Sidharth Yadav, Author at DU Beat - Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper

In a recent press release, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has decided to continue its boycott of the recent semester exams evaluation till 16th June 2016, when the General Body (GB) will convene again to review the situation. The protest is in response to a notification by the UGC giving nod to the implementation of the Academic Performance Indicators (API) system and other amendments that DUTA calls ‘retrogressive’ and an ‘attack’ on the higher education system of the country. This is a setback for the graduating students of the varsity as this has put on hold the post-graduate admissions to the varsity and might even stall the declaration of the semester exam results. Calling the gazette notification ‘draconian’, the DUTA has gone far to claim that if the government fails to roll back the notification, it might consider boycotting the admission process as well. The API system allows for teachers to be evaluated on the basis of students’ performance, a manoeuvre DUTA has called ‘unreasonable’. Given the increase in the working hours of assistant professors from 16 hours to 24 cumulative hours and of associate professors from 14 to 22 cumulative hours, the DUTA claims that such a move will result in the loss of over 4,000 jobs and will work against the interests of both teachers and students. The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), in contrast to its previous position has demanded an immediate rollback of the notification and urged the teaching community to ‘resume evaluation work immediately’ to avoid compromise of the students. Agreeing to one of the demands of the protesting teachers, the UGC, on 10th June 2016, decided to set up a 5 member pay revision committee for academic staff. The committee will be chaired by UGC member Prof. V S Chauhan and will submit its report in six months. With no end in sight, the UGC has claimed that the system will bring ‘more flexibility’ to the academic environment and ruled out any claims of loss of jobs due to it. Image Credits: www.tribuneindia.com Sidharth Yadav [email protected]]]>

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Hindu College

Highlights of Hindu College in 2015-16

By Sidharth Yadav April 22, 2016

With yet another academic session almost coming to an end at the University of Delhi, it is time to look back at the year that has gone by, before all of us get busy with semester examination preparation. Going by the thought, DU Beat brings to you its exclusive series ‘Colleges’ Round Up (2015-16)’, where we present the highlighting incidents of numerous DU colleges that took place over 2015 and 2016.

So, go with the flow and view all what activities highlighted the near to end session at Hindu College.

From Smriti Irani’s surprise visit to Salim Sulaiman performing at the annual cultural fest Mecca 2016, Hindu College has had quite an eventful year.

Here’s an overview of all what happened at Hindu College, this session:

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Uncategorized

Major creative writing platforms started by DU students

By Sidharth Yadav April 9, 2016

Over the years varsity students have come together to celebrate free writing on the internet for the space it offers. Living the tradition, many platforms have sprung up in various colleges in the recent past. These platforms are essentially transforming the way in which writing as an art form operates. Here are some of the creative writing platforms that started at Delhi University and are now running successfully at a national level:

1.) An Inception

This platform is a brainchild of a bunch of students from Motilal Nehru College and aims at covering all the creative writing forms at one platform. It has sections on health, poetry, short stories, campus news and lifestyle with the poetry and short stories sections being the most consistent ones. The facebook page of the website has regular updates and anecdotes too.

2.) Thinkopolitan

This platform was started together by some students of Hindu College and IP University. It celebrates free writing and responsible expression. Major sections on the website include literature, poetry, short stories, politics, photography and cartoons. The website is also associated with Youth ki Awaaz, a major online platform in the country. What’s distinctive about this platform is its ability to include photography among other creative fields. The authors at this platform hail from across the country.

3.) Born of a Million thoughts

Started by a student of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, BOMT is the newest of all the platforms at the varsity but is growing at a fast pace. This platform is fairly diverse and has content ranging from interviews of eminent personalities to personal accounts of students. It also has sections on poetry, fashion, entertainment and food. Moreover, you are most likely to find a BOMT correspondent at every major festival in the city.

Image Credits: Facebook pages of BOMT, An Inception and Thinkopolitan

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Campus Central

Acharya Narendra Dev College secures second highest NAAC score in DU

By Sidharth Yadav April 3, 2016

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), in the meeting of its 14th standing committee on 29th March, graded two colleges of the varsity. The two colleges, Acharya Narendra Dev College (ANDC) and Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW), underwent visitations by the assessors who specialise in using certain benchmarks in the field of higher education to grade colleges and universities across the country.

The council is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission in 1994 and has its headquarter in Bengaluru. Upon requests by individual colleges and universities, the primary accreditation agency of the country conducts assessments and grades institutions. The agency’s cumulative gradation of institutions is based on parameters like curriculum, faculty, research, infrastructure, learning resources, organisation, governance and student services.

IPCW secured a CGPA of 3.33 (Grade A), the highest in the varsity as of now. ANDC secured the second spot by getting a CGPA of 3.31 (Grade A). These are followed by Gargi College (3.30), St. Stephen’s College (3.21), Jesus and Mary College (3.26), Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (3.16), Ramanujan College (3.06), Shivaji College (3.26), Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce (3.02), Keshav Mahavidyalaya (3.01), Bharati College (2.85), PGDAV (2.74), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College (2.63), and Motilal Nehru College (2.60).

ANDC securing the second spot surprised many, since the college is off-campus and doesn’t fall in the category of colleges that are usually given top spots by other assessment agencies, primarily privately owned. It managed to secure the spot because of implementation of many student-friendly programmes, like the establishment of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre and Entrepreneur Laboratory. For supporting economically weaker and physically challenged students, the college has numerous remedial programmes on offer.

When asked about the high grade obtained by the college, Dr. Sandeep Kumar Goyal, Assistant Professor of the Department of Commerce said, “The grading is a result of hard work and team effort under the leadership of the Principal, Dr. Savithri Singh. In the past as well, we have been conferred with awards of excellence at the university level. We are committed to work in the direction of innovation driven education.”

Image Credits: The official website of ANDC college

Sidharth Yadav

[email protected]

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Uncategorized

Ram Janambhoomi seminar: Are educational institutions being communalised?

By Sidharth Yadav January 11, 2016

Repeated attempts by various right wing groups succeeded as the University hosted Arundhati Vashishtha Anusandhan Peeth which organised a seminar targeted to mobilise ‘public opinion for the Ram Janambhoomi temple’. The seminar drew criticism from both the academia and the students.

AVAP’s website mentions it as an organisation committed to ‘national resurgence’. The question that arises is what ‘resurgence’ means as the nation has technically never been in a better economic or social state. Is religion, that too just one and even of it, matters controversial, subjudice and potentially divisive, a proper thing to propagate in a central university? Ignoring protests by various student organisations outside the Arts Faculty, the seminar went smooth in confirming its polarising nature. Moreover, that the University administration failed to stop the ‘inevitable’ and ‘too late to be stopped’ seminar makes clear the hands-tied position of a central university. The varsity’s also in past faced criticism on the removal of A.K. Ramanujan’s essays in 2012 on the grounds of giving ‘inadequate information of the religion of Hinduism’. Active dissent if supported by substantive arguments forms the basis of democratic institutions and in a country like India which boasts the largest democratic structure, the institutions and not just the state in its entirety should be allowed dissent and liberal thought. The quintessential canvas of free thinking and expression, education and the institutions associated with the notion, should be allowed to function apolitically in order to ensure freedom of choice at an individual level. Imposition of a certain ideology on students can only bring about authoritarianism and despotism at a larger level later and restrict free thinking which forms the basis of democracy.

What happened at the university is a microcosm of what has been happening at a national level. The right wing’s move to control institutions of knowledge that could guarantee its perpetuation should be understood by the students in order to preserve the secular fabric of the nation. After the protests by students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University stopped Baba Ramdev for coming for a talk there, it seems that students, who are greatly and unknowingly affected by such ideological impositions, can after all resist the administration and decide for themselves what way of thinking and belief systems they want to adopt.

Image credits: Tooba Towfiq for DU Beat

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Arts & Culture

Dig deeper into Chandni Chowk with these 3 hidden gems

By Sidharth Yadav December 26, 2015

If you are equipped to traverse through the veins and arteries of Delhi then there can’t be a better experience, but if you aren’t, there can’t be anything worse for the simple reason that Chandni Chowk never fails at amusing travellers. In a place like this, where you encounter culturally distinct elements after every 10 metres, the overwhelming air that this place breathes can’t be missed. Even tour pilgrims who come here often for the sheer experience of it take back something different every time they come. Here are three uncommon facts about the cultural epicentre of the country, Chandni Chowk:

1.Begum Samru Ki Haveli

Right at the beginning of the street from the Red Fort side, one can see a Victorian building which currently is the Chandni Chowk branch of the State Bank of India. Begum Samru came to the Mughal court as a dancer in the 18^th century and eventually fell in the favour of the emperor who gave her the estate of Sardana near Meerut. The building is Victorian in architecture since the begum married a British official. Later, it was controlled by the Imperial Bank, whose manager and his family were murdered on the rooftop by some Indian freedom fighters. For a brief point of time, the building also housed the Reserve Bank of India. It is one of the few banks in the country to have an ATM Gallery, which has many vending machines.

2. Japani Samosa

The Lajpat Rai market majorly famous for its electrical goods has the Japani Samosewaala food joint. The Samosa is distinct and high on calories, and sells like hot cakes early in the mornings to meet the energy demands of the cart pullers in the area. There are three theories behind the name. First, it is believed that the samosa was named so to commemorate the Hiroshima-Nagasaki nuclear bomb blast victims. Second, since it is small in size therefore it is Japani. Third, it has over 60 layers of maida and is shaped like a Japanese fan, thus the name.

3.Kuhlad Lassi at Galli Kuppewaali

On one of the smaller streets named Galli Kuppewali, which emanates from the Ballimaran lane, famous for the Galib ki Haveli and the shooting place of Delhi 6 is a Kuhlad Lassi vendor. The lassi is served in a clay tumbler called kuhlad. The tradition calls for breaking the tumbler after consuming the lassi by smashing it against the ground or the wall. The lassiwalla stops operations only from 2-5 AM, making it one of the hotspots for refreshing and energising yourselves.

Sidharth Yadav

[email protected]

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Top Picks

5 Ways For DU Students To Earn Money

By Sidharth Yadav December 17, 2015

Be it financial constraints back home or the want to fulfil material dreams, dearth of money can play a significant part. In a scenario where many organisations commit to irregular stipend, it is tedious to find an organisation or for that matter an area that promises decent and regular payment and an environment that is exploitation free. Here are areas where you can easily come across such organisations:

Content Writing

If one does enough research in finding an ideal organisation, there can’t be anything better, but if not, there can’t be anything worse. The best thing about this area is that it entertains every discipline and is diverse. While looking for an organisation that offers content writing, make sure that the organisation:

Offers contract letter stating all the terms and conditions at the time of appointment.
Puts the appointees on probation in the beginning.
Pays you per article but not per word.
Matches your area of interest.
Has flexible members.

Tour Guide

There are many tour agencies active online that allow for one to be a freelance tour guide. These organisations don’t have professional tour guides but individuals who have passion for the areas that they take tours in. Individuals also get the opportunity to meet new people including foreigners. People who are interested in art, photography, culture, music and history can try this avenue.

Restaurants

Working at corporations like Mcdonald’s , KFC or Domino’s is the safest in terms of job security. These organisations pay hourly and also offer a free meal to its employees every day. Employees are also given insurance and health coverage. Most of the restaurants entertain part timers as well.

Giving subtitles to movies

This online based job allows one to use his/her lingual capacities to the best. The need for people who can give English or Hindi subtitles to English, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali or Tamil movies is immense. One gets paid per movie. However, one needs to be careful of the unorganised nature of this sector.

Internships

While one looks for a paid internship, she needs to also look at the scope of personal development. If, in the name of marketing, an organisation asks you to share an application with ten of your friends, then that accounts to exploitation and deterioration of the self. One needs to look for internships that are free of exploitative elements, isn’t pressurising and pays well.

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Top Picks

3 things to keep in mind before starting a new semester

By Sidharth Yadav December 15, 2015

A new semester is either a dreadful or a pleasant opportunity for the Delhi University students. Irony hangs heavy when the experience of going through ‘Board Exams’ every six months has students on the extreme ends of the stress spectrum. Either they are stressed and anxious right from the beginning or are ‘casual’ about the supposedly serious things. For both kinds of people, here are three things to keep in mind for a new semester

1. Setting a target

Right from the beginning, set your goals for a new semester or just set the goal of not setting any after all. Changing things midway won’t land you either way. If you decide to achieve something by the end of the semester, then strive for it. If you decide to drop goals in the middle then there was no point in the beginning to start and pursue them. Realising what can be a realistic goal is important and no exterior force can bring this realisation.

2. Balancing social and academic lives

This realm haunts most of the DU students. The act of balancing here requires being or getting smart enough to be aware of what’s to be done when. Although a person can balance both of them efficiently, the supposed efficiency proves to be detrimental for both the areas. It needs to be understood that in a time frame, only one area needs to be focused on. Focusing on both the areas at the same time would involve a lot of juggling.

3. Figuring out the way to score

After results of a semester are declared, one understands the plus and the minus of the academic system. It is wise to discuss the extrapolation regarding the techniques to score with your college mates. Developing a concrete notion on scoring before starting a semester is always helpful.

Image credits: http://blogs.simmons.edu/

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Five Things To Do This Vacation

By Sidharth Yadav November 20, 2015

Winter vacation’s utility rests in sleeping in the bed the entire day? Maybe yes, but maybe there lies something before or beyond it. While some hone their skills and others delve into reflection, there are many who create an amazing blend of both. Here is a list of five things you need to do in order to spend a versatile vacation:

Experiencing something new

This seems to be the most clichéd of the things you would want to do in a vacation but holds true for every vacation. You might have certain ambitions and dreams before joining college that should have been fulfilled by now. You actual self is the one who should have achieved all those things. Be it a better social life or the want to have spiritual solitariness, a new musical instrument or a better intellect, vacation is indeed the time to work towards your actual self if it hasn’t been achieved.
Preparing yourself for a new semester

Think that your previous semester could have been better socially, academically, spiritually or philosophically? Then there is not a better time to prepare yourself but a vacation. You can be a better and efficient member of your respective society in college or perhaps be academically better at the background to every major topic to come in the coming semester’s syllabus. Preparation works in every realm.
Experimenting

The need to experiment with a lot of things comes right in the middle of a semester a lot of times. The need of that hour is to defer the gratification of experimenting then because hastiness may kill the utility of it. A vacation is the best time to drop scepticism about a lot of things and bring it for others. Experimentation is the name of the game. Trying something you’ve always dreaded or testing yourself at a venture would fulfil this aspect.
Working on your fitness

This area should mainly involve focusing on your fitness goals and if not fully, partially changing your current fitness levels. This could involve making your fitness levels plummet or to take them to another level. A change in fitness levels, ‘improving’ or ‘deteriorating’ them distinctively, generically speaking, is a marker of your perceived activity during a vacation.
Bringing balance to life

This could involve bringing consistency to what others call ‘an imbalanced life’ so that ultimately it appears to be balanced or afterall working towards the conventional sense of a balanced life.