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Mobile phones came and brought easy communication. Prices were high and it wasn’t everyday technology. Then came the phenomenon of texting alongside ‘message packs’ and life became much more easier. There was still an end to those 1000 messages in the monthly pack. But with the idea of cellular internet based options, came WhatsApp, WeChat, Nimbuzz, Hangouts, Hike, Facebook Messenger… and a gazillion other services. Result- all hell broke loose.

While one friend used WhatsApp, the other was on BBM, and the third on WeChat and the fourth wanted to Hangout. Well, one device had 5 applications just for texting. Weren’t the days of old fashioned SMS better? Allegedly, each app has something ‘new’ to offer. While one shows whether the person has ‘received’ a message, the other shows whether he has ‘seen’ it. The “last seen” feature on WhatsApp has been the breaking stone of several relationships. On the other hand, the ability to send light compressed photos has been a blessing for shopaholics who spread one object of desire like fire amidst friends.

WeChat, a young ‘solution’ to texting helps you discover WeChat users in your vicinity. I do not want random neighbours sending me fraaandshiping messages. As if the self-promotional WhatsApp broadcasts weren’t enough. Several Blackberry users stayed faithful to the brand simply because of BBM, a texting app elitist in nature because to use it you required a BB pin. But the world of fancy interfaces packed in cheap devices pushed Blackberry to make BBM a cross platform app. And now they say WhatsApp might be threatened because of the community like setting of BBM. Well, it sure is fighting competition with things such as the newly launched voice notes.

But isn’t having 5-6 apps simply for texting stretching it a bit too far? QWERTY often wishes the phone would lay silent for some time. Damn you mobile technology.

Getting admission in Delhi University is but half a battle won. The subsequent problem looming large is that of lodging. That there is shortage of hostel seats and that the prices of Paying Guest accommodations and private hostels can burn a huge hole in one’s pocket is hardly a hidden fact. In fact, lodging seems to be a perpetual crisis for outstation students especially if one has not been lucky enough to get that precious hostel seat.

In such dire circumstances when the colleges should be accommodating as many students as possible in their hostels, St. Stephen’s College seems to be doing the exact opposite. The college has apparently allocated single rooms to students of second and third years, rooms which are actually supposed to accommodate two students. While the college had this policy for third year students, this year it has also been extended to second years. Quite paradoxically, this has led to a further decrease in the number of students who can avail the residential facilities on the college campus.

We, at DU Beat, spoke to a number of students from the college but apparently none of them consented to be quoted. On the condition of anonymity, a student said, “Living in the Residence is so convenient as opposed to putting up privately in areas around North Campus. My parents can’t afford to shell out too much money and therefore, I am living in a really bad place as I have no alternative. The college has given single rooms to second years also which goes against the demands of the day where the prime focus should be building the additional infrastructure and exploiting the full potential of the existing one.”

Another student on the same condition said, “The hostel issue is the need of the hour in Delhi University. We students are suffering a lot because of this. And then something like this comes up where instead of increasing the number of seats in the Residence, you are actually reducing them. Moreover, with the introduction of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme, there will be more number of students after three years, and then the condition will be extremely chaotic.”

Vatsal Verma
[email protected]

Aries: You will not go through that morning lethargy and inertia ever again now that you will discover the reason behind the same, was your wrong deodorant soap that has a foul and offensive smell.

Taurus: Feel free to keep your mouth shut when you are with friends this week as they won’t take you seriously if you show off your ravishing and stunning intellect.

Gemini: Stick tight and wait because you are likely to meet the man/woman of your dreams who you will find selling Bhelpuri/Sevpuri near your college.

Cancer: Expectantly, you will be able to grab attention in any possible way you can; in the metro, in your college and in the movie theatre too. Bingo!!

Leo: Wearing those same lucky lemon-colored shades will be even luckier, when its cloudy outside and you don’t want yourself to be stuck in the rain.

Virgo: Your favorite attribute in a person, you will find is their ability to tell you how fantastic you are. Plus, the sensation in the gulf of your stomach is going to explode at noon, or sometime afterwards in the week.

Libra: fashion aesthetic to the tail, they are certainly going to make people turn around for just a single glance. Likely to swamp most of their pocket money buying age defying products and jaw dropping attire.

Scorpio: Finally, it’s the time for scorpion freshers to get an insight into what actually they will be doing in their FYUP. Luck seems generous enough.

Sagittarius: Sleep deprivation can affect you negatively today, so ensure you murder all the dogs in your area for a guaranteed good night’s sleep. There’s no harm in taking the day off.

Capricorn: ‘Yes’ will be your lucky word for the whole week. Don’t hesitate using your lucky word even when your date asks you whether you are two timing.

Aquarius: If you think it’s my job to tell you good news, you’re wrong pal. You’re going down. So better rush to the nearest temple and get your prayers done as soon as possible.

Pisces: You will discover that you can wiggle your ears pretty easily, and will actually become quite good at it after a little practice. Seeing your wonderful talent people will actually invite you to their parties.

Freshers timidly walk into colleges on their orientation days not knowing what to expect. They’re afraid or seniors and do not know anybody. So here is what your seniors from several colleges, experienced during their orientations:

Kirorimal College
“It was in room 18. After our teachers introduced us to the staff officially, had done explaining to us the course structure and had handed out the routine that our seniors came. What we feared to be ragging turned out to be something fun in the end. After the introduction, we were asked to sing. Some were made to dance. Someone rapped something. The highlight was the dance to “Oh La La” where the roles got reversed and the guy played Vidya Balan and the girl Naseeruddin Shah and the spoken essay on “tatti” in shudh Hindi. Though a few of the freshers did look uncomfortable, most took it lightly as it was meant to be like. At the end of the day, our seniors became our friends.” – Pallab Deb

KMC

Gargi College
“First day at college seems like a big fat tangle of emotions. As I entered the quad, I had no idea how the experience would be, but the college orientation gave me a feeling that this is place where I can spend 3 years of my life and emerge as an all rounder. The day was jam-packed with performances by cultural societies like Enliven, Kshitij, etc. Orientation acquaints students with the various facilities available at the campus and the college societies. The college orientation was followed by departmental orientations where students were acquainted with their courses and respective teachers. In other words, one could call it as a halftone of the coming years.” – Shaily Sharma

Shri Ram College of Commerce
“My college orientation isn’t exactly something I recall frequently, but once I do it all comes back to me like a movie. Just a year back on this day I explored my college for the first time and came to know facts which both surprised and scared me. I remember sitting in our not-so-huge auditorium listening intently to everything the teachers had to say, my hands shaky and mind anxious. The fact that I was sitting in that grossly overcrowded hall among thousands of outstanding young students each one better than the other was weirdly reassuring. I knew that my dream has come true when the principal on the podium said that three years from now you’ll be proud of the person you’ve become.” – Aishwarya Chaurasia

SRCC__1

Indraprastha College for Women
“We were asked to assemble in the studio, that’s where the college tour started. Then we were addressed by our principle as to what to expect from this course and college and who are faculty members would be. Later the seniors took over. Each person has to sit on a chair under the spotlight. We had to give our introductions along with the craziest thing that we have done in our life. It was a fun exercise and we all enjoyed a lot.” – Pinakita Gupta

Lady Shri Ram College for Women
As I entered Lady Shri Ram College for the first time, it was the sheer grandeur around it that amazed me. From the lush green lawns to the mighty red building, everything about LSR is inspiring on your orientation day. Walking in to the auditorium was like entering another universe. To be introduced to all major societies, see them perform, listen to teachers and students speak about how the red bricks and the magic they guard accommodate changed their lives is overwhelming. But it’s nothing close to the  how one feels when Dr Gopinath takes over the podium. She’s articulate, inspiring and instils all new students with a sense of confidence. The final tree planting tradition is great way to end an orientation at LSR and makes everyone feel like they’re going to be leaving their mark on the institution forever. – Bani Bains

lsr

There is nothing to be intimidated by, not even the seniors. So enter your respective colleges with your heads held high and expect nothing but great times! All the best freshers, welcome aboard!

“The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald’s classical work portraying Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as the narrator who leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, drinking-games and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his dream to make it big after Yale, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, large-hearted, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, and drives across the bay for dinner at the home of his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her good for nothing, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, love and deceit with lead characters being his own cousin, her husband and his dear friend, Gatsby. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams, treachery, power of the rich and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

The movie takes you through a bumpy ride of overdone glittering parties and grandiose displays of wealth with Jay-Z music and Lana Del Ray backgrounds. You know the 2013 Great Gatsby hasn’t done justice to the 1925 Great Gatsby, when there is an overuse of the dialogue “Old Sport” and Daisy’s unreal helplessness crosses all bounds. The hopelessly optimistic Gatsby after a while begins to disappoint the modern trended generation and leads to a predictive ending.

For what it is worth, I would rate the movie a 3.5 out 5 for Tobey Maguire pulls the movie to its ending. His narration of witty life-lessons makes you walk out with a thought. The Great Gatsby definitely teaches one how to party, but fails to be a testament to the determination of the human spirit, and the reality of the American Dream.

Sahiba Chawdhary
[email protected] 

About 150 teachers and students who had gathered to protest against the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) in Delhi University were arrested at India Gate on Monday. The protest was a peaceful candlelight protest and was organised by the Joint Action Front for Democratic Education (JAFDE).

There were about 500 teachers and students in all who came together at India Gate to hold a torchlight procession. All the detained teachers and students were loaded onto buses and kept in the Parliament Street Police. On this matter, S B S Tyagi, DCP, New Delhi was quoted as saying, “They didn’t have our permission to protest at India Gate. We advised them to move to Jantar Mantar but they refused. We had to detain them.”

“Hello Sex Amma,

Me and my GF have been in a relationship for a year. In the last one year we almost lived like a Live-in at her place and we used to have sex very often , almost daily ,sometimes , twice in a day (with some days exception) , But as of now we live apart due to studies, and I miss everything so badly, I cannot have control over ‘things’ . Please suggest how should I control and what to do..”

 

My dear lost little lobster of the Southern seas! You two have been very naughty fishes, frying in coconut oil! You lucky lad and lady! Amma went to the beach when people asked her to get a room. You’ve had one for a year. But, the wind and the waves of joy. Ah! Anyway, high-five for the awesome ex-sex life!

My lovely lobster, nothing is permanent, is it?  Study, and study hard so that you two can end up together! But, Amma understands, so I’d suggest you to throw away your pen every once in a while and use your hand for other activities, eh? The Americans have made sure that nobody goes sex-less when alone. Tune into their ‘artsy’ movies and let things fall in their place (do clean up afterwards!!). Graham Bell might not have thought of it, but his invention can work wonders for your deprived, er, soul. Let her oohs and aahs over the phone send you into a frenzy! And if you can’t talk over the phone, geniuses of the world have created texting, and other geniuses who have gone the extra mile have created sexting. Try it, my boy!

I’ll pray that you somehow get your hands on the Anywhere Door from Doraemon. How easy it’d be! Besides, you’re a male macchi, visuals can turn you on. Think about your poor female macchi who needs to get touchy-feely for her dose. So, ride high and solo for a while on crashing waves and breaking thunder! Do let Amma know how it’s working for you. Cheers!

 

Have a query? But don’t know who to ask? Mail  your queries to Sex Amma a[email protected].

 

 

Together for a Cause(TFAC), a project based initiative, organized a promotional Flash Mob on 8th April 2013 at four different locations in Delhi.

This Flash Mob was in regard to their project called ‘Nadaan Parindey’ which will be launched on 26th April at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg. Trough ‘Nadaan Parindey’ TFAC plans to confer vocational training to school students of all sections, so that they can peruse their hobbies as a career.

The event on 26th will see a special performace by the students of Teach For India classrooms in Seelampur, who will be given special focus in the whole project.

Meanwhile the promotional Flash Mob saw the participation of more than 80 dancers and thousand plus spectators in four different locations of Delhi, namely Kamala Nagar Market, Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station, Hauz Khas Village and Select City Walk, Saket. People were seen enthusiastic in the whole project as they joined in the dance.

Delhi University student Jasraj Bhinder from Sri Venkateswara College has been awarded the prestigious Golden Key International Honour Society’s INDIA HIGH ACHEIVER AWARD of Rs 2.5 Lakhs. The India High Achiever award is instituted by Golden Key to assist Golden Key members to further their education in India. “Jasraj Bhinder has demonstrated excellence in Academics and related academic activities during his undergraduate study. Jasraj also demonstrated how Golden Key’s Commitment to Academics Leadership and Service will be furthered by his Postgraduate study, Golden Key will award more such scholarships to deserving individuals in India” said Dr Abhiram Prabhu Golden Key’s University Relations Office For India.

“It is indeed a great honour to have received this prize and I would like to thank Golden Key for that. It is always nice to have your efforts in life to be recognised and appreciated and this award does exactly that. More importantly, it urges me to put in even more hard work in my endeavours in the future. The scholarship award will be very useful in covering the costs of my current postgraduate education and in funding my studies further in the future”.
Said Jasraj Bhinder after receiving the award from Golden Key.
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