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Meher Gill

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The board is set, the pieces are now moving. The battle is won, but the cause is lost. Do you sense the same?

The roads are all strange these days, without the smattering of a thousand flyers and pamphlets. It is almost disappointing to not see the flyers fall around the campus. Almost consoling are the misspelt names on the Wall(s) of Democracy. As the campus finally breathes in all its silence, the screaming political sobriety is in question. So, what follows now? Is it too early to recede to our apprehensions? Some might agree, but then there was never much space for agendas in those swanky BMWs on roads so choked with flyers. Beards and gold rings drove these SUVs and sedans, and beards and gold rings drive politics now.
Politics is a progression in the sense that it has always followed patterns. There are changes, but not necessarily as we would like to have them. After a raging contest of power in the past fortnight, the election results were in favour of some, while many others were left baffled. In an endless volley of blames and shaming, we saw some candidates rise to power recently. You hope to make sense out of it, but it all reduces to a clout of pointless manifesto promises. How long before these promises are fulfilled? Will the year be enough? Anyone who is even remotely familiar with the idea of politics will know what it means in practice. Agendas are good, but for a change, we would like to see some action too. Ironically, the only action we see is the action of the fist. In multiple brawls and the loss of public property, what is damaged most is the very idea of politics. Most of our representatives think that all politics has to offer is power, and power in India is scarce anyway. Responsibility is fantastical, so we cannot use this word for our politics. Politics is always about differentiated representation because two opinions can never be alike. This is what democracy implies, after all, it is the freedom to choose a representative. However, politics has become more divisive than ever before – it is driven by everything but democratic ethics. In DUSU, caste politics prevails, for instance, and in the national perspective, the division extends to manifold realms.
This year, like most years, political outfits claimed their primary objective to be that of women safety and claimed to improve their representation, the opportunities available to them, and provide a better environment to them in general. Introduction of U-special buses has been on the card since long, and new ideas like under INR 10 thali have been introduced this year. What we fail to observe amongst these tall promises is the question of what could possibly be their plan of action here? Being apolitical is a choice, but indifference can only mean ignorance that refuses to see the truth, and ignorance seems to sit at the core of all our problems. It is only right then, to be informed, aware, active, and to fight back with our form of dissent laced with logical arguments. The agendas might find fulfilment or hope to do so still, but only with an initiative from our side and that of the elected leaders.
Power gives you the strength to change, to reinvent, and to exercise an idea for the betterment of a cause. No one is wrong to expect this from those who stand for the upholding of power, but we all know who has the last laugh.
Kartik Chauhan

A lecturer at Netaji Subhash Institute of  Technology (NSIT) has alleged the Dean of Undergraduate Studies of using “illegal” means to reduce the marks of some of the students in the subject of Environmental Science.

 

Surendra Kumar Yadav, a lecturer of Environmental Science (FE-006) at NSIT, recently wrote a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, and Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, regarding issues with the marks of students in the subject.

 

The letter, dated 4th September 2018, stated that he had awarded decent marks to all his students, however, the Dean of Undergraduate Studies of the college, Dr Sujata Sengar, reduced the marks of some students through unfair means due to her “biases” against the students.

 

The course is set up for students in their second and fourth semester of BE Undergraduate Programme. At the end of the semesters, after the lecturer’s signature, the final mark sheet needs to be signed by the dean. However, Yadav alleges that she refused to sign it, and the papers evaluated and checked by him were sent for rechecking intentionally, so that the final score of some students could be reduced.

He further says that the Director of the college was also involved in the same, as he is like a “puppet in her hands.” Yadav obtained the two different mark sheets by filing an RTI after some of his students told him that they had not scored well despite their hard work. The two different mark sheets were attached with the letter to the authorities.

 

The letter further requested the authorities to take an action against the dean or she would “spoil the career of many such students due to her biases”. Yadav proposed the formation of an inquiry committee consisting of people not associated with NSIT, under the chairmanship of a retired judge, to look into the matter. Though the authorities have not replied to the letter yet, Yadav hopefully told DU Beat that “they must be doing something”.

 

He has been barred from teaching for the current semester, and says it is due to the dean’s “anarchy”.

 

DU Beat tried contacting Yadav for the names and the contact details of the students who have suffered in the situation, but to no avail.

 

A student in the third year of Electronics and Communication Engineering, on the condition of anonymity, told DU Beat about the general discord and negativity in the institution with respect to the Dean.

 

When DU Beat contacted Sengar, she said “I certainly refuse the allegations. However, I am not in a position to comment on this, as of now.”

 

Khyati Sanger

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Nikhil Kumar

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College can be tough. Coming into the real world, with real responsibilities and a wide array of people can sometimes take its toll on even the best. While nobody is expected to instantaneously find people they get along with, this period of meeting and discovering new people can take its toll mentally. It is a period when you miss the familiarity of school and school friends the most. Coping with this transition can be hard, some turn to family, some to old friends, and some to four-legged furballs.

 

Colleges are known to treat animals with the utmost love and respect and even have internal societies or (external) non-profit organizations set up who actively take of these animals. Colleges like Lady Shri Ram college in South Delhi have animal non-profit organisations as a part of their National Service Scheme Programme (eg, Fiappo) as well as an internal animal welfare society that takes care of the food and overall health needs of animals on campus.

Image Credits: Friendicoes, LSR
Image Credits: Friendicoes, LSR

Many have found solace in the company of these on campus buddies, especially those with pets who find themselves in a different city, starting life over as an adult. Drawing from personal experience, having to leave your pet behind can be as difficult as having to shift out of home for the very first time. I, as well as many known to me have often found ourselves wanting to escape human interaction at times. Hot chai and the company of Batman, the friendly campus dog, are like therapy for the soul. Sunshine, Oreo and Hazel (among many others), are some of the stars that frequent the classrooms and grounds of Lady Shri Ram College, on the lookout for someone in need for unconditional love. Having a bad day? Missing home? Had a fight with a friend? No problem! If no one else, there are definitely a few you can make happy (who will return the favour) with something as simple as a belly rub, and they’ll repay you with warm licks (read as: kisses).

Image Credits: Friendicoes, LSR
Image Credits: Friendicoes, LSR

As time goes by, you also notice people who once terrified of animals, melt, by the overwhelming amount of love these friendly felines have to offer. What once was a scream when something fuzzy rubbed up against your legs in the canteen, now becomes a shriek of excitement on being visited by an old friend.

College hostels house some of our friends as well as some of our animals, who unlike humans, enjoy the perks of shelter and food, free of cost. Our college hostel is home to many cats, fed on a steady diet of milk, ensuring their return as company. These animals influence our lives to the extent that they may even find their way into college graffiti or society logos, shedding light on their important position in our lives. While not everyone may end college as an animal fan, but for the most of us, they become more than friends, they become family.

Image Credits: Friendicoes, LSR
Image Credits: Friendicoes, LSR

Feature Image Credits: Action for Animal Welfare

Meher Gill
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If you have furry pets in your campus too, send us an article with pictures, explaining how these friends have made life in college easier for you! Mail your pieces at [email protected]

Sit back, relax, and grab a hot cup of chai because monsoon season is here.

Monsoons are the perfect time to enjoy some of life’s guilty pleasures. The season is perfect for some chai-pakora action, enjoyed best in a cozy Jaipuri blanket, whilst romantically glancing out the patterned windows. The rainy season has been associated with romance, fertility, and indulgence since time immemorial. The earth replenishes and reproduces new life onto the planet, making everything better. Our dadis and nanis are notorious for stuffing the bellies of little children with pakoras of all kinds, even if the occasion is simply a light drizzle. However, since Pakoras are a privilege for college kids away from home, here are the best ways to enjoy a rainy day when away from home.

Chai/Coffee

The romance of dancing raindrops is best enjoyed with an accompaniment of masala chai and Marie. Affordable and delicious, it quenches your thirst and soothes your throat, while going splendidly with the weather.
In case you’re feeling generous or just happen to be a millennial who needs coffee to survive, chai can be substituted with coffee. Another rainy day buddy, you can choose your roast, be it light, medium, or dark. Take the day off, and enjoy your nice hot cuppa.

A Good Book

What does chai and coffee go best with? A good old book, of course!  After you’re done dunking your biscuits in your beverage, you still need a companion for the remaining tea, and there no better buddy than a book. The older the book, the better, so you can dig your nose into it and experience the woody goodness of its pages. Romance is a genre best suited to the weather, along with a comfy chair to sink into when lost in the world of literature.
Ruskin Bond’s short story collections get a special mention, as they can transport you to the quaintest rainy hills, complete with a touch of childhood nostalgia.

Music
If you’re not much of reader, fret not, there is plenty to do to get you into the mood for the rains. Plug in your earphones, or blast your speakers with some of the best melancholic musicians out there. Coke Studio is especially recommended to go with the weather. The acoustic songs of the past and present are the best company at times like these. Bon Iver, Rex Orange County, Vance Joy, and the Wallows are just some of the brilliant bands and musicians to suit the mood. Turn up the volume, and switch on the fairy lights for best results.

Be Creative

The rains can be extremely inspirational for all the artists, writers, and musicians out there to create something beautiful. A poem, a song, a painting, nature in all its glory can offer much to be written, sung, or drawn about. If nothing else, you could even turn to the poets and artists of the Romantic era to seek guidance from, on how to appreciate the beauty of nature. While being productive and creative is not a compulsion, the monsoon sure does offer a lot to swoon after in terms of inspiration.

Monsoons are the rebirth of the earth and the replenishment of the tired, dusty cities. They offer a second chance at life to the animate as well as the inanimate.

Feature Image: Mindy Waneger

Meher Gill

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College life is a whole new experience, where we break out from our mold and dip our toes into things we haven’t tried before. These experiences, and the beauty of these “firsts” makes college even more special. 

We often hear our parents gush over memories of our first word, or the first step we took as babies, but the value of firsts is something we understand for ourselves as we go through the journey of adolescence into adulthood.

By the age of sixteen or seventeen most people from our generation are guilty of exclaiming ‘I am not a child anymore’ to our parents. There are several things that may trigger this response, it could be something as simple as a protest against being yelled at for not keeping our room tidy, or calling out our parents’ hypocrisy for calling us adults in some instances, and children in others, but what really makes us believe this statement, is the yearning to actually be an adult.

When younger, we fantasize about the romantic lifestyle we’ll lead as grown ups. Driving, going out without permission, having our own salary to spend as we wish, contribute to the fantastical delusion of what adulthood is actually like.  Once out of school, we come a step closer to this romanticized idea of growing up. While our reality is still somewhat clouded in college, what makes college life so interesting are the many firsts we experience.

The first year of college, is the starting point of most firsts for many people. Indian parents are infamous for over protecting their children for most part of their lives, but from this unconscious coddling comes something magical, the gift of experiencing the many (previously forbidden) firsts life has to offer. Lets address the most fantasized about first, one’s first love. Before entering college, we not only graduate from school, but also graduate from meager crushes, to being open to full fledged, unabashed, untamed love. The diverse crowd of college presents the bright eyed with limitless opportunities to fall madly and deeply into love, away from the prying eyes of parents. Caste, colour, culture and identity merge into one big word, ‘human’ and you let yourself, maybe even for the first time, experience intense emotion for another human being. Films like Rang De Basanti start to seem more romantic than tragic, and you consider yourself to be ‘alive’ for the very first time.

While your first love may make you feel more alive than ever, the next first is more of an escape. A lot of us have our first drink in college. We are introduced to the world of parties and clubs, which are incomplete without, alcohol. A rookie favourite, vodka and rum are a broke college kid’s best friend. The feeling of ‘nothing’s happening’ to ‘I’m not drunk’ (when you clearly are), become memories to cherish, and of course, so does the time you puke your guts out after one too many shots. The mind numbing first experience everyone has with alcohol, not only helps place you in the category of ‘light weight’ or heavy weight’ but also brings with it the joy of shutting does unwanted overthinking and unnecessary stress. However, being sensible about your intake of alcohol is extremely important and drinking responsibly is something your future self will thank you for.

The next first is something most experienced by  Delhi newbies. If you’ve just moved to the city for college, the metro at first may seem like a task but will eventually become your best friend, and definitely a cherish-able first. It’s not uncommon for your first metro experience to be somewhat confusing. You’re overwhelmed by the different coloured lines and stations, and somewhat disappointed when your  destination is not right outside the metro station. You may end up staring at the map for a while, only to discover your savior in the coloured footsteps which lead you right to your platform. The metro card becomes as important as your debit card, and the panic you experience on forgetting it is almost at par with the torture of standing in the long token line that follows that. We can honestly thank our stars for the inexpensive and fast travel the metro has to offer and can’t imagine life without it.

This first may be an unpopular opinion when it comes to the theme of ‘cherish-able firsts’, but it definitely deserves a spot in the list owing to its novelty in terms of work experience. This is a first which majority of people experience only after entering college, and can also come under the category of  ‘forced firsts’. Internships for some may be the best first work experiences for some, and the worst for others. No work, odd jobs and moody bosses are familiar to anybody who’s ever interned, but on the flip-side, great bosses, amazing learning experiences and meeting wonderful people are too part and parcel of the internship experience.Whether you have a good experience or a bad one at your first internship, you are bound to leave having learnt something new.

College life offers so much to each one of us, friends, memories and learning experiences for a lifetimes. These memorable firsts,  generously sprinkled here and there make college life beautiful and memorable.

Feature Image Credits – Hindustan Times

Meher Gill

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The semester exams are here and while some are moving forward with their 2nd revision, some of us are still fretting and getting each and every reading Xeroxed! For outstation students, who choose to stay back during the prep leave, this time is especially hard and gloomy.
There’s a whole lot of difference between studying in a hostel and at home. Check out why!

Food
Because life starts and ends with it. While at home ‘ ghar ka khana ‘ and junk is at your disposal at all times , not so much in a hostel. And what do you do when you can’t even identify the food they’ve made? Sulk or just make maggi , because having maggi for breakfast just wasn’t enough for you.

Different studying patterns
So you’re one of the early risers whereas your roommate’s light is switched on the whole night because she’s one of those owls who prefer to burn the midnight oil. A few days like these and you know how to pack yourself neatly inside your comforter with bare minimum air supply for the entire night. Your good dreams comprise of your bed sitting on top of a cloud, surrounded by nothing but silence and no roommates and no lamps. This is pure bliss, and now, it’s morning!

Chores
You can dirty as many clothes as you like and sometimes just give them away for washing even if you’ve worn them just that one time at home. But you’ll think plenty of times before putting that t-shirt you’ve been wearing since 2 days in the laundry basket, because you know you’ll be the one washing it 5 days later when you have no clothes left to wear. Not even the shabby, old t-shirt thrown away at the back of your cupboard!

Now, for the silver lining. Oh yes there is!

Delhi winters and North Campus
Just when you can’t take it anymore, step out, go for that long walk around the campus (especially the Hindu- Stephen’s road as it’s not that crowded). There’s something about the cold winter air which gives you just the right amount of happiness and energy to deal with exam stress. Take a detour and have a cup of steaming hot chai from one of the street tea-vendors, mostly seen in Kamla Nagar.

Random dinners
Impulsive dinner plans are the best, aren’t they? Because your mom isn’t that cool to let you go out for dinner with your friends when exams are on your head. But you are your own boss here, so go ahead and order up! (But make sure you come back before 8pm, because, well, you do have an in-time here.)

Room-mates
No matter how annoyed you get by them, you know you love the sadistic pleasure you get , when you see her or his face buried in that book! Seeing this just makes it a tad bit easier for you to go back your own.

(Image source: www.doitandhow.com)

Mehr Gill
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