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A-la-Carte: Food to Eat to Keep Yourself Protected During the Winters.

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It is that time of the year- long, dark and brutally cold nights coupled with sunny days. Basically, the time of the year when you fall in love with your bed and blanket all over again. As a season, winter can be real-intimidating for some people, for reasons closely associated to bathing and driving.

To help you cope with the season, here’s a list of food that you must eat during the winter, while enclosing yourself into a cosy blanket. Food and blanket and warmth:

  • Porridge

Remember how your elders often used to say that porridge is good for health and you always ran away from it? Well, we’re sorry to have left your side right in the beginning, but we can’t  help it. So, here’s the deal: Porridge is clinically proven to be the best kind of breakfast that’s available out there, especially during winters. This is for multiple reasons: For starters, porridge is a slow-release food- hence, it provides more energy as compared to conventional breakfast like bread and butter, sandwiches etc. Plus, porridge, belonging to the grain category of agriculture-based food products, plays an instrumental role in retention of body heat. 

  • Citrus Food/ foods containing Vitamin C

Citrus foods are the best additives to the diet in order to strengthen one’s immunity. Proven to accelerate the body’s capability to fight disease causing germs, Citrus Fruits and Vegetables are an important part of the diet. Another fun fact, lemons help with hangovers as well!

  • Foods rich in Iron and Zinc

During the winter months, we can come into contact with viruses that can cause colds or even the flu. So, it’s important that our immune system functions normally and zinc helps with this. Foods such as oysters, spinach and legumes are good sources of zinc. Ever wonder why Popeye was always infatuated with Spinach? Perhaps this was the reason. 

  • Cheese

Are you a fan of cheeseburgers? Or delicious cheese sandwichs? We got your back! It has been established that the consumption of cheese is instrumental in promoting body heat retention, along with it being one of the best sources of nourishment.

  • Swap Sugary foods for Vegetable Roots

Planning to change your cover photo with a glass of red wine, but can’t save up enough for a glass of that bad boy? Well, this may sound like a life-hack for you then. Take a beetroot, juice it, pour the juice into fancy wine glasses, and pose. There you have it, a healthy solution, to an expensive and high calorie problem. 

Jokes apart, it is always a good idea to substitute sugar-laden foods for more natural sources of sweeteners, like Beetroot. They are easy on the pocket, your waist, as well as your health. Switch to organic sweeteners, for the sake of a long and healthy life.

  • Dry Fruits

Also known as the munchies of the Winter season, dry fruits occupy a special position in our world, especially Indian society. Let us agree with one thing- we all have a small box (at times it is multiple boxes) in our cupboards containing an assortment of dry fruits. Not only are they the perfect late-night companions, but they are also nourishing. Now that is what you call a win-win situation.   

Feature Image Credits: Minimalist Baker

Aashish Jain

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Arts & Culture

Ideas for a Pocket-friendly New Year’s Party

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Organising a new year’s party can be tricky business.

There’s a lot to account for and take care of- food, drinks, decoration, lighting, music, guest lists, etc. The sheer profundity of the list is quite overwhelming in itself. On top of that, the fact that in the end we’re all students and are hence almost always financially insecure, can create more issues for us rather than solve them. To make things a little bit easier, we at DU Beat present to you a catalogue of ways in which you can have a pocket-friendly new year’s party.

 Here’s what you can do:

1. No Decorations:

If you’re exceedingly low on budget while planning a party, you might want to do away with decorations altogether. Afterall, eventually you just make a huge lump of the waste decorations and toss them into trash. Hence, by avoiding them, you might end up saving on a fortune. The best part is, you won’t even have to make the effort of taking them off once the party is over.

2. Chic-styled decorations, if no decoration is not an option:

If you can’t say NO to decorations out of your sheer love for a humble ambience, you may want to settle for classy, chic, yet pocket friendly themed décor style. For example, dual tone interiors with black crockery and a white table cloth, sprinkled with black glitter, can create a real classy ambience at a pocket-friendly cost.

3. Re-use of left-overs from the festive season:

Since the New-Year’s party falls just a couple days after the Festive Season of Christmas, you can even try re-using things from the Christmas party. For example, empty liquor bottles can be placed all around to give an aesthetic appeal to the place. Similarly, Cartons from boxing day can be re-used for storing food items. In fact, you can even re-use fairy lights from Christmas to lighten up the room.

4. Food

You don’t necessarily have to have a full-fledged 4 course meal for your guests during the party. New Year is the time of festivity and carnivalesque spirit. Even though food is considered to be the biggest bundle of joy by some, New Year’s Eve is still a time frame when people devote more of themselves to dancing and revelry, rather than hogging on food. Thus, you may decide to cut down on the number of food items that you place. An alternate to organising all the food by yourself, is a potluck, where each guest brings one dish. After all, tis’ the Season to be generous! 

5. Avoid Bonfires

New Year’s Eve witnesses a customary phenomenon in most cultures- the lighting of the Bonfire. Although it is more or less a part of a tradition now, but we must note that the materials needed for the bonfire- wood and the fuel needed to trigger initial combustion may take up a substantial amount of your budget. It is thus more like literally burning your money. Also, we live in an environment that already reels under pollution. Hence, Bonfires are not a good idea, and therefore, must be avoided.

Feature Image Credits: Toledo City Paper

Aashish Jain

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Delhi School of Journalism

DSJ Student Detained from Appearing for Semester Exams

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Delhi School of Journalism has once again made the headlines, amid malpractice controversies and protests.

The students of Delhi School of Journalism have been visibly agitated this semester: the campus has seen discontent escalate into protests, violence and unwarranted disciplinary actions. The frustration stems from poor infrastructure facilities, unavailability of the media labs, edit bays, cameras- which had been promised in the prospectus. The fee structure is unusually high, which doesn’t help the students.

The students of Delhi School of Journalism organised a Chhatra Sangarsh Rally on 25th September 2018 in North Campus of the University. The rally came three days after the students broke off the four-day long hunger strike after getting written assurance for the fulfilment of their promises. The students demanded a lower fee structure, funds from the University Grants Commission, basic facilities, media lab and ICT Centre, financial transparency, faculty on regular basis, and the right to dissent.

The students now allege concerted attempts on behalf of the authorities to ‘silence dissent’. This comes following unfair suspensions of several students. The student fraternity of DSJ has released a plea for help, citing the example of a student who is facing severe hardships at the hands of the authorities. Ambuj Bharadwaj, a second year student from DSJ has been suspended without reasonable grounds. He was a prominent face of the Stand With DSJ cause, and had previously been unlawfully detained by Delhi Police.The students have filed several pleas with the college Review Committee, which includes the Director of the college, Prof. J.P. Dubey. Mr. Dubey has been accused of acting vengefully and with disregard for student welfare. The student’s wishes have not yet been addressed, and Ambuj continues to miss his semester examinations, as the authorities conveniently postpone a judgement. 

 

Feature Image Credits: Financial Express

Nikita Bhatia

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Uncategorized

DU Student  Abducted Outside College; Police Fail to Catch the Kidnapper

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In a horrific incident of kidnapping, on Monday, a 21 year old Delhi University (DU) student was allegedly kidnapped outside Shyama Prasad Mukherji College.

The victim hails from Farrukhnagar, Gurugram, and according to her family, was going to appear for her semester exam. Harish Yadav, who later called the victim’s father, identified himself as the kidnapper and warned him against apprising the police. However, the girl’s father did approach the police in Farrukhnagar, but was asked to file a complaint in Delhi because that is where she was kidnapped.

A complaint was lodged in Gurugram on Wednesday only after the local residents raised a hue and cry.  

“I tried to call up my daughter but there was no response. As she didn’t come back, I called up the police control room but they didn’t pay heed to my requests,” said the girl’s father. The local police stated that since the girl had gone missing from Delhi, they were to approach the Delhi Police. “We then called our relatives for help. On Wednesday when villagers gathered and pressured them to file a complaint, the police registered an FIR.”

An FIR has been registered against Harish Yadav, who is believed to be a resident of Fazilpur village, under section 363 (kidnapping) of the IPC at Farrukhnagar police station. “We have constituted a special team to look into the kidnapping. Our team is conducting raids to nab the accused,” said inspector Babu Lal, SHO of Farrukhnagar police station.

Exemplifying the police’s incompetency, the girl remains untraced.

Feature Image Credits:

Maumil Mehraj

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DUB News

JNU’s Computerised Entrance Exam Postponed

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Amid backlash, the administration of JNU has deferred the computer based entrance exam for the academic year 2019–20.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, has postponed it’s first ever computer based entrance exam for the academic session 2019-2020. The exam was originally scheduled for December 2018, however, in lieu of difficulties faced by examinees, the administration has decided to defer the examination. It was decided at the 148th Academic Council of the university that the examination will now be held in May 2018; the tentative date for the exam is yet to be announced.

JNU announced a shift to computer based entrance exams for MPhil and PhD admissions in September 2018. The Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar said that, “JNU is the first Central university to be collaborating with National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct its national-level entrance examination across the country”. The examination is to be conducted with the aid of private vendors for managing the examination centres.

The administration’s decision to conduct the exam electronically was scrutinized and opposed by the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) and faculty members. JNUSU had termed the change in mode of entrance exam from descriptive to objective as a ‘scam’ and ‘unilaterally imposed by the Vice-Chancellor’

However, these claims have been refuted by the administration, and the decision has been finalised.

 

Feature Image Credits: The Wire

Nikita Bhatia

nikitab@dubeat.com

 

 

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News

DU Student Drags Molester Out of Bus

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A DU student fights back to her molester, raising serious alarms in regards of women safety in public transportation.

 A twenty-three year old Delhi University student fights back to her molester, while on a bus ride home from Kapashera to Sangam Vihar. The victim grabbed the accused by the collar and waited till the police arrived and lodged a complaint against him. All of this happened with no support from the bus staff or the passengers aboard.

The accused, identified as Mukesh Kumar, 37, was standing beside her and made attempts to touch her. The woman describes how he started rubbing himself against her, while she was seated in reserved section for women. The man stood beside her, and started touching her inappropriately. The woman first ignored the action, and then retaliated by asking him to move away. To her dismay, the accused, unzipped his pants and started touching himself, trying to pull her towards him. The woman shook him off and then hit him with her sandal. Despite vain attempts to lure attention, the driver and the conductor paid no heed, until she forced the driver to stop the bus at Mehrauli. She stood up, grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him out of the bus. With the help of a passerby she was able to pin him down, until the police came and arrested him.

After conducting medical examinations, it was revealed that the accused was heavily drunk, as pointed out by the woman in her statement, claiming that he reeked of alcohol and kept threatening her. The accused is a resident of Molarband in Badarpur. He works in an event management company. A similar incident took place almost a month back when a nineteen year old Delhi University student jumped off a bus near South Extension, after being harassed by a man. The girl faced molestation seven times in the three months of reported abuse, every day, en route to her college.

A similar harassment case was registered under Vasant Vihar police earlier this year. A DU student posted a video online claiming the man sitting beside her was masturbating and trying to grope her, while her alarms were not given due. However, no arrest has been made so far, despite the police working upon it.

This incident was reported on route 717 of the Delhi Transport Corporation buses.

Many women do not feel comfortable travelling in buses, and harassment becomes a routine act in these buses due to lack of CCTV facilities and guards in the Delhi Buses. The DTC services in transport are one of the most used and efficient systems as it has routes all around the city, being an economical choice for its passengers.

The following row of incidents make us question women safety in public transportation and if the authorities are taken any serious action regarding it. As of the current state, public transport is very unsafe from women.

Feature Image Credits: alexanaderolin.com

Avnika Chhikara

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DUB Speak

May Day: Bookstore in Review

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A glimpse into Delhi’s only ‘Leftist bookstore’ and what truly makes it one of its kind…

As you step out of a crowded metro coach on the blue line of the metro at a little station called Shadipur, you will see nothing significant out of the blue. At Shadipur, a settlement nestled in the folds of West Delhi, plain good ole Delhi shops and residential areas will greet your eyes. But if the explorer side in you is awakened and you look deeper, you will find an amusing art space. The mundane streets of this area hide a unique bookstore whose sign reads the word ‘May Day’ in Devanagari and English.

The May Day Bookstore is a joint for bibliophiles with a different touch. Right from its location and a look at its door (which reads ‘8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, 8 hours for book and coffee’), you will get a breath of fresh air. This is no big shot book retailer’s outlet and neither is it a shack of pirated paperbacks. May Day can be referred to as a CCCP, which was the same Russian abbreviation used to denote Soviet Union. In May Day’s case, CCCP can stand for a Cultural Communist Coffee Space and that’s what it is. As the name suggests, the store was founded about six years back on the first of May, the worker’s day celebrated by Socialists and Communists worldwide.

The store’s pages and its wall’s faces bleed out the red shades of the Leftist school of thought. This becomes evident from the fact that it is managed by Leftword Books, which has been producing books that emphasise the views and issues of the Left in India and South Asia. So naturally, you can find racks here filled with books on peasant movements, trade unions, tribal activists and many other such themes. You can scan through these paperbacks under the watchful eyes of painted murals of Marx and Che Guevara, feminist posters and handbags featuring the faces of Bhagat Singh and BR Ambedkar. Within the bookstore, there is also a performance space for theatre, dance, talks and other cultural activities, called Studio Safdar.

The approach and setting of this place hence make it a spot worth exploring. It’s still funny if you think it out in your head if today a Right-wing bookstore also opens up in some corner of the city. What controversy would that brew! Well, that can be a debate for some other day. Till then freedom of speech for all!

But apart from the looks and books, it is not exclusively meant for Leftists and is open for readers of all types. Second hand books, classic bestsellers and works by up and coming writers from small independent publishers are also available at May Day. So, it is not necessary if red is your favourite shade or if you believe Karl Marx is Santa Claus to be a part of the May Day family. Therefore, if you are a bookworm in Delhi looking for a new store to raid, or if you are plain bored and wish to explore a spot with artsy aesthetics for your Instagram stories, or if you are a passionate Delhiite trying to run away from the capitalist malls on the lookout for a humbler milieu, then you may like to pay a visit to May Day…

Feature Image Credits: May Day Bookstore

Shaurya Thapa

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Uncategorized

Do Marks Really Matter?

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Contrary to the popular opinion among the youth that marks don’t really matter, the truth of the situation is that, marks do matter, and even if they do not define your entire life and career, they do certainly help in getting an individual one step closer to their desired goals.

Class 12th boards are a stressful period for parents and students alike. Months of mock exams, tuitions, and hefty amounts of money are spent on preparing students for the most important school level exam in India. A whole new industry is booming as a consequence of the average Indian parent and student stress. The competitiveness of exams has increased as a consequence of shortage of seats owing to the increasing population. The coaching industry is bearing its ugly head at every level of education. Lakhs of students burn the midnight oil to get that extra edge over their counterparts, in a bid to outbid the best for a seat in prestigious institutes like the University of Delhi.

Saying that marks don’t matter is a stretch, especially considering the amount of preparation that goes into making students ready for any exam at any level. If marks truly did not matter, the coaching industry would perish, and the country’s stress levels would plummet. With a population as large as a country like India, a basic criteria which comes even slightly close to fair selection are marks, where performance decides results. Not to say that the marking system and whole education system is not flawed in various ways, but so far it is the closest thing to fair that is considered for entry into college and work.

Point in case marks do help get you into your desired school, college, or even work place, they are the sole criteria in terms of segregating the deserving from the undeserving, those who work hard, versus those who don’t, according to Indian societal standards.

Another argument supporting the concept of marks is that, saying marks don’t matter, disregards the months or even years of hard work put in by lakhs of students in colleges and schools across the country and even the world. The sugar coated world that exclaims that “marks don’t define you” is letting you down easy, with an attempt not to hurt any feelings. In practical life, a student with good marks is unlikely to say that marks don’t matter, whereas those with sub par or ‘bad’ marks is more likely to say the controversial phrase.

The college coaching industry is second to the school, and competitive exam industry, but equally big, and expensive. The end goal of these institutions is not to impart knowledge, but rather to help students attain a certain number of marks. The main question we grapple with, as a society is the question of knowledge versus marks, are we teaching students something new, or merely how to attain marks ?

In a system where marks serve as the deciding criteria for most important life decisions, completely denying their value is unreasonable. Until we move forward as a nation to create fairer ways to determine individual talent, aptitude, and ability, marks do matter.

 

Feature Image Credits: The Times of India

 

Meher Gill

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DUB Speak

Simple Tips for Good Study Breaks  

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Study breaks help give you a short duration to unwind and relax and temporarily forget about the stress of mounting syllabus. However, doing them right is imperative to derive the most out of the 30 minutes of respite.

Duration of the Break

The duration of the break you take heavily impacts your ability to concentrate. It’s is advisable to take study breaks every ninety minutes or so to enhance concentration, and ability to understand and absorb. Taking breaks that last for more than 30 minutes end up actually hampering not only the study flow, but also the ability to concentrate better. By taking larger breaks, one may actually put themselves at risk of actually taking longer to redeem the previously built concentrative flow. This means starting over, and putting in the extra effort of getting your mind into study mode again. A short break of no more than thirty to forty minutes can actually help refresh your mind and improve concentration. The mind feels fresh and ready to take on new information.

Break Activities

What you do during your break is as important as the duration. There are some activities which may actually tire your mind and body, instead of preparing you for another round of revision. Refrain from partaking in activities which include screens of any kind, eg. cell phones, television, iPads etc, as they may tire your eyes, making you more sleeper than awake. Short walks, painting, playing with a pet, cooking etc are better activities to help concentration as they reduce stress hormones without harmful omissions like blue light. Taking a hot shower also helps relax muscles and refresh the mind and body.

Food

Food plays an important role in reducing stress and boosting concentration. Making healthy choices in terms of food and snacks is important while studying, as food can directly affect concentration and stress levels.

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids

It is no secret that omega-3 fatty acids are extremely beneficial for brain health and memory. Our brains are made of 60% of fat out of which half of those fats are of the omega-3 fatty kinds. Fatty fish like Salmon and trout are good options to obtain omega-3 fatty acids.

  • Turmeric- A staple in the Indian diet, turmeric is another brain boosting superhero. An active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, is able to reach the brain directly, and benefit memory, reduce stress levels and improve cell growth.
  • Fruits and Vegetables- Vegetables like broccoli and fruits like blueberries and oranges provide vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin K. Including fruits of this nature along with a handful of pumpkin seeds makes for not only a healthy and delicious snack but will also keep you full, preventing unwarranted snack breaks between studying.
  • Dark Chocolate and Coffee- Two sinful indulgences that form the perfect combination are dark chocolate and coffee. Inclusive of flavonoids, caffeine and antioxidants, both these eatables, while delicious in nature, must be consumed in moderation to prevent adverse after effects like sleeplessness, jittery ness and possible heart palpitations.

If you don’t have your parents around to periodically supply you with all these delicious and healthy snacks and meals, fret not. An easy solution would be to stack up on these ingredients beforehand, and prepare a trail mix consisting of dry fruits and dark chocolate and store it in an easily accessible container. Keep the container and fruits within your reach to snack conveniently while studying, or simply take a break and enjoy them.

These three points on making the most out of study breaks are all you need to effectively re-energize your mind and body during the stressful exam period.

 

Feature Image Credits: The Secret Yumiverse

Meher Gill

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DUB Speak

The Right Time to Study Abroad

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At some point in time, a fair amount of people have found themselves debating the idea of an education abroad. The question can plague those with a desire for a life, or simply an education abroad, for years at end. So, what really is the best time to receive an education in a foreign country?


School
Unlike our western counterparts, school is given a great deal of importance in India, so much so that dropping out for any  reason whatsoever is not an option. Some people may believe that an early introduction to the foreign culture is the best option for easy assimilation into the target society. Unless born into a particular country, receiving a primary education in a foreign country is not the best idea. Primary and middle school education is best received from any good school in the vicinity. High school is a better option to consider for foreign education, as this is a crucial time in terms of scores, competitive exams and college applications. If the end goal is getting into a college in a foreign country, completing one’s final two years of school from the said nation is a viable option.

Bachelors
Considered as the best time to go abroad, a Bachelor’s degree from a foreign university can have a heavy weightage on your CV. Scholarships are the best option in terms of funding an education abroad, taking into account the current value of the rupee. Part-time jobs are another option to aid your stay during college. One of the reasons why this is considered a good time to go abroad is the belief that age is synonymous with maturity. Majority of students reach the age of 18, an age considered appropriate to fly the nest. However, funding (in the absence of scholarships) is a major factor to take into consideration while applying. Being mentally prepared to take up a part-time job, alongside studies, and the task of assimilation into a foreign culture and society, must not be ignored.

Masters
The other end of the spectrum consists of people who are certain that masters is the best time, and option, among degrees to go overseas. Working for a couple of years helps individuals attain a certain practical knowledge about an industry,  that comes only through professional environments like workplaces. Interacting with people of all ages and differing qualifications helps build an in-depth understanding of the working of a particular field. Being Equipped with sufficient practical knowledge as well as academic knowledge helps make a masters course in a foreign country fruitful in terms of honing one’s existing skills, as well as gaining and understanding new information.
Going overseas immediately after a bachelor’s degree is often not preferred owing to a lack of work experience. Unless an individual has indulged in any form of work or practical internship, one may find themselves lagging behind in comparison to the rest of the class, the majority of which is made up of people with at least a couple of years of work experience.  

Experiences vary, and what holds true for one person may not for others. Doing adequate research into required exams,  funding, courses, and colleges is imperative and must not be compromised in any case.
For more information about education abroad, websites like those of the British council, StudyAbroad, and ISEP can be referred to.

 

Feature Image Credits: The PIE News

 

Meher Gill

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