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Collection drives across the campus for Kashmir flood victims

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IP College for Women has asked every student to pay Rs.10 compulsorily and more, voluntarily. Apart from that it has voluntarily been collecting since 13th September chlorine bleaching tablets, powdered food, medicines, syringes, blankets, clothes, baby products, candles, matchsticks, shawls, woolens, torches, toiletries et al. Jesus and Mary College has already been able to collect blankets, torches, medicines, sanitary napkins, bed sheets, shawls, umbrellas, and nearly 200-300 people have contributed till now, and the number and collection amount is sure to go up by 17th September, the last day of the collection drive. Kalindi College held a rally on 12th September urging everyone to donate and help in the relief campaign. The rally constituted the whole college population, both teachers and students. The Dramatics Society of the college also performed on the theme ‘Save Kashmir Flood Victims’. Apart from the huge collection achieved in kind and goods, the college was able to raise around 1,85,000 rupees for the cause. The NSS unit of DCAC held a collection drive for J&K flood victims on 16th September, in association with Kashmir Foundation for Social Change, a Kashmir based NGO. Students donated generously both in cash and in kind. The Street Play Society, Leher did a call and a short skit to inform people about the situation in the valley and encourage them to donate. Students participated actively by writing messages for the flood victims and singing inspirational songs while they were video graphed. A video was also shot wherein it started with a consoling message for the flood victims and was followed by a large group of students singing the National Anthem. To end the day on a light note, a group of students from the North East and some musicians did a jam session to show their concern and support for the people in the valley. Numerous cartons of clothes, medicines, water bottles, food packets were collected along with about Rs. 24,000 in cash which will be utilised to buy relief material of immediate need. [gallery ids="26388,26389,26386"] Dayal Singh College also collected goods and cash department wise for the relief work which was further sent to Jamia Milia Islamia University for dispatch. About every other college of Delhi University joined in the relief and donation campaign through college unions, NSS, Enactus, NGOs, other societies, institutions and universities to contribute for the same. Apart from that, the colleges were very forthcoming in sensitizing and popularizing the need to help and save the flood victims, through posters, meetings, announcements, enactments, rallies, drives, public urging, message circulation, notices and a lot more. Colleges like Hansraj, DCAC and volunteers from many other colleges came together on 13th-14th September, in CP, in association with Kashmir Foundation for Social Change to collect and urge people to donate. A substantial amount of collection and donations have already been dispatched for to Kashmir.   Image courtesy: Enactus LSR and NSS unit, DCAC]]>

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DUB News

De-recognition of DU law course by the BCI worries students

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This year’s law graduates and the current law students at the University of Delhi received a shock when the Bar Council of India decided to de-recognise DU’s law course, which is taught at three centres in DU, which are Campus Law Centre, Law Centre-1 and Law Centre-2. The BCI sent a letter to the Vice Chancellor of DU and to all state bar councils on Monday, announcing its decision.

In the letter, BCI states that “In absence of extension of approval of affiliation of these law centres, the students who were admitted in the sessions 2011-12 onward and passed out from the academic year 2013-14 are not eligible for enrollment as advocates. You are therefore advised to take appropriate action with regard to these law centres and inform BCI about steps taken in this regard immediately.”

Rules of the BCI state that a law college/law school/institution that has not been inspected for a continuous period of 5 years shall have to apply afresh to the BCI and seek approval of affiliation on or before July 31, 2010. Failure to do this deems the degree imparted by the college to be illegal.

Keeping these rules in mind, sources at BCI said that DU failed to respond to its repeated reminders on extension of affiliation beyond the academic year 2010-11. A communication was sent to the three centres in July 2010 for the first time that DU must seek approval and throw open its centres for BCI’s inspection.

The Dean of Faculty of Law, Professor Ashwani Kumar Bansal reassured the students that, “Today itself I have replied to BCI reminding them that they gave us time till December 31 this year to apply for approval. It is not a big issue. We came into existence in 1924 while BCI was born in 1960s. A few years ago they made certain rules and want us to abide by them. I would like to remind everyone that we lead legal education standards in the country. Around 80 of our alumni are judges in various high courts and four adorn the Supreme Court. Before declaring us invalid, look at our track record. We will resolve the issue amiably; students need not worry at all.”

Surya Raju, a student at the Campus Law Centre, said, “Of course there is a sense of confusion and fear, but as of now, we’re just waiting to see how it pans out.” She also said that the dean has put up a notice reassuring them and “We are, more or less optimistic that it’ll work out, but we are disappointed that the Faculty has put this off for so long.”

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DUB News

Gyanodaya Returns: Allegations from DUTA not enough to stop the “Educational train”

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DU’s educational train, Gyanodaya Express is all set to take students of Delhi University to the North – East this year. Despite fierce allegations of financial irregularities from DUTA, the project which was started as the ‘College on Wheels’ project on 2012, will engage student – teacher cooperation in a friendly environment yet again for the fifth time.

 

According to the Registrar, Mr. Tarun Kumar Das, A special certificate course would be organised by the university so that the students could be given a basic theoretical and practical knowledge of 8 different local languages prevalent in the North East. From 20th to 30th December, around 900 students will be given the opportunity to travel on the Dharohar – Gyanodaya express.

The selection procedure will be similar to last year – The innovativeness of the project proposals would enable the selection of the students. There would be groups of 11 – 15 students including one student from the north – east who would be accompanied by a mentor each. The main focus of the project is to be based on providing a thorough understanding of the richness of the terrain and how it contributes to our nation’s beauty. The students would also be given the opportunity to meet senior functionaries of the states as well as representatives of local universities. Issues regarding citizenship and national integrity would be addressed during the course of the trip.

 

The concept of Gyanodaya has often appealed to students but in a recent whitepaper by DUTA, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dinesh Singh has been blamed for being a part of malpractices leading to financial irregularities in DU. The white paper suggests that the VC had started the Gyanodaya express back in 2012 without any prior discussion by the statutory bodies. There had been no evaluation prior to its inception yet crores of money had been spent yearly on this project. The white paper mentions, “According to information provided in response to RTIs on the subject, the costs for two trips were Rs 198,30,408 (2012) and Rs 148,82,182 (2013) respectively,”

DUTA president, Nandita Narain has urged the Ministry of Human Resource Development to intervene this year’s Gyanodaya Express trip and make the university more answerable about the source of such funds mentioned above.

 

 DU Beat’s coverage of the past voyages of Gyanodaya can be found here.

Image Credit: University of Delhi official website

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DUB News

Literary Society of Miranda House organizes interactive session with author Rosie Jones

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The Literary Society of Miranda House organized an interactive session with Rosie Jones the author of The Last King in India – Wajid Ali Shah, on 24th September.

 

The Last King in India is detailed biography of India’s last king Wajid Ali Shah, who was on the throne when the East India Company decided to take over him. The book talks about the dichotomy that prevails in the mind of people about the complex character of Wajid Ali, who according to the British is described as a debauched ruler who spent all his time with women, indulging in extravagance of art and theatre whereas most of the Indians believe him to be a gifted poet who was robbed of his throne by the East India Company. The book tells his story for the first time using original documents from Indian and British archives.

 

In the interaction, Rosie talked about the Oriental gaze in the novel and many other facts about the life of Wajid Ali. She talked about her journey of meeting various people to trace the descendants of the king. She also had a detailed discussion on the topics related to the book with Professor Shweta Sachdeva Jha of the English department of Miranda House, who was also the discussant of the event.

 

She revealed how her biography of Wajid Ali Shah gives the other side of the coin to his life’s history. She presented a lot of factual information regarding the British regime in India, the presence of Africans in the city of Awadh, women in Wajid Ali’s life and much more. A lot of scandalous pictures were also displayed showing the lavish lifestyle of the Kings of Awadh.

 

“It was not a very entertaining but an engaging and intellectual interactive session,” said Ragini Khullar, the president of the Literary Society of the college. “It was an enlightening talk that lifted the veil behind the supposed ‘decandent and debauched’ king” said Asmita Jain, a second year English honors student of the college.

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Interviews

In conversation with Aayushi Gupta: University Gold medalist in Shooting and an Economics student at LSR

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Delhi University has always had its fair share of rising sports stars from a variety of fields and Aayushi Gupta, a third year Economics student from Lady Shri Ram College for Women is indeed one of them. Hailing from Agra, this shooter has not only done her college and University proud, but has also proved her mettle at numerous international competitions. She has been on the national team since her first year in college and went on to become the University Gold medalist in shooting this year. She has been consistently winning the Gold at the U.P. State Championships and North Zone Championships for the past 3 years. Earlier this year, she represented India at shooting championships in Spain, Germany and the Czech Republic (where she bagged the Bronze medal). It then comes as no surprise that she’s currently ranked No. 1 in the Juniors category in India in her sport!

DU Beat managed to get in touch with Aayushi to talk about shooting, the support DU extends to its sportspersons and what her targets for the rest of the year are.

Tell us about your journey as a shooter. How did you first get involved in the sport?

My journey as a shooter has been wonderful. The good performances have given me power and much confidence. Even the worst of my performances have taught me a lot and made me better.
I had always been a sportsperson at school, playing all the sports I could. Then one day the shooting range was inaugurated at school. I went to have a look. I had never had a first hand experience at even holding a rifle or the sport before that. The thought of the bullet shot by me hitting that small target 10mts away was what gave me the thrill. I never looked back after that.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

My proudest moment so far was just recently, when I was climbing the podium in Plzen, Czech Republic, and the anchor there said, “The bronze medal goes to Gupta Aayushi, FROM INDIA!”
That was when I had goose bumps. I was so proud that I could do my nation proud.

 

Who are the people in your life who inspire and encourage you the most?

As a shooter, it’s Ma’am Anjali Bhagwat who inspires me a lot. After that, as a person, it’s my father who encourages and inspires me. That’s where all my strength comes from. He is the person who first told me take up the sport as a career. And then there’s my mother and brother, my coaches, and my school and college friends, my sporting friends who have encouraged me a lot.

Would you say that the University provides all required support to ensure you can give your 100% during competitive events? Is it largely due to the training in college that a lot of shooters from DU end up doing the country proud at events like the Commonwealth Games?

Delhi University does a lot for its sportspersons, supports them and encourages them. It may not be the “all required support” for some, but for me it is all that I require and it definitely means a lot. A lot of shooters I know come from Delhi University and have done the country proud at many international events. Training at college and how a shooter learns from it is very objective; everyone has a different training style, but the kind of support one gets from their college authorities and their teachers is what really matters. And I’m happy that I get that support and encouragement!

What are some of the big goals you have lined up for the rest of the academic session?

I have less than a year left as an undergraduate at Delhi University, and I want to make it count. There are the inter college and inter university events coming up soon, performing to my best is my goal. Improving myself as a shooter is always my next goal. But as target championships, there are University Nationals, Open Nationals and the Asian Championship lined up for now.

Apart from sports, what activities do you enjoy? How do you unwind after a long day of practice?

It’s sports I enjoy the most. But it would be listening to music and dancing that would come next. I love travelling and adventure sports, though I have not got much time for either due to my training and championships. Whenever I get little time in between training sessions and championships and college, I try going back to Agra and be with family and my school friends.

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Spo(r)tlight

DU teams shine on day 2 of Udghosh’14

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Udghosh, IIT Kanpur’s annual sport fest, is being held from 25th- 28th September this year. 2 days in, teams from Delhi University have performed very well! Here’s an update:

 

Udghosh_day2-4

 

DU teams won each of the following matches:

 

  • Basketball (boys)

Khalsa vs. IIT Kanpur (C)

Ramjas vs. Chitkara University, Chandigarh

  • Cricket

Sri Venkateswara  vs. Babu Banarasi Das, Lucknow

  • Volleyball

Ramjas vs. NIT Trichy

 

 

For more updates, visit Udghosh’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/UdghoshIITK

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News

Emma Watson launches #HeForShe campaign for gender equality

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Emma Watson came into our lives as the extraordinary muggle witch through the Harry Potter movie series but that little ginger-haired girl who we all grew to adore has grown up to be someone we respect. The Actress as well as UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador delivered a speech on 20th of September 2014 at the UN Headquarters, New York launching a new campaign which goes by the name of ‘HeforShe’.

The idea behind the campaign is quite simple – let women and men be treated equally: socially, politically and economically. If we think about it, feminism is the word that we should be using here but feminism has, sadly, turned into a slang used for women who are too aggressive, isolated and most importantly, hate men.


In an attempt to explain the campaign Emma has first cleared the fact that feminism does not mean hating men, it is just a fight for freedom and equality, which needs to be fought by both men and women for the sake of humanity as a whole.
“In 1997, Hilary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women’s rights. Sadly many of the things she wanted to change are still a reality today. But what stood out for me the most was that less than 30 percent of her audience was male.

How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?” Watson said, formally inviting all men to treat Gender Equality as their issue too, to have their sisters and mothers free from prejudices but also to allow their sons to be vulnerable and human.

As a human being, it pains me to mention that a day after this speech Emma Watson was attacked anonymously on the internet where there was a five day countdown to make her nude pictures public online. However, no such thing has happened but it is a shameful act on our part as a society.

Despite that, we all should take heed of Emma’s speech and stand together for women, for men, for humanity.

#HeForShe

For more details, log on to: www.heforshe.org

 

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Daulat Ram College

WDC Daulat Ram College produces short film ‘Jagriti’

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The Women Development Cell of Daulat Ram College- Pragati, has always been effectively outspoken when it comes to addressing issues of women’s empowerment. This time the students of the college have produced a short film ‘Jagriti’ which is not only about women’s development but about human development as well. The motive of this movie is to instill sensitivity in the minds of young boys. To inculcate a feeling of mutual equality in them so that they believe that women are as strong as they come- be it in their nature, or their self- esteem or their personality.

Women’s development has often been cited as an integral part of human development rather than a separate idea. According to Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen, one of the key figures behind the United Nations’ Human Development agenda, empowering women is key to building the future we want.

Pragati, which essentially means ‘to excel’, aims at providing students an opportunity to give expression to their thoughts and ideas. Through this short film their message stands out clear and loud- gender discrimination is something that has been ingrained in the subconscious minds of Indians. The patriarchal society that we live in, the rituals we follow, the festivals we celebrate, all in all many things that we accept as ‘simply natural’ add to the large picture of inequality that women in India face on a daily basis.

Malini Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Convener, Women Development Cell of Daulat Ram College, said,” We strongly believe that today’s boy is tomorrow’s man and so he should learn one basic thing apart from his curriculum, to respect women, to not see her as an object for lust, not a hand for work but a hand at work.”

The Women Development Cell of the college has also collaborated with a number of projects to spread awareness regarding women’s rights.

“We want young boys and men to raise their voices against growing atrocities on women”, Malini Sharma added.

Surbhi Sharma
[email protected]

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Top Picks

5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Mangalyaan

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A proud moment for the nation arrived today when the world knew about the success of ISRO’s Mangalyaan successfully entering the orbit of Mars today. Our Prime Minister rightly remarked, “History has been created today” applauding the successful Mars Orbiter Mission to put India on the world map for triumphant interplanetary space mission.

While it’s a cause for celebration for all, there are certain things that make this endeavour by Indian scientists more special because of the following facts about Mangalyaan:

1: Cheaper than Hollywood Movies

Considering the high spending on space programmes, Mars Orbiter Mission of ISRO beats the world in economic terms to be most budget-friendly. It has a mere cost of Rs 4 per citizen of India and even happens to be at lower cost than Hollywood movies like ‘Gravity’. It is also only 1/10th the cost of its contemporary ‘MAVEN’ (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) launched by NASA.

2: Successful in First Attempt

Before Mangalyaan no other country has been successful to insert a spacecraft in the Martian orbit in the first attempt, but the Mars Orbiter Mission enters the history books with its successful launch in the first trial itself after US, European Space Agency and the former Soviet Union.

3: First Asian Nation to Reach Mars

ISRO proved that China or Japan maybe emerging superpowers from Asia, but the intellectual and technological superiority surpasses all which is very well demonstrated by Mars Orbiter Mission. India becomes the first Asian country to join the league of countries studying the Red Planet.

4: Will Investigate the Martian Surface

Apart from the technological objectives of developing technologies of launching and testing inter-planetary space programmes by ISRO, one of the critical aims of Mangalyaan is to explore the plausibility of myriad hypothesis of Martian climate like presence of methane, water, texture of soil etc. which may help in finding out the possibility of life on Mars.

5: Totally Indigenous

All the scientific instruments, manpower, technology etc. involved in launching Mangalyaan are all totally ‘desi’. By using indigenous technology and cutting red tape, Mars Orbiter Mission proved to be friendly for wallet and also demonstrated India’s intellectual and technological advancements in recent times.

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Biblio

In conversation with Mr. Saroj Kumar Rath 

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Mr. Saroj Kumar Rath, Assistant Professor of History at Sri Aurobindo College (Evening), Delhi University talks about the horrific Mumbai Terror Attacks of 2008 and the loopholes in India’s Security Agencies in his book Fragile Frontiers: The Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks. The book meticulously covers how the fastest city of India came to a standstill on the fateful day of 26th November, 2008 and how the entire attack was well planned and co-ordinated. With the book out in stores now, DUB brings to you excerpts from an interview with Mr. Rath.

 

How did the idea of writing on one of the most serious terror attacks of Indian History occur to you?

I have been researching on India’s National Security and International Terrorism for more than 15 years. When Professor Chikako Taya of Hosei University, Tokyo asked me to join her in her scrutiny of Mumbai Terror Attacks in the autumn of 2009, I immediately sensed an opportunity to engage myself in an intense study to unravel the historical analysis of India’s national security centered on Mumbai Terror Attacks. So the idea to write the book basically stemmed from government’s apathy to provide information about major terror attacks and the inability of academia-intelligentsia to unravel the truth so far.

 

 

After 9/11, there were many strategic and structural changes made in the United States of America. Do you think India changed its behaviour towards terrorism after 26/11 in any way?

No. Not only America made strategic and structural overhaul of Himalayan proportion but also successfully thwarted 25 major terror attacks since 9/11. Contrary to the experience of the West, India’s record in dealing with terrorist attacks is dismal. The attacks on Pune, Bangalore, Varanasi, Mumbai, Delhi, Gaya and Patna from 2010 to 2014 were testimony to the fact that security apparatus of India are still vulnerable and the country’s systemic failure is taking epidemic proportion. If another Mumbai happened, we are destined to make the same mistake.

 

 

How did you proceed with your research?

     It was far more challenging than other cold-calculated analysis of historical events. To get a sense of the attacks, I undertook on-the-spot inquiries at all the nine places of attacks in Mumbai. I have taken a boat ride near Cuff Parade following the trail of the terrorists and went from court to court to follow the trials. From the Esplanade Session Court of Mumbai to Tis Hazari Court Delhi; I have personally travelled to witness the trial. Chasing the original documents and classified reports were looked as if insurmountable. Special Public Prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam, kindly allowed my wife Mony and me to visit the Arthur Road Jail Court, where Ajmal Kasab was facing the solitary confinement.

 

 

Your book, Fragile Frontiers, covers the most intricate details of the attacks and the pre & post attacks situations. Was it difficult to write on such a vast issue?

    This is a very good question. It is tough to work on such topics when the bureaucracy is hostile, police is chary of sharing the slightest details and the judiciary is blind to the grand design of the attacks. Because of the hazard attached with the research, it took nearly five years to come out with the book. It is far too difficult to write on such subjects than the word ‘difficult’ itself. This book is meant to understand our national security, get a sense of what ailing our system and envision steps for future.

Lastly, what do you understand of terrorism- now that you’re the author of a book  that talks about one of the most deadly terror attacks of recent times?

The issue of terrorism is now a house-hold subject and even page-3 people are making statements about terrorism, insurgency, ISIS and the likes.  Simple yet intriguing, my understanding about terrorism-now is, the subject has become the single-most important topic for contemporary world. But terrorism as such has become a way of life for many, trade for some, state arsenal for others, religious duty for several, and national struggle for a few.

Arushi Pathak,
[email protected]

 

 

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