The University of Delhi in an unprecedented cause of action is contemplating a very crazy idea adhering to the forthcoming semester. As weird as it may sound, the University is thinking to shift the exam time of some the papers to midnight. According to our sources at the University Headquarters, the plan has already been drafted and is awaiting the final signature of the Vice-chancellor.
“We have multitudes of students who appear during the examination time and cause shortage of seats. The classrooms overflow and such gives rise to cheating incidents during the examination. A limited number of supervising faculty adds to the cause”, said Dr. Khopcha Mukherjee, a senior member working at the University Headquarters.
As soon as the news broke out, DU Beat members approached various colleges and asked the students (whom this decree directly affects) on their take on the issue. ‘this is absolutely, pathetic, condemnable, awful, dreadful and what not’, said Satakli Majhi who was so infuriated by such a decision, her mouth had to be stuffed by cotton so as to stop her from abusing in front of the camera. ‘Itni sardi mein university humko maar dega’, said a student from Assam who wished not to be named.
When we asked the University authority on the safety of girls issue during late at night, one of the senior members proudly answered that the issue has been taken care of. ‘All the girls would be provided special university buses and would be escorted by a supervising teacher to their hostels/homes.’
The order is still awaiting the final approval of the VC.
Cries of change, demand for a leader to steer the nation, dissatisfaction with the previous ruling party, were amongst the few factors that led to Narendra Modi taking charge as India’s Prime Minister in a grand oath taking ceremony on the 26th of May 2014, after his party (Bharatiya Janata Party) emerged as the single largest party in the general elections of 2014. It’s been an interesting six months since.
There have been some obvious plusses. It’s good to see a Prime Minister so active and involved in the affairs of the country (almost makes for a refreshing change after the previous government). The Prime Minister has been busy, yes; he’s brought up issues that are often ignored-sanitation being the pet project here. The ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ is trying to bring in a sense of national conscientiousness about the lack of hygiene in the country. Bank accounts have been opened for the poor to assist them in managing their savings under the Jan Dhana Yojana.
The Budget went from big promises to actual deliverables this year. The economy is regaining shape slowly and steadily. Visits from various state heads, international visits and collaborations have also been a close part of the PM’s six months in office. Bureaucratic reshuffles and a new found discipline in bureaucracy has been credited to the change of leadership at the centre.
Obviously, the government has had its share of lows as well. Propagation of strong right wing ideologies without fear or fail by various leaders of the majority party often go unchecked (or ignored?) by senior leaders of the party. While Mr. Modi has been wise in his Cabinet choices, the appointment of Smriti Irani as HRD minister has been met with backlash. As HRD Minister, it seems that her actions may be guided by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha, in an attempt to saffronize (and ruin) education, not to forget the sudden roll back of the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) in Delhi University during her initial few weeks in office. The student wing of the BJP-Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, currently the controllers of power in Delhi University has been on a mission to ‘educate women about the ills of live-in relationships’.
Mr. Modi is not scared of taking risks for the sake of development, but the question that arises here is that is the rights of our women, children and minority communities being ignored a price we are willing to pay for growth?
Jayanti Jha
[email protected]
Featured image courtesy: www.deccanchronicle.com
The fond memories of that warm cup of coffee in Chaupal, the endless queues for the 10 rupee Coke at the Coke station, NSO practices at the college ground – just one name has such stigma attached to it! Proudly abbreviated by its students and faculty as KNC, Kamala Nehru College, is one of the fastest growing colleges of The University of Delhi.
With its national ranking jumping leaps and bounds every year, the college is now a part of the top 10 arts colleges of The University.
One of the most posh locations in Delhi, KNC is located on the August Kranti Maarg and is a part of the South campus of the University. As you walk into the gates of the college, you will witness lush green lawns welcoming your presence to the campus. On your left, you would see that magnificent auditorium the college boasts of. With a seating capacity of about 700 people, it is one of the most well-designed and well-maintained auditoriums in the entire University.
As a student of the college, you know your teachers would go seamless in helping you clear your concepts; your society president would leave no stone unturned to bring out the perfection in you; and the canteen bhaiya would himself run between the doors to get you your favourite Honey Chilli Potato or Daal Makhani-Lacchha Paratha plate. Makes your mouth watery?
The college canteen has something to cater to the demands of all taste buds. From the incomparable Chinese menu to the Desi north Indian delights, a foodie knows he/she is at the right place.
A student’s day doesn’t end without visiting the impeccably placed amphitheater, Chaupal. It is one place you will witness all sorts of people doing all sorts of activities- from books to cell-phone, you get that all! The fondness for the place is common among the teachers too; yes, they gladly conduct their classes amidst nature’s envelope. KNC is also very aptly located with many food joints and markets placed all over the periphery. Some of them are the food joints such as Mithaas and Diggin, GK1 and Sarojini Market and the evergreen Hauz Khaz village. As a KNC student, one is bound to visit any or all such places at least once in their college life.
Kamala Nehru College believes in intellectual growth and all-round persona development of its students. Believing in the concept of, “A cultural society for everyone”, the college has many societies catering to varied interests of the students. Among the popular ones are Enigma, the western dance society; Zephyr, the western music society; Adagio, the choreography society; Lakshya, the theatre society and Crossfire, the English debating society. The college is a paradise for fitness and sports freaks too – an efficient gym and large sports field adds to the wholesomeness of the college.
KNC is a second home for everyone – there’s a unique pride and loyalty towards the college that KNC students have running in our veins. Rare as it may sound, it makes Kamala Nehru College a home away from home.
Arushi Pathak
[email protected]
Amma, I don’t have a boyfriend and have never had a boyfriend. I am actually confused about my sexuality. I have had sex dreams about all my guy friends and even a few women. What does all of this mean?
Little idli, look at you sounding so troubled! It is very common to feel confused about one’s sexuality at this age- all ages, actually. Amma herself has tried the delectable dosas and the mysterious lotus flower too (sometimes together!) and came to the conclusion that she likes both! A lot!
Coming to your dreams, they are probably a subconscious manifestation of your dry spell! I would advise you not to read into them too much for dreams can be misleading! Sometimes, some people look attractive only in dreams and not in real life! So, you may or may not be attracted to women and your guy friends, perhaps you just need some action in real life! Take a dip in these waters and see how you like it. This is your age for exploration- do what (or who) makes you happy and don’t get too hassled by labels, macchi.
This Diwali, make sure that your pet does not pay the price of your festivities. Remember, the fireworks which are a humongous source of delight for us, are a medium of torture for the sensitive ears of our pets who can hear frequencies well beyond the human range of hearing. They are neither acquainted with the religious sentiment behind the festival nor are they aware of how safe or dangerous the crackers are for them. Hence, it is our responsibility to make our pets and other animals feel safe and secure amidst the deafening noises.
Here are five ways to do so-
Keep your pet indoors
Your pet might get bewildered by the loud noises, the smoke and the unanticipated excitement if kept outside. Add to this the chance of being injured by crackers. Keeping your pet inside will reduce the trauma and ensure he/she is out of harm’s way. Also, try to distract them with television, loud music and so on.
Do not leave them alone
It might seem appealing to visit your loved ones on Diwali but if you are the owner of a beloved animal, kindly refrain from doing so, especially during evening hours. Your pet needs your presence in order to feel safe. To them, you are their world, it is you who will save them from whatever havoc has broken loose causing the distressing noises.
Feed them before the fireworks start
The fear and wariness is likely to kill your pet’s appetite. To them the noise is a sign of potential danger. Make sure they are fed before the fireworks start.
Use pet-friendly crackers
Celebrate Diwali in the traditional way without compromising with your pet’s comfort. Light up your house vibrantly with oil lamps and coloured lights and use fireworks like phuljhadis and chakris which provide a pleasant sight but no noise pollution. Gift your pet accessories like ear muffs to cut out the noise.
Spread Awareness, keep watch
Spread the above points amongst anyone and everyone. Teach children to not trouble pets and strays for mere enjoyment. Be vigilant, stop children and adults alike from harming them. Make sure that there is a special area beyond which firecrackers aren’t allowed, most housing societies follow this, and it is high time all neighbourhoods did so. And since such an area is normally an open space, like a field, make sure that there are no stray animals around.
Image source: The Hindu
Ishani Rajkhowa
[email protected]
“La Politique”, the Political Science department of Kirori Mal College, in association with the Centre for Advanced Research on Development and Change, organized a seminar on 16th October, titled “Ragging, Rape and Reform.”
The event began with power-point presentations made by second year students, dealing with the alarming issue of ragging. Aimed at highlighting the ongoing menace, despite the sensitization of society and implementation of stringent laws, a student – made video was shared, pin-pointing the psychological trauma inflicted upon a fresher due to ragging. Shocking statistics showed that India and Sri Lanka remain the only two nations where the issue remains prevalent even today. The students also covered a rather little known aspect of ragging, the harassment of teachers by students. Though a small-scale phenomenon, it highlights the deteriorating teacher-student relationship, especially at the college level.
The second issue covered by the students was another burning topic- juvenile delinquency, i.e. offences committed by minors. Firstly, the students tried to understand the issue not in vacuum, but as a product of several factors such as poverty, domestic violence, illiteracy, child labor and peer pressure. The question of trial of juveniles as adults, in heinous crimes such as rapes, was hotly debated. This was followed by an analysis of the implementation of the recently amended Juvenile Justice Act and the state of rehabilitation centres in India. A strong appeal was made for the creation of a children’s court, to handle such matters with sensitivity and not push juveniles further into the world of crimes.
Next, it was the turn of the guest speaker for the day, Prof Rajinder Kachroo, founder and trustee of the Aman Satya Kachroo Foundation, to present his views on the matter. He labeled the ongoing issue of ragging as a manifestation of the “seniority syndrome” and “unconditional obedience” prevalent in India. Sharing experiences from his lectures in various institutions in and around Delhi, he focused on the need to sensitize not only the victims and perpetrators, but also the bystanders. He even put up an open question- whether any form of punishment really proved to be a deterrent for the committers of crimes? This was followed by an impassionate appeal for dissing the “chalta hai” attitude and making a stride towards change by Ms. Naeem Akhtar. With the end of the two-hour long seminar, students walked out of the hall, with refreshments in their hand and a buzz of ideas in their head.
Shruti Sonal
Ms. Kamya Kiran, the College President 2014-15 of Kamala Nehru College, believes hard work will solely do justice to her responsibilities. She wishes to be a force to reckon with and plans to begin from working on little problems. DU Beat brings to you an interview with Ms. Kamya Kiran.
Could you give us a rough idea of your agenda in election campaign?
My only agenda during this year’s election campaign is to help the student body of KNC in as many ways as possible. I spent time with the students and plan to work on issues they mentioned.
How do you plan to go about executing your agenda and launching Kamala Nehru College as a brand in itself?
KNC is an established and renowned college. The only thing which prevents the college from being a brand in itself is the tiny wrinkles it has which need to be smoothed out.
College President often means skipping classes, doing all the work and being specifically responsible. Do you think it’s a big sacrifice in terms of academics?
I do not feel the position asks for a big sacrifice academically. I’m an ECA student and missing classes is nothing extraordinary for me. The trick is to work hard on one’s own and keep up with the rest of the classes.
In this academic year, what is the one thing that you’re determined to focus your attention on?
As the president, I’m currently focusing on figuring out ways to fulfill my promise to the student body about solving their problems as well as pushing new, innovative projects which will benefit the student body greatly.
Lastly, how important do you think it is for KNC to have a student union that walks the talk?
I think it is very important for every college to have a student union which walks the talk. For me, the strength and ability to be vocal and to push actively for the requirements of the student body is what marks a good student union. I believe these traits define any student body and not just KNC’s.
Arushi Pathak
The Women Development Cell of Daulat Ram College- Pragati, has always been effectively outspoken when it comes to addressing issues of women’s empowerment. This time the students of the college have produced a short film ‘Jagriti’ which is not only about women’s development but about human development as well. The motive of this movie is to instill sensitivity in the minds of young boys. To inculcate a feeling of mutual equality in them so that they believe that women are as strong as they come- be it in their nature, or their self- esteem or their personality.
Women’s development has often been cited as an integral part of human development rather than a separate idea. According to Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen, one of the key figures behind the United Nations’ Human Development agenda, empowering women is key to building the future we want.
Pragati, which essentially means ‘to excel’, aims at providing students an opportunity to give expression to their thoughts and ideas. Through this short film their message stands out clear and loud- gender discrimination is something that has been ingrained in the subconscious minds of Indians. The patriarchal society that we live in, the rituals we follow, the festivals we celebrate, all in all many things that we accept as ‘simply natural’ add to the large picture of inequality that women in India face on a daily basis.
Malini Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Convener, Women Development Cell of Daulat Ram College, said,” We strongly believe that today’s boy is tomorrow’s man and so he should learn one basic thing apart from his curriculum, to respect women, to not see her as an object for lust, not a hand for work but a hand at work.”
The Women Development Cell of the college has also collaborated with a number of projects to spread awareness regarding women’s rights.
“We want young boys and men to raise their voices against growing atrocities on women”, Malini Sharma added.
Surbhi Sharma
[email protected]
Mr. Saroj Kumar Rath, Assistant Professor of History at Sri Aurobindo College (Evening), Delhi University talks about the horrific Mumbai Terror Attacks of 2008 and the loopholes in India’s Security Agencies in his book Fragile Frontiers: The Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks. The book meticulously covers how the fastest city of India came to a standstill on the fateful day of 26th November, 2008 and how the entire attack was well planned and co-ordinated. With the book out in stores now, DUB brings to you excerpts from an interview with Mr. Rath.
How did the idea of writing on one of the most serious terror attacks of Indian History occur to you?
I have been researching on India’s National Security and International Terrorism for more than 15 years. When Professor Chikako Taya of Hosei University, Tokyo asked me to join her in her scrutiny of Mumbai Terror Attacks in the autumn of 2009, I immediately sensed an opportunity to engage myself in an intense study to unravel the historical analysis of India’s national security centered on Mumbai Terror Attacks. So the idea to write the book basically stemmed from government’s apathy to provide information about major terror attacks and the inability of academia-intelligentsia to unravel the truth so far.
After 9/11, there were many strategic and structural changes made in the United States of America. Do you think India changed its behaviour towards terrorism after 26/11 in any way?
No. Not only America made strategic and structural overhaul of Himalayan proportion but also successfully thwarted 25 major terror attacks since 9/11. Contrary to the experience of the West, India’s record in dealing with terrorist attacks is dismal. The attacks on Pune, Bangalore, Varanasi, Mumbai, Delhi, Gaya and Patna from 2010 to 2014 were testimony to the fact that security apparatus of India are still vulnerable and the country’s systemic failure is taking epidemic proportion. If another Mumbai happened, we are destined to make the same mistake.
How did you proceed with your research?
It was far more challenging than other cold-calculated analysis of historical events. To get a sense of the attacks, I undertook on-the-spot inquiries at all the nine places of attacks in Mumbai. I have taken a boat ride near Cuff Parade following the trail of the terrorists and went from court to court to follow the trials. From the Esplanade Session Court of Mumbai to Tis Hazari Court Delhi; I have personally travelled to witness the trial. Chasing the original documents and classified reports were looked as if insurmountable. Special Public Prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam, kindly allowed my wife Mony and me to visit the Arthur Road Jail Court, where Ajmal Kasab was facing the solitary confinement.
Your book, Fragile Frontiers, covers the most intricate details of the attacks and the pre & post attacks situations. Was it difficult to write on such a vast issue?
This is a very good question. It is tough to work on such topics when the bureaucracy is hostile, police is chary of sharing the slightest details and the judiciary is blind to the grand design of the attacks. Because of the hazard attached with the research, it took nearly five years to come out with the book. It is far too difficult to write on such subjects than the word ‘difficult’ itself. This book is meant to understand our national security, get a sense of what ailing our system and envision steps for future.
Lastly, what do you understand of terrorism- now that you’re the author of a book that talks about one of the most deadly terror attacks of recent times?
The issue of terrorism is now a house-hold subject and even page-3 people are making statements about terrorism, insurgency, ISIS and the likes. Simple yet intriguing, my understanding about terrorism-now is, the subject has become the single-most important topic for contemporary world. But terrorism as such has become a way of life for many, trade for some, state arsenal for others, religious duty for several, and national struggle for a few.
Arushi Pathak,
[email protected]