A group of six anonymous students from Hindu College have started a Straight Pride Collective. The page that has surfaced on instagram, is constantly making use of homophopic and right wing inclined hate speeches which includes false claims and misinformation. Read to find out more about it. 

With the changing times, a tone set in to bring about a modification in the place we all call home, more welcoming hands have been stretched to those who have been neglected by the perils of history. The community of LGBTQIA+ has often found itself under the sheets of neglect and unwarranted, unwelcomed chains of threats which has brought a great deal of distress to this part of our society. The growing concerns, the space to feel lost and aloof, and the lack of recognition and acknowledgement had made it quintessential to start a “collective”.

In educational spaces, the unavailability of safe and secure environments for students resonating with this community harnessed the notion to start a collective, a place where they can feel safe to be themselves.  While, a notion of change and progress has been set in by them in mainstream society, there is a group of people who are creating “hindrance” to this growth. 

Not long ago, a social media page was created by the name of “hcstraightpride”, which stands for Hindu College Straight Pride, on instagram. Since its inception, the account has been heavily indulged in homophophic, right wing oriented hate speech. One of the captions of their posts read “when the society loses its way, men like us have to stand up and fix it. We are men of violence, men of honour, and that of respect. We won’t stop until we take back what was snatched from us.” The noticeable thing about this is that the entire account talks about a perspective which believes in the “sin of homosexuality” and how are straight men oppressed of their freedom of speech. Additionally, it is embracing the ideologies aligned with the right wing and scrutinising what is believed to be a part of “radical left” according to this page.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdBbJk0KXOW/

In conversation with a student of Hindu College, Lovansh told DU Beat about the need to create a safe space for the community. He stated that the Hindu College Queer Collective aims at creating such a safe space and asserted that the existence of the same is a protest against the status quo. He claims that what makes the college susceptible to such attacks is the fact that queer culture in specific and student culture is general at Hindu attempts of speaking to power and therefore such an attack is an attack to the culture of Hindu College itself. 

This then should concern not just the queers and allies but the entirety of Hindu College and people who wish to preserve this culture. I hope people come ahead in solidarity for this long standing protest of creating a safe space which we rightfully deserve and shall fight for.”

-Lovansh Katiyar, student, Hindu College 

Furthermore, a stunt was pulled off by the page to gain attention. The page made claims to have been invited by TedxHindu College to deliver a speech. To add on to these false claims, they posted a statement of solidarity from the department of Sociology of Hindu College. However, both the platform and the department took to their instagram to issue a statement in regards to the rejection of claims made by the page in question. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdDB8aEB0eW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdDmenLjJBe/

Within the last 24 hours, the page posted what they termed as a “big reveal”. They asserted to have made false claims in order to gain attention which according to them worked. They set a trap for these platforms and they walked straight into it, as the page claims.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdDuSF4JmgE/

Besides this, the page in question posted an article on homosexuality and autism. They affirmed that homosexuality and autism are correlated as, according to them, the IQ levels of both autistic people and homosexuals lie in the same range. As the page believes, autism is an inability to perform basic tasks, communicate properly, and make use of logical reasoning which is further supported by low IQ, they have tuned in homosexuals along with the subject by stating their attraction to gliterry objects and low IQ. In the comments section, people are calling out the actions of the page by disagreeing to such accusations and calling them “ableist” and “homophoblic”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdEKBGzvrdg/

Meanwhile, as we celebrate the spirit of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the month of Ramadan, the page decided to change its username into “international_straightpride”. They took the step to go international in light of the support and reach they garnered from the page. To add onto the day of festivities, or rather suppressing the spirit by believing that homosexuality is a sin. According to them, one would be invalidating their duas made during ramadan if they continue to support “people of lut” or homosexuals. 

Additionally, it made claims that the religious text- Manusmriti does not sustain the notions of misogyny and has been misinterpreted by ‘Tankies’, ‘socialists’, and ‘liberals’. 

In conversation with the president of Students’ Federation of India Hindu College, Aditi, told DU Beat about their stand on this subject. According to her, SFI condones any sort of queerphobic tendencies in or out of the College campus. In her words, she reflected their unconditional support to the Hindu College Queer Collective. 

“It is imperative we note that the views shared by this dreadful page are the views of Right Wing’s regressive and reactionary ideology which has always raked up such issues to set their agenda of disturbing the atmosphere in academic institutions. 

SFI shares deep rage and contempt towards those involved in these anti-student and anti-social activities.”

-Aditi, President, SFI Hindu

With various students pouring in their disbelief and astonishment at the collective’s posts in their comments sections, students continue to condemn the actions of the collective in actions. 

Read Also: Queerphobic “Straight Pride” Collective Emerges in Hindu College

Featured Image Credits: DU Beat

Ankita Baidya

[email protected]

Amidst infrastructural issues present in various colleges, a fan fell from the ceiling over a student causing an injury on her head at Laxmibai College. Read to find out more.

On 22 April, 2022, a fan fell from the ceiling of Laxmibai College, University of Delhi, causing injury to the student sitting beneath it. The principal of the college, Pratyush Vatsala, informed that the student faced minor injuries and nothing serious or major. This accident caused the student a minor injury on her head. According to her, as soon as this accident took place, the student was given immediate first aid and her parents were immediately called to the college. Soon after, parents, along with some college officials took the student to hospital and as informed by the principal, she is doing fine. 

Reportedly, the exasperated students started questioning the college infrastructure after the accident. They also claimed that there is inadequate availability of drinking water and the washrooms are quite unhygienic. Further, the Principal added that the primary reason that caused the accident is unknown. She claimed that the maintenance committee of the college too did not find any faults in the functioning of the fan. According to her, both the teachers and the students who were present in the room during the accident did not hear any noise or faced any other disturbance from the fan. However, reportedly, she has asked the concerned authority to check all the fans in the college. 

This is not the only college under DU facing infrastructural issues. Kalindi College, DU, has major infrastructural problems. From poor desks and peeled walls to serious hygiene issues in regard to washrooms and drinking water, these colleges need immediate attention to improve their infrastructure. 

In Conversation with a student from Laxmibai College, informed DU Beat that the college has not yet disclosed the details or any updates in regard to the accident. All that the students are aware of is the fact that the students of the college are safe and there has not been any major accident. 

Besides this, both the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have submitted a few maintenance issues present in the college. In response to this, reportedly, the college has asked for the details of these issues which would assist the former in order to solve them. 

Read Also: AISA Venky Holds a Signature Campaign for Infrastructural Issues

Colleges Struggle with Infrastructural Issues in the Face of Sudden Reopening

Featured Image Credits: Laxmibai College

Ankita Baidya

[email protected]

Ambrosia 2022, the literary festival of Hindu College, took the students through the lanes of literature, cinema and more. Kick-starting it with the most anticipated session, it turned out to be a great success. Read to find out more. 

On April 11 and April 13, 2022, Hindu College, University of Delhi hosted Ambrosia 2022, their literary festival. It was organised jointly by the Department of English and their literary society, Scribe. With an endless list of events and competitions, the festival turned out to be quite happening. Amidst the thrill of the fest, the first day was graced by Imtiaz Ali, a film director, producer, actor, and writer. The registered students got an opportunity to become a part of the interactive session.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcIPHtmhruV/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

In conversation with Nikita Kochhar, the president of Scribe and Abhigya Bharthwal, general secretary of Scribe. told DU Beat about the overwhelming response they received. According to them, the hall was completely booked within one hour of releasing the form. On the main day, the hall was packed up with students and many students had to stand on the sidelines of the hall. The organisers were quite content to see the enthusiasm and response they received but then there was a slight issue of mismanagement and overcrowding. However, it was handled quite well and no such unanticipated incident took place. They had 2-3 verification check points to allow only the registered students into the session.

This session with Imtiaz Ali, which was hosted by Vineet Singh, president of the English Department and Nikita Kochhar, the president of Scribe, was followed by numerous other events and competitions including the literature quiz and paper presentation. This series of events was continued with a short band performance by ‘Aria’, the western music society of Hindu College. Then, a bake and food sale took place which was again followed by a speaker session by Shivani Sibal, the author of the book ‘Equations’. 

Nikita further explained how the transition from online to offline fest was difficult. According to her, this was because the third year students were first years back then and to bring out the sponsorship and audience was a strenuous challenge. However, it was quite a fruitful experience. 

The primary issue that we faced was that the students who registered did not show up. Moreover, to bring the sponsorships was a tedious job since, during the pandemic, none of the places around the college, who generally sponsor, did such a thing.”

-Nikita Kochhar, President of Scribe

Besides this, there were a number of competitions in which students across various colleges participated zealously. On April 13, 2022, a Slam Poetry event, ‘Jashn-e-Ibaarat’ took place. The theme for the event was “Delhi Through Your Eyes”. Students participated in quite a number which made it the star of the day. 

In conversation with the participants present at the event, told DU Beat about their experience. Unanimously, the students were excited and looking forward to this event in particular. The reason they cited was the common love for poetry that they all share and in today’s time it is quite difficult to find people who are down for poetry.

It is thrilling to see the number of students participating in an event like slam poetry. Often, poetry gets sidelined but the essence it hides beneath the meaning is utterly beautiful. I am all geared up to perform and can’t wait to hear their poems.”

-A participant of Slam Poetry

Anchal Soni, first year student from Gargi College and Molina Singh, second year student from Gargi College tied up for the place of winners. Agrima Dwivedi, second year student from Indraprastha College for Women bagged the place of first runner-up and Anwesh Banerjee, a second year student of Ramjas College, was declared as the second runner-up for slam poetry.

This was followed by a karaoke event which captured the audience’s mind with its melody and rhythm. This competition required the budding singers to sing their choice of song with the help of lyrics that were displayed on the screen. There was no instrumental or music support provided to them. Atharv, student of Hindu College, was declared the most melodious of all, the winner of the event and Divyanshu, another student of Hindu College, was declared as the first runner-up.

The fest faced a few hiccups on its way but it was a success at the end of the day. 

Read Also: Are You Up for Fest..And the Mismanagement?

Umang ’22: Of Joy Unbound

Featured Image Credits: Ankita Baidya for DU Beat

Ankita Baidya

[email protected]

Ever wondered how it feels to live under the constant belief that you are different, that you are nothing more than the labels bestowed upon you by society? 

Universities are not only a place for education but it is a culmination of diversity that enables an individual for a holistic approach to life. Irrespective of their gender, caste or creed, students come together to achieve a common goal of education. In a country like India, whose foundation is laid on diversity and rich culture, it is quite easy to have conflicting notions based on the same lines. However, places of education are not the most ideal place to propagate a belief and suppress the other. It is rather a place where each belief must be equally respected and welcomed.

Nevertheless, we are living in 2022 and we still live on the trail of disrespect that arises from subjects like caste or gender. We tell ourselves that we are progressive but are we really progressing when we call out people in the name of jokes? It is almost impossible to imagine a day where you do not hear any casteist slur or a gender biased taunt. We have normalised these things to a level that we do not even comprehend the magnitude of damage it is causing. The existence of such things at a university level is quite evident when one realises the existence of a grievance cell for students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) or any other cell to address the problems faced by such students. The perplexing question that arises here is that whether these cells are preventing or reducing the mishaps or are they putting a blanket on the root causes for it to sleep?

It is a great initiative to set up these cells and address the problems faced by various students but what about addressing the issues that are causing them? A student is being judged in a class and even called by their professors because of the way they dress up, in the name of joke. The student approaches the cell and the latter comes up with a mode of punishment along with a medium to get the student an apology. However, what it lacked was to identify the issue that led to this situation. 

In conversation with a student of Kalindi College told DU Beat, on the grounds of anonymity, that he can not go about his life without being called out. According to him, his achievements are judged by his ability to get a reservation in the education institution. 

Everyone mocks me from the time my identity was revealed. They have forgotten my achievements that I accomplished without the means of reservation. It makes me feel quite dejected.”

-student of DU

Nonetheless, the cells like transgender cells, SC ST cells, queer collective, are actively doing their part to prevent the stereotypes to propogate and are working towards achieving a shared objective of peace and harmony amongst such a diverse group of students. They continue to design different ways that have an outlook to break to the barriers and accomplish the greater good which is beyond the lines of gender, caste and creed.

Image Caption: Are the sundry cells functional in universities?

Image Credits: The Indian Express

Ankita Baidya 

[email protected] 

We are all thrilled to be able to attend the offline fest but how has this transition from online
to offline impacted the recent fests?

As the colleges have opened up in full swing, the much-needed college thrill has also
returned to centre stage. Recently students found themselves amidst the lucky stars as
universities like Netaji Subhash University of Technology (NSUT) and Indira Gandhi Delhi
Technological University for Women (IGDTUW) organised their annual fests. The
anticipation these cultural fests bring is quite high but did they justify students&’expectations?
The universities are organising fests almost after two years and there is an obvious shift
from the virtual screen to physical socialising. However, this shift is accompanied by the
nerve-racking issue of mismanagement. The annual fest of NSUT- Moksha 2022, brought
sheer euphoria to the college students since it was the first large-scale offline fest that was
being organised. Nevertheless, on the second day, the university saw a situation of
overcrowding. Singer Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK) was scheduled to perform due to which
the college experienced an overwhelming size of the crowd. This led to a situation of poor
crowd control. While the students were not permitted to leave the college premises, the large
crowd that was waiting to enter the college resorted to aggression and made their way into
the college by climbing over the gates and fences. Furthermore, amidst the aggressive
crowd, a few students were trying to make their way into the college and that is when a
stampede situation arose.

“The crowd around us started getting hostile and there was a Stampede. I was standing in
the front when the gates opened. I fell and I had people going over me. All I could hear were
the footsteps stomping and nothing else. We thought that we wouldn’t be able to make it,”
said a second-year student from Kamla Nehru College.

Another incident of crowd mismanagement took place at Taarangana 2022, the annual fest
of IGDTUW. Singer Javed Ali was scheduled to perform on the first day of the fest. However,
it got cancelled due to an issue of mismanagement. The fest saw an overwhelming number
of registrations which exceeded over 50,000 but the college is not equipped to hold such a
large crowd.

The authorities are to be blamed since they had an idea about the number that
is going to come and yet the college did not cancel the fest,”

said Taneesha, a student from
Kamla Nehru College.

The fest was moving as it was supposed to but things got out of control when this number
started showing up at the college and caused overcrowding. Police intervened in the
situation and the students were subjected to police brutality. Police unleashed lathi-charge
and water cannons. Students were gravely injured. Taneesha further said, “The police had to
intervene but the brutality was unnecessary. Students were subjected to multiple fractures
and heat strokes.”

Nevertheless, mismanagement and poor crowd control remained the primary issue of these
offline fests and even though “fest” gives us an adrenaline rush, it is necessary to ensure
proper security and management. While other universities have already geared up to organize fests, students sit in high anticipation for Delhi University’s (DU) fests. It is about
the time when DU starts planning for its annual cultural fests.

Image Caption: The annual fest of NSUT
Image Credits: Moksha, NSUT Delhi
Ankita Baidya
[email protected]

Protests took place in University of Delhi to demand the conduction of OBE for the even
semester students. However, protesting students found themselves amidst police brutality.

On 4 April 2022, a protest demanding the Open Book Examinations (OBE) broke out at the
Arts Faculty Gate-4 at the University of Delhi (DU). This protest took place in light of the
forthcoming even semester examinations that are scheduled to take place in the month of
May and June 2022, in physical mode. Students gathered in large numbers to demand the
examinations take place in online mode (OBE). However, it soon turned into a site of
brutality that was discharged by the Delhi Police. The protesters were manhandled by the
Police, which was followed by their detention.

In their press release, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) displayed their solidarity
with the protesting students demanding the OBEs for the upcoming examinations. AISA also
condemned the police brutality unleashed upon the common students.
To increase the support for the protest, AISA activists mobilized hundreds of students across
the campus to join in the call for demanding OBEs. Still and all, the Delhi Police went on the
offensive against the common students, detaining two of AISA’s activists.

The Delhi University’s administration showed its characteristic indifferent attitude while
hundreds of students contested its policies for their future. This behaviour towards the
common students is absolutely unacceptable. The DU-VC (Delhi University- Vice-
Chancellor) must answer for these grave offences against the common students.”

-All India Students’ Association (AISA)

Further, AISA resolved to continue the struggle unhindered and unafraid of the malicious
intent of the Administration and the constant use of police to curb students’ movement.

@UnivofDelhi again threatened us to leave the site…#OBE #OBEForAllSemestersofDU #obefordu#wewantobe#HybridModeforDU #HybridModeShouldBeChoice #du pic.twitter.com/WH1848FeQN

— Shashank Bhalekar (@TheShaStories) April 5, 2022

WZMfQ&s=08

As the protests are progressing, the students of DU have various reasons in support of the
OBEs. In conversation with a student from Kamla Nehru College, DU, told DU Beat, on the
grounds of anonymity, that it is quite unjust for the students to appear for exams in the
physical mode. She stated that the decision was absolutely inequitable because more than
half of the syllabus has been covered in the online mode, in most of the courses across the
colleges in the University. Moreover, the final year students, in all the courses offered by DU,
are also appearing for the physical examinations which put a big question mark on their
future, as stated by the student. She believes that the final examinations which would denote
the end of college life for many students are quite valuable and to toss it off onto the factors
of uncertainty that are carried by the physical exams is intolerable.

I have a practical course and yet more than half of the things have been taught to us
through the screens of our laptops. How can the university expect that the students are
ready to appear for physical exams, given the situation where none of us appeared for one
in over a year. This step intends to jeopardise our academic future.”

-Student from Kamla Nehru College, DU

Every 4th and 6th sem students wants OBE exam , because you didn't give us classes, study materials, and proper time @UnivofDelhi @SOL_UnivofDelhi #duwantobe #student#weWantOnlineExam #Delhi #OnlineExamForAllSemestersOfDU#hybridmode #obe #OnlineExam pic.twitter.com/yw3pjTURMl

— Pratyush Anand (@your_pratyush) April 5, 2022

ZQg&s=08

Another student who was present at the protest told DU Beat, on the grounds of anonymity,
that offline exams would have been justified if the classes were conducted in the physical
mode. However, given the situation that the classes were conducted on virtual platforms, like
zoom, where both students and the teachers faced network issues quite often, along with the
fact that the past 3 semesters were completely online, this is a sudden change and it
became a routine to not completely comprehend what was taught, as stated by the student.
Moreover, the student expressed her concern over the sudden reopening of colleges where
they were stuck between finding new accommodation, labs, projects and exams. The
student informed that almost 80% of the syllabus has been covered in the online mode
where the professors were not very concerned if each student was attending the class. It is
becoming very difficult to cope up with these sudden changes along with the offline exams,
as expressed by the student. In addition to this, the students at the protest told DU Beat,
how the students were threatened by some professors to appear for the physical exam in
place of their demand for online mode. The students at the protest further mentioned that if
they resort to online papers, the teachers will fail them.

The teachers told us that they’ll make difficult papers that we won’t be able to pass. They
showed us two papers and said that if you give offline paper you'll get good marks, else
you’ll get barely 10 out of 30 in internals if you appear for online exams. Later on when
students checked those papers, both the online and offline papers were the same. Now, how
are we supposed to trust them?”

-Student of DU
Earlier, the university had issued a notification where all the students, who are appearing for
the exams in May and June, were notified that the university will be providing them with extra
30 minutes which is a one-time measure in the given circumstances. In addition to this, the
university requested the faculty of various departments to provide the students with
additional choices in the question paper, along with the directions of conducting mock tests
as a part of the Internal Assessments, with the intent to prepare the students for the physical
exams.

Image Source: University of Delhi

Read Also: OBE System: A Harrowing Time for DU Students
Lessons From The Last OBE and Tips for The Upcoming One
The 101 Guide to Nail Your Open-Book Examination

Featured Image Credits: Himasweeta Sarma

Ankita Baidya
[email protected]