Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Archive

August 2015

Browsing
Small Screen

True Detective Season 2: Mid-season review

By

Although not as good as the first season, True Detective season 2, upholds the official rights of subjecting the viewer to a vortex of crime, emotions, darkness and sadness.

Writer Nic Pizzolatto has chosen to set the story in a fictional town this time, called Vinci. But Vinci is spectacularly similar to Vernon, situated near Los Angeles. Vinci is an industrial wasteland and about 80% of the population lives there in sheer poverty falling prey to a network of corrupt businessmen and dipsomaniac politicians, and police officers. Pretty much like Gotham, even the momentary glimpses of Vinci in the show highly resemble the infamous DC comic city.

Unlike the last season which basically revolved around Detective Rustin Cohle, this season focuses on the lives of four different people- Vinci’s Detective Ray Velcoro, who has a nasty drinking problem and is damaging his son’s life, Sheriff department’s detective Ani who has a past she’s trying to forget, Paul Woodrugh, a Highway patrol officer, who is constantly in refusal of his sexual desires and Frank Seymon, a corrupt businessman who had been dealing with the first victim.

The season is primarily slow with characters having murky pasts and even after six episodes, it’s hard to connect the dots. Collin Farrell and Rachel McAdams are doing well in their roles but Vince Vaughn’s acting skills seem questionable in this one. Velcoro’s sardonic humor provides the perfect comic timing and Taylor Kitsch would be my favourite for portraying the role of a mysterious Paul with a maleficent sexual past.

If the first two episodes leave you bewildered, wait for the third episode wherein the story actually begins to make sense. Watch out for intense gunfire and violence. Other than that, True Detective season 2 is a classic piece of crime drama.

Image Credits: blogs.indiwire.com

 

Sudisha Misra

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Features

DU Freshers Guide 101

By

Gone are the days of school uniforms, strict school teachers and the thousand restrictions that come with school life. Our fucchas now finally have a chance to begin a new phase of their life. Surely, many have taken admission in one of the best universities in India for Undergraduate courses – Delhi University.

“DU main admission ho gaya? Ab toh bas enjoy karna hai!” your friend would say. Well, friend, it might be too early to say that. Thanks to numerous articles on College life, stories narrated by seniors and family members, and even Bollywood movies most of us definitely have a lot of expectations from college life.

So here’s our Fresher 101 guide for what you need to know about Life at Delhi University Colleges. It may break your expectations, some might be wrong, but in the end you’ll be somewhat prepared to tackle the new things thrown at you.

  1. Freedom from Restrictions – You were literally counting the days when your board exams get over so you can finally begin your life as a mature responsible college going adult. Exploring places to hang out with new college friends was sure to become a part of your daily routine; or so you thought.

         Reality: You’ll realize your call log on phone is filled with missed calls from your parents initially, and getting into Delhi University won’t stop your parents from constantly questioning your whereabouts. Before the hang outs and friends, you’re just trying to find your way to the next class in the huge campus trying not to get lost and figuring out the names of people in your class.

  1. School friends and College friends – You still remember the last few days of your school when you constantly kept telling your school best friends to stay in touch wherever they are, but always having a fear at the back of your mind that you’ll lose touch with all of them once college begins. As you start meeting new people in college and even being a part of a small group in class, you feel these are going to be your closest friends for the next few years and beyond; only to realize something else.
    Reality: Exactly a year later you might have a completely different set of college friends than the ones you’re with right now. Yes, you might not be in touch with each and every school friend, but the ones who matter the most are going to stay for sure. After all, those school friends have seen you go through the funny middle school phase as well as all those new looks you tried throughout your school years.
  2. The College seniors – As you enter the college gates, you constantly keep praying that you don’t get ragged by a senior. You wouldn’t walk separately from the few people you know in college and all you hope is to find some helpful seniors in your department.
    Reality: You most probably won’t have to worry about anything happening at all. You’ll realize that the very college seniors whom you were a little tensed about are your pillars of support throughout your first year in college. They help you untangle the college life, and in the end, you’ll feel happy to be approached by them rather than the other way round.
  3. Attendance – “Bas ek lecture? Let’s go somewhere else instead,” said that one senior who made you realize that yes, missing lectures in a day is possible and no teacher is going to run after you for attendance. In layman terms, you need not be present throughout the day in college. Also, there is no fixed time to come every single day; at days you’re free by 12pm, and at times your classes can happen till 4pm. Everything seems to be fine…till you hear the criteria for minimum attendance to give exams.

Reality: You might not be eligible to give an exam if you don’t have 66.6% attendance. Most colleges across Delhi University are truly strict about it and would make you sign an undertaking if you aren’t regular to college. You might as well be careful here and not limit your already short time in college.
In the end, these 3 years will make you a far more mature person than you are. You’ll meet some great people with whom you’ll have some of the best memories of your life to cherish. Make the most of each and every day at Delhi University.

 

Shaina Ahluwalia

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DU Dhaba

Food Review: 2 Bandits, Satya Niketan

By

What might not seem very impressive and little generic at first, will definitely surprise you once your table starts piling up with mouth-watering delights. Situated right in the heart of Satya Niketan, 2 Bandits certainly lives up to the standards set by the cafés and food joints around.

The ambience is fairly suitable for any meal of the day, the interiors of the place being carefully defined. Along with offering some exceptional specials, it is also a paradise for all hookah-lovers. Double-Apple, Mint, Orange, you name it, they have it! The food menu was very comprehensive, having  indigenous Vada- Paavs and Bruschettas in the list. It also managed to have a vibrant non-vegetarian food list which certainly tasted as exotic as it sounded.

The Chicken Steak Sizzler was one of the most served and enjoyed dishes the place had to offer. The mashed filling between chicken breast was exceptionally different from the regular chicken sizzlers our taste-buds are used to. Potato wedges with the chicken proved to be a splendid side dish. A must-try for vegetarians is The Arabian Night-Veg which is a divine vegetarian paneer wrap served with Garlic Mayo. Veg and Chicken Panini were also favourites.

The café also has a very attractive shakes and mocktail menu. The Lamberjack, a chocolate brownie tasted as fancy as it sounds, served in chemistry lab beakers. The mild taste of Apple with a tinge of Mint and Lemon enabled the Apple Soaked Mojito to make a place in the special recommendations. The evergreen iced tea served in an unconventional funnel-shaped flask tasted as good as it should have.

With all the unusual appetizers the place has to offer, it also carries the basic pasta, burger and pizza menu beginning from as low as 95 rupees. One of the highlights of the café was the tree trunk standing right at the entrance with paper leaves hanging from it boughs, carrying hundreds of memories and messages. With its overall charisma and ambience (not to forget, the affordability for the young crowd out there), this place is certainly worth a visit.

Rating: 4.3/5

Image Credits: 2 Bandits Facebook Page

Arushi Pathak
[email protected]

 

 

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

Freshers, it’s time to pop the bubble!

By

Congratulations to you, freshers! You’re now officially a student of Delhi University in spite of its skyscraper like cut-offs. And by now I am guessing you must have had a taste of the LONG metro rides, the dreaded Rajiv Chowk crowd, lectures at 8:45AM or the trouble to manage the  limited pocket money because let’s be honest, there are way too many places to eat and shop and very little money.  But there are many more important and grave changes that you’ll experience in your first year at college which your school didn’t really prepare you for.

  • The diversity at DU

Everyone is aware of the fact that because of Delhi University’s reputation as one of the premier educational institutes, it caters to a large variety of students from all over the country. This sort of diversity may or may not have been present in schools. And, because of the usual habit to stay in our comfort-zones, we often don’t expand our social circle to include these out-station kids.

But, trust me, take a chance. Talk to them and make them feel comfortable. They are not only dealing with the anxiety of stepping into a new college but also the anxiety of living in a completely new place often without the warmth of family and homely-cooked food. Thus, don’t just reduce them to stereotypes but rather rise above them.  Try to know more about them and their culture. You can make them experience the ever so famous “Dilli-life” which can range from trying golgappe and chaats to exploring and visiting different places and monuments.

  • Just scoring marks isn’t the motto anymore

You’ve given your boards and got a percentage which is soaked in your sweat, blood and the numerous cups of coffee that helped you burn the midnight oil. But, it is time to make peace with the fact that you’ll hardly ever see your college mark sheet with a percentage above ninety percent. In the next three years you’ll see people participating in innumerable events, building a CV or more importantly, building a personality.  And a personality is something which will set you apart from the crowd. Thus, PARTICIPATE.  Audition for the various different societies at your college, participate in college or departmental elections or join a not-for-profit student run organisation. Make use of the fact that college is a place where no one knows your history and you literally have a clean slate which makes it the ideal time to explore aspects and fields you never knew you’ll develop an interest in.

  • Adopting an open-minded approach

With time you’ll realise that the classmate you started hanging out with has a starkly different set of opinions and moral code than yours. Or you might start comparing this newly formed bond with the bond you share with your school friends, who are now spread all over the country in different colleges, which gives rise to expectations which may or may not be met. It is okay. Everyone is different and handles situations differently. Accept this subjectivity. We might have gotten used to our circle which makes it sometimes difficult to understand the other person’s perspective but learn to agree to disagree and still maintain the friendship. It is a part of growing up to be more open-minded and non-judgemental. And adopting a broader perspective to look at and handle things is something that college teaches you most definitely.

All in all, you have the agency to carve this phase in any way you like. So, get out of that comfort zone, take chances, make proper use of your freedom and welcome the change with open arms!

 

Nishita Agarwal

[email protected]

Image credits: www.pgm-blog.com

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

Life At Delhi University: The Debating Society

By

Christopher Hitchens once remarked, “Time spent arguing is, oddly enough, almost never wasted.”
And rightly so, for debating in DU is one of the most gratifying and fruitful activities. In school, debating is one of those things that students pursue outside their curriculum, as a leisure activity. In college however, debating is more than just a hobby. For many, debating becomes life itself. That, in a nutshell, highlights the intensity and passion with which people debate in DU; the colossal time that it consumes; and the euphoria of achievement that it is capable of bringing to the winners.

Ignorant freshers often believe that their experiences from MUNs and school level debating are sufficient for conquering the DU debating scene. But such complacency is the biggest myth attached to the DebSoc. Firstly, every college debating society conducts trials for freshers, where the main criteria for selection is a person’s ability to reason, articulate and argue.  So no fresher will ever be prejudiced against the lack of prior debating experience.  Secondly, every society invests at least a month in training their newest members in different forms and styles, indoctrinating nuanced arguments and holding mock debates. This training period goes a long way in prepping the rookie debaters for their initial tournaments (eg: Fresher tournaments).Thereafter, the credentials of a debater will solely depend on his participation, potential and growth.

There are several reasons why you should consider taking up debating in college. Debating will help rid you of your inhibitions, make you more knowledgeable, teach you how to cajole people in the cleverest of ways, widen your ability to reason with logic and give you a college life worth experiencing.

But before you immerse yourself in the world of DU Debating, here are five things to know about the Debsoc ethos:

A. Killer Kompetition
The circuit doesn’t have an age bar and quite often, you might land up in a sticky situation where you, as team of fucchas, are debating against stalwarts from Law Faculty and DSE, people who are almost three years greater than you in age and experience. This can be extremely intimidating, especially if the seniors take you as a joke. Winning in such scenarios is almost next to impossible. The best thing to do then is to take the debate as a learning experience. Instead of getting discouraged by failure, keep up the perseverance and debate with panache! Who knows, maybe a couple of months later, when faced with the same team of titans, you cream your opponents. Or more realistically, at least manage to put up a decent fight!

B. Break Night Parties
When you’re in the debating society, exciting break night lore will form a substantial part of the legacy that you will receive from your seniors. Break night parties are one of the two (the other being the hefty cash prizes) things that draw senior debaters to a tournament. Senior participation decides the reputation of a tournament, and thus it is absolutely essential to host an extravagant break night party. Debaters are hedonists; that is the crooked truth.

Break night parties are like after parties: exclusive and lavish, anything and everything worth talking about happens here! Debaters let loose and enjoy the music, food and other gifts of Dionysius. After attending a break night party, you will realise (and possibly relish) that you belong to an elite society of people who are smart, yet know how to enjoy the finer things in life. Your first break night party will become a defining moment in your debating life and certainly a memory that you will cherish otherwise as well.

C.  The freaky outstations
For a debater, outstation tournaments are equally, if not more, important than DU tournaments and your seniors in the society will insist that your participation is well rounded. But getting permission from your parents, making arrangements for transportation and accommodation and saving for expected expenses are arduous tasks. Missing out on such tournaments can put you legions behind and hurt your growth. Outstations are usually a big no for debaters from conservative families. But those who have attended outstation tournaments will unanimously agree that an outstation tournament is like a never ending break night party: a perfect balance between work and play!

D. My way or the Highway
To survive in the circuit, you must be adept in one of the following two things: A. You must either possess tremendous knowledge about several issues like International Relations (IR), Economics, Third Gender Rights, Feminism etc OR B.You must make the other person believe that you possess in depth knowledge about these things. Not that you can faff your way to the finals. But a decent level of knowledge, complemented by a receptive mind, quick thinking and cocky smartness, can help you argue your way through the toughest and slimiest of motions. When all else fails, smartness will double up as a reliable weapon.

E. Family, not society
Most tournaments happen over a span of three to four days and take up almost six to seven hours per day. On non-tournament days, most debaters spend their time in intra and inter societal mock debates. Some others can be found in their groups, discussing raging issues in the library or just chilling in the college canteen. When you spend so much time with your society, members become the best of friends in no time. The bond that you share with your fellow debaters is inexplicable.It’s so tight and lasting that you might as well be a part of a family. Truly, DebSoc Bonhomie is a thing of legends.

I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I were to say that the debating society is the object of desire of every fresher. The glamour, the talent and the intellect are sure to lure you right in!

But a word of caution: Join the DebSoc,but join it for keeps. Invest your effort if you intend on staying; don’t join the society if you want instant results and lack patience. Debating requires time and commitment, because you’ll take at least a year to learn the tricks of the trade, another year to establish yourself in the circuit, and if you’re one of those bright bulbs, then you’ll finally come around to shining in your third year.

So, if you’re one of those toughies who have mastered the art of determination and perseverance, join the debating society to develop a skill set that will help you in every phase of your life.

Kriti Sharma
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

Delhi University Faces Criticism for Irregular Passing Criteria

By

Of the students who appeared for their second semester exams in the academic session 2014-15, many were denied admission into second year, for no apparent reason. The students were later notified that they will have to repeat the year because they failed to score 40% or above in their practical papers. Around 150 students or more from Commerce courses are being held back because they couldn’t clear the Fundamental of Computers practical.

Shockingly, the guideline stating such irregular passing criteria as a rule was passed a month after the students had already given their exams. Delhi University Students’ Union(DUSU) protested and took the matter to the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW). The matter was resolved with a subsequent notification, dated 29th of July, a week after the commencement of the new session, stating that such students have been promoted to 3rd semester and will be allowed to retake the exam next year. A similar notification was passed on the 18th of July, promoting all FYUP students to final year, even those who hadn’t filled their examination forms.

article-2342746-1A3F7B4C000005DC-116_634x463

Ordinance for semester system was given in 2010 by the then VC, Professor Pental using emergency powers, without any discussions. The semester system has often been cited as not being very student or administration friendly. Professor Abha Dev, a member of Delhi University Teachers’ Association(DUTA) said, “Ill devised ‘rushed’ reforms have resulted in decline of academic and examination standards. The worst victims of these ‘reforms’ have been students as no efforts were made to iron out problems. Three structures (semester, FYUP and CBCS) have been bulldozed in the last five years. The system is being systematically collapsed”

Arindam Goswami
[email protected]

Image Credits: DUB Archives

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

YUVA Foundation- A key to change the face of India

By

While many NGO’s have been cropping up recently with the vision to spread awareness among the youth of the country, the minds at YUVA have identified the issues faced by the community; they know how to address them and have already started working on their agenda. In a conversation with Shantanu Gupta, the Founder of YUVA Foundation, said, “The youth in this country has a lot of potential. However, even after securing a seat in top Delhi University colleges, they remain completely unaware of their civic duties, political environment and policies in the economy.’

At Young United Volunteer Action (YUVA) Foundation, the aim is to empower the youth so that they can tackle economic, social and environmental issues through reforms in education, livelihood and governance. Its activities include community workshops, slum connect (academic redevelopment) and YUVA communications 2.0 (commercial consultancy).

Recently, YUVA has launched an internship which comprises of all the elements required by a student/scholar to conduct research or to prepare a thesis or to take important policy decisions. The internship’s primary deliverable is to conduct a research on the history and politics of public policy and how it has impacted the implementation over time.

Students will get to learn about –

  1. Basic information of Public Policy
  2. Desk Research on the history and politics of Public Policy
  3. Field research
  4. Documentation and Publishing Research

Interns will work for research for Centre for Uttar Pradesh Policy Studies (CUPS) and selected quality articles will be published. The first batch has started from 1st July. It’s a rolling registration process and students can enrol at any point during the year. This internship is a huge boost to students interested in public policy, legislative research and civic awareness.

 

Ishaan Sengupta
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Sex Amma

Sex Amma: My boyfriend loves porn but I can’t stand it

By

Q. My boyfriend loves to watch porn and every time we get intimate he tells me to watch it too and learn new things. He remains very unsatisfied with our time, but I dislike porn. I just can’t stand watching it. How can I make him see the other way?

A. Ayyioo!

My naughty idlis caught in a mix of curries!

First things first, it’s completely okay to have different views from your partner on this one. The adult industry is made for entertainment and you have the right to not like it, so it’s perfectly alright to not watch it. Porn films, like any other media these days, are all about putting up a show, so don’t expect the things you see online to happen in a real situation. They are educational for some or can be just entertainment, but unrealistic expectations from porn should not be borne into real life situations.

Real life intimate situations can take on many shapes, believe Amma! Whatever your recipe is for dosa making, the end product should always be a feeling of mutual respect and fun. This can only be the case if you both are comfortable with each other. Your partner’s dissatisfaction can be helped if you both talk about each other’s likes and dislikes and reach a common ground. Do get to know more about each other’s preferences and do not give in to the digital image of sex.

As Amma always says, communication is the key, my idli! Feel comfortable and get naughty; introducing new spices into your dosa batter is never a bad idea. So try what you can and remember to always be safe.

Keep Reading
By
Sex Amma

Sex Amma: I’ve been with my girlfriend for 10 months now and we’ve barely hit third base.

By

Q. Hi Sex Amma, I’ve been with my girlfriend for 10 months now and we’ve barely hit third base. I understand that she wants to take it slow and I don’t want to pressurize her, but of late, the frequency is decreasing!

A: Oh my dear uttapam, Amma knows the plague that infests the minds of men in this country. Hitting the third base in a cricket crazy nation is all that men want, ignoring the weather and pitch conditions, thus getting out on the very first ball or eventually getting forced to play defensive.

Amma appreciates the fact that you understand that your macchhi wants to take it slow. The decreasing frequency suggests that the macchhi is either feeling guilty or has gotten scared due to the misunderstandings and taboo that accompany sex in our beloved nation. In any case, the solution is: communication.

You need to sit her down in an environment where she can speak to you about anything. And, if it’s a biological reason, then be a strong fisherman, be there for your macchhi and support her through the tough time. Build a strong bridge of communication and trust, and Amma guarantees you’ll start scoring again, singles and doubles at first, of course. Don’t lose your patience, else you’ll misjudge the ball and will be ‘caught’ out.

Do you have a question you’d like Sex Amma to answer?
Ask her anonymously!

 

Keep Reading
By
Sex Amma

Sex Amma: Breaking up with someone

By

Q. Amma, I’ve been in a relationship with this girl for about 7 months now and I want to break up with her. The problem is that whenever I try to tell her that I want to stop seeing her, she gets very sentimental and I end up consoling her with no progress. What should I do? I’m not a shallow human being, it’s just that I feel that we’re not very compatible.

A.Foremost: think 10 times before doing this.
My dear rasam, this problem of yours reminds Amma of the tales of love-stricken boys from the dosa gang of engineering colleges who wouldn’t let go of Amma when she would tell them that it’s over. Amma herself struggled with the issue for quite a while in her times, but eventually stumbled across the recipe to break up with someone who had gotten over-attached to her. The answer to your problem is not as simple as making fried idlis.

The solution in itself is a process. You’ve to be gentle with the little macchi. You’ve to explain to her why you think that you guys shouldn’t be together. Amma knows it’s a cliché but you’ve to tell her that it’s not her but you, as it is truly the case with you. You’ve to appeal to her logical side, which Amma knows gets trapped under the chutney of emotions in such cases, and explain to her that the relationship has run its course and it’s time and that you two part ways before you start hating each other. And as for avoiding making her uncomfortable in public, solitude is the key. Take her on a walk in a big park and explain it all to the sweet little macchi (oh! She’ll cry!Amma’s heart is already bleeding for the poor soul!). Please console her. Think of breaking up as removing a bandage slowly and smoothly instead of ripping it off as most rasams usually do.

Keep Reading
By