Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Author

Iresh Gupta

Browsing
Hans Raj College

Interview with a shooter: Shreyasi Singh

By

Not every sport in India gets its required share of attention. Neither does the sportsperson. The Commonwealth Games 2014 that were held in Glasgow got back many laurels to the country, in the so titled ‘less famous’ games. With 64 medals in total, the games are fetching the winners their much deserved appreciation.

Shreyasi Singh, a shooter from Delhi got back a silver medal for the country in the double trap event. Shooting that won back the maximum number of medals at the games this year, got the 22 year old getting candid with our correspondent Iresh Gupta. From being a student from the Delhi University’s Hans Raj College to going back in times when she started the game, Shreyasi also talks about the change in her techniques from the Commonwealth Games in 2010 to that now in 2014. Singh also discloses her interests for politics in the country apart from shooting.

Presenting to you, Shreyasi Singh in conversation with Iresh Gupta (Photographed by Mehr Gill)

Iresh: Hi Shreyasi. Many congratulations for this achievement. The nation is really proud. Now that you are back in Delhi, how does it feel?
Shreyasi: Hello Iresh. It feels great to be back here. Luckily these games got all good for the shooters. Our hard work paid off. I am sitting back now and enjoying the media attention a little. (laughs)

Iresh: So would you like to tell us more about yourself?
Shreyasi: I am born and brought up in Delhi though I have my roots back in the state of Bihar. I have done my schooling from Delhi Public School, R.K Puram and my graduation in Arts from Hans Raj College, Delhi University. I started shooting right after my Class 10 under Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore who first encouraged me to hold the gun. Since then, I have been working continuously on my game and I believe that shooting defines my life.

Iresh: So Shreyasi how has Hans Raj College contributed to your game, shooting?
Shreyasi: Hans Raj College contributed in many ways. The college first of all had great facilities for the game. I spent my three years of college practicing and not attending classes. The best part about the college is that it has no attendance issues and it supports its sportspersons. M.P Sharma Sir, the sports teacher was always there for us and the principal also never failed to understand. Our internals were always rescheduled. I couldn’t concentrate on my studies much, so I failed my Philosophy exam thrice (laughs) but then Rachna Sharma ma’am, who passed away a few months back helped me with my exams too. Her presence is surely missed.

Shreyasi after wining silver at CWG 2014

Iresh: And what are your views on the sports in the University itself?
Shreyasi: The opportunities are explored less. University has great sportspersons who have proved their metal in some game or the other. They are well trained but never tried. Like for example, the prestigious World University Games are held each year but the University never took the charge of sending us for the games which would have helped us improved our performance in terms of competition.

Iresh: You were part of the Commonwealth Games 2010 where you finished 6th, so how did you go about the preparation this time?
Shreyasi: These games were really important. I had to get a medal this time. During the Delhi Commonwealth (2010), I lost my father who had brain hemorrhage. I was very disheartened and upset. I couldn’t perform well then, but it was my father’s dream that I get a position in the games. After 2010, when I started working on my game again, I was thrown out of the team. It for once discouraged me a lot. But it gave me strength, after all I was doing it all for my father. I earned my team back by working a lot. I worked hard, changed my techniques, practiced well and silver it is, this time. (smiles)

Iresh: And was there any such incident in Glasgow that made you feel at any point of time that the medal is slipping out of your hands?
Shreyasi: Challenges are always there. There were two such incidents. I chose to sideline my health because I was too determined for the games but then I got a back injury which led to a loss of three days of training. I was worried because that meant a lot. Another was when I realized that the gold medal is gone for sure. But I made sure that I don’t lose the hope and remembered that silver and bronze are still there are worked for them.

Iresh: And finally you succeeded. To whom do you credit your success the most?
Shreyasi: I guess it is my father. I have always played for him. Otherwise for the game, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore who introduced me to shooting, everyone at Hans Raj College, my coach Paramjit Singh Sodhi and all my co-players for the game like Ankur Mittal (also from Hans Raj) who became one of the finalists in the game this year, Sangram, Chintan, Ravi Kumar and others from whom you get to learn a lot.

Iresh: Being a native of Bihar, you have always represented country from that state. How have you been received back this time?
Shreyasi: Yes I have always played from Bihar. I am really proud to be playing for and representing my state. But the condition of sports is very sad there. The state never was or is very welcoming. Others states I have seen are really encouraging in terms of honoring the sportspersons. Bihar in that way lags behind.

Iresh: If not a shooter, what else you think you could have been?
Shreyasi: A politician for sure. My dad is from politics. While growing up in an environment like this I have developed great interest for this field. 15-20 years down the line when I don’t want to shoot anymore, you maybe see me somewhere in The Parliament or something.

Iresh: Any message for the budding shooters in the University?
Shreyasi: All I can say is that stay determined, focus on your game and practice hard. Nothing is difficult. Success will surely be tasted one day.

Iresh: In the end please tell us something about your future plans?
Shreyasi: Glasgow was a good amount of training. Now I will be trained again in Italy as I’m preparing for the World Championship that is to be held in September and for Asian Games in October. On the academic front, I wish to go back to Hans Raj College for pursue my post graduation in Political Science to help me get more insight into the field of politics. As Hans Raj will never stop me to play, there can be no better place than that.

Iresh: Thank you so much Shreyasi. DU Beat wishes you all the luck for the upcoming competitions.

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

UPSC’s CSAT: Big fight for the languages

By

With approximately two weeks remaining for the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), there are still protestors on the streets against this UPSC conducted exam. While earlier the grievances were on the format of the question paper which included sections that tested English proficiency and mathematical skills, now the fight continues for the scrapping of the exam itself. Civil service aspirants are behaving the most uncivilized way by conducting rallies, burning cars and blocking roads.

If we get into the debate, the matters of this protest somewhere stand correct as those who have studied in the Hindi Medium schools and colleges have no basic understanding of the English language. Similarly, along with these, the students of Humanities background face the similar issue with Mathematics in picture.

The problems mostly arise in the students from rural areas of the less educated states, the plight of whom is justified. There are a few or in fact no academic avenues in such areas. Who is to blame here? The government whose policies couldn’t provide the best education or the protestors who are not ready to adhere to the policies already made.

The new government had formed a three member committee led by Arvind Varma to look into the matter. Varma Committee report that was submitted on 31st July stated that the Civil Service Aptitude Test is a scientifically formed exam and shouldn’t be tinkered with. The government however to stabilize the matter announced that the marks of English won’t be considered for the merit list and those who had appeared for the examination in 2011 will get another chance in 2015.

But the streets are still crying out for help. Is Mathematics the issue in hand? But the fact is that the number of questions dealing with this ‘hard’ subject fell down to just three in 2012 compared to 23 in 2011. Is that too much to test? But no matter what happens, CSAT according to the agitators is and will continue to ruin their lives.

Well. I don’t see the aspirants of other government recruitment exams taking to the streets? Basic English and Math is tested in those as well (CSAT aspirants have a different level of demands, then). I have never seen people from other regional languages complaining for CSAT (the protestors’ state that the fight is just not for the Hindi language but the other regional languages too).

The fight is against the engineers too? Why? Those with banners in hands say there are more engineers clearing the civil exams. But dear babies, look at the increased number of engineers? More engineers, more applications and more selections. No? There has been a rising graph for the number of engineering graduates for 6-7 years now. And these engineers never complain? There are no exams that align with their subjects like computer sciences or electronics. Also, the people who are more fluent in English never complain of writing a compulsory Indian Language exam for the mains.

Can we have protests for anything and everything?

With different parties in the frame giving different views, the question is how can this problem be solved? I don’t think scrapping away the exam itself is a solution at that too at this stage. There can be some solutions. Rejecting the CSAT or defending it is not one. The preliminary exam like the mains paper can be translated in the other regional languages and not just Hindi and English, I believe. As some other political leader suggested, English should be removed from the preliminary stage (and not just the merit list criteria) and then the successful candidates should be given the English language and speaking training for 12 months, so as to increase their horizon for the language and solve the ongoing problem.

But then I think English is not a language that can be mastered in a year. The others will still have an edge over the people from the Hindi States. Those who are fighting for English should realize that once you are a civil servant, isn’t English some language, the absence of which will create some fine number of problems in the professional life of a Class-1 officer?

Questions are there.

But answers are lost in the deluge of these questions.

imagecourtesy: India Today

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

VC Dinesh Singh painted black as DUTA releases its 'White Paper'

By

Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on Tuesday, August 5th, 2014  released its ‘White Paper’ against the Vice Chancellor, Dinesh Singh at a press conference. Singh, who has been  in news in the recent past for the FYUP debacle, gets no respite even after the rollback of the controversial regime.

 With this paper that focuses on the financial, administrative and academic irregularities by the VC, DUTA calls out to the President of India, Shri. Pranab Mukherjee to launch a comprehensive  Inquiry against the Vice Chancellor, pending which, he should be made to go on leave.

In the past one year, DUTA has come up with many such allegations against Singh, but this is the first time that the organization has drafted a 41-page release supported by documents and evidences (acquired by RTI). Additionally, this White Paper has also noted the lack of personal probity and academic integrity on his part as well as violations of the Delhi University Act, statutes, rules and regulations made.

IMG_7198

DUTA’s press statement states that, “Normalcy and a sense of justice will not be restored unless the Vice Chancellor and his core team of senior officials are brought to book and the University is given the opportunity to put these shameful years behind and move ahead.”

DUTA’s paper in its various sub-pointers alleged the VC of mis-governance, victimization and harassment of teachers as well as violations in promotions and implementation of  the reservation policy. On the financial front, DUTA accused the VC of (mis)using approximately 172 crores of the OBC grants for buying 62,600 laptops for the first year students of the much discussed and no longer existing four year undergraduate programme.

“The provision of laptops to the students was just bribe by the VC to students to keep their mouth shut when they were not happy with the course. This money was actually meant for up-gradation of infrastructure in the University and for the betterment of the teaching faculty”, Nandita Naraian, DUTA president said.

Vice Chancellor was also held accountable for charges of appointing faculty that favored FYUP and violating UGC  norms and the national policy of 10+2+3 system.

Funds worth crores were also diverted to run Gyanodaya Express and organize foreign tours for the VC and other officers of the University. For the very same reason, there were regular complaints throughout the year pertaining to the absence of VC in the University to address the grievances of students and teachers. University cultural festival– Antardhwani which was a mere way of showcasing VC’s pet programmes (like FYUP) used a lot of finances. Rs. 125 crores were also shifted from the development fund of  School of Open Learning to VC and the university authorities for framing of courses and setting up SOL study centre in Ramanujan College.

[caption id="attachment_24816" align="aligncenter" width="580"]duta RTI filed regarding the purchase and distribution of Laptops by the University[/caption]

Anita Gosh, Joint Secretary of DUTA highlighted the condition of sports and the university stadiums in the tenure of Dinesh Singh. “The stadium prohibits anybody to enter and play. 2005 was the last time when we got the prestigious Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad trophy as a university for sports which is a matter of shame for such a prestigious university,” she says.

Apart from this, VC Dinesh Singh has been alleged to have granted  favors to people he is close to in the University of Delhi. DUTA has claimed that VC appointed his own acquaintances as election officers for University elections and also as the Officers on Special Duty as the Principal of the college which is against the laws.

Other allegations included reappointment of the principal of Ambedkar College, Dr. G.K Arora despite of the fact that he was held responsible for sexual harassment and mental/physical trauma of Smt. Pavitra, the lab assistant who committed suicide in front of the Delhi Secretariat.

DUTA also held VC responsible for permitting mining of Aravali Rock in the ARSD College, which is a government natural resource and the activity, is  considered illegal.

There has been a history of teachers, mainly adhoc and other employees in the university who were dismissed. “All the people who tried to speak against him were removed.” Nandita Narain commented. Dinesh was held responsible for also denying the CBI its request to probe the University Officer who has been incriminated in the Shunglu Committee Report on the CWG scam.

“The University has a bleak future if the present VC continues. The University has become anti-students and anti-teachers. It is just pro the university authorities. This is sheer academic erosion. We appeal students and teachers to help us in our movement. We expect a visitorial inquiry soon”, said the DUTA president ending the conference.

]]>

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

Officials appointed for DUSU elections 2014

By

After the long discussed FYUP chapter, the University of Delhi now is gearing up for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections of 2014-15. With tentatively a month to go for the election period, the Vice Chancellor, Dinesh Singh appointed officials for monitoring and facilitating the conduct of these elections of office bearers and members for the Central Council of DUSU. DUSU is the representative body of the students from most colleges and faculties.

DS Rawat of Department of Chemistry has taken over as the Chief Election Officer. Rawat was also responsible for the duties of Chief Returning Officer for the elections of 2013-14. “Now that the notification has come we will sit for a meeting and develop a plan of action on how to maintain discipline and order during the election period”, he told DU Beat.

Chandar Shekhar of Department of Persian has now been appointed as the Chief Returning Officer for this year and Satish Kumar, OSD Examinations will serve as the Returning Officer.

Apart from DUSU each college has its independent council and elections are held for the same each year. For that purpose, VC has also appointed principals of colleges and head of institutions to regulate elections in their respective institutions.

The elections which are expected to be conducted in mid-September will witness each student casting his or her vote independently for their choice of candidate. DUSU elections have candidates contesting from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and a few candidates from the independent parties.

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Students from DU, JNU protest over Prof. Saibaba's arrest

By

eputy Secretary of Revolutionary Democratic Front, an organisation which has been on the radar of intelligence agencies for suspected links to Maoists. Back in September 2013, Saibaba was targeted for the first time when a search warrant was issued for his residence. Police seized a laptop, three hard-disks, four pen drives, one micro-chip, a SIM card, mobile phones of Saibaba?’s daughter, two old phones and some booklets from the house. There was a suspicion then, that he sent some secret information to the Maoist leadership hiding in the forests of Abuj Maad in Chhattisgarh. Once again in January 2014, Saibaba was dragged through a question answer round at his residence by the Gadchiroli Police. As per the statement of Saibaba, the police had sought information about his political activities and academic interests in around 600 questions and this interrogation went on for 4-5 hours. The name of Saibaba had come into picture when a Jawaharlal Nehru University student Hemant Mishra was arrested and he claimed that he was acting as a link between Prof. Saibaba and Maoists. Says Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus at JNU a close friend and supporter of Saibaba, “We don’t even know anything about Hemant Mishra. We first of all thought that it is a kidnapping case, but when we came to know that Gadchiroli police had taken him away, we were outraged. He has always cooperated and this is a not the kind of treatment he deserves. He is a handicapped person after all, he can’t run. Police should handle the matter in an orderly manner.” Post his arrest, Prof. G.N Saibaba’s supporters have been making attempts for his release. Nandita Narain, President at DUTA says, “We wrote a letter to the Home Ministry and also to the Lt. Governor. He is a civil activist and never approved of anything that is violent. Whatever he does is his fundamental right and we shall conduct a meeting to draft a support plan in this regard.” Further,a group of students from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University staged a protest recently demanding the immediate release of the professor. A memorandum was also submitted regarding the same which was addressed to Prithviraj Chauhan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.]]>

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Students from DU, JNU protest over Prof. Saibaba’s arrest

By

Prof. G.N Saibaba, Assistant Professor at Ramlal Anand College, Delhi University was arrested by the Maharashtra police on 9th May at the university campus. After months of alleged suspicion of Saibaba’s naxal and maoist links, he was finally held by the police while he was on his way back home after the examination duty at Daulat Ram College.

After his arrest on Friday, Vasantha (Saibaba’s wife) got a call from the police personnel who informed her about  her husbands arrest and nothing else. According to the sources, Saibaba has been taken to the Nagpur jail. His supporters which include family, students and teachers in Delhi have been really worried about Saibaba and his health as he is wheel-chair bound.

Members at Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) expressed their support for Saibaba and they feel that the laws have been violated by the police each time in this case. Member at DUTA told DU Beat, “Last year when they seized Saibaba’s belongings, nothing was sealed and they had months to alter these belongings and create evidences against him. His wife and other members were locked and now he has been taken away without any information.” Saibaba is the Deputy Secretary of Revolutionary Democratic Front, an organisation which has been on the radar of intelligence agencies for suspected links to Maoists.

Back in September 2013, Saibaba was targeted for the first time when a search warrant was issued for his residence. Police seized a laptop, three hard-disks, four pen drives, one micro-chip, a SIM card, mobile phones of Saibaba?’s daughter, two old phones and some booklets from the house. There was a suspicion then, that he sent some secret information to the Maoist leadership hiding in the forests of Abuj Maad in Chhattisgarh.

Once again in January 2014, Saibaba was dragged through a question answer round at his residence by the Gadchiroli Police. As per the statement of Saibaba, the police had sought information about his political activities and academic interests in around 600 questions and this interrogation went on for 4-5 hours.

The name of Saibaba had come into picture when a Jawaharlal Nehru University student Hemant Mishra was arrested and he claimed that he was acting as a link between Prof. Saibaba and Maoists. Says Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus at JNU a close friend and supporter of Saibaba, “We don’t even know anything about Hemant Mishra. We first of all thought that it is a kidnapping case, but when we came to know that Gadchiroli police had taken him away, we were outraged. He has always cooperated and this is a not the kind of treatment he deserves. He is a handicapped person after all, he can’t run. Police should handle the matter in an orderly manner.”

Post his arrest, Prof. G.N Saibaba’s supporters have been making attempts for his release. Nandita Narain, President at DUTA says, “We wrote a letter to the Home Ministry and also to the Lt. Governor. He is a civil activist and never approved of anything that is violent. Whatever he does is his fundamental right and we shall conduct a meeting to draft a support plan in this regard.”

Further,a group of students from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University staged a protest recently demanding the immediate release of the professor. A memorandum was also submitted regarding the same which was addressed to Prithviraj Chauhan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

So is it really ‘Mothers’ Day’? – A mother’s life from a son’s perspective!

By

Google Search: Mothers’ Day 2014 

This was the first thing I did when I was asked to write this piece a few days back. It is demeaning on my part and shamefully it has been the same in the years gone by. In nineteen years of this all-credits-to-my-maa life, there must have been only five such times, when I was aware about the actual date and I just hugged my mom and said, “Happy Mothers’ Day”. For all the other times, a Complan advertisement on television made me realize about this western festival of motherhood, a day or two later when in the end it said, “Celebrating the spirit of a mother. Happy Mothers’ Day.”
The only explanation I could give to her about this (who herself used to get this news from the idiot box) was that, “Oh, shit! I forgot. But Maa, it  feels as though this day falls twice or thrice a year.”

And she would just say nothing.

Google Search Result: 11th May 2014

I guess around 70% of people (or more) reading this must not be aware about Mother’s Day, just like me. A small percentage of these must have rushed to the kitchen (yeah,that’s where you are most likely to find her) by now or dialed ‘Mom’, ‘Mumma’ or the lame ones like  ‘Birth Giver’, ‘Headquarters’ or ‘Hitler’, as some people choose to save their mother’s contact on their phones.

Getting an Archie’s card because you couldn’t make one on your own or ordering a cake, genuinely won’t add much flavour to her life. Giving her explanations that you had an exam and you forgot or telling her that you thought it is was in the next week, won’t make her feel better. The day that never comes twice or thrice a year asks you to just spend a little time with her, maybe rest your head in her lap or just cook something for her and share a memorable warm moment of togetherness.

cover2
Image Courtesy: www.behance.net (A sketch by Amitabh Barretto)

But everyone isn’t that lucky to do so. I am not. The fact that I stay away from my home, makes me feel that I am detaching away from her. I’ve grown up  and I probably have a bunch of work to do rather than keep her in my mind. There are thousands here who call their mother up just twice a week, and a few like me who dial her number after dinner every night. But why is it that our conversation lasts only for a minute or so? Why is it that being miles away, we don’t have much to talk about? And, “Aur batao, khaana kha liya?” is the most common question?

What else can we talk about? As the survivors of the new generation, we are too lazy to tell the lady there about what happened in our school, college or at work. We shout at her, ask her to leave our room, whine about her keeping our things in place, curse her for the food being not of our choice, abuse her and even make her cry at times.

We might forget this often, but we’re talking about the person who kept us in her womb for almost 275 days. She has tolerated all our kicks even when certainly ‘all was not well’. She has posed while holding us for pictures when Dad used to click with one of those that huge old fashioned cameras. She has even lied to him for us; even fought with him. But we’ve barely done anything in return. The scope boils down to almost nothing when our mothers aren’t on Whatsapp because we are too cool to interact with someone who’s not on that one social media application.

Walking down the lanes of the campus I usually wonder if it was just her food that makes people feel ‘homesick’ here? I guess it is. Because eating dal and aalo in four-division Gurudwara thalis isn’t that pleasing to us. I also remember the times, when I used to walk around the colony with her, just a few years back. The only fact that her kiss on our face, is now called a peck, because a kiss has a  altogether different meaning, shows how much we have changed, and how much time has changed. My mother tells me, that she will remain my mother even if I have my grandchildren playing around me. She tells me that time can change, but this fact just cannot.

I still haven’t wished her. I’m wondering how to do so.

‘While these thoughts go around my mind;
I still wonder how to express;
Today on the day, for all wrong I have done;
I still wonder how to confess.
The day is for her; but I have other things to do;
Wait. One day I will be a victim too.’
 
cover3
Image Courtesy: www.kmberggren.com

So please don’t talk to her in rush and disconnect saying that  you need to study whereas you’re actually in the middle of a ‘QuizUp’ game with a friend. Do not miss her only for the food. Do not be out with friends when she needs you with her. Do not shout on her just because one thing went wrong. The fact that my mother has already started complaining about me being different from who I was in school, is something that forces me to think. She tells me that I don’t have time for her now and other people have taken her place in my life. I sometimes want to tell her, that it is not the way she thinks it is. That she is irreplaceable, unforgettable, a buffer stock of hope, a melody of good times, a comrade of the bad ones! But then how should I explain all that? I have nothing to say.

I want to tell her that it is funny how she strikes my mind at any time of the day. Sometimes sitting in the classroom, I realise that the teacher who’s scribbling on the blackboard is wearing a salwar-suit similar to the one my Dad and I got for Mom. I miss my Mom when I see the lady at the locality general store moving her hand through her son’s hair and telling him to study, as he is in Class X now. These little things. Things that I can relate to.

Anyway, I need to wind up and call ‘Maa :)!’ (that’s  how I have saved her number and that is all I could do), and you should, too. Because, after all, mothers are special, the day is special,  and it comes only every second Sunday of May, and that is certainly not twice or thrice a year!

Ending this piece just like the advertisement- Celebrating the spirit of mothers. Happy Mother’s Day.

Featured image credits: www.eddycrosby.com

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Khanabadosh – the street play society with a difference

By

nukkad (street drama) and rangmanch (stage drama) have  been confined merely to perform for the competitive motives and have been restricted to perform to DU circuit audiences. With this thought of breaking the mainstream theatre culture, widening the ambit of theatre from the narrow DU restricted one, and opening the avenues for ex DU students, a theatre group called Khanabadosh was founded.

About Khanabadosh

Founded by DU alumnus Sidhaant Sharma (Maharaja Agarsen College) on August 31 2013, Khanabadosh caters to the general public with a motive of creating awareness and instigating a thought about the right and wrong. The group that initially did theatre with all the ex-students of the university has now expanded their artist base to others as well. In working since October, Khanabadosh has 24 active members and 17 performances to its credit till date. Khanabadosh is presently just a street theatre group. khan4

Vision

In words of the director, “Khanabadosh doesn’t aim to manufacture actors. It doesn’t even aim to create professionals. The vision is to create those human beings who can understand the matters of the society. Those who can notice what is happening around them, observe, analyse the problem and then play or act. Yahan motive insaan banana hai.” Sidhaant adds, “I wish to create such a team that has the freedom of expression with this clear vision in mind,never deviating from it.” The team has different people from various backgrounds. They have different perceptions and few members within the team have mutual admirations. So the most challenging task is to maintain harmony in the team where everyone has the urge to create a difference.

Mission

With this vision in mind, Khanabadosh vows never to participate in competitions and do theatre only for its target audience. They have created a mission to let the audience introspect about what is happening around. The plays of the group are a satire on the society and its systems or to put it more precisely, a slap on the face. Their theatre is different from the fancy and organized theatre at the university. ‘Khanabadosh’ (the word which means ‘nomads’) undertakes unorganized form of theatre through the dramatic art. According to the members of the group, today’s common man doesn’t understand fancy theatre which includes extensive element of music and poetry in nukkad. The group, therefore gets to the street with a less complex plan of action for the play and a dhafli and plans to cover each part of the capital city under this theatrical cause.

Members and Performances

Khanabadosh has artists from  Maharaja Agarsen College,SGTB Khalsa, Kamala Nehru College, Gargi, PGDAV and DCAC. It also has other members with no acting experience or background who are provided with required training. Khanabadosh has one production to its credit after completing six months. Their nukkad natak DEMO-CRAZY is a play based on the political truths and is a satire on the political system. It highlights how common man of the country is left with no option in this vicious circle of politics and how people who don’t vote, have no right to question. The team has performed for the general audience at metro stations, Shri Ram Centre (Mandi House), Connaught Place, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Park, Mayur Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Patparganj, Tri Nagar, GB Road, Dilli Hatt, IIT Delhi and TDI Mall as part of Manthan’14. Their viewers range from market going people to the vegetable or fruit vendors and from students to people with political backgrounds. “In all performances, it is amazing to see how people could relate to the play and gave responses. For us, it is still a learning process.”  said a team member. The team  travels to different places allover the capital city, and arranges for  certain formal permissions required to perform in respective areas.

Future Plan of Action

Khanabadosh, the team that is currently on an election break plans to resume the series of performances soon. They also plan to get the group officially registered with the government and expand itself to stage theatre as well. The new season will witness a new play by Khanabadosh on some other social topic. The team apart from Delhi will also move out of the city for both revolution and change. As one of the members of the team say, “Khanabadosh wishes to grow from a baby to kid and then to an adult.” [gallery ids="22658,22656"]

Appeal to the University Theatre Circuit

During the conversation, Sidhaant who was also a volunteer for General Elections 2014 told DU Beat how the voters of the country portrayed dilemma on their face while voting. “This is all a shitty mess, jahan janta pareshaan hai. We are happy in doing our bit by taking our political play out for the public.” Team Khanabadosh appeals to all the teams of the university to bring their brand of street theatre actually out to streets and not limit it only to the university and competitions. The group feels that the meaning of ‘nukkad’ is lost otherwise. For more updates about the team and their performances visit: Khanabadosh Facebook Page]]>

Keep Reading
By
Flicks

Movie Review: 2 States

By

From the campus love and drama to the family fights and rights, 2 States based on Chetan Bhagat’s best selling novel by the same name would take through a laughable ride filled with a lot of ‘aww’ moments here and there. The movie that runs in the flashback mode of the narrator’s story portrays different cultures of families across India.

Cast : Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Shiv Kumar Subramaniam and Revathy
Director : Abhishek Varman
Music Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Based on Chetan Bhagat’s best selling novel : 2 States – The Story Of My Marriage.

 

Krish (Arjun Kapoor), a Punjabi boy who is an IIT graduate from Delhi happens to join the ‘serial proposers’ list of Ananya (Alia Bhatt), a tamilian girl at IIM Ahmedabad where they study for the much over rated MBA degree. The conversation that starts by offering a rasgulla ends up with both the characters falling in love (well, that had to happen). The campus story that is wrapped up by the director in the initial 30 minutes may leave you craving for more of college masala. The steamy scenes between the lead pair must have left Chetan a little nervous, but the audience seems to enjoy it quite a lot though one never stops wondering that how Krish and Ananya share the bed at the hostel room on campus (there is a different hostel for boys and girls. Obviously).

The movie that shifts from the colour and flavour of college at Ahmedabad to the rich homes in Delhi and Chennai, holds the viewer to watch how the predictable story will be paralleled by commendable acting and direction. The typical fussy Punjabi mom (Amrita Singh) and a strict retired army father (Ronit Roy) at their Hauz Khas makaan (because ghar toh pyaar se banta hai), bring both smile and disgust on the faces of the viewers. As disciplined south Indian parents, Shiv Subramanyam and Revathy are very particular yet boring in their actions. The cultures of these ‘2 states’ seem to be exaggerated a little but this much cinematic liberty can be entertained.

Krish who also teaches Ananya’s brother finally after a lot of buttering takes on the proposal. The twist is where he proposes all members of the Swaminathan family and not only the girl (that is quite innovative). Ananya and her parents then go all the way from south to north to convince Krish’s mumiji (his dad is least interested by now) but his mom is a typical muhfatt punjabi. Her racist remarks on madrasi people forces the Swaminathans to withdraw their interest from this inter-caste rishta. Krish’s irritating massi and other members of the family who finally reach the wedding venue in the school bus (like yes, a school bus decorated with flowers) leave the audiences laughing. Now how this happened even after so much of ‘marriage politics’ is something you need to watch this movie for.

Music of the movie by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and dialogues by Hussain Dalal convey all the emotions in the fancy Bollywood manner. Alia’s beauty and her costumes do not fail to impress the people of both sexes. Arjun takes the heart away by his cute smile and his look supported by nerdy glasses.

All you out there with a very soft heart, you may feel the need of handkerchiefs in the few scenes. But as you reach out to your pocket, something on screen will stop you. The book by Chetan Bhagat is surely a better tale of these 2 States but Abhishek Verman as a director makes a significant debut.

Oh yes! The movie forces all the young heads to think, “Why don’t we have such a life?”

DU Beat correspondent, Iresh Gupta sat with the stars of 2 States, Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Click here for an exclusive interview.
Keep Reading
By