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

2017

Browsing
Top Picks

Best locations for outdoor Fashion Photography in Delhi

By

Fashion photography is a highly popular and lucrative field. Delhi, with its scenic and photogenic landscapes, is the best place to orchestrate outdoor fashion shoots.

Here is a list of some of our favorite locations for outdoor Fashion Photography.

  1. Connaught Place – Perhaps the most scenic and iconic place in Delhi, Connaught place is the go-to place fashion photography. The colonial white facades provide a perfect backdrop for contemporary, ethnic, as well as artsy shoots. The best time for shooting is early morning hours before the place bustles with the crowd. The nearest metro station is Rajiv Chowk on Yellow and Blue line.
  2. Okhla Bird Sanctuary – This place which earlier used to be the hub for birdwatchers and environmentalist is becoming a popular choice amongst fashion photographers. Against the backdrop of nature and greenery, one can get beautiful photos. The ideal time for shoots is during the golden hour. The entry cost is Rs 30 and the nearest metro station is Botanical Garden on Blue line.
  3. Safdarjung Tomb- This majestic sandstone and marble mausoleum is situated at the Intersection of Safdarjung Road and Aurobindo Marg. The location is scenic and surrounded by a wide Mughal garden. The symmetric design of the monument is a delight to photograph. One should defiantly check this place for photoshoots in traditional attire. The nearest metro station is Jor Bagh on Yellow Line.
  4. Khari Baoli- Located in Old Delhi, Khari Baoli is Asia’s biggest wholesale market.Today, Khari Baoli is a busy commercial district which caters to vast spice market of North India, including states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, making it perpetually crowded with traders.
  5. Lodhi Art District- Because of the brilliant work by independent artists, the Lodhi Art district has been dubbed as India’s first open-air public art district.The artistic stretch in the expanse from Khanna Market till Meherchand Market.
  6. Rail Museum- National Rail Museum, located in the prime location of Chanakyapuri is an ideal location to get photos clicked and to admire the unique rail artifacts in its vicinity. Vintage, rare exhibits like the Prince of Wales Saloon, Fireless steam locomotive, and rail buses form the collection on display.

 

Feature Image Credits- Natural Studio

Akarsh Mathur

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

The mountains are calling, but are we listening?

By

The entire year is dotted with an array of International days dedicated to valid and important causes. In this list, 11th December is considered the International Mountain by the United Nations General Assembly, since 2003. According to the UN website, International Mountain Day is “observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is the U.N. organisation mandated to lead observance of all related festivities.

The theme for 2017 is Mountain under Pressure: climate, hunger, migration. The present facts presented by the FAO say that ninety percent of the world’s mountain dwellers live in developing countries, where a vast majority lives below the poverty line and one out of three faces the threat of food insecurity.

India’s wide landscape is dotted with mountain ranges that hold breathtaking landscapes, diversity of flora and fauna, and native communities. We also have the youngest and the oldest mountains in the world – the Himalayas and the Aravalli Range. While both Himalayas and the Aravallis are very different, there is one commonality they share: both mighty ranges face acute indifference in terms of state conservation efforts.
Mountains provide about 60 to 80 percent of the world’s freshwater. This freshwater, which is under threat from overpopulation and encroachment, is stored in glaciers and lakes. As water tables in hills are depleting, the migration is increasing. According to Down to Earth, the three districts of Uttrakhand that have registered the highest migration rates are also the districts that have witnessed maximum depletion in water sources.

This year’s theme highlights the issue of migration in the mountains. In India, Uttrakhand is seeing the worse cases of migration from hills to plain. As per Census 2011, of Uttarakhand’s 16,793 villages, 1,053 have no inhabitants, and another 405 have a population of less than 10.  There are many reasons why relocation is on the rise. The reasons range from lack of better opportunities, unemployment, climate change, and government’s apathy towards hill folks.

Old and quaint villages, immortalised by the works of writers like Ruskin Bond, are dying a slow death. The picturesque places are silently fading into an oblivion as their inhabitants move to the cities. However, a few brave individual and organisations like Sushil Ramola, Pratibha Krishnaiah, and Divya Rawat are trying to infuse life back in our ghost villages. As responsible citizens, we must do our best to support their efforts.

 

Feature Image Credits: Niharika Dabral

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

Human Rights Day 2017: How Far Have We Come?

By

It has been 69 years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights on 10 December 1948. It is high time we realise that all human beings are entitled to protection from violation of their human rights and we need to extend this protection to the last individual. Every day should be celebrated as Human Rights Day.

On December 10, 2017, we celebrate the World Human Rights Day. Universal suffrage, liberty, equality and equity, equal representation before law, right to education, access to information, the abolition of bonded labour, slavery and protection from human trafficking, and gender equality are only some of the examples of human rights. We have come far but there is a great deal left to do. Several new challenges have cropped up to universal principles of human rights. Several violations have already been committed in the past when the human rights commissions and governments across the world failed to protect them.

Be it China’s authoritarian pushback against human rights in Tiananmen Square in 1989, the manipulation of basic freedom in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the introduction of Sharia law in Brunei, Myanmar’s military’s ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas, or rising conservatism with regard to gay rights in Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, India, or Saudi Arabia- one of the most systematic abusers of human rights, especially of women’s rights of equality of status. Even the United States, who once used to be the champion of world peace and liberal democratic values, is not far behind in violating the basic principles of human rights, as can be seen in various cases like Guantanamo, torture of so-called ‘al-Qaeda suspects’, drone programmes or ‘democratic’ invasion in Iraq. The rise of right-wing extremism in Europe, North America and East and South East Asia make the defenders of human rights all the more sceptical.

The language of human rights is slowly translating into a language of discrimination, authority, and resistance. We are nowhere close to achieving the socio-economic rights and now are also losing our grip on the civil and political aspects of human rights that once the world triumphed over. The human rights organisations, human rights commissions, non- profit and non-governmental organisations have to pull up their socks to enhance people-to-people contact on the vitality of human rights across the world. Moreover, we as human beings need to rise above petty partisan interests and majoritarian politics and strive towards a more unified, global outlook becoming ‘world-citizens’ who are patrons of liberal and secular ideas.

Feature Image Credits: The Atlantic

Oorja Tapan

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Biblio

Difficult Daughters: A daughter’s quest to uncover her mother’s past

By

Written by Manju Kapur, a former professor of Miranda House,  Difficult Daughters, published in 1998, is a story of Virmati narrated by her daughter Ida.

The book initially promises to be a feminist tale of a mother-daughter relationship set against the ever so interesting backdrop of Partition, but soon all the hopes and expectations dissolve in a pool of disappointment. As a writer on Goodreads aptly writes, “It mostly concerns itself with peculiar family dynamics, little wars, tiny power struggles – pretty much anything that’s left to women who don’t have any other outlet through which they could express themselves or gain a sense of accomplishment.”

if you are someone who loves to read about the mundane things such as day to day chores, then you will find the storytelling engaging. However, there the plot leaves some important questions unanswered. The whole premise of the story is based on Ida’s quest to uncover her mother’s past, but the readers will never understand why Ida wanted to know more about her Mother’s life in the first place.

The story has many feminist figures like Shakuntala and Swarnlata, while the protagonist feels inspired by them, she never quite embodies feminist values which feel uncomforting. Besides, the uncontested acceptance of Harish, Virmati’s husband and Professor throughout the book is upsetting.

The best thing about Manju Kapu’s writing is that the story moves fluidly through time periods and places- Amritsar, Lahore, and finally Delhi. It is so beautifully done that one actually learns a great deal about the cities and its lifestyle prevailing post partition. The literary life of Lahore and vibrancy of Amritsar is capture very vividly, while Delhi because it appears briefly is given just passing mention.

Overall, Difficult Daughter is a pleasant read, not for its multi-dimensional characters or spellbinding diegesis, but for its evocative imagery.

 

Feature Image Credits: Good Reads

 Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
News

Steep Increase in Delhi Metro’s Fares, Has Hit the Students Hard

By
delhi metro

Over two months into the new set of fares, it is imperative to scrutinise the kind of impact it has had on the students of the University of Delhi.

Barring the minimum fare of Rs. 10 for a distance of 0-2 km, which has remained the same, fares have been raised for all other slabs. This has evoked mostly negative responses for student commuters and has caused chaos all over Delhi-NCR. The central question being asked by Delhi-NCR students with limited spending money is- why the Delhi Metro can’t have a student pass system, as there is for DTC buses?

How much does it pinch one’s pocket if one has to pay Rs 10 more per ride on Delhi Metro? The fare hike, which came into effect on October 10, 2017, looks moderate at first glance. But for those Delhi college-goers who take the Metro everywhere, this has been a pain in the last two months.

It used to cost the average South Delhi-ite Rs. 40 to travel from South Delhi to the North Campus earlier. After the two price hikes in Delhi Metro this year, they now have to spend over Rs. 100 on their daily travel.

While this move to hike the metro rates has attracted mounting criticism towards the Delhi government and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation over the last two months, it is not the DMRC which is to blame. As per the provision of Delhi Metro Rail (Operation & Maintenance) Act, 2002, the Metro fares are fixed and revised by a regulatory authority (fare fixation committee) constituted by the Government of India. Under Section 37 of the Act, the recommendations of the FFC are binding on the Metro Rail authority. DMRC does not have any power in this regard.

Nevertheless, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has defended the fare hike, saying it was needed to “maintain a world-class service”. But what good is a world-class service if the common man finds it unaffordable?

The Delhi Metro had made it possible for students to cut down on commute time and attend college far away from home. Following the hike in rates, it has become taxing for them to go back to sitting on a bus stuck in a jam, spending 90 minutes each way on the commute. Auto-rickshaws and taxis haven’t been a viable option either, being too expensive for the student pocket.

Apart from this effect on students, the fare-hike hasn’t “fared” well for the DMRC either. It has in fact led to reduced ridership and subsequent loss to DMRC. The move has also resulted in traffic congestion and increased pollution levels in the national capital. (Remember, remember the fifth of November?)

For others, while a hike of Rs. 10 per ride has not been too much, has that led to better services? It goes without saying that there is a lack of clean toilets at Delhi Metro stations — in fact, few Delhi Metro stations have any toilets, clean or otherwise. While some students wouldn’t mind paying an increased fare, they had expected better facilities to supplement the hike.

Unfortunately, the fare hike hasn’t witnessed a corresponding hike in improved crowd management during peak hours. The case is worse for women students. The fare hike has forced them to adopt less safe modes of transportation or has forced some of them to attend college less frequently.

But things aren’t going downhill for everyone. While the move has certainly benefitted cab operators, it has favoured the e-rickshaw drivers operating near the campus colleges.

Two months down, it is widely felt that the Centre did not assess the ground reality. It is pinching the pockets of students to an extent that it has taken a toll in their attendance, in some cases.

At a time when six rapes and several cases of eve-teasing and harassment are reported each day, the Metro fare hike needs serious reconsideration.

When the government says that it’s trying to give us world-class services, it must also keep in mind that many countries allow discounted rates of metro travel for students. Why is it that the Delhi Metro doesn’t?

 

Feature Image Credits: The Times of India

Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
DU Admissions

Scramble for Accomodation after Admissions in DU

By

Due to a hostel crunch (only about 10 campus colleges have hostel facilities), most students are forced to reside in private hostels and paying guest accomodations. This has made places near the campus like Hudson Line, Vijay Nagar, Kamla Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar in North Delhi, and Satya Niketan, Amar Colony and East of Kailash in South Delhi very popular for out-station students.

However, the high rates cause problems for students as many come from outside Delhi and relatively humble backgrounds. Some students’ organisations have been fighting for a standardised rent agreement for the past three years. As of now, there is no fixed slab and owners increase prices as they please.

The NCR kids cannot escape the heat either. The college and university hostels do not accommodate students who are National Capital Region (NCR) residents. This limits their chances at these hostels, which are more economical. They need to look for private accommodation, as travelling from home everyday will be difficult. While at the time of admission, PG owners are abound with promises, how far are these promises kept at the end of the semester?

Students who stay in these PGs say the facilities aren’t as nice in reality. Most have to pay over Rs 12,000 for a very small room. The bathroom has just enough space for them to stand. Even the WiFi is mostly useless because so many people use it. Even when the proprietors might give away the rooms for below 10kit is important not to get deceived by it as the rates are mostly not inclusive of food, internet, electricity or AC charges (something which the proprietors do not mention voluntarily at the time of booking of the book for fear of losing their prospective tenant). Interestingly, at the beginning of he academic year, the paying guest accommodations try to woo students with a host of modern facilities and comfort living (as one PG owner of BD Estate claimed “One fruit everyday”). But those facilities surprisingly either never materialised or fazed out by September (the same PG would give one banana only once a week).

Electricity bill remains a bone of contention between students and landlords in most of the PGs where the rent is not inclusive of electricity charges. Some PGs charge Rs.8 to Rs.10 per unit of electricity over and above the monthly rent, while the government charges Rs.7 to Rs. 8 per unit. Sometimes the proprietors go to the extent of charging even for the electricity used in the mess or the common corridors. While the electricty rates are generally supposed to come within Rs. 1000 (even as per the enhanced standard rates of the PGs), most of the students find their PG owners adding impractical figures on the rent slip every month. And the figures only increase evry successive month.

Often the curfew time at the boys’ PG is10pm to 12 midnight, while a girls’ PG would usully set the curfew at 8pm. When asked about the reasons behind this differention, PG proprietors woul explain that the restrictions are more from the parents’ side and that it is not something that they imposed. If the parents tell them that they are comfortable with their daughter returning late, they apparently wouldn’t have a problem.

While the PG owners, in order to satiate parents anxious of their wards’ wellbeing, would initially drive home the idea that they would shut the gates at 8pm “sharp”, in reality, the PGs are more liberal than that, often stretching the deadline till 8:30 or even 9. As Shristi, a student of Ramjas claimed, “the dealine gets stretched with each passing month”, although this is an instance which would be hard to generalise for all PGs.

While the exploitative PGs go on minting money, it is important to serve the wake-up call to the UGC to remind it to ensure adequate accommodation for all students in college hostels. Because while education is hard, the exigencies of staying in Delhi are harder.

 

Feature Image Credits: Hindustan Times

Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Fashion

Denim to Fur: Jackets for Him and Her

By

With the onset of fall, chilly air streams curl down our sleeves. Who doesn’t love winters? With exams on the front, we decide to hibernate: sleep endlessly under those warmest blankets, the decor of the room setting the right mood. Amidst this, the plan is to create new style statements that combat the cold whilst making us a fashion icon.

Auburn brings you a couture to explore your type of warmer: furry coats, denim jackets, or the exclusive leather ones.

For him:

1. On days when the wind is fierce, a longer coat can really be your best friend. Trench Coats cover down to the knees when buttoned.

2. A scarf is not enough to keep the neck warm, and Turtlenecks are an awesome first line of defense against those frigid winds.

3. Half-Cardigans keep you safe from the winters and also give loud signals of being a stud!

4. Hooded Jackets serve the purpose when it comes to comfort and warmth. They look fluffy and give the perfect winter look.

5. Denim Jackets have been an all all-time favourite. These might not be very chill-safe yet they are your perfect pals when it comes to fashion sense.

6. Bikes, Boots, Babes and Leather Jackets! Every guy must own one of these, it is undoubtedly a safe option!

For her:

1. Quilted Jackets with hoodies are the best for the warmth; they help us keep safe from the freezing cold while maintaining a fashion sense.

2. Initially Blazers were typically worn as officewear, but now they are in fashion as informal wear. Perfect for an interview or your office wear, you can team them up with trousers. You can even wear a casual look by picking up a cotton or linen blazer and a pair of denims.

3. This year was full of prints! Printed Jackets add the right amount of poise in the usual boring winter wear. You can find them in animal prints, 3D prints or blossoming florals.

4. Trenchcoats are a great buzz. Wear them over a sweater or a dress and look dazzling. They are a great pal in the snow and unlike woollen coats they are light weight and waterproof.

5. This season is all about the Faux-Fur Coat. Turn up the texture and team up with dark colours and high collars for some gothic romance.

6. If you want an adventurous or bold look then Biker Jacket is something girl must have. It’s a sort of short coat with hip length. Its made of leather generally and coloured in black, but if you want you can go for other colours too. Biker jacket with a pair of blue jeans gives you a smart and fashionable look.

 

Feature Image Credits: Uniqlo

Radhika Boruah
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

A Recap of the Past Semester in Photos

By

Odd semesters usually start with a burst of energy, (which is visible in the first week only) and give hope to many as a means to seek redemption for the erroneous mistakes committed in the past year. The fest scene is definitely lackluster in the Delhi circuit when compared to the even semester; there are, nevertheless, many moments to compensate for that. We take you through a recap of the semester gone by and dive head-first into the highlights that make the odd semesters so endearing and special.

1. The Admissions Hullabaloo: Clueless freshers and even more clueless professors regarding the syllabus, the first month is a spectacle to cherish — seniors reminisce their college life, and juniors eagerly look forward to interviews and freshers’ parties and competitions. This phase lasts roughly until the end of August and is followed by the reality of elections dawning upon us.

2. The Elections Turmoil: After many days of throwing pamphlets in the air and shouting out manifestos, the entire process of campaigning boils down to one day, the day of elections. Many controversies marked this election season eventful — from AISA’s panel yelling ‘Go back ABVP’ in Miranda House to Rocky Tuseed being barred (the ban was later removed),  from contesting for elections, two days before the election day. This year, elections were conducted on the 11th of September and saw an increase in the voter turnout. Rocky Tuseed and Kunal Sehrawat from NSUI won the positions of DUSU President and Vice President respectively, while Mahamedhaa Nagar and Uma Shankar from ABVP won the positions of DUSU Secretary and Joint Secretary, respectively.

3. Outstation fests, Part 1: Antaragini, IIT Kanpur, cultural extravaganza was a 4-day affair from 26th to 29th October, that had a cumulation of the best talents across India. The audience grooved to the tunes of famous artists like Euphoria, the famous duo Vishal-Shekhar, and KSHMR along with other DJs.

4. Outstation fests, Part 2: Oasis, BITS Pilani was a 4-day fest from 30th October to 4th November that witnessed thousands of students from all colleges all across India competing for the top prizes in various performing competitions. Renowned filmmaker and director of Baahubali fame, S.S Rajamouli declared the fest open. The famous duo Vishal-Shekhar sang their all time famous tracks on the 2nd night, while Candice Redding and, other international DJs performed on the EDM night for day 3. Ashish Shakya and Karunesh Talwar successfully called the fest to an end and threw everyone in fits of laughter in the process.

As ridiculously long this semester seemed to be, it officially ended on the 15th November. Here’s hoping for an even more eventful next semester, with fulfilled promises and newer heights to accomplish.

Image Credits: DUB Archives

P.V Purnima

[email protected]

Vijeata Balani

[email protected]

 

 

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

How to Get the Best Out of Exam Gaps

By

The five tried-and-tested ways to ensure that the precious days between your examinations are best utilised.

It is always heartening when the exam schedule comes up and you find a lot of gaps in between the papers. Pledges are made at the very moment that this time, not an hour would be wasted. But come December and the pledges are all forgotten. New plans come up and studies are procrastinated for the last day, or more specifically, for the last night.

If you feel that your current schedule needs refining, read on the five following methods to ensure that this does not happen to you this time again.

1. Make your plan on your way home

So you’re done with today’s paper and it could have gone better. Your brain would tell you not to panic as you can study better for the next exam and make up for the previous sins. Here is your moment to act. Do not let the brain’s inspiration fade- take out a pen and a paper and make study plans for the next exam, over the gaps, at the very moment.

2.   Wake up early on the first gap day

The first day of the extended gap sets the tune for the remaining days. So in place of binge-watching the night after the exam, understand that the battle is not over. Hit the bed early and wake up earlier on the first gap day. Go through the schedule and start.

3.  All night is good, but not night-to-morning
One really can’t help studying till 1 or 2 in the night, or even if not studying, be fidgeting with the phone. Here is the trick- step out of your study mode with the very first wave of sleep, put an alarm for the 6th hour from then, and sleep. If you extend your awake time till 4 or 5 in the morning, you’re bound to spoil the next day.

4.  Don’t overburden yourself
Understand your body’s limits. Do not make plans for 18 hours of study if you normally study for 3 hours. Take it easy and everything would work out just fine.  Don’t give up on yourselves even if you aren’t able to stick to your schedule on the first day. After all, every new day is a new chance.

5. Don’t allow yourselves any new plans
Everyone has those friends who party, take trips, and hang out during the gaps and procrastinate for the last hour. Do not fall into their lure and stick to your plans. Understand how much your score would mean to you, your report card and your parents.

Feature Image- WikiHow

Nikhil Kumar
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

Basics of Astrophotography

By

Astrophotography means taking a photograph of an object hovering in space either with a point-and-shoot camera, a telescope, or any other instrument. The subject matter may include anything ranging from a moon to the Milky Way.

Astrophotography can further be classified into various subfields which includes Deep space, Solar system, Widefield Astrophotography, and Timelapse Photography. In the modern age of digital photography, it is more feasible to go for wide field astrophotography as it is within everyone’s reach.

As far as the equipment is concerned, a modern DSLR camera with good low light capabilities, a wide angle lens, and a good sturdy tripod will do more than enough. It is preferable to use a wide-angle lens with a large aperture like 24mm f 2.8 as this would help in capturing a wide angle shot and enable more light to enter into the camera, so that clear pictures can be shoot.

It is imperative that along with a clear sky and less pollution the chosen location can also accommodate a good wide angle shot.

Preferable settings for astrophotography:

  1. Set camera lens to widest aperture (f/2.8 is better than f/4 or f/5.6)
  2. Set the shutter to the 5 seconds
  3. Set the ISO to 800 or 1600
  4. Set the White Balance to Daylight/Sunny or put it to Custom as per the requirement.

This basic knowledge will equip you to take good quality night sky images.

 

Feature Image Credits: Jeremy Thomas

Akarsh Mathur

[email protected]

Sandeep Samal

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By