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Delhi University Students’ Union Launches Gender Sensitisation Cell

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Yesterday, on 15th January, the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) launched a Gender Sensitisation Cell (GSC). Rocky Tuseed, President of DUSU, is set to act as the Chairman, while Narayani Anand, a student of Campus Law Center, is announced as the Convener. The GSC will be operated from the DUSU office space at Chhatra Marg in the North Campus.

The aim of this initiative is to ‘represent and raise the voice of students who suffer any act of sexual harassment or gender discrimination’, ‘ hold interaction with students to create awareness about gender discrimination and remedies available to curb it’, ‘take preventive steps to curb eve-teasing’, and ‘create a healthy and safe atmosphere in the university for people of all genders, especially women and transgenders.’

The GSC, that is still in at the early stage of consolidation plans to work in sync with Women’s Development Cell (WDC), Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), National Commission for Women (NCW), and sexual harassment committees of various colleges. The GSC will also provide legal aid to the aggrieved students.

The recruitment of the members GSC has started. The selection process comprises of an online application that is to be filled through a Google form, and an interview. According to the application form, ‘the selected members will be expected to assist in planning, development, and execution of activities for the promotion of DU-GSC’s objectives.’

You can find the application here. 

Narayani Anand, the Convener of Gender Sensitisation Cell, informed DU Beat that the communication and grievance redressal channels will be open from the next month. She also said that co-conveners will be chosen from the students shortlisted after the interview, that is, from among the members itself.

Questions have been raise against Rocky Tuseed’s nomination as the Chainman of the cell. Accoding to the regulations the University Grants Commission, only women can head Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) and Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). When asked about this contradiction, Tuseed tol DU Beat, ‘My role would only entail the overseeing of the cell. The active role will be that of the convener. I will merely oversee the functioning of the cell as a DUSU representative. It will be a 50 member committee with mostly women and transgender members.’

Sexual harassment and discrimination against the members of the transgender community have prevailed in the University of Delhi for a long time. Despite the remarkable work of the feminist groups in the campus the incidents of pervasive sexism keep emerging. In this environment, DUSU’s this move is extremely important and commendable. However, owing to the history of DUSU-led initiatives, suspicion about the effectiveness and the sincerity of this Cell are bound to rise. Whether or not the GSC will be able to serve its purpose can only be established in a few months.

 

Image Credits: She The People

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

 

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Play Review: Manto Ke Afsaane

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Saadat Hasan Manto’s stories have been adapted on stage for decades now. Every work of the acclaimed writer kindles powerful emotions and emotions reactions. One such attempt was put forth by less than a year old Sukhmanch Theater. Held on 25th December at Lok Kala Manch, the production was named “Manto Ke Afsaane”. Like the name itself suggests, the play comprised of six short stories written by the Manto himself. The stories were carefully picked, where the protagonist was a woman. While the subjugation of women was a common theme across the six stories, communalism, politics, and poverty were also talked about. Changes and variations to suit the contemporary and current scenario were skillfully integrated by Director Shilpi Marwaha. In terms of storytelling, one can argue that masterpieces like “Khol Do” and “Mozail” weren’t played as skillfully as they are originally written. The haunting emotions and nuances of the text didn’t unfold on the stage. But this difference or observation is apparent only to those who have read the stories. To those who didn’t, the acts were engaging enough. There are several moments in the 2-hour long play where an audience would laugh, cry, and feel very uneasy owing to the uncomfortable realties of the society. As a female, I was very uncomforted by the heart-wrenching scenes depicting of sexual violence, but to neutralize this intensity there were several lighthearted moments spread across the play. For me, the best act was “Khudkushi”- a hilarious piece encompassing the thoughts and musings of a young girl’s about eternal love stories. The play involved more than 40 actors and one could tell that almost all of them were amateur (and as we found out later, most of them had started theater just eight months ago). However, despite the occasional fumbling and lack of convincing dialogue delivery, they all manage to pull great performances. Pragya Sharma, who played the role of naïve ten Sarita in “ 1O Rupaye” stood out for her innocent and unpretentious acting skills. The play starts with a scene where all women protagonist is present in the same stage and voices out their opinions which soon dissolve in a tumultuous chaos signaling the muffling of women’s voices. After all the stories are enacted one gets the significance of this first scene because we can identify the characters. Shilpi Marwaha should be applauded for genius orchestration. The stage setting was kept minimal and the lighting was handled well by Ayan Banerjee. The background score consisted of soulful piano versions of Christina Perry songs which didn’t suit the play at all. P.S. – After the end, Shilpi Marwaha addressed the audience and introduced the cast an crew. Shilpi in her delightful and charming style established his direct rapport with the audience. What followed next was a 20-minute long heart-to-heart. The production was great, but I suggest you should watch Sukhmanch Theater for the pleasure of meeting Miss. Marwaha.   Feature Image Credits: Niharika Dabral for DU Beat Niharika Dabral [email protected]]]>

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DUB Speak

Top 17 Pop Culture Moments of 2017

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2017 has been a roller-coaster year in all spheres — sports, entertainment, politics, culture, and just about every industry that currently exists. We bring you the 17 most memorable moments and highlights of the year 2017 for you to officially call it a year and rewind through the news-makers in the pop culture world.
1. The year when Pahlaj Nihalani was ousted: Lipstick Under My Burkha is one of the many movies that faced unnecessary wrath from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) this year. Jab Harry Met Sejal is another movie that frustratingly faced issues with respect to only one scene. Soon after, Pahlaj Nihalani was sacked from his position as the Chief by the Central Board.
2. The year when Ed Sheeran and Luis Fonzi dominated all music charts: Despacito and Shape of You are two of the most popular songs of 2017 that grabbed the top spots in Billboard’s top 100 songs, after breaking records by staying for the maximum number of weeks in many music charts. Not surprisingly, Despacito is currently the most watched video on YouTube with 4.5 billion views.
3. The year of Memes: From cringe-pop videos grabbing national headlines in India to memes gaining traction worldwide, 2017 was definitely a year for memes to go mainstream. Omprakash Mishra’s Aunty ki Ghanti took the internet by a storm and Facebook pages like “Wholesome Memes” dominated everyone’s timelines.
4. The year with Thirteen Reasons Why and the buzz surrounding it: Produced by Selena Gomez, this Netflix thriller gained widespread popularity overnight and became a sleeper hit. It sparked a conversation about mental health issues and despite facing flak for romanticising suicide, it helped people acknowledge that depression is as real as any other illness.
5. The year of fidget spinners: Initially marketed to help individuals with anxiety and ADHD, this tiny toy became the most talked-about item in the entirety of the year. Interestingly, it became so popular that there is an entire section of instructional videos devoted to fidget spinners on YouTube.
6. The year that saw zero white male nominations in Grammys: The Grammy awards are known for being embroiled in controversies around racism, because of which it is incredible that for the first time in nearly two decades, the Grammy Awards did not include any white men in its Album of the Year category.
7. The year that saw the continuation of feuds: During many points over the course of the year, the discussion in the film industry was sadly about Kangna Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan’s long-time feud. Continuing since 2016, this feud still drags with no conclusion to be found.
8. The year of the Oscars goof-up: In a chaotic climax moment, La La Land was mistakenly declared as the winner of the Best Picture category award at the Oscars. Moonlight was the deserving winner, and the mistake regarding this was corrected immediately.
9. The year when Wonder Women became the ultimate heroine: Released on 15th May,  Wonder Women become the highest-grossing film ever made by a female director by racking up $821 million at the global box office. This Gal Gadot starrer is accredited with sparking discussions about the representation of female power in popular cinema.
10. The year when love won over hate: One Love Manchester benefit concert organised by Ariana Grande in the aftermath of a suicide bombing carried out during the concert on 22nd May was a beautiful show of love and solidarity. The concert was attended by more than 50,000 people and saw the lineup artists like Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Pharrell Williams, and Usher. The proceedings from the concert went to those affected by the bombing that killed 22 people and wounded more than 100.
11. The year when power was held accountable: In 2017 many men and women spoke up about sexual harassment against the powerful figures in Hollywood. In October 2017, The New York Times published the testimonies of more than a dozen women who accused Weinstein of sexually harassing, assaulting, or raping them. Soon many other women in the film industry reported similar experiences with Weinstein. Actor Kevin Spacey was also accused of sexual misconduct by many boys, including actor Anthony Rapp. Both Weinstein and Spacey suffered the loss of deals and associations after these accusations surfaced.
12. The year when survivors spoke up: #MeToo became a viral hashtag used by victims of sexual misconduct of voicing their experiences. Actress Alyssa Milano popularized the hashtag to as part of an awareness campaign in order to reveal the magnitude of sexual harassment. The hashtag has trended in at least 85 countries including India. Originally the phrase “Me Too” was started by activist Tarana Burke in 2006 on MySpace social network.
13. The year of #BlackRoyal: Suits star Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of Wales got engaged on 27th November and soon announced the Royal wedding that is scheduled for 19th May. While the world was gushing over the ideal couple (Megan is a beauty with brains and Harry is the most loved royal), a section showed displeasure over the choice of new Duchess of Sussex. Markel was targeted for her age, race, and her past marriage. However, the negative slurs were countered online with the hashtag #BlackRoyal.  On 8th November the British royal family’s communications secretary released an official statement defending Market form the “wave of abuse and harassment”.
14. The year when women marched: The beginning of 2017 saw the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. The Women’s March was held on January 21, 2017, to advocate women’s rights, immigration reform, healthcare reform, queer rights, and workers’ rights. Held immediately after the inauguration of Donald Trump, the protests were aimed against the Trump administration’s regressive stand on multiple issues.

15. The year when a fictitious queen caused real havoc: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ambitious period drama, Padmavati has been marred in controversy even before its trailer was launched. The film’s set has been torched, the director got beaten up, and cast and the crew threatened. The film was scheduled to be released on 1st December but hasn’t received the clearance from Censor Board yet.

16. The year when “Virushka” got married: The much love power couple of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli finally got married Italy on 11th December. The wedding was a dreamlike sequence and a close-knit affair. The pictures and minute details of the wedding dominated the news and social media ever since the first pictures were made public.

17. The year when the world found out “Kattappa ne bahubali ko kyu mara”: Baahubali 2: The Conclusion,  became the first ever Indian film to gross over 10 billion, that too in just ten days. It stands as the second highest grossing film in India. Facebook in its “2017 Year in Review” listing ranked Baahubali 2: The Conclusion as the most-discussed topic by Indian Facebook users.

Feature Image Credits: Spoiler TV
Niharika Dabral
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Venkaiah Naidu Inaugurates the Delhi School of Journalism

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The inauguration ceremony of the Delhi School of Journalism finally took place on Thursday, after three months since the commencement of classes. Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, Honorable Vice President of India and Chancellor of the University of Delhi, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest.

The inauguration ceremony of Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) took place on Thursday, 21st December 2017 at the Convention Hall in the Vice Regal Lodge. Prof. Yogesh Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, and Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Chairman of DSJ’s Advisory Council were present alongside several Deans, Principals, and other dignitaries.

The ceremony began at 4 p.m. with the lighting of the lamp ceremony that was accompanied by the live music of shankhnaad played by people dressed in traditional saffron robes.

Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, Honorable Vice President of India, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Speaking about the ethics of journalism, Mr. Naidu said, ‘As an aspiring journalist you should learn to never surrender against the truth. We need media personalities who have nationalistic instincts and know how to use their influence and reach responsibly.’ He also appreciated DSJ’s course structure that allows a student to learn multiple regional languages like Tamil and Bangla. ‘Before learning any second language, a person must master his mother tongue’, he said.

Shri Ram Bahadur, Chairman of DSJ’s Advisory Council, in his speech stated that DU’s journalism courses are laced with ‘anarchy’ and lack a standard syllabus. He didn’t explain what he meant by anarchy. He also asserted that the present media industry consists of anti-establishment and pro-establishment entities which jeopardises the truth from coming out. Evoking Buddha’s principle of the middle path he stressed the need for neutral journalists.

Prof. Yogesh Tyagi spoke about the ethos, aims, and the vision with which DSJ is created. He said that ‘this youngest member in the Delhi University family’ is the most democratic and transparent institution. He highlighted that DSJ provides world’s only integrated programme (both undergraduate and post-graduate) in Journalism. He also pointed to the unique curriculum of DSJ that is sensitive to both local and global needs.

Mementos of appreciation were given to the academicians and faculty members who helped in various aspects of establishing the programme. A bilingual magazine by the students of DSJ was also released in the ceremony. Prof. J.P. Khurana, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi, concluded the event with a vote of thanks.

NSUI protests against the  self-financing mode of Delhi School of Journalism

While the inauguration was going on, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, staged a protest at the Faculty of Arts against the de facto privatisation of public universities under the guise of self-financing. They demanded the UGC funding for the Delhi School of Journalism and an immediate rollback of the exorbitant fees. As of now, DSJ’s annual fee is 78,000 thousand. NSUI claimed that despite the steep fees being charged, there is no permanent faculty available yet.

Image Credits: NSUI
Image Credits: NSUI

 

Feature Image Credits: Dainik Jagran

Niharika Dabral

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The mountains are calling, but are we listening?

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The entire year is dotted with an array of International days dedicated to valid and important causes. In this list, 11th December is considered the International Mountain by the United Nations General Assembly, since 2003. According to the UN website, International Mountain Day is “observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is the U.N. organisation mandated to lead observance of all related festivities.

The theme for 2017 is Mountain under Pressure: climate, hunger, migration. The present facts presented by the FAO say that ninety percent of the world’s mountain dwellers live in developing countries, where a vast majority lives below the poverty line and one out of three faces the threat of food insecurity.

India’s wide landscape is dotted with mountain ranges that hold breathtaking landscapes, diversity of flora and fauna, and native communities. We also have the youngest and the oldest mountains in the world – the Himalayas and the Aravalli Range. While both Himalayas and the Aravallis are very different, there is one commonality they share: both mighty ranges face acute indifference in terms of state conservation efforts.
Mountains provide about 60 to 80 percent of the world’s freshwater. This freshwater, which is under threat from overpopulation and encroachment, is stored in glaciers and lakes. As water tables in hills are depleting, the migration is increasing. According to Down to Earth, the three districts of Uttrakhand that have registered the highest migration rates are also the districts that have witnessed maximum depletion in water sources.

This year’s theme highlights the issue of migration in the mountains. In India, Uttrakhand is seeing the worse cases of migration from hills to plain. As per Census 2011, of Uttarakhand’s 16,793 villages, 1,053 have no inhabitants, and another 405 have a population of less than 10.  There are many reasons why relocation is on the rise. The reasons range from lack of better opportunities, unemployment, climate change, and government’s apathy towards hill folks.

Old and quaint villages, immortalised by the works of writers like Ruskin Bond, are dying a slow death. The picturesque places are silently fading into an oblivion as their inhabitants move to the cities. However, a few brave individual and organisations like Sushil Ramola, Pratibha Krishnaiah, and Divya Rawat are trying to infuse life back in our ghost villages. As responsible citizens, we must do our best to support their efforts.

 

Feature Image Credits: Niharika Dabral

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

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Biblio

Difficult Daughters: A daughter’s quest to uncover her mother’s past

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Written by Manju Kapur, a former professor of Miranda House,  Difficult Daughters, published in 1998, is a story of Virmati narrated by her daughter Ida.

The book initially promises to be a feminist tale of a mother-daughter relationship set against the ever so interesting backdrop of Partition, but soon all the hopes and expectations dissolve in a pool of disappointment. As a writer on Goodreads aptly writes, “It mostly concerns itself with peculiar family dynamics, little wars, tiny power struggles – pretty much anything that’s left to women who don’t have any other outlet through which they could express themselves or gain a sense of accomplishment.”

if you are someone who loves to read about the mundane things such as day to day chores, then you will find the storytelling engaging. However, there the plot leaves some important questions unanswered. The whole premise of the story is based on Ida’s quest to uncover her mother’s past, but the readers will never understand why Ida wanted to know more about her Mother’s life in the first place.

The story has many feminist figures like Shakuntala and Swarnlata, while the protagonist feels inspired by them, she never quite embodies feminist values which feel uncomforting. Besides, the uncontested acceptance of Harish, Virmati’s husband and Professor throughout the book is upsetting.

The best thing about Manju Kapu’s writing is that the story moves fluidly through time periods and places- Amritsar, Lahore, and finally Delhi. It is so beautifully done that one actually learns a great deal about the cities and its lifestyle prevailing post partition. The literary life of Lahore and vibrancy of Amritsar is capture very vividly, while Delhi because it appears briefly is given just passing mention.

Overall, Difficult Daughter is a pleasant read, not for its multi-dimensional characters or spellbinding diegesis, but for its evocative imagery.

 

Feature Image Credits: Good Reads

 Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

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DU will conduct entrance tests for B.Com and B.Com (H) in 2018

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According to many media reports, the University of Delhi has decided to conduct entrance tests for B.Com and B.Com (H) in the upcoming academic session. This information hasn’t been communicated through official varsity channels.

As of now, Delhi University conducts entrance examinations only for professional and postgraduate courses. Admissions to undergraduate programmes take place on the basis of 12th standard board examination results.

DU Beat had reported last year Dr. Manoj Khanna, the convener of the Delhi University admissions committee said, “We are planning to conduct entrance exams for admission to B.Com (Honours) and BA (Programme) for the upcoming academic session. We are ready for this in terms of infrastructure and preparedness. But this needs to be accepted by all statutory bodies.” Dr. Khanna also spoke about forming a tie-up with the CBSE board in this regard.

He also said that the foundation of this procedure will begin with the Commerce courses, but the committee is also exploring the possibility of this move in the case of other subjects. Dr. Khanna stated, “We are exploring all possibilities. We are taking all stakeholders, including college principals, faculty and students, in confidence and consulting them. If we succeed in organising this competition for the commerce stream, one-third of the student population will be catered to.”

The rationale behind implementing an entrance examination is that many deserving students do not get admission in several reputed courses and colleges due to low scores in board examinations. Through entrance tests, all students will be given a fair chance to prove their mettle.

 

Feature Image Credits: Find Your Institute

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

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Events

Xavier University hosts International Conference on Rural Management

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In the last two decades, the social and economic environment has evolved immensely, giving rise to an enhanced understanding of rurality. Keeping cognizance of the same, Xavier School of Rural Management (XSRM), whose MBA in Rural Management is one of the highest ranked courses in the domain, concluded successfully its first International Conference on Rural Management (ICRM), at the Xavier University, Bhubaneswar campus, spanning over 23rd and 24th November 2017.

The conference was inaugurated by the chief guest, Shri Amarjeet Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development. “Poverty challenge is multi-dimensional. We lose sight of our objective when we focus only on our specialized sector”, were his wise words. He was joined in this august gathering by Shri Saurabh Garg, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha. Shree Garg further emphasized on the challenges faced within the spectrum. “There is a high degree of variability in rural sector; coping with which is a major challenge for rural managers”. He substantiated this by highlighting the four major roadblocks in the rural sector, viz “insufficient penetration of formal financial system”, “need for high capital investment in agriculture and allied sectors”, “need for more focus on supply aspect of farmer produce”, and “more penetration of technology for development and business purpose”.

The conference was inaugurated by the chief guest, Shri Amarjeet Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development.
The conference was inaugurated by the chief guest, Shri Amarjeet Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development.

Father Dr. Paul Fernandes (Vice Chancellor, XUB), Father E.A. Augustine, SJ (Registrar, XUB), Professor Kajri Misra (Dean, XSRM, XUB), Professor T. Kumar (Coordinator, ICRM), and Professor Kushankur Dey (co-Coordinator, ICRM) also graced the podium for the inauguration.
The conference was attended by eminent industry stalwarts and respected government office-holders, who led various panel discussions, which also saw papers being presented on diverse topics.
On Day 1, the first panel discussed on “Rural Management Education and Professions”, chaired by Shri Durgaprasad Duvvuri (OD&C, Chairman, GREX Governing Council). The panel consisted of luminaries like Shri Sanjay Panigrahi (President – Rurban & Special Projects, Pidilite Industries), Shri Sankar Dutta (Development Consultant), Mr. Ajit Choudhuri (GM – Community Services, Tata Sustainability Group), Professor Debiprasad Mishra (IRMA & Gram Vikas), Professor Kajri Misra (Dean, XSRM, XUB), and Mr. G. Murlidhar (Mentor, Akshara for Development). The panel discussion was followed by the presentation of papers on veritable topics anchored on “Social & Economic Perspectives in Development”, “Capabilities and HR for Development”, “Development Policy and Strategy”, “Rural Marketing & Market Development” (where the theme was illustrated by Professor Sridhar Guda of IIMK on “Psychic distance in ‘International Marketing”), and “Agribusiness Management”. These technical sessions were chaired by illustrious professors of Xavier School of Rural Management.

Panel discussions wee followed by question and answer sessions.
Panel discussions were followed by question and answer sessions.

The Second Day of the conference started with a special address on “Veritable Rural Transformation” by Shri Tripathy  (Commissioner, Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand), followed by a memorable address by Shri Jugal Kishore Mohapatra (IAS; former Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development) on “HR support to the Panchayats for effective programme delivery”. Day 2 also saw the presentation of papers on “Organizational Forms for Development”, “Rural and Development Finance” (where the theme was illustrated by Mr. Ramana, erstwhile CEO, Basix), “Livelihoods Promotion for Development”, and “ICT and e-Governance for Development” (theme presented by Mr. K C Mishra, eKutir).

The Second Day of the conference started with a special address on “Veritable Rural Transformation” by Shri Tripathy, Commissioner, Rural Development.
The Second Day of the conference started with a special address on “Veritable Rural Transformation” by Shri Tripathy, Commissioner, Rural Development.

The pioneering International Conference on Rural Management brought down its grand curtains by a Valedictory Session, wherein the report of the conference was given by Professor T. Kumar. Father E.A. Augustine, SJ (Registrar, XUB) gave the valedictory address and distributed the honorary certificates to the distinguished participants of the conference. Professor Kushankur Dey brought the event to a close; of a conference which was built on the ethos of the revitalization of the valuable field of Rural Management, which needs to demonstrate a concerted effort towards consolidation and institutionalization, particularly as the task of rural development which it needs to address remains vital, and needs to be expanded to include additional issues such as environment and climate change.

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DUSU EC Results Announced, Amidst Much Ruckus

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Elections of the Executive Committee of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) saw major unrest after a voter, Gaurav Sharma, a central council member of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, alleged that somebody had forged his signature and voted on his behalf. When he complained to the authority then, instead of taking the matter seriously, his complaint was dismissed his claims and he was asked to leave the Conference Centre (voting venue).

Soon Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students’ Union of India  (NSUI) got the whiff of the matter which led to a scuffle between police and students that resulted in minor property damage. DUSU President and NSUI member Rocky Tuseed and DUSU Secretary Mahamedhaa Nagar, who is from ABVP, asked authorities to allow the voter to cast his vote, but their request was refused.Election officer Rajeev Gupta forwarded the complaints of bogus voting to the DU Grievance Cell and further action will now depend on Grievance Cell’s decision.

A glass door was broken during the scuffle. Image Credits: The Indian Express
A glass door was broken during the scuffle.
Image Credits: The Indian Express

The results were announced on 27th November. ABVP asserted that they secured eight out of the 11 posts,   NSUI announced the win in five of 11 seats. Since there are only 11 candidates in total, which means that both ABVP and NSUI are staking claims on two winners. These two candidates are Naveen Yadav from Motilal Nehru College and Vaibhav Bansal from Rajdhani College. Naveen Yadav identifies as an independent candidate who personally supports NSUI and Vaibhav Bansal has had affiliations with ABVP.

The DUSU EC has 11 members who are chosen from presidents and central councillors of various college unions. Constitution of DUSU ensures that at least two out of 11 EC members should be girls. The Executive Committee is entrusted with an important task of proposing the DUSU annual budget which is then sent to the Central Council for approval.

A total of 146 people including all members of DUSU voted in the EC elections. Initially 18 candidates contested for 11 EC seats, but in the end only 14 contested owing to the withdrawal of nominations. In this sense, one can say that the selection process wasn’t very competitive in terms of numbers.

 

 

Feature Image Credits: The Indian Express

(With inputs from The Indian Express and Hindustan Times)

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

 

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Start-Up Culture at University of Delhi

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For a while now, Delhi University’s alumni have come up with plenty of successful ventures. So, is it because the varsity fosters entrepreneurship or the college students establish themselves completely on their own?

With the prevailing popularity of shows like TVF Pitchers and MTV Dropout Pvt. Ltd., we can tell that for a while now millennials have been obsessing over entrepreneurship. The whole concept of startups is based on idea of building an empire from the scratch, and if you are a part of University of Delhi (DU) then chances are you know at least one person (the ones hurdling over their laptops, always talking about their business idea, but guarding important details and forever hunting for funds) who aspires to kick start a start-up.

In 2014, a joint initiative of University Of Delhi and Ministry Of Medium, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) started Technology Business Incubator (DUCIC-TBI) at Cluster Innovation (CIC) Centre. The main objective of this initiative was to encourage students to try out their innovative ideas (processes and/or products) at the laboratory or workshop stage and beyond, to carry forward the idea from its mere conception to know-how and then to-do-how stage.

Talking to DU Beat about the work done by the incubation center since its inception, Professor Bibudananda Biswal, Manager of Technology Business Incubator (DUCIC-TBI) said, “We started off with incubating seven start-up projects that were funded by Ministry of MSME. Subsequently, we added two more startups. Out of these nine projects, four are today companies with positive cash flow. One received an accelerator funding and currently operates from Bangalore. One is in an advanced round of investment negotiations. The other two fund themselves on bootstrapping model. Each of these companies has both rapid and high growth potential.”

He also added that the projects which added after the initial five ones were only provided co-working space with computational facilities. We have not followed up with incubating more projects because of infrastructure and funding issues.

Manish Narayan, a Delhi University graduate and one of the founders of successful venture Sign My Tour app launched by Audible India (now Inclusio) that aids deaf and mute people to access historical monuments of Delhi, credits Technology Business Incubator(DUCIC-TBI) in providing them with financial assistance, infrastructural facilities, and mentoring sessions. “There are many start-ups who have reached heights with the help of universities. The universities need a proper channel to identify this kind of talent and should conduct a comprehensive evaluation to find which start-ups they should fund,” Manish said.

Kirti Krishan, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Pollination Project Grant winning start-up Lithics, (an online portal for handmade and indigenous products) believes that Delhi Universtiy’s Incubation centers at Par with any other Incubation center in the country. “The amazing guidance and help at Delhi University in realizing our dream by providing amazing infrastructure or finding us right mentors has been immense and has helped us in getting pass huge hindrances in operations,” he further gushed in praise.

Hello Meal, a Vijay Nagar based food delivery service founded and run by alumni of Swami Shraddhanand College have carved a niche for themselves owing to their pocket-friendly rates and impeccable service. The venture received a recommendation letter from Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL) of Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (ARSD). Tarun Kanti Das, a founding member told DU Beat, “We often visit ARSD College to talk to Dr. Rajeev Singh regarding our business. I’m also trying to get some assistance from DU in terms of promotion and financial aid.”

If we look around that are plenty of success stories coming out of varsity incubation centers. However, many people still believe that universities should not invest money, either through financial aid or infrastructure support, in amateur, college-level start-ups because a majority of businesses that come out of these incubation centers eventually fail.

Professor Bibudananda Biswal, Manager of DUCIC-TBI, refutes such notions and asserts, “The claim that “businesses that come of out these incubation centers eventually fail” is nonsense. Start-ups fail everywhere, even after a series of funding. The money spent on a college level incubation is insignificant. This is only to nurture an innovative idea. The real business and profit happen long after the incubation process. This, most often, depends on the entrepreneurial skills of the promoters of the start-up.”

Lloyd E. Shefsky famously said, “Entrepreneurs are made, not born”. Perhaps, this holds true for Delhi University too, the culture of startup harvested by setting up of incubation centers does produce an array of accomplished and aspiring ventures. However, with policies of fund cut in education, it is under threat.

 

Feature Image Credits: Business World

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

 

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