St. Stephen’s College has released a tentative schedule for the Aptitude Test and Interviews for various courses as part of the admission procedure for the year 2016-17. The college has also announced on its website that its Prospectus and online application form will be available on the website from 28th May, 2016 onwards.
The admission dates have been sorted as per course, beginning with Sanskrit (Hons) on 20th June, with Economics (Hons.) scheduled for 21st, 22nd and 23rd June. English (Hons.) is tentatively scheduled for 28th and 29th June. Find the entire list of scheduled dates on this link.
Aptitude tests for all courses have been introduced as part of the admission procedure from 2015 onwards, carrying 5% weightage in the selection process. The aptitude test is part of the college’s drive to provide a level playing field to students from all backgrounds, thereby giving students an alternate platform to perform well, according to a message from Principal John Varghese to prospective applicants, available on the website. The test will be followed by an interview.
From the current academic session onwards, minority colleges like St. Stephen’s and Jesus and Mary College are likely to join the University’s centralised admission procedure rather than have separate registrations. However, the two colleges will continue to retain their own individual admission policies.
The University of Delhi is a dynamic place to be, and records new highs with various achievements but also new lows with several controversial issues taking place every year. With another academic session coming to its end, we bring to you another edition of The Best and Worst of Delhi University series.
This academic year has seen personalities from various walks of life, who have achieved a remarkable measure of success in their respective fields, sharing their thought – provoking ideas with Delhi University’s student community. From stand-up comedy to business, politics and film-making, visiting personalities have provided insights into their work and lives, leaving valuable advice and enriching the college experience of students. We take a look at the well – known personalities who visited DU this year, contributing to the potpourri of cultures, visions and ideas that the University embodies.
1. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kapil Dev, Varun Agarwal and other stars at SRCC Youth Conference
September 2015: The annual Youth Conference at SRCC, with the theme ‘And the victor carries on’ saw the presence of several eminent personalities. An interactive session with cricketing legend Kapil Dev revealed his love for the sport as he encouraged students to follow their passion. Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui spoke about his early days and struggles as a budding actor in Bombay. Founder of Alma Mater, Varun Agarwal, shared his insights on his book ‘How I Met Anu Aunty and Co-Founded a Million Dollar Company’ and motivated the audience to refrain from procrastinating. Comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath of the ‘Pretentious Movie Reviews’ fame kept the audience engaged with his wise cracks on enthusiatic festival celebrations. Abish Mathew’s song on how youngsters shouldn’t waste their lives over drugs left the audience in splits.
September 2015: Former IPS officer, social activist, and politician, Kiran Bedi, was the Chief Guest at Indraprastha College for Women, as part of the Pink Chain Campaign, an initiative by Punarjeevan to spread awareness on breast cancer. She emphasised on the need to prioritise health and check-ups, keeping in mind the busy schedules of the youth in current times.
3. Markandey Katju and Subramanian Swamy at KMC’s ‘India 2020’
September 2015: Former Supreme Court Justice and Press Council of India Chairman, Markandey Katju’s address flagged off ‘India Vision 2020’, organised by the Round Table society at Kirori Mal College. He spoke of the significance of a modern, rational, scientific and inquisitive mind, with references to several anecdotes and instances from history. He lamented the pitiable state of affairs of the parliament, bureaucracy and media in India. Former Cabinet Minister Subramanian Swamy also addressed the gathering. Replete with witticisms, he put forth the hope for India as a developed country, provided we get our act together.
4. Abish Mathew at Entreyug’15, Jesus and Mary College
November 2015: Comedian Abish Mathew’s rib-tickling act was an entertaining conclusion to Entreyug’15, conducted by Entrepreneurship Cell, Jesus and Mary College, in collaboration with the E-Cell, Delhi College of Art and Commerce. Following speakers like Vineet Taneja, CEO of Micromax, and Rajat Jain, former MD of Walt Disney, Abish Mathew enthralled the audience with his typical brand of humour.
December 2015: Shri Ram College of Commerce hosted Google CEO, Sundararajan Pichai, who addressed a crowd of over 2000 students, in a session moderated by commentator, Harsha Bhogle. Mr. Pichai emphasised upon the importance of doing something that one is excited by, and using every opportunity to reinvent ourselves. He shared his vision for Google and his hope of making technology a one-stop solution to every problem. On being asked about his 12th standard percentage, Pichai quipped that it would not be enough to get him into SRCC.
6. Najeeb Jung, Papon and East India Company at Ramjas College’s centennial celebrations
January 2016: Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung stressed the need to think freely as citizens of a country that is progressing, as the Chief Guest on the first day of the celebration held to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Ramjas College. Papon, founding member of Assamese band East India Company, enthralled the audience along with his band, with their lively performance and energetic beats.
January 2016: The Entrepreneurship Cell, St. Stephen’s College, organised ‘The Journey,’ a talk by film actor Boman Irani. In the course of the inspirational talk, Mr. Irani spoke about his anecdotal journey and the power of dedication, perseverance, and dreaming big. His unique tongue-in-cheek style of humour, along with personal experiences, kept the audience hooked onto every word of his motivational address.
Boman Irani
8. Durjoy Dutta and Ravinder Singh at SRCC’s Literary Festival
February 2016: Zephyr, the Literary Festival conducted by the English Literary Society at Shri Ram College of Commerce, saw author Durjoy Dutta explaining to the audience his initial dreams of becoming a writer and its gradual fulfillment. Bestselling author Ravinder Singh of ‘I Too Had a Love Story’ fame motivated the students to pursue their dreams, through his interactive session with the audience.
February 2016: The annual fest, Odyssey 2016, was held by the History and Political Science society, Shri Ram College of Commerce, with the theme ‘The changing face of Indian society – the good and the bad.’ The inaugural talk was by Mrs. Sheila Dixit, former Chief Minister of Delhi, whose interactive session with the audience saw her facing questions on the comparative policies of the current government in Delhi to that of her government.
10. Prof. Irfan Habib and Anjolie Ela Menon at the Academic Conclave, St. Stephen’s College
February 2016: Ancient and medieval Indian history stalwart, Professor Irfan Habib, addressed the Academic Conclave as its plenary speaker on the day of its commencement, on the topic ‘The National Movement and its Legacy.’ He quipped that, “After 1947, every coward can be a patriot.”
Leading contemporary artist, Anjolie Ela Menon, discussed the history of the patronage of art.
11. Adi Godrej, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Nitin Gadkari and others at the SRCC Business Conclave
February 2016: SRCC’s Business Conclave saw a host of eminent personalities addressing the audience. In his session, BJP party leader Nitin Gadkari spoke of the importance of the youth in nation – building. Sunil Bharti Mittal, CEO of Bharti Enterprises, shared stories of his struggles and success. Medha Patkar, an activist for Narmada Bachao Andolan highlighted the importance of human resource saying, “Money alone cannot give you the suit on your body, the paper we use and even the currency notes.”
Adi Godrej, from Godrej Group, spoke on how fundamental enforced legislation is to the growth of the country but how often too many rules and regulations can also slow down the process of growth. The concluding speaker at the 3-day event was actor Rishi Kapoor. When asked about Bollywood, he said, “The business of cinema is huge. The only entertainment after cinema is sex.”
Eminent personalities at the SRCC Business Conclave
February 2016: Bollywood superstar and Hans Raj Alumni Shahrukh Khan visited his college in the month of February to promote his much anticipated flick- Fan. The actor was also felicitated with the degree of graduation which he completed back in 1988.
March 2016: Directors Mira Nair and Onir visited St. Stephen’s College for a screening of their respective films, Reluctant Fundamentalist and I am Omar. The screening, held by the Gender Studies Cell, St. Stephen’s College, in collaboration with Engendered, was followed by an interactive session with the two directors. Mira Nair spoke of the “need to express oneself with absolute boldness.” “We must tell our stories for, if we don’t, nobody will,” she pointed out. Onir also spoke of the importance of self-expression irrespective of whether or not it pleases anybody else. “An artist cannot paint their canvas according to what pleases everybody,” he said.
“We all-adults and children, writers and readers-have an obligation to daydream. We have an obligation to imagine.”
I anticipate two kinds of readers-one category will scoff at the above statement and mumble to themselves about the kind of trash that the internet produces these days. The second category will find that their hearts and minds resound with the statement above, with every novel they lift off the shelf and every page they turn.
The statement quoted was made by Neil Gaiman, a master storyteller who reigns supreme over the world of fiction. It was part of an article published in The Guardian and aptly titled, ‘Face Facts: We need Fiction.’
The category of readers who scoffed at the statement would, in all likelihood, like to refer to fiction as a form of ‘escapism.’ Fiction, to those who consider it a waste of their time, is a convenient way of running as far away as possible from the harsh realities of the world we inhabit. It serves as a temporary retreat when the tribulations of the ‘real’ world become too heavy a burden. Cannot deal with adult problems anymore? Turn to hippogriffs, or Gandalf, or Mowgli, to forget about them for a while. Such an argument sees fiction as a form of entertainment that takes our mind off of more pressing matters-a route to the land of collective amnesia, if you will. Once our allotted, limited time for leisure has come to an end, we must return to the mundane lives of our everyday chores and routines for, fiction is not as significant as the circus that is world politics or the imminent threat that is global warming.
Though valid to a certain extent (yes, I shall make that concession), this line of thought refuses to acknowledge the fact that ‘fiction’ mirrors the very world we live in. The fantastic world of Narnia or the castle of Hogwarts, are not as untrue or feigned as the word ‘fiction’ portrays them to be. The creators of these magical realms are those who inhabit our very societies, and writers are a product of their times. The worlds that emerge from their enviably rich imaginations are not entirely disconnected from our very own realities, for the writer is largely influenced by his or her circumstances. Therefore, there are important lessons to be gleaned from animals that can talk and feel, or from the possibility of a Jurassic Park. In the process, if the story gives the reader respite from their own problems, or even better, offers a solution to them, fiction has served its noble purpose.
Fiction equips us with the powerful weapon of imagination and the ability to dream of alternative realities and truths. The academic disciplines of history or science are not the only worthy pursuits that will someday make a change in the world. Imagination can be just as powerful.
Introverts may perceive college experiences differently from extroverts
According to Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, “Introversion-along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness- is now a second class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology.”
Your college experience is likely to vary drastically from that of your peers’ based on your individual personalities. More so if you identify as an introvert in a society that applauds extroversion. While you ride on the roller coaster that is college, remember that individual experiences in college are subjective, and need not conform to a set standard of what ‘college life’ should or should not be like.
Here are some ways an introvert perceives life in college-to convince other introverts that they are not alone, and to give extroverts a glimpse of what it feels like to be at the other end of the spectrum.
“Where’s the party at? I’m running in the opposite direction!”
Introverts are not particularly fond of forced interactions or excessive external stimulation. Therefore, large crowds of noisy people, drinking and dancing to loud music, would make an introvert intensely uncomfortable. This implies that the parties, which most people think are integral to college life, are not where you will find introverts. Invite an introvert to a party and they will immediately think of a 101 imaginary reasons not to show up. They would rather spend their evening indoors, pursuing their favourite hobby, or spending time with a few close friends.
An escape plan is always on our minds
If we do show up at that society farewell/celebration of the annual play production, we have already thought of a plan to leave 10 minutes into the event. Trust us to come up with the most innovative, loophole-less excuses.
“Why don’t you talk more?”
This is a phrase that an introvert encounters every other day. Introverts do not enjoy small talk ergo, they will say nothing unless they have something significant to share. Susain Cain puts this in the most lucid way-“In school, you might have been prodded to ‘come out of your shell’- that noxious expression which fails to appreciate that some animals naturally carry shelter everywhere they go, and that some humans are just the same.”
It is sometimes an internal tussle to be part of college societies
This probably applies to every extracurricular activity in college. Introverts may be faced with the dilemma of wanting to do something productive with their time in college, yet not wanting to subject themselves to too much social interaction. This leaves an introvert with two alternatives-exclude themselves from such activities entirely, or participate to a limited extent. The introvert might be the person in the society who will enjoy the work, but not show up to the meetings, celebrations or parties.
However, despite the above, college is also the space where introverts find acceptance. For most of us, college is that secure environment where one is allowed to be whoever they want to be, no questions asked. The interests you pursue and the paths you choose are entirely your own and judgement is very easy to ignore. An introvert is given the freedom to selectively participate in society activities or hang out with just a few close friends. While your teachers or parents might force you into activities you do not enjoy in school, college allows you the space to make your own decisions and come to terms with your personalities, among others who are coming to terms with their own.
Featured image credits: theawkwardyeti.com and buzzfeed.com
Delhi University’s fest season witnesses several societies competing for the top spot at various cultural events, out-performing their rivals and sometimes bettering their previous standards and performances. In the stage theatre category, the theatre society at Ramjas College, Shunya, was ranked best for their play ‘Deluxe Hair Cutting Salon.’
The Winning Society at a glance
Shunya, Ramjas College
‘Deluxe Hair Cutting Salon,’ a play written by Sandeep Shikhar, revolves around the eponymous salon, which is located beside a mechanic’s workspace and a pathological laboratory. The world created within the space of the salon and its neighbours seeks to explore the quick manner in which people are likely to find faults with another’s character, often forgetting those in their own. The significance of introspection is a pertinent question that the play addresses. The play also brings out the polarity of characteristics present in individuals-a facet of human nature that must be recognised and acknowledged.
On the reason behind their success this year, Shubham Vaish, actor, said, “The entire production worked like a well-oiled machine. A well thought out strategy of work, utmost dedication by all actors in terms of being sincere to their respective roles, and coordinated efforts between both directors in managing time, people and resources is what made ‘Deluxe Hair Cutting Salon’ a fairly successful play in the DU theatre circuit.””A common reception that we saw for the play, was the appreciation for the acting,” he adds. “Every actor, excluding two, played two characters each. Some of these characters had a wide age gap between them, which was a challenge for the actor to switch between the roles. But the portrayal was appreciated by the audience. “A million people often means two million faces, and this is what the play embodies,” he concludes.
Cast and Crew
Shobhit Bhatia as Bachan Jayant Chand as Binay Da and Bablu Pandey Soumik Roy as Das Babu and Pancha Babu Shubham Vaish as Sanjay and Raju Kumar Abhimanyu as Bapi and Salesman Kritarth Sethi as Dilip
Deepak Singh as Customer
Directed by : Shobhit Bhatia and Dewang Mulani
Sound Design and Execution by : Shrishti Chakraborty
Lights Design and Execution by : Dewang Mulani
Production Team : Aishwarya Sharma, Salonee Sharma, Deepak Singh, Disha Sukhija
Winners Tally: Shunya, Ramjas College
‘Deluxe Hair Cutting Salon’ was staged at 13 different venues this year at competitive and non-competitive events, including India Habitat Centre and Shri Ram Centre, besides the fests at various Delhi University colleges.
The play was adjudged the best play at Daulat Ram College and at Gargi College’s Reverie. The play has also secured various other accolades for best direction (at Hans Raj College, Daulat Ram College and Gargi College), best ensemble cast at Gargi College, and best actor and best production team at St. Stephen’s College.
With yet another academic session almost coming to an end at the University of Delhi, it is time to look back at the year that has gone by, before all of us get busy with semester examination preparation. Going by the thought, DU Beat brings to you its exclusive series ‘Colleges’ Round Up (2015-16)’, where we present the highlighting incidents of numerous DU colleges that took place over 2015 and 2016.
So, go with the flow and view all what activities highlighted the near to end session at St. Stephen’s College.
From appointing a new principal to getting awarded ‘A’ grade by NAAC, St. Stephen’s College has had quite an eventful year.
Here’s an overview of all what happened at St. Stephen’s College, this session:
The criteria on the basis of which students are admitted to Delhi University under the sports quota is set to be altered. From this academic year onwards, colleges will hold trials for specific positions that the team is looking to fill. “If a college needs a wicketkeeper for its cricket team, a centre forward for its football team, or a goalkeeper for its hockey team, the selection will be focused on these positions,” a member of the admissions committee informed mediapersons.
Five percents of the seats in all colleges are reserved under sports and extra-curriculars category. The 2016 admission season is all set to begin from May 25, with the first cut-off list expected on June 22. Over 3000 students seek admission into Delhi University through the sports category every year. For admissions through sports quota, three fitness tests are conducted by the University, after a college-level application has been filled by the students seeking admission.
The University seeks to ensure a certain measure of transperancy in admissions through sports quota, by holding trials only for those positions that the college team is looking to fill. Colleges have been asked to submit their data by the end of this month, and confusion will be eliminated from the entire process, making it easier and less time-consuming, according to an official. Students will now be required to apply to specific colleges keeping in mind the requirement of each college team, thereby streamlining the process.
The introduction of this measure may save students the time and energy that goes into applying at every college, since applicants will be made aware in advance of the open positions on college teams. However, this change in the procedure may cause sportspersons to feel that they are not being given the opportunity to showcase their skills at most colleges. Earlier, colleges would accomodate students with outstanding abilities irrespective of the position they played at.
For information on admissions through sports quota in 2015, follow this link: https://dubeat.com/2015/05/admission-sports-quota-2015/
The Gender Studies Cell, St. Stephen’s College, conducted its two-day annual event, Sarfarosh, on the 28th and 29th of March, 2016. With the tag line, “Ae be-baak bol uthein hum, qayyar nahin, sarfarosh hain hum,” the event was a fitting conclusion to the GSC’s year-long endeavour towards dispelling taboos through interactions with activists and 1scholars, unearthing lived experiences in the process.
The event was kick-started by Prof. Mary E. John, Senior Fellow and Professor, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, with her talk on ‘A Silent Revolution? Gendered Intersectionalities in the University today.’ With statistics to back her arguments, Prof. John voiced the question of whether the numbers claiming higher rates of education for women today can be considered a silent revolution. The talk provided insights into the intersection of gender with other axes of discrimination and disadvantage. The instance of administrative responses to cases of harassment was used to highlight the vulnerability of young students, compounded by these intersectionalities. Her ideas provoked thought on the significance of economic policies in dealing with gender problems, for only 15% of women in India are currently engaged in paid work.
The lecture was followed by ‘Navigating Love and Sexuality,’ a workshop by Avani Parekh, founder of LoveDoctor, a platform for help and questions on sex, relationships and abuse, from experts. The interactive session brought to the fore ideas on love and sexuality from the students themselves, in an engaging manner.
The final day of the annual event began with a panel discussion on ‘Praxis Makes Perfect? Theory, Practice and Activism.’ Moderated by Ms. Urni Ganguly, the panel comprised Shambhawi Vikram, Subhashini Shriya, Gourab Ghosh and Dhiren Borisa. The panelists discussed the movements they are associated with, or have organised in their individual capacities, such as Pinjra Tod, Come See the Blood on My Skirt, Kiss of Love and Dhanak. The problems faced in the organisation of such campaigns, and their significance and impact was addressed. The discussion was followed by ‘Sonder,’ an inter-college spoken word event which saw the active participation of members of Parivartan, the Gender Forum at KMC.
“Sarfarosh is a culmination of the GSC’s efforts through the year-of discussing politics of the everyday, of working towards more accessible vocabularies of feminist and queer theory, of destablilising received knowledge-through workshops, poetry discussions etc. The biggest joy is seeing how members of the audience react to these spaces of discussion, truly recognising the transformative power of talking,” said Rene Sharanya Verma, President, Gender Studies Cell.
Delhi University Students’ Union President Satender Awana’s name has been mentioned along with that of other family members in an FIR filed by a woman with the Noida police on March 12. The woman has accused the Awana family of harassment over dowry, molestation and attempt to murder and has filed the FIR against her husband, Mohit Awana, and her in laws. Satender Awana has been named in the FIR as one of her brothers-in-law. The accused have not been arrested and the case has been sent for mediation, as is customary in dowry disputes, according to The Hindu.
The complainant has alleged that, the Awana family had harassed and assaulted her over not complying with their additional dowry demands, though their initial demands for money and a car were met by her family.
Satender Awana, a leader of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarathi Parishad, informed the media that he is not related to the woman who filed the FIR, though he knows the family as members of his village in Noida. The family dispute has been raging since Mohit Awana was married to her in May last year. The police have also been unable to establish Satender as one of the brothers-in-law of the complainant.
Awana has said that he will file a defamation case against the complainant on grounds of trying to tarnish the image and reputation of himself and his family. In a statement to the media, Awana said, “People who know my family and myself are familiar with our character and lifestyle. These allegations are baseless and fictitious, and the truth of the matter will be proved in court.”
Students’ organisations like the All India Students’ Association have raised the demand for Awana’s resignation from the post of DUSU President. In retaliation, Awana questioned such a demand on the grounds that these demands were not raised against Kanhaiya Kumar who faced charges of sedition. However, he agreed to step down if the allegations were proved.
Awana has earlier made controversial statements, such as threatening to “shoot down the traitors in JNU” who allegedly raised anti-India slogans. He was also accused of misbehaving with two journalists who were conducting a survey on sexual consent on Delhi University’s North Campus.
The Western Dance Society, the Classical Dance Society and the Choreography Society at Hindu College collaborated for what was touted to be the first ever dance fest in the country -Aramya 2016. Held on the 15th and 16th of March, this two-day dance extravaganza saw enthusiastic participation from across Delhi.
Day 1 of Aramya began with a street dance competition, which saw the participation of 3 teams. Sri Venkateswara College walked away with first place in street dance. This was followed by a performance by a professional dance troupe-‘Sandhya.’ The next event for the day was a classical solo competition, with 3 participants.
In the western dance competition on Day 2, 10 teams participated, with IIT Delhi taking first position. This was followed by a number of informal events like tug-of-war where the dance teams were pitted against each other. Aramya ended with the choreography dance competition, in which Kamla Nehru College stood first.
‘Aramya’ is an amalgamation of the names of the Western Dance Society (‘Arambh’), the Classical Dance Society (‘Adhrita’) and the Choreography Society (‘Srjya’). ‘Aramya’ came alive on social media platforms through behind the scenes videos of various participating groups, as well as ‘Humans of Aramya’ which featured the stories of individual dancers.
Sidharth Yadav, one of the organisers of the event, says,”It was a huge task to organise the event on such a large scale, but this was a successful step towards strengthening the dance community in the city. The event involved the contribution of a lot of people and managed to inspire vibrancy in the art form.”
