcement was made by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in an unscheduled live televised address 8 November. In the announcement, Modi declared that use of all ?500 and ?1,000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series would be invalid after midnight of that day, and announced the issuance of new ?500 and ?2,000 in exchange for the old banknotes. The government claimed that the demonetisation was an effort to stop counterfeiting of the current banknotes allegedly used for funding terrorism and to impose a crack down on black money in the country. However, in the days following the demonetisation, banks and ATMs across the country faced severe cash shortages with severe effects on a number of small businesses, agriculture, and transportation. People seeking to exchange their notes had to stand in lengthy queues, and several deaths were linked to the inconveniences caused due to the rush to exchange cash.
Resignation of Najeeb Jung:
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has submitted his resignation to the Centre, ending a nearly three-and-half- year-long eventful tenure. Jung did not issue a reason for his resignation, however it is said that Jung wanted to go back to his true passion for academia. Jung thanked Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal along with the people of Delhi for their continued support, however AAP claims that Jung is responsible for stalling ambitious projects, like setting up of Mohalla clinics across Delhi.
Demise of J.Jayalalithaa:
The esteemed Cheif Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa, fondly known as Amma, passed away on December 5th, 2016. She served Tamil Nadu for 14 years, between the years 1991 to 2016. She passed away due to her inability of recovering from a cardiac arrest, and her death was confirmed by Apollo Hospitals. She is succeeded by O. Panneerselvam from the AIADMK Party.
State Polls:
2016 saw the beginning of the State Elections which are to be held in 2017. In many of these states, Assembly Polls have already taken place and final voting is to be held in 2017. The states wherein elections will be taking place are West Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala.
Those who know Safdar Hashmi don’t celebrate New Year like the rest of the world does. For them the birth of a new year is tinted with the murder of an imaginative, inspiring and brave personality: Safdar Hashmi. However his death isn’t observed solely as an occasion of solemn, sad mourning, rather it also marks a esilient and resurging awakening.
Who was Safdar Hashmi?
Safdar Hashmi was born on April 12, 1954. He identified as a liberal Marxist and graduated from St Stephen’s College, Delhi University in 1975. During his college day he joined Students Federation of India and later became a member of CPI(M). After completing his M.A from Delhi University, he taught in English, Zakir Husain College, University of Kashmir and HNB Garhwal University where 1st January is celebrated as “Abhivyakti Diwas” in his memory. Later he worked in Press Trust of India (PTI) and The Economic Times as a journalist, and then becamePress Information Officer of the Government of West Bengal.
In his short life Safdar Hashmi did too many jobs, only to leave them for full time political activism.
In one rare interview with Eugene van Erven he explains how he pursued work in cinema and television to earn good amount of money so that he can sustain his brain child JANAM (Jan Natya Manch). He expressed his desire of making art accessible to the “workers who are culturally today starved and marginalized”. True to his cause, he enriched the theater activism with socially relevant masterpieces likeMachine (exploitation of industrial labour),Aurat (violence against women), Gaon Se Shahar Tak (exploitation offarmers),Hatyare and Apharan Bhaichare Ke (religious and political fascism),Kursi (based around the controversy of Indira Gandhi and 1971 rigging of elections),Teen Crore(on unemployment) and Halla Bol (awakening of a common man and worker’s rights). It was during one of his performances he was fatally attacked by the goons backed by Indian National Congress.
Sequence of events.
On 1st January, 1989, Hashmi and his theater group JANAM were enacting their play “Halla Bol” in a labor colony in Jhandapur village, in Sahibabad. Those were the times when labor strikes for minimum wages and respectable labor laws were common and Ghaziabad City Board Elections were scheduled for 10TH January. Safdar Hashmi was supportive of CPI(M) candidate Ramanand Jha who was standing for the post of Councilor.
The play began around 11am before a huge crowd. Within minutes, Mukesh Sharma a Congress candidate along with his aides arrived and asked to move past the space where the play was being staged. Safdar Hashmi asked them to wait or use a different route. The tension was in seconds escalated to violence.The goons had pistols, iron rods and hockey sticks, the artist had none. Safdar Hashmi was brutally beaten up and a simple laborer Ram Bahadur was shot because he was mistaken as Ramanad Jha. Injured Safdar Hashmi and JANAM members sought refuge in CITU office, but a while later the goons barged inside the CITU office. When the lynch mob dispersed, unconscious Safdar Hashmi was rushed to Narendra Mohan Hospital and later to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospita, Delhi where next day at 10 pm he succumbed to the injuries. He was 34.
Aftermath
Safdar Hashmi’s death caused an immediate and overwhelming outpouring of solidarity from varied sections of society. On 3rd January his 10 mile long funeral procession was attended by around 15,000 people. And right after the funeral, on 4th January in display of awe inspiring strength Moloyashree Hashmi and JANAM went back to Jhandapur, to the very spot where Safdar Hashmi was assaulted and finished the incomplete-interrupted play.
Fourteen years later on 3rd November 2003, Ghaziabad court sentenced life imprisonment to Mukesh Sharma and nine others.
What now?
It’s been 28 years since that fateful day. In all these years, Studio Safdar and Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust have been established. Movies (Anbe Sivam, Halla Bol|), poems (Purnendu Pattrea’s A New Word: Safdar Hashmi and Ranjit Hoskote’s Assasination of an Artist) , paintings (M.F. Husain’s painting “Tribute to Hashmi” was sold for over $1 million, the first time a painting by an Indian artist reached this price) and awards have been dedicated to him (Shabana Azmi used the National Awards forum in 1989 to speak about the horrific killing of Safdar Hashmi). Today many annual events eulogizing him mark the calendar. We have added Safdar Hashmi’s name alongside Juliano Mer-Khamis, Pash and Sumeet Singh, in the long list titled “Artist who were killed because their art was inconvenient”.
Every year he the same old discourse of remembrance is repeated, and even though many will say it’s just a token thing- these tweets, the facebook updates, I disagree. I thinkit’s important to remember things this relevant, it’s okay to repeat the same things over and over again because they are worth repeating, it’s essential to not forget.
If Safdar Hashmi were alive today, then we would see him marching with the tea plantation women workers of Munnar, with the ASHA workers, with 180 million public sector labors demanding dignified labour laws, perhaps we he would have performed “Halla Bol” for the protesting Honda employees, we would have seen him in Pride Parades, with Kashmiri Pandits and against Babri Masjid. We would have seen him in streets proudly standing with struggles.
We can’t have him with us, but we have his legacy and the least we can do is to remember him, even if it comes in way of our New Year cheer.
The conflict began due to multiple factors, the major one being the unrest of the 2011 Arab Spring and the successful mobilization against the government in Tunisia and Egypt that spilled over in Syria due to the already present discontent with the Assad families long reign. Other factors included Assad’s special priority towards the Alwaite minority in a Sunni majority country, the socio economic situation of Syria and extreme drought condition of Syria during 2011.
The Syrian people organized peaceful protests against the regime in March 2011 which later turned into a armed conflict after President Bashar Al Assad’s government violently repressed protests calling for his removal. In the same year, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was formed, headed by Riad Al Assad, a former Syrian army colonel. The year saw the formation of other rebel groups against the government.
After the failed peace talks in 2012, the Syrian government allegedly used chemical weapons on 21st August 2012 in a Damasus suburb killing up to 1400 civilians. Russia while did not enter the war till 2015, manoeuvred Syria to dismantle its existing chemical facilities.
In 2013-4, ISIS entered eastern Syria and transformed Raqqaa into its de facto capital after entering the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria in 2011. Who: Foreign countries
According to the map by Thomas van Linge, the combatants can be grouped into 4 broad categories – Rebels (from ‘moderate’ to Islamists), Loyalists (regime forces and their supporters), Kurdish groups (control autonomy of the north-eastern Syria after fighting with ISIS, they as of now do not wish to overthrow the Assad regime), and finally the foreign power which are either fighting or claiming to fight ISIS at the moment.
The foreign powers include the as of now pro Assad regime of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah and the opposition that is the US led coalition along with Turkey, Arab states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia who maintain their statement about the removal of Assad from power. Russia has according to Reuters, achieved its goal of stabilizing the Assad government, also providing it with new armoured vehicles, surveillance equipments and various weapons including guided bombs for planes. It has allegedly led air strikes against not just ISIL, but also the rebel groups. The US on the other hand in July 2012, granted a non government organization called the Syrian Support Group a license to fund the Free Syrian Army and also provided arms and training to certain ‘vetted’ rebel groups. The foreign countries have while maintained their claim of fighting the ISIS, but have also been taking action to either support or remove the Assad regime
Which: Right side
There are no ‘right’ side or country in the war as according to the UN report, both the sides have led to casualties and death of civilians.
What: Current situation
November 28: After months of intense air strikes, the Syrian army and its allies announced the capture of a large part of eastern Aleppo from the rebels. The Kurdish YPG militia later moved into at least two of the areas left by the rebel forces after an arrangement according to Reuters.
December 13: Regional director of UNICEF, Geert Cappelaere reported that around 100 unaccompanied children were trapped in a building under heavy attack in East Aleppo.
December 15: Russia and United States suspended talks on ways to resolve crisis in Syria’s largest city of Aleppo.
December 20: The allies and non allies of the government reported varying evacuation reports but according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, no new evacuation were made on Saturday. As of Tuesday, 25,000 people have been evacuated from Aleppo including 15,000 on Monday and 10,000 last Thursday.
The current situation of the Aleppo citizens is extremely bad with thousands left in cold, injured and the war is far from over.
