The inauguration ceremony of the Delhi School of Journalism finally took place on Thursday, after three months since the commencement of classes. Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, Honorable Vice President of India and Chancellor of the University of Delhi, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest.
The inauguration ceremony of Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) took place on Thursday, 21st December 2017 at the Convention Hall in the Vice Regal Lodge. Prof. Yogesh Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, and Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Chairman of DSJ’s Advisory Council were present alongside several Deans, Principals, and other dignitaries.
The ceremony began at 4 p.m. with the lighting of the lamp ceremony that was accompanied by the live music of shankhnaad played by people dressed in traditional saffron robes.
Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, Honorable Vice President of India, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Speaking about the ethics of journalism, Mr. Naidu said, ‘As an aspiring journalist you should learn to never surrender against the truth. We need media personalities who have nationalistic instincts and know how to use their influence and reach responsibly.’ He also appreciated DSJ’s course structure that allows a student to learn multiple regional languages like Tamil and Bangla. ‘Before learning any second language, a person must master his mother tongue’, he said.
Shri Ram Bahadur, Chairman of DSJ’s Advisory Council, in his speech stated that DU’s journalism courses are laced with ‘anarchy’ and lack a standard syllabus. He didn’t explain what he meant by anarchy. He also asserted that the present media industry consists of anti-establishment and pro-establishment entities which jeopardises the truth from coming out. Evoking Buddha’s principle of the middle path he stressed the need for neutral journalists.
Prof. Yogesh Tyagi spoke about the ethos, aims, and the vision with which DSJ is created. He said that ‘this youngest member in the Delhi University family’ is the most democratic and transparent institution. He highlighted that DSJ provides world’s only integrated programme (both undergraduate and post-graduate) in Journalism. He also pointed to the unique curriculum of DSJ that is sensitive to both local and global needs.
Mementos of appreciation were given to the academicians and faculty members who helped in various aspects of establishing the programme. A bilingual magazine by the students of DSJ was also released in the ceremony. Prof. J.P. Khurana, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi, concluded the event with a vote of thanks.
NSUI protests against the self-financing mode of Delhi School of Journalism
While the inauguration was going on, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, staged a protest at the Faculty of Arts against the de facto privatisation of public universities under the guise of self-financing. They demanded the UGC funding for the Delhi School of Journalism and an immediate rollback of the exorbitant fees. As of now, DSJ’s annual fee is 78,000 thousand. NSUI claimed that despite the steep fees being charged, there is no permanent faculty available yet.
Feature Image Credits: Dainik Jagran
Niharika Dabral
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