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

DU Beat

Browsing
St. Stephen's

Ten Famous Alumni: St. Stephen’s College

By

St. Stephens College is not only hyped for its top cut-offs but  also boasts of a long list of world renowned alumni who have indeed made the college proud and worthy of its fame. Here are ten of the former Stephanians-

1. Shashi Tharoor

Probably the most charismatic politician alive, Mr.Tharoor, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Stephens (1972-75) joined Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1976 where he went on to become the youngest PhD holder at the age of 22 in 1978. Tharoor’s career graph is certainly one to be envied. Starting as a staff member of UN High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR) in 1978 and later becoming the head of its office in Singapore, Mr. Tharoor served at various posts in the United Nations till he resigned as the Under Secretary-General in 2007.

shashi

On 28 May 2009, he was sworn in as the Minister of State for External Affairs for Africa, Latin America and the Gulf, after which he was re-inducted into the cabinet in 2012 as the Human Resource Development Minister. Even during BJP’s historic win in the 2014 general elections, Tharoor won the Lok Sabha seat from Kerala to become MP yet again.

Shashi Tharoor was as active during his Stephen’s years as he is in his career. He founded the Quiz Club in the college and revived the Wodehouse Society. He was also the Secretary of History Society and editor of campus humor magazine ‘Kooler talk’ till he relinquished the posts to become the President of the Students Union.

Apart from all of the educational qualifications, Shashi Tharoor is also known for his slapstick comments and intelligently opinionated tweets about day to day happenings.

2. Kapil Sibal

The man behind implementation of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in India, Kapil Sibal holds degrees of LLB and MA History from Stephen’s. Former lawyer and  now politician, Mr. Sibal has served in various ministries under the Congress led UPA Government, namely, Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of HRD, Ministry of Communication & IT, and Ministry of Law and Justice. He has also served as the Additional Solicitor General of India(1989-1990)  and President of the Supreme Court Association thrice(1995-96, 1997-98, 2001-02).

kapil

 

 

3. Ajaypal Singh Banga

Current president of MasterCard and former chief operation officer in the company, he attained the post of Chief Executive Officer in July 2010.

banga

4. Kabir Bedi

This alumnus of St. Stephen’s is one of the few Indian actors to have made a mark internationally with specialization in three mediums – film, television and theatre. He is also a contributor to media publications like the Times of India and Tehelka on political/ social issues.

bedi

5. Konkana Sen Sharma

Halfway down our list we have a pioneer of woman talent in Bollywood, parallel cinema actress Konkana Sen Sharma, best known for her roles in movies like Page 3, Omkara, Life in a Metro, etc. This critically acclaimed actress has starred in Bengali films as well. However, the lesser known fact about her is that, she too, is a former student of English from Stephen’s.

konka

6. George Abraham

This visually impaired cricket patron graduated from St. Stephen’s in 1979 with an Honours degree in Mathematics. He later founded the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) and Association for Cricket for the Blind in India(ACBI) in order to fulfill his dream of building a non-stereotypical, positive and active image of the blind. He also founded the SCORE Foundation in New Delhi.

raham

 

7. Khushwant Singh

Late Khushwant Singh, novelist, lawyer, politician and journalist was best known for his trenchant views on secularism and his humor which he incorporated perfectly in his literary work. Singh was bestowed with Padma Bhushan in 1974 and Padma Vibhushan in 2007 for his selfless service to the country.

Author And Editor Khushwant Singh Passes Away At 99

 

8. Amitav Ghosh

The Bengali author and former Stephenian is well known for his works – The Shadow Lines(1988), The Calcutta Chromosome(1995), The Glass Palace(2000), The Hungry Tide(2004), Sea of Poppies(2008) and the Ibis Trilogy.

ert

9. Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Mr. Ahluwalia, graduate from St. Stephen’s with a BA Honours degree, is an economist and civil servant with the achievement of being the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund and also the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission until his resignation in May 2014.

montek

 

10. Barkha Dutt

op

 

Indian television journalist and columnist with an English literature degree from Stephen’s is a group editor with NDTV. She gained prominence for her alleged over-the-top reporting of the Kargil War. Although controversies revolve around her reporting of the 2002 Gujarat riots, 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Radia Tapes Controversy in 2010, she has managed to gain substantial acclaim as a journalist and the title of ‘TV Personality of the Year’ in 2012 by the Association of International Broadcasting.

Bonus

11. Dinesh Singh

prof Dinesh Singh

Not to forget the famous Delhi University Vice Chancellor from 2010, Dinesh Singh is also an alumni of St. Stephen’s College. He completed his B.A. (Honors- Maths) in 1975 and M.A. Maths in 1977 from St. Stephen’s followed by M.Phil (Maths) from DU in 1978. Singh started his career as Lecturer at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi in 1981. He has been the face behind numerous academic reforms in the University of Delhi, be it the initiatives like Antardhwani and Gyanodaya Express or the famous for all the wrong reasons, FYUP.

Ishani Rajkhowa for DU Beat.

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

Five things a fresher in a DU college society can relate to!

By

When you have a choice of countless activities to be a part of in college, you don’t feel like missing out on any of the fun, specially when they come along with free attendance and marks. But being a part of a DU society isn’t as easy as ignoring Nicky Minaj’s music. Yes, being in a society in DU has its own perks… mostly positive (did I mention free attendance?) And if you’re a fresher and are the new one in a society, you have memories that last for life. Here are five things a fresher in a DU society can absolutely relate to:

1. You are supposed to know everything about everyone at every time:

Yes, you should know anything about anything. Specially if you’re a member of your college’s debating society or the quiz society, from knowing Nelson Mandela’s last words to what effect the Trade Facilitation Agreement will have ten years later, you’re supposed to know it all (Even if it makes no sense at all!) The phrase of Walking Wikipedia makes a lot more sense now. And if you happen to not know about something, be ready for the “oh-you-don’t-know-that!” look.

leviosa
Be it anything, you’ve got to know it all at once.

2. Put that poster there, bring that CD from there or just do all the leg work!

Remember the time you used to send your younger sibling to get a glass of water…every half an hour. Well, it’s karma’s time now. Be it putting up society posters on college notice boards or getting a duster for the black-board or writing a street play dialogue last minute, you’re the mule of your clan who can be given any work at any hour of the day. And the best (or worst) part is, you just cannot say no!

karma
Because ‘Karma’ has no deadlines, and it always balances all accounts.

3. Get ready to set your alarms at the most impossible hours of the day:

7:30 in the morning or 9:30 at night, it simply doesn’t matter. When duty calls, you have to…have to be there. Already tired of setting your alarms at painfully early hours? Brace yourselves for the DU Fests time and you’ll know what it is to work your a*s off (well, quite literally!)

alarm

4.They’re not your friends…they’re more of teachers:

They don’t really guide you as much as they teach you. Yes, seniors are your mentors, teachers, guides…anything but friends. That doesn’t mean that they’re particularly bossy or assertive, but you can go on trying hard to be a part of their group and turn out getting nowhere. But, at the same time, those chunks of advice are sure to take you a long way in your society. After all, you as have to step in their shoes at one point of time!teacher2

5. The high of being able to miss your classes for your passion:

Gone are the days when you had to let go of those dancing moves and music chords just to attend classes in school. ECA Slips come to your rescue. You can’t really have more of the best of both worlds, following your passion and get attendance for that. Life couldn’t be better for a fresher, could it be? The whole idea seems like an enigma even though eventually you’ve got to balance out your studies too.

high

Arushi Pathak for DU Beat.

[email protected] 

Featured Image (Tanz, Dance society of Miranda House) Credits: Gurman Bhatia for DU Beat.

 Gifs Courtesy: www.tumblr.com

Keep Reading
By
Top Picks

Top five most overdone fresher’s party themes

By

Fresher party is virtually the event that kick starts the fabulous college life of newbies in Delhi University. And what incorporates the element of surprise to the party? The theme of course! It is what keeps the excitement soaring as people go hunting for the perfect outfit to make the perfect impression in the most anticipated party of their lifetime. While some colleges think out-of-the-box with themes like ‘Traffic Light’ and ‘Chronicles of Harry-o-ween’, most colleges seem to go the old fashioned way with un-innovative themes recurring each year. Here are the top five over done Fresher’s party themes of Delhi University

1. Retro

The numero uno position goes to the theme recreating the past with probably the easiest look to accomplish. Girls in polka dotted or frilly shirts with high waist trousers or skirts accessorized with hair bands, puffed-up or mid-parted hairdos while boys decked up in suspender pants with back combed or strictly parted hair. Followed every year without break though in different colleges, this theme is the absolute favourite of the organizers undoubtedly.

retro

2. Bollywood

Ever wanted to be a look alike of Katrina Kaif or Salman Khan? DU provides this exclusive opportunity every year in one college or another at its freshers parties where you can dress up like Shanaya from SOTY, Hritik Roshan from Jodha Akbar or even the infamously popular KRK to add the fun factor. Miranda House in 2012, DCAC in 2013 and Dyal Singh in 2014 are the recent ones to keep the trend alive with Sanjay Dutt’s “Munna Bhai” and Salman’s “Dabangg” being the most common characters imitated.

3. Halloween/Angels and Demons

Red horns, Black/red outfits, wigs and fake nails; fangs and red contact lenses for the crazy-heads, these are the highlights of this sensational theme. Gargi last year and SSCBS this very year implemented this exciting, though tried and tested theme yet again.

Fresher Theme2

4. Neon

Dabangg styled shades are sure to come in handy to save your eyes from the glowing aura at these parties. Although on the list of “over done”, this theme has the potential to be ultimate fun and fascinating if complemented with zesty freshers.

neon

5. Black and Red/ Black and White

Correction! This theme beats Retro to win the title of the easiest theme to follow.Caution! Combinations are to be chosen wisely as over-enthusiastic behavior might end you up looking like a classy waiter or under worst circumstances, a degraded version of Santa Claus.

 

 

Ishani Rajkhowa

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Beyond the Obvious of Delhi University Colleges

Beyond the Obvious of Delhi University: Sri Aurobindo College

By

Sri Aurobindo College (Morning) was established by Delhi University in 1972, which was the birth centenary year of the philosopher, patriot-poet, Sri Aurobindo. The college is a constituent part of Delhi University. It inculcates the ideals of Sri Aurobindo and believes that an active commitment towards excellence is fundamental to the process of education.

Sri Aurobindo college ‘Morning’ (as carefully specified in every college brochure) finds itself placed at the tail end of the residential lanes breaking into rather punctured and monsoon-inflicted roads. The green shades lying adjacent are the then reminiscent of some poetic times fulfilling the name of the famous poet-philosopher Sri Aurobindo.

auro3
The lush green campus of Sri Aurobindo College, Delhi University.

And if we are indeed talking about natural green shades and poetic inspiration, the college does not provide any glamorous touch to the heavy notion of ‘institute of quality education’, instead it delves seamlessly into its surrounding, allowing stray pups now and then. But you would be indeed mistaken if you imagine it as an isolated area.

For it is South Delhi we are talking about where students find themselves rushing towards hangout points such as PVR Saket (which is considerably 15 minutes from the college), Select city mall or the Giani’s famous ice cream parlor.

select

The  Malviya Nagar market packed with different varieties of street food stalls is also a famous alternative and not to forget the much homely CCD which even Kangana Ranaut couldn’t miss.

Evidently, a few heartbreaking scenes were shot inside this coffee shop as a crying Rani (Kangana Ranaut in the movie Queen) is shown to burst out of cafe while one can notice premises of the college or more specifically its entrance gate in the background of the shot given that the CCD stands almost exclusively, right in front of the college entrance and is successfully, a second home to the students.

 

But the Bollywood connections are not limited to sets and camera shots. Rather, the college has been glorious in carving out the very platform of inspiration for its students.

One of the most popular alumni of this college includes the famous director and writer- Neeraj Pandey (Indira Gandhi Award winner for the best director) who directed movies like A Wednesday, Special 26 etc.

The college has a decent canteen although the options available are restricted. The library offers a wide range of books for all readers.

Further, the college also takes pride in their dance society called ‘Crunk’, which has won numerous competitions at IIM Rohtak PGDAV (E), Lady Irwin College (DU), SPM College, BCAS (DU), SAC (DU) as well as Ramjas College (DU).

Sri Aurobindo College
Conduct of numerous dance and music events at Sri Aurobindo College. Image Credites: The Official website of SAC.

‘Moksh’ the dramatics society on the other hand won many awards at places including  Gandhi Bhawan (DU). Among the other prominent societies, ‘Salvation’ stands active on its fight on social causes and awareness. The ecological club of the college is equally active and has organized campaigns like ‘Green walk to the Pink City’ in the past.

Allegro, the Western Music Society of Sri Aurobindo College has won hearts all around Delhi University with their melodic vocal harmonies and frank performances. (Read more about Allegro, here.

The college also attracted large masses of students last year for its fest ‘Mehak 2014’ where famous Punjabi singers like Indeep Bakshi and Soni B became the spotlight. (Read more about this, here.)

indeep

 

Priyanka Kapoor for DU Beat.

([email protected])

Featured Image Credits: www.panoramio.com

Keep Reading
By
Uncategorized

Bitcoins- All you need to know!

By

Psst. Why are people getting so excited about bitcoins?

Friend, had you said that a year earlier, I would have forgiven you; but with Bitcoins used in both the Silk Road and the Silicon Valley at a speed that we will soon have the ice bucket challenge replaced by the Bitcoin donation for ALS research, how could you possibly ignore the changing dynamics of online payment?

 

Oh. A new version of PayPal and Visa MasterCard?

Yes. Only better, because it does not involve any transaction fee and because it is verified by multiple users (miners) and not a central authority. Bitcoins allow you to transfer money internationally at the push of a button- free of cost, unless you want to pay 8% transaction fee and wait for 3 business days for the same using MoneyGram.

 

Wait. Is that not an inefficient way of transaction?

If you look at only that function, then yes, it does inconvenience the consumer and the vendor who will need to exchange their bitcoins for other currency to be able to transact. But, in the long run, with the increasing demand given acceptance of bitcoins by more vendors, Bitcoins will soon be a reliable medium of exchange. Much like the paper money is a medium of exchange not because it has any intrinsic value but because it widely accepted.

 

So, if this continues, bitcoins will replace money?

That may not be true. Bitcoins may have a limited supply (21 million), act as an efficient medium of exchange and a perfect unit of account, given that each bitcoin can be divided into 100 million units called Satoshis. But bitcoins cannot be used as reliable stores of value, given the volatility and the probability of theft from online wallets. Also, once bitcoin creation (mining) stops predictably in 2140 then the value of bitcoins will rise incessantly. Once that happens, speculation will lead to volatility and hence it will be rendered ineffective as a convenient medium of exchange.

 

One second, why will the Federal Reserve stop making bitcoins?

No, the Federal Reserve will not, the miners will. When miners verify a transaction block, they get rewarded with extra bitcoins. This was done in order to generate coins at the rate of 25 every 10 minutes. Once the limit of 21 million is reached these miners no longer get paid in bitcoins. Hence no more bitcoins mined.

 

Wait. What and how do they verify?

See, the bitcoin you own is essentially a private cryptography key, this key is associated with an address. When you transact, the key gets transferred from your address to that of the intended recipient’s address. The miners, individuals with fast processors, use a software that computes difficult math problems to verify if the transaction is valid. If it is valid then it gets listed on the online ledger, a BlockChain, where anybody can view it. When the transaction is a fraudulent one, sadly it cannot be reversed.

 

I don’t get it, was this not an anonymous way of transacting.

Yes it is. Nobody knows whom the address belongs to. This was the precise reason it was used for buying drugs through Silk Road, an online platform that connects dealers with addicts (Before you get any ideas, Silk Road was shut down in October 2013). And it is the precise reason governments are sceptical about it.

 

Why will the government care if I buy a shirt or a pizza?

The government will care because they will be unable to tax me by monitoring my financial transactions.

 

Oh, then why should I use bitcoins?

Firstly because governments are cozying up to the ides of bitcoins, secondly because more and more people are using it, thirdly because as technology matures the faults in the system will be repaired.

Also because it is so cool. How cool is the possibility that I can own cryptocurrency that I have produced, not earned but mined.

 

Guest contribution by Devangi Agarwal

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

DU Professor wins Global South Award at World Congress 2014

By

“Changing Landscape of Electoral Democracy and Political Demography: A study of 2014 General Elections in India’ on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014. Dr. Sunil Kumar is a political scientist and professor and has a variety of achievements under his belt. Not only does he hold an outstanding academic record, he is also a Gold Medalist from University of Delhi (1990), a post doctoral fellow from Tel Aviv University, Israel (2002-03) and a Commonwealth fellow at the Oxford University, UK (2011). Also, Dr Sunil has penned down contemporary issues like communalism, secularism, party systems, democracy, governance, human rights, Diaspora and corruption extensively. Not only has his views been figured on various referred national and international journals but have also been published as peer-reviewed books. [caption id="attachment_25544" align="aligncenter" width="401"]sunil Dr. Sunil Kumar, Associate Professor of Political Science at Shyam Lal College (Evening), University of Delhi.[/caption] An expert, examiner and editor Dr Sunil Kumar has been associated with various premier institutions like commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology, Indian Council of Social Science Research, Indian Institute of Public Administration, Annamalai University, Vimala International Research Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences besides University of Delhi. Dr. Sunil Kumar was awarded US 1000$ as the prize for his winning paper along with the ‘Global South Award’. For more information about the winning candidate, research and award visit here.   Amitoj Singh for DU Beat.]]>

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Delhi University issues list of scholarships for undergraduate courses

By

nd August, 2014, came out with miscellaneous scholarships for DU students. From Economics to Music, the University authorities have tried to amalgamate all the myriad courses it offers in an attempt to acknowledge student welfare and equal opportunity to all. DU Beat brings to you a glimpse of the scholarships open for the Under-graduate students.

  1. Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao Endowment Book-Grant: Eligibility- A student from any college belonging to the family of a Class IV or Class III employee of the university, presently in the First Year of a Three-year degree course.
Amount- Rs. 100/- per month The scholarship is awarded for a year, though renewable if the performance of the scholar is satisfactory.
  1. Vijay Kumar Memorial Chadha Book-Grant: Eligibilty- Any student of CLC (Campus Law Centre) in the First Year of LL.B, whose parents’ income (including his own income) is less than the minimum taxable income. Amount- Rs. 100/- per month The scholarship is awarded for two years, renewable on a yearly basis.
 
  1. Shri Motilal Kaul Atma Memorial Book-Grant: Eligibility- The scholarship shall be awarded to blind students from any college who join the First Year of B.A. (Hons.)/ B.Com. (Hons.)/ B.Sc. (Hons.) of Delhi University. Amount- Rs. 150/- per month The scholarship is tenable for three years, renewable on a yearly basis if the performance of the recipient is satisfactory.
 
  1. Dr. (Mrs.) Shobhana Nayar & Prof. D.P. Nayar Scholarship in Music: Eligibility- The scholarship will be awarded to a candidate coming from an economically backward background, who secures the highest marks in his/her Class 12th examinations and joins B.A. (Hons.) Music course of DU. Amount- Rs. 3500/- per annum The scholarship is renewable on a yearly basis for the 2nd and 3rd year.
 
  1. Tamae Kami Memorial Merit Scholarship: Eligibility- The scholarship shall be awarded to a student of One Year Intensive Advanced Diploma in Japanese Language (Full-Time) Amount- Rs. 200/- per month The scholarship shall be awarded every year and tenable for nine months only from 1st August of an academic year to 30th April of the same. All scholarships shall be awarded by the Academic Council of Delhi University upon the recommendations of various Selection Committees. The last date to register for any of these scholarships is October 31, 2014.
For other relevant details and more scholarships, click here Arushi Pathak [email protected]]]>

Keep Reading
By
Top Picks

Bowl a strike: Top three places to go bowling in Delhi’

By

Pin Bowling has always been a favourite sport among youngsters. It’s a light but engaging game where the ability to cunningly knock over the standing pins at the end of the slippery synthetic lanes, makes you a proud winner. Or you just keep tossing balls on the alley and have a good time laughing at your idiocies. If you haven’t tried it, it’s high time you went out with your friends to enjoy a game of bowling. We have picked up 3 well known places that offer you a perfect bowling experience.

  1. bluO in Ambience Mall, Gurgaon

Apart from sparkling synthetic bowling lanes and fully air-conditioned ambience, it offers its customers with wide ranging cuisines. Chinese, seafood, north Indian, Continental, alcohol beverages, they have it all. It is highly recommended if you are both sporty and a foodie.

 

  1. Essex farms, Aurobindo Marg

This is one of the most famous bowling destinations for Delhi students, mainly because it is light on the pocket. It has a six-lane bowling alley, and of course Essex farms has an additional array of other sporting activities like ice hockey, arcade style fighting, racing and much more.

 

  1. Amoeba, MG Metropolitan Mall, Gurgaon

This again is a very popular bowling alley among students. There is no option for dining or going for other entertainment activities. Students basically hit it for just bowling. So if you are running tight on your budget, and want to focus on bowling and nothing else for leisure, this is the place for you.

 

Image source: Essex Farms Facebook page

Surbhi Sharma

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Your Beat

What being an Asmat volunteer taught me

By

It’s rather funny (now) how I look back at the Asmat volunteering program and laugh at how I had cold feet two days before boarding the train to Jaipur, because of numerous reasons whose quantum inhibits their description. So whence we ( Sakshi Bansal and yours truly) arrived in Soda dripping in sweat and found Lavanya and Abhilasha seeming a little delusional (because of the heat ?) my worst expectations seemed to be confirmed.

Possibly because I’m a little scared of children( one of the many reasons for cold feet), the evening  session daunted me. We were introduced to the kids, and a session of Hangman , more like Sparta, took place. What struck me was how clever all of them were and competitive. Sadly, what also struck me was how the girls were subdued by the boys whose energy and numbers seemed to be overwhelming the girls.

The next morning, teaching began and was it a tough task for someone who hasn’t taught little kids ever before. Teaching little children, who inherently have the attention span of rabbits who’ve been made to drink Red Bull, really makes you understand incentivising.  Promises of toffees and stars and stickers, invoking their competitive spirit, teaching with blocks and pictures and animal sounds, everything was tried and tested including the teachers themselves. Nothing will ever beat the smile on their faces when they answered questions right and the smile on our faces when we realise they actually grasped what was being taught. What really excited me was passing down what I’d been taught during my schooldays to kids I was meeting for the first time and whose lives were quite different from mine, and yet they felt the same happiness at understanding a mathematical concept or pronouncing a word right that I did too.

It wasn’t solely academics that we wanted to work with them on, we wanted to teach them things that aren’t inculcated in their textbooks. Respect for women to the boys, confidence despite being brought up in a patriarchal society to the girls. A respect for the environment despite the fact that many in India would readily (and justifiably) trade away the grasslands and forests for a good occupation. Teaching them to respect their own village when we, a bunch of outsiders, conducted a cleanliness drive. Teaching them to not be cruel to the animals in their surroundings with the example of our little friend erstwhile Maggi G, (now named Mango and under the care of the Sarpanch.) I could write an essay on the mutual benefits reaped, the way we could see a could change in the kids and the way I could feel a change in my own little city brain.

Working with the village girls was a major chunk of what formed my lessons in Soda. A bunch of quiet, unassuming and clever 15-20 year olds, bonding with them was probably the easiest. We were introduced to them during a session on menstrual education on my first, they were too quiet and we were a little worked up by the one sided interaction. By the end of my eighteen days, their aloofness had been traded for happy banter and warmth and we were literally a part of their group. We discussed many issues with them, the one that remains deeply embedded is a session on career awareness that we had. Many of the girls had resigned themselves to the fact that they possibly couldn’t pursue further studies after school or an undergrad from the nearby big town. But some were resolute, someone had started her own beauty parlour and was also giving the UPSC exams, another was surely becoming a doctor. It’s not going to be easy, possibly improbable, for the former category to get the career they want. But they might be able to get some financial security by learning some skills, for the sole purpose of having this financial independence when they see the others and the planting of the very idea through discussion.

The power of juxtaposition, of understanding the complexities of village life bought about inequalities; simply getting electricity, walking two km a day to get water, not having a profitable market to sell the products you’ve toiled on and patriarchy embedded into the minds of people against ours. Back to the city, it’s kind of horrible here when I miss how long the days in Soda were (why is this a real cliche?) and the simplicity of people and swinging Kuldeep every evening and the long walks around the village. It really won’t be a visit to work in the village from now on, just a trip to meet people we know and carry on the discussions and mutual lessons we began.

Asmat is launching another program which will involve developing the enterprise of the Self Help Groups of the village of soda, who currently face many problems in finding demand for their products.The application deadline ends by 30th August. 
You can find details of the Rural Enterprise Development Program here: http://www.asmatindia.org/spices-of-soda-business-development-program/

 Read more about Asmat: http://www.asmatindia.org/soda/

 


Kavya Saxena

Keep Reading
By
Top Picks

5 places to go for karaoke in the capital!

By

Night life in Delhi/ NCR is buzzing with a plethora of clubs and lounges. One musical activity that is becoming increasingly popular is Karaoke. For those who don’t know already, Karaoke involves amateur singers singing popular songs with the tune playing in the background, and the lyrics displayed on a screen.

Sounds like something you’d want to do? Here are five karaoke places in Delhi/NCR for you to check out:

harrys

 

1. Harry’s Karaoke Lounge bar

Harry’s Karaoke Lounge bar is India’s first. It is a full-fledged karaoke lounge bar where the main focus is to sing one’s heart out. It has a Bollywood karaoke night where one can croon to one’s favourite Bollywood numbers, and also live performances during some of their karaoke nights. The karaoke is open every day except for Tuesday. Harry’s is frequented by youngsters. It offers great North Indian, Mediterranean and Chinese cuisine with a range of refreshing cocktails. The estimated cost for two people will range between Rs.500 to Rs.1000.

Opening Hours- 11:30am-1am.

Happy Hours- 3:30pm- 7:30pm.

Address- 306 & 307, C-Block,3rd Floor, Ansal Plaza, Khel Gaon Marg,New Delhi.

 

539140_356573821051591_515122862_n

 

2. Rock A Fella

This place is known for its lively ambiance, good food and great rock music. It is very popular among the youth and a nice place to unwind. The food and drinks are equally good and one can enjoy everything from salads, wines, pastas etc. They have karaoke nights every Sunday which generally takes place on the first floor and attracts a great crowd. One must try their Al Pesto, Piri Piri Pizza. The estimated cost for two people would range between Rs.1000 to Rs.1500

Opening Hours-11:45am-11:45pm.

Happy Hours- 6pm-9pm.

Address: 81,Adchini, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.

3. Route 04

Route 04 is emerging as one of the favourite places amongst the students and the working crowd, mainly for its reasonable price, great ambiance and good music. Its major attractions are the karaoke night’s which takes place on Thursdays at Gurgaon and Connaught Place. This place is full of great crowd with charged up energy. Route 4 is a restro-bar serving Italian, American and Mexican cuisine. The estimated cost for two would range from Rs.1000 to Rs.1500

Opening Hours-12pm-1am.

Happy Hours-2pm-7pm.

Address- K2, Middle Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi.

Ground floor, Tower E, Cyber Greens, DLF-III, Gurgaon.

raasta_hkv_2

4. Raasta

Raasta is a spacious lounge, which brings out the spirit of Rastafarian culture, which has a large number of dedicated followers all over the world. The main genre of music played at Raasta is Dubstep and Reggae. They have karaoke nights every Tuesday at Hauz Khas village and every Wednesday at Cyberhub, Gurgaon. They have live music performances too. The Caribbean lounge plays tribute to artists like Bob Marley, Jimmy Hendrix and Jimmy Cliff etc. They serve Indian, Thai, North Indian and Mexican food. One must try their Cheese Sambousek, Non Veg Mezze Platter and Electric Ice Tea. The estimated cost for two people would range from Rs.1500 to Rs.2000

Opening Hours- 12pm-1am.

Happy Hours- 12pm-9pm.

Address- 30A, First floor, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi.

Cyber Hub, DLF-III, Gurgaon.

529860_357078091008272_1604174408_n

 

5. Cafe Morrison

Cafe Morrison is a place one can associate with a good, promising time. It is named after the musician Jim Morrison. The cafe is also known as the Mecca of rock music. Cafe Morrison is one of the oldest cafes in the city which offers karaoke nights every Thursdays and draws a great attendance. You get to choose from 1200 songs and the charged up atmosphere will surely bring out the singer in you. It is a great place for people who are fond of rock music and beer. You must try their cheese balls and Arabic Platter. Among the drinks their Long Island Ice Tea and Margaritas are good as well. The estimated cost for two people would range from Rs.1500 to Rs.2000

Opening Hours-12 noon-1am.

Happy Hours- 1.30pm-10pm.

Address- South Extension II, New Delhi.

 

Bonus

Short on cash or too shy to sing in public? Karaoke-ing is just as fun at a house party. Blast your speakers, read the lyrics off YouTube, and you’re set to have a great time!

 

 

Image source: Respective Facebook pages

Meghna Mitra

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By