Arindam Goswami, Author at DU Beat - Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper

The Bar Council of India (BCI), in a notice to Delhi University, has asked the university to shut down its evening colleges due lack of proper quality of legal education. The university has been asked to issue a notification that no admissions will be permitted for evening classes from the next year. The Council declared that such programmes do not ensure proper quality of legal education.

“Taking into account that proper quality of legal education cannot be ensured if classes are run during evening and night hours, the Bar Council of India has taken a policy decision to dispense with the evening colleges. Two of your colleges are running classes beyond 9 pm which is in violation of the BCI directive. Whatever may have been the reason for running these colleges, the same cannot be permitted henceforth,” said a BCI directive to DU.

In view of the university’s failure to seek timely extension of the affiliation of its three centres, Campus Law Centre, Law Centre -I and Law Centre -II, the BCI, in 2014, had decided to derecognise the university’s 3 year LLB course. However, it was granted provisional extension for the session 2014-15 after the university proposed a shift to a new building which it claimed had adequate space for effective functioning.

But when the Council inspected the new facility, it found that amidst fresh violations the earlier irregularities had not been attended to. Following this, it issued a fresh notice demanding explanation for admitting more than the permitted number of students, lack of infrastructure and faculty.

The university has been given four weeks to sort out the anomalies and asked to send an undertaking of compliance with rules rectifying the same.

Image credits: Jasmine Chahal for DU Beat

Arindam Goswami

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Ramjas College

Centennial Celebrations to begin at Ramjas College

By Arindam Goswami January 14, 2016

In the coming days, on a journey towards excellence, Ramjas College will set a milestone. Glory of a hundred years will be celebrated; welcoming the alumni and looking back on a history rich with laurels. Growth and development giving further momentum, this has been the foundation of Ramjas College. Established as a platform to provide equal opportunity of education, the college is revisiting its legacy and moments of admiration. It has witnessed the changes brought to the nation, pre and post-independence. It has recovered itself from all adversities and re-established itself as a firm institution, with enlightening the minds of the youth as its only goal.

Reaching this milestone, Ramjas College is all set to celebrate its story and to commemorate all the changes it has brought. The College has planned to initiate its year-long Centennial Celebrations with a three-day inaugural event starting from 17^th January, 2016.

The path walked upon so far would not have been possible without our Alumni, thus, welcoming them back on their homecoming. The Alumni can officially register on the College website www.ramjascollege.edu. The opening event on January 18,2016 will be inaugurated by the Chief Guest Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi, ShriNajeeb Jung, IAS, 1973 Batch. The ceremony will be addressed by Justice Dr.Mukundkam Sharma, alumnus of the college.

The event schedule for the complete program is as follows:

17^th January

11.00 – Assembly – Welcome by the Master of the Ceremony

11.10 – Invocation – All Faith Prayer Meet

12.20 – Tribute – Backbeat College Band(Instrumental)

18^thJanuary

10.00 – Ride- The Buggy Ride

11.45 – Inauguration by the Chief Guest Hon’ble Lt. GovernorShrinajeeb Jung followed by hoisting of the college Flag and Unveiling of 100 Years Logo

11.55 – Opening Address by Mr. Anil K. Agrawal

12.00 – 100 Years- Address by Justice Dr.Mukundakam Sharma

12.10 – The Legacy- Address by Dr.Rajendra Sharma, Principal, Ramjas College

12.15 – Address- by the Chief Guest

12.25 – Balloons Release-By the chief guest and College fraternity

12.35 – Sapera Been Vadan-Jai Karan and Party

13.30 – Folk and Fusion-By In-Step

19^th January

12.00 – Inaugural- Multi-Cuisine Food Plaza

15.30 – Performance- By ‘Rangrez’ The College Band with Abhay Sharma on Saxophone

17.00 – Astitva- Musical Performance

18.30 – Papon- Folk and Fusion

17^th will be see to the start of a new year in the college’s history. A ten-minute assembly will be followed by a mutli -faith prayer, renouncing the institution’s secular outlook. The day will come to a close by the College band’s instrumental performance. 18^th, Monday, will start with a buggy ride by the college students throughout the north campus. Inauguration by the chief guest, Lt. Gov. Najeeb Jung and opening address by Mr. Anil K. Sharma and address by Justice Mukundakam Sharma. This w will follow an address by the Principal Dr. Rajendra Prasad and a balloon release ceremony. 19^th would see performances by the college band, ‘Rangrez’ and a performance by Astitva. This will be followed by an hour-and-a-half of good music by the sensation Papon and an all-day long Food Plaza, ending the inaugural ceremony. For more information log on to www.ramjascollege.edu.

Arindam Goswami

arindamg@dubeat

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DUB Speak

Editing And Publishing A Cultural Magazine

By Arindam Goswami January 7, 2016

Many of us are aspiring writers and wait for a chance to prove our talents. I recently had such an opportunity. The Assamese society of Ramjas College publishes an annual magazine called ‘Luit‘. So when I got the chance to head the magazine along with my co-editor Harshita Hiya, it was an opportunity for us to see whether or not we were capable. Frankly, I found out that I was not but learned a lot in the process nonetheless.

Editing and publishing a magazine is not all about writing. It also takes good planning and management skills, dedication and the desire to get it to happen just the way you want it. I learned a lot from this experience and it is difficult to sum it all up in a short article but there are a few important things that one has to keep in mind if one wants to publish a magazine.

Layout of the magazine.

This includes everything from what the cover page will be like, number of articles, designs on each and every page (will they be different or the same), the font size, what type of font, the type of paper to be used and so on. This is the first thing to do because everything will have to be within the budget and pretty at the same time (unless it is sponsored and there is no limit on spending).
Content

If the magazine has a theme then the type content is automatically decided. Usually after one has all the articles, he or she can decide what to include and what to leave out. The quality of articles decides the success of the magazine.
Collecting write-ups.

There might be many enthusiastic writers who are willing to write, in which case, it becomes easy to fill the pages. Then again one might not be so lucky. It is often tough finding people who are willing to contribute and tougher still, to find those with decent contributions. You might have to dig up contacts, ask favours and in a worst case scenario, write a few of them yourself to fill the pages. Also it is important that you set a deadline for everyone and yourself. Otherwise time management goes for a toss.
Consulting people with experience.

This has to be done if you are doing it for the first time. Learning about others’ experiences will help you work better and avoid the mistakes they made. Another benefit is that they might get you in touch with someone who might be willing to contribute.
Finding a decent publisher.

This has to be someone who fits your budget and is willing to deliver the copies to you on time. There are some who possess the software and are willing to create only the layout with you. Then there are others who only print and these people work only after they have the soft copy (layout) of the magazine.
Giving Credits.

This is the most important part of editing. You have to be very careful in acknowledging each and everyone who had a part, however small, in making the magazine a success. This includes everyone from the core team to a teacher who gave a vital piece of advice. Giving each the adequate recognition is what makes you a good Editor.

Editing ‘Luit‘ was one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had. Of course I made quite a few mistakes and some of them really huge but I would love to do it again!

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Uncategorized

The why, how and where of going on a road trip in a rented car

By Arindam Goswami December 23, 2015

Driver’s license? Check.

Technically, that’s all you need!

If you love travelling and doing it on your own terms, then renting a car is the best option for you. All you need is a driver’s license, a little cash and enough confidence and you are set! With only a few days left for the next semester to begin, a road trip could be just what you need to refresh your mind and face it head on.

Why take a road trip?

There are many reasons to go on such a trip at least once. Leaving the sheer fun of it aside,

There is the advantage of getting to know your friends better. You’ll be spending a lot of time with them and therefore will get to learn things about them which otherwise remain unobserved. You will have to respond to many different situations and the type of responses might be interesting and helping you know each other better.
You can stop wherever you want and take your own time to enjoy the road as you would like, without having to worry about missing your train/ bus. You’ll need to keep track of the hours, though, you do not want to end up paying too much for the rented car. Moreover if you are the one driving, it teaches you to be a better driver.
Besides, there is just no limit on how many new experiences one can come across. Taking risks and managing a trip within budget is a fun thing to do altogether. A completely independent trip gives you the chance to explore off- beat places (stay safe though!) and leaves you as a much more responsible person.

Where can one take a road trip to?

There are many beautiful places you can visit that are not too far from Delhi. There is Jaipur, Manali, Mcleodganj or Mussoorie among others. Jaipur takes a minimum of five hours to travel. It is a short and easy route and ideal for beginners who do not have the experience of travelling on their own. For Manali you will have to travel for around 11 to 13 hours. You can even stop at Shimla and Chandigarh, which fall along the way. One of the most beautiful places to travel to is Mcleodganj in Himachal Pradesh. The green expanse and chilly heights and rustic atmosphere will make you fall in love with the place. Anywhere you go, it is always best if you start early morning at around 4 am.

Where does one rent a car from?

There are many agencies in Delhi which provide cars on rent like Volercars, Carzonrent and Ecorentacar all of which have websites with abundant information. One thing to look for is whether the agency charges by the hour or by the day. It is better to opt for by-the-hour since it helps you reduce unnecessary extra costs. For this reason, I prefer Volercars. They drop the car where you want with a full tank and pick it up from there as well. You will have to return the car with a full tank, of course. They also have a very good helpline service, which is another thing to look at. In case of any problem along the road, it is better to check with the agency as to what steps can be taken and whether they have help stations along the road. Other terms and conditions are pretty much the same everywhere. The car should also be checked before the trip. If some damage is pre-done then the agency must be informed.

These are just a few tips one needs to keep in mind for a trip. If you have the required skill set and the desire to get out of the city before the new year, then this is without a doubt the best option available!

Arindam Goswami
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Hans Raj College

Hans Raj College establishes DU’s first training centre

By Arindam Goswami December 17, 2015

On 15th December Hans Raj College created history by establishing DU’s first Training Centre for making students employable. It will impart training in various short term courses in different fields like IT, Media, Solar Energy, Self Defence, Real Estate and Wellness among others. In its inaugural ceremony, several prominent leaders of various organisations spoke about the future potential for employment and assured to set up training centres in Hans Raj College under the scheme “Earn while you learn”.

Leaders such as Sh. Vijay Tiwari, Chairman, Indo-European Chamber of Small and Medium Industries, Sh. Sanjeev Chauhan, Co partner, Swaraj and Schmidt Consultants for Solar energy, Rita Arora, Additional Director, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Sh. Anil Karn, Managing Trustee Akadmi providing online IT courses certified by the Govt. of Maharashtra, Sh. Pranav Sharma, Director, Investors Clinic and Swami Padmaprakasha of Santigiri Ashram assured to help them in starting their ventures.

The Indian Association of Mass Communication’s (IAMC) founder President Dr. Ramjilal Jangid and Mrs. Rekha Udit, Chairperson, Women International Network (WIN) have jointly established five centres in association with Hans Raj College – Centre for Social Change Centre for Innovative Ideas, Centre for Environmental Awareness, Centre to promote self-employment & Gandhi Vinoba Bhave study circle.

Hans Raj College has the distinction of creating four Media Centres – BRICS Language Media Academy, SAARC Language Media Centre, Indo-European Language Media Association and AAAA International Language Media Center consisting of Africa, America, Asia & Australia.

Dr. Rama, Acting Principal, Hans Raj College, Dr. Kamal Taori, former secretary, Govt. of India and Prof. Pramod Mehra of IGNOU promised to provide organizational support to these programmes.

Hans Raj had already created history when Dr. Rama became the Acting Principal of the college. She is the first woman principal of Hans Raj College in its 67 years of history. She is also the first working journalist to be selected for this post. An author of three books in Hindi on journalism and mass communication, she had been teaching journalism in this college and South campus of University of Delhi for the last 24 years.

Image Credits: hansrajcollege.in

Arindam Goswami
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Ramjas College

Beyond the Obvious – Ramjas College

By Arindam Goswami October 30, 2015

Down the road with Hindu College on the left and St. Stephens College on the right one comes across the gates of the third oldest college of Delhi University. A constituent of the original ‘Delhi University’ (which earlier comprised of St. Stephens, Hindu and Ramjas college), it is on its way to celebrate the completion of its 100 years in 2017. Centennial celebrations have, in a way already begun in Ramjas with different societies and student groups organising events under the banner of the same.

Ramjas College has a rich history behind its establishment. It was founded in 1917 by the great educationist and philanthropist Rai Kedar Nath and was in fact, named after his father Lala Ramjas. When it was moved from its original location in Darya Ganj (Old Delhi) to Anand Parvat, there it was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi and it remains till date the only college to have been inaugurated by the Father of our nation. It is also privileged enough to have had the Architect of our Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a chairman of the Governing Body of the college. And this is not all. During the Quit India Movement, students of the college participated actively in the movement with some of them going to jail in the process. Maybe this legacy of the college led to its present reputation of one of the colleges which is most actively involved in student politics.

Apart from its rich history, the college also boasts of a beautiful green campus surrounded by huge trees. The beautiful foliage and soothing greenery of the college has earned it the title ‘Rainforest‘. Ramjas is among the top 20 institutions of the country in Science, Commerce and Humanities in terms of factual ranking. Open to students and teachers of all backgrounds it was originally intended to be premier institution for the common people. It now boasts of state-of-the art classrooms and departmental rooms with advanced multimedia facilities. Entering the college canteen one sees the octagonal, chandelier lit canteen which serves delicious food at low costs. In the same building there is a canteen top which can be used to house buffets by the departments and societies of the college. The college consists of a Extra Cirricular Activities (ECA) room and is the first co-ed college to have a Girls Common Room (GCR). The college has a well stocked library with over 100,000 titles and one can find almost any academic book they want. It also has two sports fields, a basketball court, cricket, tennis and football ground. It also has a state of the art gym.

The college also boasts of societies renowned in the DU circuit. ‘The Ramjas Debating Society’ has produced some of the best debaters of the university and has even represented the college in a debating event in the UK. ‘Shunya’ the dramatics society is very active, organises plays year round and also has been the recipient of numerous awards. They even represented on an international platform in the 2nd Indo-Pakistan dramatics festival. Wordcraft, the literary society recently organised a one of a kind Marvel Civil War and hosts unique competitions all year round. Focus the photography society, Melange the fine arts society, Qnights the quiz society which has been represented on Doordarshan and All India Radio, Backbeat the music society and In-Step the dance society are the well known societies of the college.

The college canteen, the ECA room premises adjoining the canteen and (Ramjas is famous for this) the Sutta Lane which the adda ground for the students and smokers. It is also the most happening place in the college apart from the canteen. Popular hangout spots around the college are Kamala Nagar, Hudson Lane and the University Gardens among others.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad is the longest serving principle with a streak of 30 years since 1985 when he first took charge and he is the only principle to have his name recorded in the Limca Book of Records. With its energetic and green environment and eminent faculty, Ramjas college definitely lives up to its name.

Arindam Goswami

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Arts Faculty

Right to Accommodation goes on hunger strike as authorities look the other way

By Arindam Goswami October 3, 2015

The members of the Right to Accommodation group were on an indefinite strike for 44 days outside Gate No. 1 of the Arts Faculty building in North Campus protesting against the lack of rent regulation and hostel accommodation for the students staying in and around Delhi University before ending the strike and beginning an indefinite hunger strike from 2nd October to try and change the unhelpful attitude of the concerned authorities. Members of the hunger strike include Praveen Singh (Convener of the Right to Accommodation group), Ajay Singh from Ramjas College, Sangam Kumar from CLC Faculty of Law and Balraj Yadav from Hindu College.

Why rent regulation?

Around 2,00,000 lakh students arrive at Delhi University every year and the university has a mere 6000 hostel seats to accommodate them. Students who do not get into a hostel have to live on rent which is fixed at around Rs. 8000 for rooms with attached bathrooms near the campus grounds with good facilities. For girls the same goes up to Rs. 15000 a month. Moreover they have strict restrictions. Girls cannot go out or stay out late even if they have work and the maximum time limit is 7 or 8 pm. Rent increases every year but the facilities remain the same. ” I am currently staying in a UG hostel. After our exams get over in May they make us vacate our rooms for June and July. There are students who have extra classes and coaching during the holidays. Where are they supposed to go? We cannot keep changing every year ” said one of the female participants in the hartal. The North East students are said to suffer the more in this case. A room rented out at Rs. 4000 to a North Indian will be given at Rs. 7000 to a student from the North East.

Some of the students travel a long distance everyday because the cost of staying within campus is too high. “I stay with my Nani and my aunt and uncle. They have only two rooms. So I try to study as much as possible in the college because it is not possible to do so at home,” said Sonia, a student from Hans Raj College.

ABVP’s take on the matter

ABVP had rent regulation and hostel accommodation on their list of agendas when they were contesting elections for the 2015-16 session. “After winning the elections we did not have a lot of time on our hands. We are currently engaged in three national level debates and all our programs have already been scheduled. However, after our engagements are over we plan to raise the questions again. Any association that would like to join us is welcome to do so,” says Satender Awana, current President of Delhi University Students’ Union when approached.

Right to Accommodation hunger strike — Photos shared by Arundhati Roy

Praveen Singh has been working on this issue for three years. Although delegations have been sent to ministers like Arvind Kejriwal, Smriti Irani and Manish Sisodia, nobody has raised any concerns on the issue. “We are trying to get the Vice Chancellor’s attention on this because no action is possible without his assent. The issue of rent regulation is not one to be taken lightly and I urge every concerned individual out there to help and support us on the matter, ” the convener told us.

Here are some bytes from the first day of the hunger strike:

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Campus Central

War breaks out; ABVP, NSUI & CYSS clash as DU heads into elections

By Arindam Goswami September 9, 2015

At around 10:15 am on Wednesday, NSUI supporters along with their presidential candidate Pradeep Vijayran and Vice Presidential candidate Prerna Singh were physically assaulted when they were campaigning at PGDAV College at Nehru Nagar. According to sources, 4-5 supporters along with the candidates were stopped from campaigning when volunteers of opposing parties arrived on the scene and tried to stop them. The police was reportedly present on the scene and were armed with iron rods. “They were men of ABVP’s candidate along with the brother of a CYSS candidate,” said Amit Pathania, a national secretary of NSUI.

Pradeep Vijayran was rushed to AIIMS where he got 15 stitches and VP candidate Prerna Singh suffered an arm fracture.

In related events, ABVP candidate Satender Awana’s car was attacked reportedly by NSUI supporters in a suggested act of vengeance. His brother was assaulted with a brick at Swami Shraddhanand College. State Secretary Saket Bahuguna condemned the attack, saying, “CYSS attacked NSUI and spread rumours of ABVP’s involvement. Satender’s brother is in a hospital. There are cops posted everywhere in DU. The situation is a little tense.” Bahuguna accused CYSS of the attacks on NSUI.

Arindam Goswami

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