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Friendship Day: Another event turned into a commercial fiasco

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When I say Friendship Day, the images that come into our minds are of the various colourful threads known as friendship bands, which were exchanged between friends when we were in school or the posters outside every Archies outlet reminding us, till date, to wish our loved ones by buying one commodity or another from the store to show our love.

Now, when you’re out of school, and the idea of friendship bands seems too corny, you willingly forget whatever you read in Marxism about the capitalistic society and the reification of objects and you do exactly what the society expects out of you. You go into an Archies or a Hallmark branch, and buy an object- a card or a gift which would then become a substitute to show your affection. In a fast paced life, when we have little to no time to reflect upon things, spending a mere hundred rupees to get the work done seems like the best option.

I am not implying that cards or gifts are a bad choice and cannot hold the sentimental value you wish for them to have. They surely can, but till the time both the people involved in the exchange focus just on the sentimental value and the thought behind the action and not the brand name or price tag that comes along with it. Have you ever imagined giving someone a gift which is not branded? Can you give someone a card which does not have a mark of a known brand like an Archies or a Hallmark?

Slowly and steadily, without us realising, we’re giving into the ‘commodity culture’ of our times. Rather than making handmade cards, having lunch with a friend or indulging in a proper conversation, we are using objects to show our warmth and love. The gifts might be further given to someone else and the greeting cards may go into the dustbins after a month or so, but time, which is the best gift you can give to your friends is still irreplaceable yet rare.

So, this year, take a break from the usual Friendship Day routine and try to understand your friends. After all, Chandler too wanted a VCR or a set of golf clubs, but he soon, understood the true emotions behind Joey’s gift and now we know them as the ‘Bracelet buddies’!
(I don’t think Chandler will be too happy knowing the name stuck around, though!)

Bracelet buddies- Friendship day article

Nishita Agarwal
[email protected]

Image credits (For the Bracelet buddies picture): https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/
Feature Image Credits: http://assets-cdn.ekantipur.com/images/

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DU Dhaba

The top ten food joints of Delhi University

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It is no surprise that the admission season comes along with a fair share of anxiety, panic and tension. So, to ease the process, we bring to you, a list of ten food-joints near several colleges of Delhi University where you can sit back, relax and take a break from all the hum-drum.

1. Big Yellow Door, North and South Campus

Cost for two: 600 (approx)

The place is known for its innovative decor, cosy space and the long queues in front of the cafe.   More popularly known as BYD, it can be found both in Hudson lane and Satya Niketan. It has a varied menu with BYD Cheese Bomb Burger, Cheesy Nachos Mexicana and Butter Chicken Pasta as the all-time favourites.

Big Yellow Door
Big Yellow Door
(Image Credits: www.khaugalideals.com)

2. QD’s Restaurant, North and South Campus

Cost for two: 700 (approx)

Located in the Hudson Lane, and Satya-Niketan, this restaurant has the perfect ambience and got popular for its mouth watering Tandoori momos and other Chinese delicacies.

QD's
QD’s
(Image Credits: www.sodelhi.com)

 3. Tom Uncle Maggi, North Campus

Cost for two: 100 (approx)

For the days when you are broke, and want delicious food, head to Tom Uncle’s Maggi stand. You can try the Oregano-Maggi, Butter-Maggi, Cheese Maggi, Masala Maggie, Chilli-Paneer Maggi and many other varieties as well! Who knew Maggi could come in so many tastes and flavours?

Tom Uncle Maggi
Tom Uncle Maggi
(Image Credits: www.streetbite.in)

 4. Diggin’, South Campus

Cost for two: 1000 (approx)

An aesthetically pleasing cafe with red-bricked walls, fairy-lights, and pretty paintings, Diggin’ has gained much popularity among college students. It is situated opposite Gargi College. Chicken & Jalapeno Pizza, Lamb Lasagna, Crispy Zucchini Fries are one of the few recommended dishes of this cafe.

Diggin'
Diggin’
(Image credits: www.zomato.com)

 5. Ricos, North and South Campus

Cost for two: 900 (approx)

It is a cafe which becomes popular with the students since their first year. It offers a wide range of cuisines like Italian, Lebanese, Mexican and Continental at pocket friendly rates. Their collection of desserts is worth trying, as well.

Ricos
Ricos
(Image Credits: www.zomato.com)

 6. Chowringhee Lane, North and South Campus

Cost for two: 350 (approx)

It is the ultimate stop for every college-goer to satiate the craving of a perfect kathi roll. It is easy on the pocket, and will please your taste buds all the same.

34-Chowrangi-Lane
34-Chowrangi-Lane
(Image credits: www.images.grabhouse.com)

 7. Mini Shop, North Campus

Cost for two: 150 (approx)

Situated Opposite Kirori Mal College, in Kamla Nagar, it is the perfect spot to put an end to the hunger pangs while you shop for clothes or books in the market. The cold-coffee is heavenly and they also offer a wide variety of quick bites.

Mini Shop
Mini Shop
(Image Credits: www.zomato.com)

8. Chache di Hatti, Kamla Nagar

Cost for two:  150 (approx)

The place is known to serve the best plate of chhole bhature which is quiet evident with the never-ceasing queue in front of the shop. The menu is completely vegetarian but limited and they offer only aloo wale bhatoore, sade bhatoore, kulche and chhole which are full of rich flavours.

Chache Di Hatti
Chache Di Hatti
(Image credits: www.tipini.com)

9. Bhelpuri outside Hindu College, North Campus

Cost for two: 100 (approx)

If you’re an ardent fan of street food, then you should definitely visit this place. One plate of bhelpuri served has ample quantity for two people. You can also pair it with a nice and refreshing banta to enjoy the meal.

Bhelpuri outside Hindu
Bhelpuri outside Hindu
(Image credits: www.campusdiaries.com)

 10. The Chocolate Room, North and South Campus

Have a sweet tooth? Want to indulge in sweet and sinful desserts? Then, this place should be your next stop! From different varieties of Pizza made out of chocolate to mouth-watering pancakes and pastries, this outlet has it all.

 

The Chocolate Room
The Chocolate Room
(Image Credits: www.zomato.com)
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DUB Speak

Female writers who revolutionised the literary sphere

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Like many other spheres and domains of life, the literary space too worked on the politics of gender. It was long thought to be a space marked only for men, and women were always discouraged from writing or reading. But, there were some women writers who did not let anyone limit their potential. They wrote extensively and let their work speak for themselves.

1. Mary Wollstonecraft

Many of the ideas floating today about feminism and equality of genders were floated by Mary Wollstonecraft, an Anglo-Irish feminist, intellectual and writer, in as early as eighteenth century. She was born on April 27, 1759, in Spitalfields, London and had an abusive father who spent most of his fortune on a series of unsuccessful ventures in farming. Troubled by his actions, she set out of her household to earn a living for her own self.  In her most famous work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), she talks about how women are not biologically incapable of reason, but as they are denied exposure to proper education, they’re made to think illogically. She realised the true potential of the female gender and appealed to the in-place institutions to not limit women as helpless adornments of the household. Some of the excerpts from her work are:

 

“The woman who has only been taught to please will soon find that her charms are oblique sunbeams, and that they cannot have much effect on her husband’s heart when they are seen every day, when the summer is passed and gone. Will she then have sufficient native energy to look into herself for comfort, and cultivate her dormant faculties? or, is it not more rational to expect that she will try to please other men; and, in the emotions raised by the expectation of new conquests, endeavour to forget the mortification her love or pride has received? When the husband ceases to be a lover—and the time will inevitably come, her desire of pleasing will then grow languid, or become a spring of bitterness; and love, perhaps, the most evanescent of all passions, gives place to jealousy or vanity.”

(A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft)

Image Credits: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
Image Credits: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/

 2. Ismat Chughtai

Ismat Chughtai was one of the Muslim writers who stayed in India after the partition. She was an eminent writer in Urdu who was known for her boldness, fierce ideology and impregnable attitude. She was born into an upper middle class family yet was subjected to stringent mindsets. When other girls were taught to be docile and dreamed about becoming the perfect wives, Chughtai took to books and educated herself with the support of her father and brother.  Her mother disapproved of her decisions and Chughtai writes, “She hurled her shoe at me but missed.”

Her works became representative of the feminist ideas in the 20th century. Lihaaf is one of the most celebrated short stories written by her which talks about homosexuality in Aligarh. It was leveled with charges of obscenity but she never compromised on her outspoken nature and never apologized for the same. She won the case in court and became nothing less than an inspiration for the future generations of intellectuals.

Image Credits: http://images.indianexpress.com/
Image Credits: http://images.indianexpress.com

3. Virginia Woolf

Known for her famous dictum, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” from her essay A Room of One’s Own (1929), Virginia Woolf was an English writer and one of the most talented modernists of the twentieth century. She was raised in a wonderful household where her father was a historian and author, and her mother had been born in India and later served as a model for several Pre-Raphaelite painters. She was also a nurse and wrote a book on the profession. Woolf was a happy child but soon was distressed after being sexually abused by her half brothers. She also lost her mother and her sister soon after, which led to a nervous breakdown.

But, despite all these challenges, she took up Ancient Greek, Latin, German and history at the Ladies’ Department of King’s College London. Her novels like Mrs. Dalloway (1925) and To the Lighthouse (1927) gained much appreciation and are still read enthusiastically.

Image Credits: https://upload.wikimedia.org
Image Credits: https://upload.wikimedia.org

4. Maya Angelou

“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”

(Still I Rise, Maya Angelou)

Maya Angelou was a poet, novelist, actor, civil rights activist and what not. She had published seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry. Her first autobiography called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) outlines her life up to the age of 17 and brought her much international recognition. Her works revolve around the themes of race, identity, society and culture and she was considered a respected spokesperson for black men and women.

Image Credit: https://www.poets.org
Image Credit: https://www.poets.org

Nishita Agarwal

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DUB Speak

The Pros and Cons of Getting your News from Social Media

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If I ask people about their most-used platform for daily news, majority of them are likely to speak of social media platforms. This is the reality of today. Due to the emergence of digitalization and an immense growth of technology, people of all age-groups are heavily relied on websites like Facebook and Twitter to get their daily dose of updates from all around the world. News channels are seen investing in mobile applications to keep up with the pace of technology and provide timely updates to the readers.

All of this is giving people a power. One, no longer, has to switch on their television set to become aware of the latest debates in the world, and nor do they have to wait around for the arrival of any newspapers. One can actively broadcast news and watch it unfold without any lapse of time.

So, all in all, traditional platforms and social media have become two powerful forces which are working towards a common goal of spreading awareness as efficiently as possible, despite the differences.

But, every power comes with a responsibility and its own set of pros and cons. As we already discussed the pros above, let us now look at some of the disadvantages posed by such a change.

“Half knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance”

This becomes significant in witnessing the relations between the users today and their news-reading habits. Through the help of status updates, shared posts and various 2-minute videos, we sure know what the latest news is all about and have a general idea or an overview of the specific situation; but do we really make an effort to know the whole story?

We know that Donald Trump is contesting in the US elections but do we even know anything about him? Do we understand why he’s being criticised by so many people? He said something about Muslims, right? But what did he say, why did he say so, and what is so wrong about it- do we ever question that?

Also, most of the times, when we come across a piece of news through the social media, we are so constantly involved in doing something else that we are likely to get distracted easily. There is also a fat chance of the article that you read, which is slowly forming your opinion, being factually incorrect because of its autonomy provided by the social media and a lack of stringent fact-checker.

So, somewhere, I believe, reading the headlines in our notification bars alone is creating a false sense of security among us. It sure helps us seem not-so-dumb in a social gathering because, “hey, at least I know there was some movie which was in news for being censored” but this is soon going to harm us in the longer run.

So, use the power, wisely. While the internet is a wonderful place with social media making everything accessible for everyone, do not run away from your own efforts. Read extensively from different authenticated platforms and then form an opinion. After all, knowledge is power, right?

Image credits: www.thehindubusinessline.com

Nishita Agarwal

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

How choosing a course different than your stream in school is completely acceptable

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If you’re a student who has studied in India or is currently studying here then, you are one of the many thousands who are asked to decide their career path when they’re only in 10th standard. The choices given are the usual Science, Commerce, and Humanities with little or no scope for the student to choose together a group of subjects which might belong to different streams. For example, if I am a student studying History, I cannot opt for Business Studies. Under these circumstances, choosing a course may prove to be a challenging task.

As a result of this, and many more shortcomings of our regressive education system, the student ends up choosing a stream after being influenced by family/friends, lack of research and no knowledge of the repercussions of such a misinformed decision. Then, the real battle begins. The student who thought Maths was all about surface, area and volume is soon introduced to Integration and the one who thought Chemistry is all about balancing equations is made to study topics like Organic Chemistry and P Block.

After these two difficult years of school, one thing is certain, that even if you might get confused about what you really want to do in the future, you get to know what you don’t want to do. Suppose, if you struggled through the years and didn’t like the subjects, it is only obvious that you don’t want to continue studying them throughout your college life as well. Now, this is the crucial point. Because of the pressure we feel, and our constant thinking of what others will say, we don’t want to raise our voice to show how dissatisfied we are. We are completely okay with repeatedly failing at something we’re not good at, rather than taking a difficult but necessary decision to recognize that this is not our calling.

Here is where I come in the picture. Through this article I am going to tell you how many of the people I know (Including myself!), are pursuing careers completely different than the streams they chose in their 12th standard and trust me, we’re happy.

I had a 10 CGPA and ended up choosing a Non-Medical stream with Computer Science. I never took any coaching for IIT and soon realized that I don’t see myself being part of the race to become an engineer. I focused on CBSE and thought DU is my calling. Today, I’m pursuing English (H) and I like every bit of my course. After having studied formulae and equations for so many years, this course was refreshing. The University provided me with a space to build my personality and even after my graduation, I can take up any field ranging from Law to MBA. So, my decision gave me freedom as well as time to explore myself.

I have friends from a science background who are now doing Law from National Law Universities. I know people pursuing Psychology in spite of having come from a Commerce background. So, basically, it all boils down to ‘What do you want to do with your life?’

Take college as a fresh start or a clean slate. Forget the pressure that people are putting on you. Research about the different fields, and realise what you want to do. Introspect. It is okay if you took a different stream in school. Ask yourself, what would you rather do- change your career prospects now to mark a stable future or change it after 5 years of struggle?

Image credits: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-

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DUB Speak

Udta Punjab fiasco: Why the focus must be on the drug problem alone

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I am not here to tell you why one should possess knowledge and awareness about the affairs of our society rather I am here to help you increase your awareness about a topic that is gaining much attention in the media these days, i.e. the proposed cuts in the movie Udta Punjab by our country’s Censor Board.

The Chief of the Censor Board, Pahlaj Nihalani is being criticised everyday for many different reasons. Some claim that his order for 89 cuts in the film and an instruction to delete all references to the state of Punjab, including the reference in the title, are driven by his political bias and pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The controversy has led to political conflicts with Congress and AAP accusing the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its partner BJP for influencing censor board’s decision. 

People have also been furious with the state as it is yet again seen curbing the freedom of speech. The censor board chief has been called an “oligarch” and a “dictator” and living in India has been compared to living in North Korea.  But, why are the people surprised? These debates about free speech have time and again re-surfaced in our country and have never been resolved.  May it be the banning of documentaries, agitation over comedians organising roasts or mimicking celebrities, students being denied the freedom to speak their mind in a university campus, or books being censored, we, Indians, with the largest democracy, have seen it all. Hence, rather than being amused by the censoring of a movie, we should converge our focus on why it is being censored or ordered with demands of cuts. Everyone knows the movie is on the drug problem of Punjab but how many of us really know what exactly the drug problem is.

An Overview of the Drug Abuse in Punjab

The drug use- primarily the intake of opium — had been part of the social and cultural compass long before Punjab was partitioned and divided. Small doses of opium were considered healthy and necessary. But, soon the drug use changed into a drug abuse for various reasons.

There was a growing influence of the surrounding states on Punjab. For example, the state of Rajasthan, a neighbouring state, where opium was, and still is, served like paan in weddings, had an effect on Punjab’s culture.

The rise of the Green Revolution also aggravated the problem. Big farmers supplied opium and poppy husk to labourers “since it served like machine oil” and increased the productivity of the workers. Even the truck drivers, with the onset of Industrialisation, took to drugs as it helped them drive for longer hours.

There was also a change from poppy husk and opium to the lethal heroin or smack, and later synthetic drugs. Experts trace this to the heavy flow of heroin through the then unfenced border with Pakistan in the 1980s. 

All these factors combined with the declining growth rates of the rural economy, the influx of migrants, the educated rural youth facing lack of jabs, and the culture of aspiration and expectation, which quickly swerves to depression when things don’t fall in place led to the citizens surrendering to this addiction.

The jeopardy the state is in and its consequences

Behind closed doors in the streets of Punjab, families are breaking down and friends are being lost to this menace.

The National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences along with the NGO Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses conducted a study on the drug problem of Punjab. The results were staggering and showed that from a population of approximately 2.77 crore (27.7 million) people, around 2.3 million people are opioid-dependent, around 860,000 people are estimated to be opioid users. More than 123,000 people are heroin-dependent.

Out of all the patients that come, 80 per cent of the patients brought to the centre have tried quitting drugs, but only 35 per cent have succeeded in getting some kind of treatment in deaddiction centres.

Doctors have claimed that husbands often get their wives hooked on drugs so that they are not prevented from consuming them and also, as this will lead to not hiding anything at home.

The other source of concern is the fear that increasing use of drug will lead to an HIV/AIDS epidemic. “Delhi is paying more attention to the use of injectables. Drug users in the capital are being given clean needles and syringes so that they can take drugs in a safer manner. The reason why this is being made available to drug users is so as to control HIV/AIDS. India has been applauded for this. The Punjab government needs to pay attention to this as a key step to control HIV” says Dr Atul Ambedkar of AIIMS, the principal author of the NDDTC study.

There are many more grave consequences of this addiction which is destroying the state and is not letting the citizens have a chance at a normal, healthy life. And this chance will be forever denied to them if the political class remains evasive and continues their denial. This denial also explains the hostility with which Udta Punjab is now being treated. So, what I propose is don’t be dependent on the mercy of the Censor Board. Empower yourself with knowledge and research more about this menace. This movie, if nothing else, should at least become a catalyst for the population of India to have a desire to not remain oblivious and become aware of the different problems of its different states.

Image Credits: www.india.com

Nishita Agarwal

[email protected]

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Admissions 2016

DU Open Day 1: Important things to keep in mind during admission

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Every year Delhi University holds Open Days at different venues where the students aspiring for admission in the under-graduate courses can seek answers to their admission related queries.

The first day of the Open House of Admissions 2016 was held at the Conference Centre, North Campus where several students and parents were seen attending the event. The session was addressed by the Dean of Students’ Welfare, Mr. J M Khuran  and the Deputy Dean, Dr. Tuteja. 

Some important information revealed in the first session is presented as follows:

Online Application Process

This year, the central application for admissions is available on the web and has to be filled online. Even Admissions through various quotas like Extra Curricular Activities (ECA), Sports, and Kashmiri migrants is through the online portal.

Advisable to fill the form before the last date

The Dean of Students’ Wefare while addressing the audience today advised students and parents to not wait for the last date, i.e June 19th, to fill the form. Rather, it is safer to fill the form as earlier as possible.

Be patient, Do not fill Incorrect details

It was informed today that the form with incorrect details will be immediately rejected by the University and the concerned student will not be eligible for admission in undergraduate courses. Hence, it is advisable that students and parents are vigilant and patient while filling the form.

Change in the Kashmiri Migrant Quota

The quota for Kashmiri migrants which earlier could be invoked only by people based in Delhi and Jammu is now available for anyone across the nation with proper documents to support the claim.

ECA, Sports Quota

For ECA, the candidate has to submit the evidence in the form of participation/winning certificates in the concerned activity acquired the course of last three years (April 1, 2013 to 31 March 2016)

A candidate may apply for ECA or Sports quota, or even both of the quotas.

The Best of Four

For selection in Mathematical Sciences/ Science courses

On the basis of marks in P.C.M./ P.C.B. or P.C.M.B. ( P – Physics, C – Chemistry, B – Biology, M – Mathematics)

For selection in Humanities/Commerce courses

On the basis of ‘Best of Four’ Percentage which includes:-

i) One compulsory Language subject.

ii) the Discipline- 1 subject; subject in which admission is sought.

iii) Any two elective subjects, the status of elective subjects, defined as follows.

The following Discipline subjects must be treated as Academic/ Elective subjects for the purpose of undergraduate admissions. All other subjects offered by different boards may be treated as non-elective.

ELECTIVE SUBJECTS
www.du.ac.in

Please note:

The student who hasn’t studied the subject he wants to take up as Discipline , shall suffer a disadvantage of 2.5 percent.

“The session was very helpful for me and all my doubts about the admission process are more or less cleared. Though, I would have wanted the Faculty to brief the students about the courses which are fairly new like Bachelor in Financial Market (BFM). Such courses are not as popular as other Honours courses and thus the students require some guidance”, said Vidhi, a BFM aspirant.

Image Credits: Gerush Bahal

Nishita Agarwal

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College of Vocational Studies

20 year old CVS student launches campaign to save Zafar Mahal

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A 20 year old Rupali Rakheja, student of College of Vocational Studies (CVS), has recently started a campaign to create awareness about the illegal construction of a building using the wall of Zafar Mahal. The campaign’s name is ‘I Stand for Zafar Mahal’ and is being actively promoted on both, online and offline portals.

IstandforZafarMahal
Image credits: www.hindustantimes.com

Zafar Mahal, which is located in South Delhi, is considered to be the last monumental structure built as a summer palace during the fading years of the Mughal Era. The building has two components namely, the Mahal or the palace and the entrance gate that was reconstructed in the 19th century by Bahadur Shah Zafar II. 

Rupali says, “Zafar Mahal is a significant monument. Not many palaces of the Mughal Era survive in the city. The palace is beautiful and must be saved.” The steps to stop the encroachment were taken as early as in March, but the campaign was kick-started in May and has gathered a lot of support. Authorities weren’t very helpful and nobody wanted to get into the matter. Thus, Rupali and her team of supporters are trying to make the campaign viral on the social media as to create pressure on the authorities and bring such a grave issue in the limelight.

Zafar_mahal_4
Zafar Mahal

“We’ve written to everyone from the Prime Minister to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Media and all others who we think can help” said Rupali. On being asked about the importance of heritage of India and whether she thinks this initiative will set an example for it she said, “I believe it is very important for all of us to recognise the importance of our heritage. Grown-ups may forget it sometimes but the youth should be vigilant. We need to make everyone understand that these monuments are our getaways to the past. And as someone very rightly said, if you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know who you are.”

Image credits: www.wikiwand.com
Nishita Agarwal
[email protected]

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DUB Speak

A list of five TED Talks to inspire you for the upcoming exams

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The period before and during exams can be tricky as you come across the fleeting nature of human motivation. There are days when you’re immensely focused and are doing everything by the schedule and then there are days where you are questioning your existence while lying on the bed, not able to face the pile of books which are yet to be read. So, for the latter sort of days, here’s a list of five inspirational TED Talks, sure to evoke your slumbering motivation and help you ace this semester.

1. For a change of perspective

Many a times, we become so engulfed in the petty problems of our day to day life that we forget about the people fighting and trying to overcome even bigger obstacles with twice our enthusiasm and positivity. Here’s a video by Amy Purdy, who loved to skateboard and travel. She wanted her life to be a series of adventures till an unexpected disease made her lose both her legs below the knee. Witness the journey which made her believe that her legs didn’t disable her but rather enabled her to achieve her goals and dreams.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2QZM7azGoA” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

2. Developing grit and a stronger work-ethic

Angela Lee Duckworth is a management consultant turned New York maths teacher who talks about how the ability to learn is not fixed and can change with your effort. She believes that the formula to do well at life isn’t IQ or the ability to learn things quickly but is ‘grit’

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals,” she says. “Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8″ width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

 3. Changing stress from a foe to a friend

Kelly McGonigal, PhD and a health psychologist, has a golden rule to make life easier: Make stress your friend. She says that when you change your approach towards stress, you can change your body’s response towards stress, as well. So, stress doesn’t need to be a dreaded thing. Rather, we all can embrace and appreciate it.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcGyVTAoXEU” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

4. To avoid procrastination

We’re all guilty of this, aren’t we? I say this while writing an article just a few hours before my deadline. So, to make us understand more about this oh-so-familiar habit, we have a video of Tim Urban, explaining about procrastination through the amusing characters inside our heads. There is an ‘instant gratification money’ telling us to to enjoy and be carefree and then there’s the ‘rational decision maker’ who wants to secure our future. He also outlines some very helpful tips to beat this habit, provided you don’t procrastinate to apply them in your own life.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

5. For a visual treat and rejuvenation

Louie Schwartzberg’s time-lapse photography will leave you in a state of awe. His project ‘Happiness Revealed’ will make you realise the importance of ‘today’ and how an appropriate response to the present day should only be gratefulness and gratitude.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lXYZ6s3Dfk” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

Image credits: youtube.com

Nishita Agarwal

[email protected]

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Hindu College

Hindu College’s stringent rules for the newly-built girls’ hostel, protests follow

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Hindu College of Delhi University has recently invited applications for its newly constructed girls’ hostel. But, the rules laid out in the hostel prospectus have vexed students enormously as they believe that the rules are regressive in nature and puts the girl students in an unjust position.

Organisations like The Students Federation of India (SFI), Pinjra Tod and All India Students’ Association (AISA), working for the welfare of university students, have condemned such an action taken by the college authorities.

The prospectus says that the fee of the girls’ hostel is around Rs. 80,000 annually which is almost double the fee of boys’ hostel.  It instructs the girl students to dress in an appropriate manner. It also states that the girl students should be inside the hostel by 8:30 pm and cannot leave their room after 11 pm. Residents are to take permission from the warden in case they wish to enroll in a course or coaching outside or if they wish to attend a cultural program.  The other ‘bizarre’ rule enumerated by the students is that there is allowance for only one night out from the hostel in a month.

Credits: AISA's Facebook Page
Credits: AISA’s Facebook Page

While talking to The Hindu, Shambhavi Vikram, a student of Hindu College and an active member of Pinjra Tod said “Hostels in Miranda House and Lady Shri Ram College allow six night-outs to girls in a month. Why should girls live in such an expensive hostel and be like prisoners? We will not be allowed to watch TV in the common room after 10.30 p.m. Other hostels also have rules, but the time there is at least till 1 a.m”

Principal Anju Srivastava said “The College is concerned about safety. Since this is the first year that the hostel is going to be operational, we want to be extra careful, which is why we have kept the clause of taking permission from the warden. Permission will be granted, why not?”

A protest was held in the college premises earlier today where the students raised their voice regarding the disparity in the fee structure and the dress code the girls are expected to follow in hostels. The principal promised to speak to the chairman to reconsider the fee rules and write to the UGC regarding the same.  She also mentioned about providing all written and verbal assistance in the issue.

With inputs from The Hindu

Nishita Agarwal
[email protected]

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