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University of Delhi’s Protest Culture is a Blessing in Disguise

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Most people view the constant protests that go on in the University of Delhi as political gimmicks. And while most of these protests may be politically motivated, they teach us an important life lesson on how to speak our mind and raise our voice fearlessly and without apprehension.

A lot of students view the constant protests that go on in the University of Delhi (DU) as a hassle. I’ve seen friends and acquaintances describe them as a politically motivated menace. Some complaint about the negative impact they have on academics while others simply don’t find the reasons behind them “legitimate” enough. Despite the visible inconveniences that protests seem to bring along, they are still an extremely powerful tool to express outrage and anger.

The word protest literally means a statement or action expressing disapproval or objection to something. Definitions aside, for each one of us, the word protest holds a different significance. To some, it may evoke memories of high school history textbooks and their innumerable chapters on the Indian National Movement. For others, it may act as a reminder of the India Against Corruption Movement or the Jawaharlal Nehru University sedition controversy. And while to most of us, the image synchronized slogans and dharnas comes to mind when thinking of protests; its scope isn’t limited to them. Nor is their sphere of influence is limited to the lives of college students and union workers. The right to protest peacefully is one of the most powerful tools in our hands. It is a dignified way to express anger and demand justice. It is easy to be dismissive about protests, call them frivolous, unnecessary and pointless but the truth is this is exactly what makes it so important. Just because an issue seems irrelevant and not worthy outrage to us does not necessarily mean that other lives are not negatively impacted by it. Majoritarian opinion and views are difficult to challenge and defy. Propaganda, business ties with major media outlets and a charismatic leader who claims to not be a part of the system are ways with which oppressive governments slowly seize control. Falling for this ideology is especially tempting when those who oppose it are labelled as “snowflakes” or “anti-nationals”. It is at such times that the culture of protest becomes crucial in ensuring that a country remains democratic. The right to sit down and speak one’s mind is extremely powerful.

This culture of protest that disrupts lessons, activities and everyday routine to raise seemingly “frivolous” issues should be our choice of weapon. Because while the definition of frivolous can be easily fixed and put into a dictionary, it’s interpretation in everyday life cannot be. What may appear to be a frivolous issue to one may be a life-altering issue for another; for example- the LGBTQ rights. Maybe a fee hike of Rupees 5,000 does not bother you but for someone else, it might be a huge inconvenience. This culture of protest does not just teach us the dynamics and logistics of organising and participating in a protest, it teaches us the principle behind it, its social significance. The idea that anything that is oppressive, unfair, biased, disrespectful, or discriminating should be actively but peacefully fought against is a beautiful one. It teaches us to challenge status quo, to not be afraid to ruffle some feathers, to ask uncomfortable question and demand that they are answered. It teaches us to use our voice and speak our mind.

We are a country that secured its freedom under the leadership of a short, skinny man who wore the homespun loincloth. We owe the foundation of our state to Satyagraha and peaceful protests. Therefore, it is only appropriate that a culture of protest in one of India’s premier institutions should be celebrated, encouraged, and actively sheltered and protected.

 

Feature Image Credits: DNA India

Kinjal Pandey

kinjalp@dubeat.com

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The Darker Side of Diwali

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All of us perceive Diwali as the festival of lights, celebrating and rejoicing on the auspicious occasion. However, here’s perusing a more sinister side to the story.

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India. The entire country celebrates this festival in a grand manner. From big poojas, decorated lights, burning crackers to endless joy, this festival has everything to be thrilled about. However, it has a different side attached to it. The side that everyone knows and talks about but nothing is done in its regard.

There are two main constituents of this side. One is the heavy loss of money and life that occurs due to countless accidents while the other is the employment of child laborers in the manufacturing of firecrackers. In 2016, Delhi recorded over 350 minor fires occurred in Diwali as reported by The Indian Express. The victims of these accidents sustained minor injuries. Talking about major loss of property and life, we have had terrible experiences in the past. The infamous Sivakasi case, where one of the biggest fireworks manufacturing factories in Tamil Nadu was turned into rubble after an explosion, is a remnant of the horror. More than 30 people died in the accident. A major fire destroyed the main firecracker market in Aurangabad last year.

We seemed to have been facing the consequences of our ignorance and actions but we just don’t seem to learn from it. Firecrackers are entertaining but very dangerous. And the worst part is that everyone is conscious of the damage it seems to inflict on lives. Even though we handle the sale and burning of crackers carelessly resulting in major accidents. It seems that we have accepted the fact that such incidents will occur every year. The only question is what place will it happen in the next time? Crores of rupees are lost every year just due to poor management of the manufacturing or the selling process of these crackers. And yet, it is all but forgotten in less than a year.

Coming to the second constituent, it must be said that it is basically a mix of helplessness and mercilessness. There are hundreds that strive hard to live every day. Such poor families want to earn as many pennies as they can to ensure they can eat enough. And this is when parents of children belonging to such families send them to firecracker manufacturing units. The Diwali season is marked by increased sales and consumption and so, these families see this festival as a good opportunity to make some good amount of money.

Without any training or knowledge, these children sit and work in dingy cells endlessly. Working with explosive dust and breathing it all day long, these children suffer from diseases and even risk their lives in severe cases. Even after the ban on child labor by the Indian government, people are willing to mercilessly employ such young children for a simple motive; higher profits. Farrukh Nagar in Ghaziabad is one such hub of firework manufacturing where hundreds of children burn their childhood for the sake of money to feed their bellies. Is this scenario not a mix of helplessness and mercilessness?

Diwali is a holy occasion with great significance. It is the celebration of the great Indian history and culture promoting goodness and moral values. And like any other festival, there are certain customs that need to be followed. But we need to ask ourselves how are we really celebrating our Diwali? For how long are we going to light up our houses at the cost of someone’s life? Until and unless we don’t answer these questions and work for a change, the festival of lights won’t really be bright.

 

Feature Image Credits: humanitycollege.org

Karan Singhania
karans@dubeat.com 

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Happy (Smoke Free) Diwali

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Diwali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is a time of gratitude and gaiety and is celebrated with unmatched enthusiasm in India and the world around. Dipped in the frolic of festivity, the atmosphere is resonant of the righteous anthems of the triumph of the good and virtuous over the evil and spiteful.

The associated jamboree can be seen materialising as early as a month prior to Diwali. The merry sentiment is inherent in each household and is characterised by the obligatory Diwali shopping and cleaning. While the latter is more or less customary, the former holds its fair share of skepticism in the constituting wholes.

Firecrackers, a Diwali essential as insinuated by a significant percentage of Indian households, are the immediate cause of deteriorating air quality and to keep a check on the alarming pollution levels of the same, the Supreme Court on Monday, October 9 suspended the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and NCR till November 1. The move was an attempt to grade the air quality in the absence of unregulated burning of firecrackers during Diwali.

While it came as a blow to the traders and businesses dealing with them, with their licenses suspended temporarily, it is essential to contemplate the SC’s directive to render Diwali a damp affair in the national capital.

In the weekend that followed Diwali the previous year, India’s air quality was among the world’s worst and the government had declared an air pollution emergency in Delhi. The post-Diwali upheaval comprised of an average of PM 2.5 level of over 700 micrograms per cubic meter in the capital city, some of the highest levels recorded the world over and 29 times above the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. (Source: Scroll.in)

Chetan Bhagat, contesting the credibility of the ban, tweeted, “Can I just ask on cracker ban. Why only guts to do this for Hindu festivals? Banning goat sacrifice and Muharram bloodshed soon too?” With Hindu nationalists colouring the ban in communal colours and dismissing it as a story of Hindu victimhood, it is important to understand that a ban on the sale of firecrackers is first, not the same as a ban on burning firecrackers and second, in no way a threat to the sanctity of the festival and insinuating it on similar grounds is nothing but willful notoriety.

Although he faced a lot of ridicule and criticism for the same, an earlier tweet of his talked about coming up with innovations and not bans, a theory which cannot entirely be negated. Bhagat and his ilk argue against necessitating a ban and instead, suggest enforcing stricter guidelines. However, if we had the sense to self-regulate, to understand the importance of common sense moderation it would not have come for the government to intervene, says The Huffington Post.

Burning firecrackers is the same as smoking cigarettes, people always know that it is harmful but they never know enough to stop. While the SC’s decision has been treated differently by different stakeholders, the fact remains that the ban is a bid to test the impact of a smoke-free Diwali post the previous year’s catastrophic state of affairs.

Deepavali, as the name suggests, has always had to do with the lighting of lamps to illuminate the path of Lord Rama on his way back to Ayodhya. The wayward involvement of firecrackers might have come about as an accidental disaster in the course of history, which eventually got incorporated in our associated tendencies of the festival, for all I know. But, accepting it just as such especially during a time when India’s national capital ranks as one of the most polluted cities in the world according to WHO’s latest urban air quality database released in May, 2017 can result in an unprecedented tragedy.

With just a few hours remaining before Diwali, the wisest choice is to not fret over things we have no control over and things we know are right, just not convenient. Let us resolve to celebrate the festival in all its glory, unmarred by erroneous practices and fabricated mirth.

 

Image Credits: The Indian Express

Lakshita Arora

lakshitaa@dubeat.com

 

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The Anonymity of an Undergraduate’s Future

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Many of us still aren’t sure regarding what we want to pursue or should pursue once our undergraduate courses end. This doubt needs to be taken more seriously.

In today’s time, being a graduate is of no great significance. A master’s degree or a specialisation course is no less than a ‘must’ if one is looking for a job-oriented future. Graduation is more of a foundation where certain skills and qualifications can be acquired to be competent enough for seeking well-paid jobs. The irony with us is that even when we realise the need to figure out what we want to do after completing our graduation, many of us still don’t have an answer.

Professional courses such as Chartered Accountancy (CA) and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) are high on demand while thousands sweat on cracking the Common Aptitude Test (CAT). Many amongst these students rely completely on their performance in these examinations. However, given the number of people who make it, students should plan on having a backup option if the situation is not in their favor. Some might argue that having a single goal acts as a motivational drive and helps them perform better. It may be true but there’s a saying that goes “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst”. It is always better to have a contingency plan.

Talking about students who are still unclear about what they should do after their graduation, it’s high time that they start giving their future a serious thought. At least, they should focus on it once they become a sophomore. Students need to analyze their interests, capabilities, and the scope of the field of study. Having said that, there always is a tussle between what one “wants” to do and what one “can” do. This is where students need to step up, research, analyse, and most importantly, decide what they want to do. A decision is always better than anonymity.

It will not be wrong to say that the students relying on their graduation will have a very hard time if they want to seek a job-oriented future. As per Harvard Business Review, a survey conducted by work analytics firm Burning Glass found that more than 20% of the positions expect a certificate or license for a particular technical skill concluding that more than two-thirds of the graduates fail to launch their careers. It is very necessary that either these categories of students plan to study ahead or develop significant soft skills.

In conclusion, there is a great population of students that need to rethink and frame their futures. This need is more of a result of one’s ignorance and unwillingness to give time for these issues. These decisions will define one’s future and the quicker they are sort out, the better.

 

Feature Image Credits: sugavaneshb.in

 

Karan Singhania

karans@dubeat.com

 

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Why We Must Live Away From Home During College

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College is a life phase where we are supposed to acquire academic, professional, and social skills that help us smoothly transition into adulthood. Living away from home during college is the best way to acquire these skills and step out of our comfort zones.

They say life begins at the end of your comfort zone. And all our lives, as we pursue the journey of happiness and self-growth, our comfort zone looms above us, with the temptation of sticking to what we are already familiar with always being strong.

Living away from home was one of the most significant steps that I took to get out of my comfort zone. It reminded me of swimming lessons as a child, where the final rite of passage was being thrown into the deep end of the pool. No amount of practice using a kickboard in the shallow end could prepare you for it. If living in our hometown is the shallow end of the pool, then living with our parents or guardians is our kickboard. We will never willingly choose to part ways with these sources of comfort unless we are compelled to do so. Going away from home for college teaches us life skills like budgeting, managing time, being responsible for our well-being, or even little things like sewing on a button or learning to navigate through the public transport system of a new city. College is the final step that we take before we officially step into the world of adulthood and it is essential that we make the best of it.

Going away from home is, in my opinion, one of the most important coming-of-age experiences. Most of us know the city we were raised in like the back of our hand. We are familiar with its nooks and corners, its special places and its not-so-special places. The kind of familiarity it provides us, along with the comfort of living with one’s parents, is enough to make us complacent. It does not negatively impact our life skills per se, it just takes away the opportunity to try out and experience a lot of things we could have potentially learned.

College life is paradoxically one of the most overrated and underrated life experiences. It is overrated because pop-culture essentially presents it like a three-year-long party that ends with you finding the love of your life. It is underrated because no one ever tells us how very crucial a role it plays in our emotional development and how it helps us transition into adulthood. Living with one’s parents/guardians is one of the most beautiful experiences out there. They go to great lengths to create this world where all our needs are more than adequately met. And it is this very desire of making us comfortable that is dangerous. We never really get the opportunity to create our own space, suitable to our own needs.

Going away for college means living in a new city, making new friends, adjusting to the changes in our surroundings and learning to take care of our physical and mental well-being ourselves. Being absolutely responsible for the choices we make and the lack of adult supervision makes us pull up our socks and finally accept that our life is moving forward and that we are required to adapt to the changes that come with it.

But the changes that living away from home are not just limited to becoming better at “adulting”; it is an emotional metamorphosis that allows us to explore who we truly are. My political beliefs were completely in sync with those of my parents until I started living away from home. Once college began, my perspective on things slowly changed and my faith in my own skills strengthened. As someone who was raised in a protective environment, living away from home meant exploring my own capabilities and discovering qualities and abilities I did not know I possessed.

Living away from home is the exact opposite of how popular culture portrays it to be. It includes learning to change your own sheets, waking up on time for college yourself, and finding out that necessities like shampoo and cereal cost money! It is a luxury of course, but those who have the option of pursuing it should grab it with both hands. It is a life-changing experience that challenges us in the most fundamental way possible, by forcing us out of the comfort of our house; both metaphorically and literally. But as we build a new home for ourselves, we get to learn more about ourselves. This process of self-growth and discovery makes us a better version of ourselves and reaffirms and strengthens our faith in us.

 

Feature Image Credits- India Today

 

Kinjal Pandey

kinjalp@dubeat.com

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Book Review: Frangipani by Celestine Hitiura Vaite

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Frangipani was an Australian best seller in 2004 and was also chosen for Australia’s 2009 Reader’s Digest Select Editions. It is the second novel of the trilogy written by Celestine Hitiura Vaite revolving around the character Materena Mahi. The first book in the series is Breadfruit while the third is Tiare. Frangipani is a type of fruit tree.

Materena Mahi is a Tahitian woman residing in her homeland, Tahiti, which is the French Polynesia. The book begins with Materena arguing with her husband to let her collect his pay cheque. Her husband is reluctant to let her do that as it would make him the butt of jokes amongst his colleagues. To win the argument, she uses her promiscuity, but to no avail. Later, when she musters up the courage to pick her husband Pito’s pay cheque, he walks out on her, leaving her pregnant with their second child. A month later, they reconcile not only out of love but as a result of she rescuing her husband from a duel.

The story progresses with Materena getting a job as a ‘professional cleaner’ at a French lady’s house by writing the first professional letter in her life, giving birth to her daughter, and then another son. Her daughter, Leilani, is the absolute opposite of what a girl is supposed to be in the traditional Tahiti tribe. She is quick-witted, intelligent, smart, and inquisitive. Materena encourages her daughter to be what she wants but faces the consequences as she is unable to control her.

The story is beautifully woven around the mother-daughter duo along with all siblings, aunts, families, and distant relatives highlighting the Tahitian people’s entwined relations and how everybody is a relative. The ending warms your heart and leaves you with a story to narrate.

It is a must for people wishing to learn about Tahitian culture first-hand and also for those looking for a light-hearted story away from the hullabaloo of stressful college life.

 

Feature Image Credits: Goodreads

Prachi Mehra
prachim@dubeat.com

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Skills Every Graduate Should be Acquainted With

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There’s a lot more to learning than just endeavouring to excel within the realms of academics. Here’s a list of skills every graduate should possess, for the night is dark and full of terrors.

Be it a few weeks, months, or years, a wave of agreement splashes our hearts when we say college life is much more than just studying course books and attending lectures. It is a stage of learning and shaping oneself for the future. This stage needs to be propped with certain skills that can prove to be useful in the future. And for the same, here are a few skills that every graduate should seek to learn:

Public Speaking

This is one of those skills that should be seen as a prerequisite in today’s time. Being able to stand in front of a crowd and speak confidently is an absolute must. The need to do so can pop up from college events to business presentations in the future.

Microsoft Office

Knowing how to use Microsoft programs like MS Word and MS Excel is very important especially for commerce students. Having the knowledge of the tips and tricks will help one have good command resulting in increased efficiency. This might help one have an edge in the workplace.

Coding

The rise of computers and its emergence has made it necessary for students to have good knowledge in computers. And so, joining courses to learn some computer program is highly suggested. It might come in handy sometime.

Cooking

Going far home to study and work is a common occurrence nowadays. The one thing that worries us all is the quality of food we’ll have wherever we go. This makes it absolutely necessary a learn how to cook at least a few basic things so that we can satisfy our insatiable stomachs whenever we miss home-cooked food.

Analytical Skills

Many of us ignore the importance of having the skill of analysing situations and problems. Analysing is not confined to just making those college assignment submissions, they help us with our personal lives as well. The importance of engaging our brains with problem-solving events and case study presentations cannot be overstated.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are the benchmark set of generic professional skills one should possess and hone to reach the starting point of success. It includes decision-making, self-motivation, and teamwork amongst other qualities. Possessing these skills can help one adapt into any organisation quicker and perform better. Everyone wants be appreciated by all, and growing through the ranks and these skills can certainly trigger the process.
Feature Image Credits: 123RF

Karan Singhania
karans@dubeat.com

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JNU Row: High Court Sets Aside Punishment Awarded by Varsity

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The Delhi High Court on Thursday set aside the punishment against 15 students, including ex-Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union President Kanhaiya Kumar, awarded by a committee constituted by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Ex-JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, along with 14 other students, had the disciplinary actions taken against them set aside by the Delhi High Court on Thursday. The students had been involved in organising an event commemorating the hanging of Kashmiri separatist Afzal Guru in February 2016, which allegedly saw separatist slogans being raised.

After the uproar over the sloganeering, a five-member committee was constituted by JNU to investigate the matter. Punishments in the form of expulsion from the hostel (Kanhaiya Kumar), rustication (Umar Khalid), and barring entry in the University for five years (Anirban) were awarded to some students. However, the High Court in its judgement that replied to the petition filed by the students against the committee’s orders said, “The writ petition is allowed to the extent that the Appellate Order dated August 22, 2016, is set aside and the matter is remanded back to the Appellate Authority with a direction to grant an opportunity of inspection to the petitioner”. A period of six weeks has been granted for the students to get a chance to present their side regarding the issue and get a view of the official records and basis of the committee’s judgement. After this the committee must declare another judgement, having heard the side of the students.

Although the students had condemned the slogans, sedition cases were filed against some. The Delhi Police is yet to file a charge sheet regarding the February 2016 incident.

 

Feature Image Credits: Zee News

Rishika Singh
rishikas@dubeat.com

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Need Motivation? Watch These Movies

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Some movies touch a chord in your heart and some teach you lessons that are never to be forgotten. Here are some of such movies that teach certain lessons with great craftiness.

Is it that time when you are feeling low? Or funnily enough, in need of a new quote for your Instagram Bio? Well, if you are a movie buff like me, you’d know that movies have a certain aura of relaxing you after a hard day or motivating you for the next. Here are some of my favorite movies to inspire you a little on that rough day:

October Sky

It is a movie based on a real story of a NASA scientist, Mr. Homer Hickam. A boy of humble dwellings with his career predestined as a coal mine worker, he is left agape when he watches the first satellite launch by NASA. With the help of his teacher who never lost faith in his multiple experiments of a mini-satellite, he advances in the technology of making a satellite along with his friends. For how he arranges his college tuition fee, you’ll have to watch the movie which will motivate you to take that extra mile.

An Education

English literature students will feel a connection with Jenny, the protagonist because she studies the subject passionately in school and has a craving for all things French. She falls for a man twice her age, she drops school to marry him but he turns out to be married already. Did Jenny pick up her ruined career after this or did she become a crybaby is to be found out by watching the movie which truly is a lesson and an education?

Dead Poets Society

A teacher (also an alumnus), John Keating was all The Welton Academy boys needed to realize where their hearts lay. On his encouragement, the boys form a Dead Poets Society to narrate well-known as well as their own poetry, their dreams, and fantasies. These boys bond like never before and relationships ensue too. Later, when Mr. Keating is accused of a crime, the boys showcase their solidarity with him. The movie is a lesson in itself, how a teacher can change your life and how one should question the traditional norms.

Certain stories have a way of entering your conscious and never leave. Those are the stories you’d want to pass on and always remember. Well, these movies had an impact on me and they sure will on you. Plus, no one shies away from good cinema. Till then, carpe diem!

Feature Image Credits: Wetpaint

 

Prachi Mehra

prachim@dubeat.com

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Online Applications’ Deadline For JNU Extended

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After the surprising move of shifting entrance examination for all courses including MPhil/ PhD courses for the year 2018-19 to December 2017 by the Jawahar Lal University (JNU), the deadline for online registration has been extended to October 17, 2017 until 5 30 p.m. This year, the entrance exam will take place from 27 December to 30 December.

The proposal to hold all future entrances in December was put forward at a meeting of the Academic Council (AC) in April 2015.The reasons given for such a shift were related to logistical issues. The move finally comes two years after the AC and Standing Committee approved the proposal. It was put to hold because of reasons accorded to feasibility. The prospectus for 2018-19 is already available on the website. The link for online admissions has been open from 15 Sept,207 and 13 October 2017 was the last date.

The JNU authorities have extended the deadline for filling the online applications for all the courses till Tuesday, 17 October 2017 up to 5:30 p.m. The University has also announced the timetable for the entrance examinations in various programmes of study which will be held from 27 December till 30 December 2017 in 53 centres across India and in Kathmandu (Nepal). For full details, applicants can visit the JNU website www.jnu.ac.in.

Feature Image Credits: JNU

 

Oorja Tapan

oorjat@dubeat.com

 

 

 

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