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Delhi University’s election season has just concluded and the student fraternity has new representatives to look up to. DU Beat talks to the newly elected DUSU team as it gears up for the job.

Mohit Nagar, President, interviewed by Ishaan Gambhir 

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Q1. How does it feel to head the union?

A. I feel very responsible. I’ll be answerable if something goes wrong and I’ll take credit for the good we do.

Q2.What are your primary targets?

A. My primary target will be student problems that are ‘zameen se judi huyi’. To name one, I’m aiming at trying to commence evening colleges to address the problem of high cut-offs.

            I’m ready for the responsibility. 

Q.3 Do you think DUSU needs reforms?

A. DUSU performed well last year. We will continue to work on student issues. As far as DUSU representation in decision-making bodies is concerned, we will ensure we get that far.

Q.4 Is it a boon for ABVP to be in DUSU at a time when BJP is at the center?

A. It’s surely a boon. The BJP government has and will continue to pay attention to us, which is necessary as we raise important student issues. A different arrangement could have been problematic.

Q.5 Rent regulation and ‘right to accommodation’ have been hot topics this election season. What can we expect from DUSU in this direction?

A. The issue is in our manifesto. Currently only 2% students of DU live in hostels. We aim at increasing the ratio to at least 10% this year. A strong rent control law is an immediate requirement as landlords continue to charge what they wish. We will coerce the government in this regard.

Ishaan Gambhir [email protected]

Parvesh Malik, Vice-President, interviewed by Isheeta Sharma 

 Q1.How does it feel to not only win but win all four seats after 18 years?

A. For obvious reasons we are extremely happy. The students of the University have put in all their faith and voted for us and for that we thank them.

Q2. What will be your first target now that you are a DUSU office bearer?

A. As far as DUSU goes we are planning to circulate certain forms from college to college urging students to write about their problems, so that we can start working on the mutual problems that students face.

Q3. Do you think DUSU requires any internal reforms? If yes, what?

 I feel DUSU has already received its reform in the form of ABVP winning all seats. Now that we won’t have people from different parties pulling each other’s legs, we would be able to work more efficiently.

Q4. Students hardly know what is going on in DUSU, how do you plan to change that?

The reason students don’t know what is happening in DUSU is because nothing is happening in DUSU. We plan to change that, every month a few DUSU officials will visit different colleges and stay in touch with the student population.

Q5. DUSU hasn’t even received proper representation in the decision making bodies of the University, do you think you can change that?

 There is no point of being elected if we don’t get the power to be a part of decision making process. We will ask for our rights as representatives.

  Isheeta Sharma [email protected]

Kanika Shekhawat, Secretary,  interviewed by Ishita Sharma

 

Q1.What are your targets as office-bearers of DUSU?

There are a lot of issues we want to tackle. The first being women safety. We plan to start a special Women Development Cell in all colleges. The second issue will be reaching out to non- DUSU colleges so that we can cater to everybody’s needs.  Q2.How do you plan to get DU to the standards of other top universities? First of all, we plan to distribute forms in various colleges in order to know and understand the prevailing problems in various colleges. We also plan to look at the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the faculty and infrastructure. Q3. Looking at the growing attacks on the North-Eastern students, how does DUSU plan to curb this problem?

A. I think such attacks are a serious identity crisis for us. Through seminars, special canteens, especially serving North-East food are some ways we plan to bring the required change.

 Q4. Lastly, a certain film actress’s picture was used in your posters. Can you please tell us the truth behind that?

 I’m being a victim of political gimmick. Everybody knows who I am and I have no purpose of using such pictures. It is against the rules of elections, hence why would I want to get my own ticket cancelled? DU students are not stupid to fall for something like this.

  Ishita Sharma [email protected]

Ashutosh Mathur, Joint Secretary, interviewed by Shaurya Sahai 

Q1. What are the initial targets of DUSU 2014?

 We will try to fulfill the agendas which we mentioned during elections. Our main focus would be on building University Campus across West and East Delhi. Also, we will try to resolve issues regarding residence in the University .  
 I owe my success to the students from dilli dehat who could see a friend in me and thus, supported me.  
Q2.B.Tech courses in the University do not have AICTE approval, yet. So, is ABVP looking forward to seek approval? Yes, of course! In fact, we’ve already sent our team to talk to Smt. Smriti Irani regarding this matter. We assure that nothing will go wrong with those 7,000 students.   Q3.Do you feel that students tend to vote for parties instead of individual candidates? Is it fair? Yes, I think so and I guess it’s fair. See, when one’s name gets attached to any party, it shows the students what one is capable of. Individual candidates do not get much attention unless they are a part of some political group.   Shaurya Sahai [email protected]    ]]>

People’s climate march is being organized for Delhi’s youth on September 20th 2014. The march is set up ahead of United Nations Summit on Climate change in New York on September 23  lead by UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon. This march continues the global trend where in youth, considered as the change makers with their profound zeal and enthusiasm to march together and send across a message to Global Leaders for stronger and binding action on Climate Change, which continues to be a global environmental concern.

Focusing on issues such as using alternative and environment friendly resources with a global and practical perspective, this march also marks the youth’s concern for their upcoming generations, demanding legal and feasible solutions from their Diplomats.

There are 120 countries participating in the summit for a universal and meaningful climate agreement for the upcoming year on September 23. However, India does not mark its presence in the list of attendance. This march is also aimed for sending across a peaceful message to the concerned authorities that India being a developing country, leads in the usage of thermal power plants to keep up with their electricity requirements.

 

 

This is not only a global environmental concern but it also contributes to the hideous lifestyles and poor surviving conditions of the less fortunate living around these plants.  Moreover, not having a future alternative for a Non-Renewable source of energy is an invitation for catastrophe both environmentally and economically for our country.

With Prominent speakers like Kavita Krishnan (All India Progressive Women’s Association) and Bulbul Dhar James (Human Rights Activist) alongside recent Jammu and Kashmir flood survivors amongst others, turning up the share their opinions on the issue, this event aims to reach out to masses, especially the youth. Many students from Delhi University colleges like Gargi and Ramjas have also been lending full support. From making handmade visuals and placards to dressing up as characters sending across strong messages, more than 2000 students across the city have volunteered for the event.

The march is scheduled to start at 9 am from Nepal Embassy (near Mandi House metro station) and will hault at Jantar Mantar, where it is scheduled to reach at 1pm. With self sponsored organizations such as 350.org, Avaaz.org, India Climate Justice Network and Pravah participating, this event wishes to reach out to DU students, who are welcome to lend support and be a part of this prominent environmental and social cause.

If you wish to participate or are looking for further details regarding the event, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/733434846721991/.

 

Amitoj Singh

[email protected]

 

 

Under pressure from men’s rights activists (or boys who’ve accidentally sought admission in girls’ colleges only to embarrass themselves), Delhi University has issued notices to Miranda House and Lady Sri Ram College for Women (LSR) directing them to become co-educational institutes. The deadline for ratification of the order is before the next academic year. The change is being seen as the biggest since the FYUP mess.

The colleges, however, have already given their consent and an official announcement is expected soon. A tender for construction of boys’ washrooms has also been uploaded on Miranda House’s website.

Students currently enrolled at the two colleges are voicing mixed reactions. While most are happy, few feel their freedom and peace is being put at stake. “BOYS BOYS BOYS.” was all we could collect from a girl of the former view. Those who oppose this decision say that they took admission in these colleges solely because they were exclusively interested in being with their own kind.

Interestingly, the hostel of LSR College will also follow suit and accommodate both boys and girls from the next academic year.

Additionally, LSR College for Women has decided to replace ‘Women’ in its name with ‘Everyone’, hence becoming Lady Sri Ram College for Everyone!

Disclaimer: Bazinga is DU Beat’s weekly column of almost believable fake news.

In a city defined by politics, the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections are seen as a stepping stone to the national stage. This fame is not unfounded, and that is why we give you a list of 5 renowned names that started their political stories here as former DUSU Presidents.

 1. Arun Jaitley

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Widely known to be the most intellectual man in the BJP, Arun Jaitley currently serves as the Minister for Defense and Minister for Finance in the Lok Sabha Government. He has a degree in Commerce from the Sri Ram College of Commerce. He is by far the most prominent politician to have won the DUSU election, having won the second-ever election in 1974 on an ABVP ticket. He is an avid blogger and is known to personally update his Twitter account.

 

 2. Vijay Goel

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Another alumnus of SRCC, Vijay Goel currently serves as the President of the Delhi state unit of the BJP. He has been a Member of the 13th Lok Sabha from the Chandani Chowk constituency. Vijay Goel was DUSU President in the year 1977-78, again on an ABVP ticket. He is known for his social causes which include the Toy Bank; a not-for-profit bank that collects toys from donors, refurbishes them and then redistributes the toys amongst the underprivileged children in Delhi.

 

3. Vijay Jolly

jolly

Vijay Jolly did his Bachelors in Commerce from SRCC followed by M.Com from the University of Delhi. Jolly was elected as the DUSU President for the year 1980-81 as a member of ABVP. He is currently the All India Incharge and Prabhari of Tripura State, BJP and All India Incharge and Convenor of Foreign Cell, BJP. Vijay made it to the headlines back in the year 2011, when he allegedly demanded removal of then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit on the grounds of corruption in the CWG.

 4. Ajay Maken

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Famous for his ‘dichotomous’ conflict with Mani Shankar Aiyyer, Ajay Maken is currently the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress. He was previously Minister of Sports and Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in the UPA Government.A graduate from Hansraj College, he won the DUSU elections in 1985. He is currently the only person from B.Sc. (Chemistry) Final Year to ever win this election.

5. Alka Lambaalka

Alka Lamba did her B.Sc from Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi followed by M.Sc and M.Ed from St. Stephen’s College. Alka contested for the DUSU President’s post in 1995 on NSUI’s ticket and won by huge margins. Taking her political career to new heights, Alka was announced the All India Girls Convenor, NSUI in 1996 and she became the all India NSUI President in 1997. After working for the Indian National Congress for over two decades, Lamba quit the party on December 26th, 2013 to  volunteer for Aam Aadmi Party.

With this list of the former DUSU Presidents who made it well into the bigger arena of Indian politics, we wish all the very best to the newly elected DUSU representatives of 2014-15. May you not only accomplish the manifested promises but also have a healthy career.

 

Ashish Mathew

([email protected])

Connecting Dreams Foundation established its branch by the name of CDF- SRCC Chapter in Shri Ram College of Commerce this academic session for the first time. 10th and 11TH September , 2014 marked their first i2A (ideation) workshop.

 

The ideation workshop was a two day workshop attended by all the members of CDF SRCC and was conducted by Mr. Amit Tuteja along with the core team. The main objective of the workshop was to turn the ideas the members came up with into action by analyzing the weak and the strong points along with the feasibility and affordability of their solution providing models. It also aimed at instilling the idea of doing social good through entrepreneurship. The first day saw a variety of stages. The members were divided into 5 groups. Each group came up with rather comical names for their respective teams. A number of different templates were provided, which consisted of brain storming activities involving group discussions , research etc. All these activities were time bound to build up a slight amount of pressure among the members. Apart from intensive thinking and discussions, the i2A workshop also saw execution of some great dramatic skills through the enactment of problems and solutions they came up in the form of short skits. This was followed by a quick session of question and answer round. The most interesting activity was writing the probable solutions to the core problem by each team member . This created a rather competitive atmosphere where the members were seen scribbling endlessly. It saw as many as 130 ideas in a time frame of 15 minutes from one team. A number of inspiring short videos were shown throughout the 2 day workshop which related to these young minds and encouraged them to ideate and give them the focus and encouragement needed to execute those ideas. By the end of the intensive two days , the members were charged up with the thought of being social entrepreneurs and had the will to execute the ideas they had in mind.

 

 

Mehr Gill

[email protected]

TEDx in collaboration with Lady Shri Ram College for Women is organizing an event on 13th September, bringing in speakers from various strides of life. TED, an American not-for-profit organization sets up guest lectures for masses with people who have innovative ideas and events. TEDx is a typical example of franchise where it gives various institutes the license to organize such events under its banner.

Being the first TEDx event in LSR, the college is all geared up to make it a huge and successful event. Some of the speakers are Mihir Srivastava, who’ll be talking about nude art, Shreena Thakore, the Co-founder of No Country for Women and many other esteemed speakers, coming from Bangalore and USA. The aim of the event is to sensitise people on small issues and ideas which don’t strike us in every day lie, despite the fact that they are so prevalent.

The idea of planning and executing such an event basically germinated from the Psychology department’s Book Club which conceptualized this idea. The logistics of the entire event have been properly worked out with 100 people attending this talk including students and guests. The idea behind restricting the gathering to 100 is that everyone should get an opportunity to interact and absorb to the fullest.

Anupriya Jain, the primary licensee and lead organizer said, “Organizing the event introduced me to some great yet unsung ideas. Working towards a TEDx event really gets you in touch with a group of intellectuals”

All those people who won’t be able see the talk live can watch the video online on YouTube. For more information about the event check their site: www.tedxlsrcollege.in

 

Ishita Sharma

[email protected]

Image Credits: Anupriya Jain

The trend of fitness has always been an appealing one for most individuals. The idea of staying in shape, flaunting a well built physique has ignited the pillars of attraction for some, been a status symbol for some and for others worked as a boon in general health and well being. However, with many false claims, beliefs, hoaxes and improper guidance surrounding the industry, many aspiring fitness freaks have been deprived of the goals that they had set for themselves. Here are a few things all fitness enthusiasts and models do, but obviously you don’t know them. Even if you do, you are far from putting them into practice. Read on :

 

1. They are regular and consistent in their approach

So you think you don’t have the time to hit the gym five days a week for one hour? Well then sadly, you won’t make much progress, especially if you are in the beginning phase and struggling to get results. Motivating yourself constantly and staying dedicated to your goals is the way to go. Change is hard to get and you will always find difficulties coming your way.

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On some days you would feel busy, whilst on other days you will be pained and procrastinating. Fight it! The newer fitter and healthier you is waiting months down the lane.

2. They take their diet very seriously

The saying “you are what you eat” holds true here. A well planned diet with the right amount of calories and a good macro and micro nutrient split to support your goals plays a big role in determining the progress you will make to your goals. If facts are taken into consideration, out of the 24 hours we have in one day, we just spend 1-2 hours working out, that is if we workout at all (pun intended!) and more time is spend fuelling our body and with the foods we eat.

fitness

 

So your favorite fitness models supporting ‘eye-candy’ physiques all year have many sacrifices to make when it comes to the kitchen. However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t enjoy themselves and satisfy their cravings. (This subject is open for advanced discussion). Anyhow when it comes to fitness, diet is the key.

 

3. They exercise smart!

Many of us are fooled by our so called ‘Gym Bros’ and trainers that the more you exercise, or rather the more intense your workouts are, the better are your results. Surely, progressive overload (to expose our targeted muscle groups to their limit, for them to emerge stronger) is necessary for maximizing muscle growth BUT this doesn’t quite mean that you work out 4 hours a day and drain out your muscle growth even before it starts. That is doing more harm than good.

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For general fitness too, training and growing gradually is the key. A workout by no means should last longer than 2 hours (unless you are Arnold Schwarzenegger) and should contain exercises targeting one muscle group at a time so that its potential can be maximized.

 

4. They respect the word ‘rest’ and give it its due importance

Many people believe that if they are working out hard and eating well, they are through. This is in my opinion, an invitation to catastrophe. You are working out hard, which means that you are exposing your body to triumph and difficulty .Your muscles are breaking down and they need to recover. Moreover, you are eating a healthy and well balanced diet so you need it to digest well in order to give you the best results.

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This is only possible if your body receives enough rest to cope up with your strenuous workouts. As an estimate, for those who work out regularly, require at least 6-8 hours of rest to maximize their growth and to equip themselves for more intense workouts gradually. So next time you look for loopholes in your fitness routine, keep your midnight texting number one on the culprit list.

 

5. They follow a top notch nutrition and supplementation plan

As stated earlier, a diet with the right amount of calories and nutrients sorted, works wonders in helping us achieve our desired results better and faster. Along with a healthy diet, many fitness freaks use supplements to overcome loopholes in nutrition. The supplement industry, especially in our country has been a subject of heated debate because of the black marketing involved in the industry. Also, many myths and taboos formed by people (who have never even been to a gym) have contributed to the negativity involved.

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Image Credits: www.jiujitsomaia.com

 

Hence, people consider supplements as harmful and unnatural muscle boosters which obviously, is not true. Supplements, if used alongside a solid diet and exercise routine, contribute to lasting muscle growth. Research has shown that, not only supplements help us reach our goals faster but also contribute to equip us with the right nutrition and general well being, which alone diet cannot do (Considering how processed and chemically prepared our foods are, lacking nutrition).

 

If you get a firm hold of all these basic guidelines, you are in for some great results. Work hard, keep progressing!

Amitoj Singh for DU Beat.

[email protected]

Gifs Courtesy: www.tumblr.com

On 8 September 2014, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) released their manifesto  through a press conference at the Press Club of India. The presidential candidate Mohit Nagar, a B.Com pass out from Shyam Lal College and current MA Buddhist Studies student,  spoke to DU Beat on the occasion. Mohit has worked wholeheartedly for the party since his undergraduate days with special focus on the East Campus issues.

Q. When and why did you join student politics?

A. I did not join “politics”. I joined a medium through which I can work for the betterment of DU and its students. We are the only student party which not only takes up college issues but gives prior importance to issues of national concern as well.

Q. Why Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad?

A. Like I said, I did not join with the motive of politics. I joined a party with a vision, a party which is active throughout the year and not just during elections, a party which selflessly protests for student issues on 120 out of the 150 working days.

Q. Some people join any random course in order to contest DUSU elections. Can we expect you to give importance to the course you have chosen?

A. I do not compromise on studies as that will give a wrong message to students. As student leaders, it is our job to set a good example for them and ignoring our studies defeats that purpose.

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Q. You have put three “a”s in front of your name in the list of candidates. AISA has been highlighting this issue in their campaigns urging students not to vote for candidates who do so which is quite appropriate.What is your opinion on it?

A. These are strategies that need to be adopted. I do not consider them unethical as long as we deliver on our promises once in power.

Q. Party or candidate – who should be the influencing factor for the vote?

A. The party should be evaluated but I feel the candidate’s performance in the party, his/her background should have more importance.

Q. There have been controversies about ABVP causing a lot of vandalism in different parts of India on various occasions. Why do you think that is so?

A. We are doing our work, controversies do not affect us. We are doing our work with determination to serve DU and even the country at large.

Q. Saket Bahuguna told us about your concern for a separate east campus. How far have you come in your endeavor?

A. I myself hail from East Delhi and am aware that 20-25 thousand students do too. Why should they need to look for a North or South campus college? I have been working in this area for quite some time now and will continue to strive for a separate east campus with conveyance facility for students and connectivity from every part of Delhi including the north and south campus. Land has already been allotted for the purpose.

 

We had the opportunity to converse with the Delhi Secretary of ABVP, Saket Bahuguna, who happens to be a flawless orator. He discussed the issues related to campaigning, such as dummy candidates, limited campaigning period and cleanliness problems.

Q. The papers/pamphlets thrown around haphazardly, scribbling on walls and the aggressive campaigning strategies cause immense inconvenience, huge wastage of paper and even fear of elections among students. What is your opinion on the issue?

A. We truly regret the chaos created during campaigning but we are helpless at the hands of law which provides candidates merely 3 days to reach out to each of the colleges which makes it literally next to impossible for them to make a mark among students. This, at times, invokes parties to send dummy candidates to some colleges instead of the real ones to save time, taking advantage of the fact that the contesting candidates are not permitted by law to wear their party’s logo or name during campaigning.

As for the strewn papers, it is not the candidates or their supporters but the people in whose hands the papers are given who cause the garbage by throwing them away carelessly. The campaigning duration should be increased to at least ten days in order to allow parties to strategically and calmly fulfill campaigning requirements.

 Ishani Rajkhowa

[email protected]

Image credits: Abhinav Kumar

[email protected]

 

In a bizarre turn of events, Delhi University has decided that DUSU contenders will be sent to Bigg Boss’ house, through which the Union will be selected this year. Reportedly, the last 4 candidates to remain un-evicted in the house will be declared winners of the election.

“Once you’re elected, DUSU is all about being popular, sitting on your butt and getting paid for it. Co-incidentally, that’s also what Bigg Boss is about. Thus this move came to our minds naturally. It will be the perfect training,” said a senior DU official.

Many candidates are depressed. A few can be spotted blankly mumbling “so please vote and support” to themselves around campus. A student reported that his classmate, who is a DUSU candidate, has been littering his house with posters and cards of himself in utter despair.

The change of process is also aimed at increasing voter turnout; a front DUSU elections have always weak at. Some students, however, are concerned about the carrots they are fed by political parties every year. “I hope this does not mean I will not get free movie tickets and popcorn vouchers,” a worried student told us.

The creators of Bigg Boss, if no one else, are busy preparing for the extravaganza. Sources say that the signature baritone of Bigg Boss will be heard voicing relevant messages like “Bigg Boss chaahte hai ki aap protest karke dikhaye”. DU offered its own website for the purpose of online voting but the proposal was laughed off by the creators.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is DU Beat’s weekly column of almost believable fake news.

Here, in our own Editorial team, we had quite a few people who had applied for migration to various colleges. While two of us were from the same college, one of us managed to get migrated to another college but the other did not. Recounted below are our accounts on how hard migration can be in the University.

 

Account 1: Migration Rejected

Being amongst the numerous students who were brainwashed by the FYUP approach last year which stated that migrations will be a distant reality for the third semester, I was at peace and accepted the reality that I would have to spend the rest of my college days in the same off campus ‘second rate’ college. Until one day a random conversation woke me up to the fact that DU had been approving migration applications and offering students an opportunity to escape their pre-sealed fates. I was also betrayed when I got to know that many of my contemporaries had already applied and were on the verge of getting their jobs done as discreetly as possible. And this happened only two weeks back.
Since then I have been on nothing less than a roller-coaster ride writing applications, chasing the administrative staff and that HOD to make things work. After having applied to three colleges of South Campus, I found a variety of issues coming my way –

 

• First, each college has a different cut off (apparently created on the spot by the teachers). Inside sources have reported favouritism and source admissions.
• Second, some colleges completely deny migration, citing a variety of reasons. From having unavailability of seats and yet allowing migrations outside to making aspirants run around till the last date and leaving no choice for the student to go back home and try again from scratch the next day.
• Third, Apart from the loopholes with administration, it is a strenuous task to catch hold of the principal, who is the supreme decision maker and the authoritative head when it comes to admissions and migrations. The staff is uncooperative and unreliable unless you don’t have “connections” or “sources” involved.

Lastly, I would state that after a two week long roller-coaster ride, I still found myself standing at square one. Although I had been able to impress the H.O.D of the other college, the Principal there did not accept my application irrespective of the fact that the teachers of the concerned department had signed an application supporting my decision to migrate to their college.

 

Amitoj Singh
[email protected]

 

Account 2: Migration Successful

Although there is not much of a difference in opinion from the one presented above by my peer, I would still like to present my account on how I was successful in migrating to another college and the hardships I had to face to achieve it.
• Day 1, 28th August 2014 – Three days before the deadline for migration I was lucky enough to be informed by few friends that migrations were going on in a South Campus college. After getting my application verified by the H.O.D, I was allowed to talk to the Principal who provided me with a N.O.C. (No Objection Certificate). The same day I rushed to my college and submitted the N.O.C. and the Principal of my college acknowledged it by commanding the administrative department to provide me with a N.O.C. and a College Leaving Certificate.
• Day 2, 29th August 2014 – After running around the campus and getting signatures from four different people, I finally submitted the application which stated that I had no dues left with the college to the Senior Officer. However I was scared stiff when I was told that the Principal had not come to the college and 31stbeing a Sunday meant I had time till the next day to get my migration confirmed. After three hours of negotiations involving my parents, we were told to accompany a peon of my college to the Principal’s house and getting it signed by him there. At 9 PM in the night I received the requisite documents.
• Day 3, 30th August 2014 – On the D- Day, I rushed to my new college. I presented all my documents but was asked to get an Anti- Ragging Affidavit made. After submitting it, we were given the fee slips and we finally paid our fees and secured our seats in the new college.

 

Ishaan Sengupta
[email protected]