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The Reality Of Internal Assessments

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Thanks to an impressive array of Bollywood movies and pop culture’s depiction of the University of Delhi many people are under an illusion that life of a college student is all fun and play. But now, with each assignment and test, the illusion of glamour is getting over alongside the semester itself. The credit for this goes to Internal Assessments.

Internal Assessment (IA) refers to a quota of 25% marks that is reserved for continuous flow of assignments, attendance, and tests that take place throughout the semester.
The breakup and weightage of IA is:
• Attendance- 5%
• Written assignments- 10%
• Class test(s)/ Quiz(s)- 10%
While 25% of the maximum marks in each paper is assigned for Internal Assessment the remaining 75% marks are for the final end of the semester examination.

With Delhi University’s exhaustive syllabus, regular work in form of tests and assignments keeps us in touch with the academics which ultimately reduces the burden for final preparation. The long readings are often neglected by the students, and when they finally come across the study material two days before the exam, they freak out. With internals one becomes familiar with the text, and instead of last-minute cramming students actually pause and learn. Also, since marks are awarded for attendance, this provision encourages more and more students to turn up.

Another benefit of Internal Assessment is that, if a student is failing by one or two marks, the teacher can sympathetically increase the internal assessment score.
However on the flip side, many students believe that Internal Assessment is nothing, but incessant nagging of work. Even though assignments are supposed to span across the semester, what ends up happening is teachers concentrate all work in last few weeks. When three-term papers with 3000-word limit are assigned just a few days back, students have no other choice but to shamelessly indulge in plagiarism. Therefore, most people those who turn up the assignments do it for the sake of it. Many students also question the need for tests in the middle of the semester when they ultimately have to write final exams.

This time, first week of October was declared as the Internal Assessments week in many Delhi University colleges. It is impossible not to question the logic behind this system. Mugging up facts to spill out on empty sheets over a course of one week is as good as not appearing for tests in the first place, except the marks are an easy catch. Most students would rather opt the easy way out and complete the required assignment, pulling all-nighters, regardless of the knowledge gained in the process. According to Nivvedhitha Shankar, a second year student of Commerce from Jesus and Mary College, a prerogative of case studies for internals can help both the parties involved. Students can learn in the process, and teachers can devise new and innovative ways to ensure students score well. Putting equal impetus on assignments and case studies can go hand-in-hand, and can give students the outlet to apply theoretical concepts in real life.
Similarly, the 5 marks alloted for attendance mark a controversial grey-zone in the ambiguous clout. The intention was to recognise regularity and discipline in students, but it more or less fails at that. In many DU colleges, professors care little about attendance marks and mark very leniently. Some professors can be equally uptight regarding attendance matters. There can be a major difference in scores because of these 5 marks. A meritorious student who is keen on participating in competitions and attending conferences may feel helpless. Despite his/ her ability to finish the syllabus quickly, there is always an added pressure of losing marks on the pretext of attendance.

However much we praise or neglect internals, they are here to stay. Our best shot is to question regressive methods of teaching and hopefully not get penalised for the same.

Feature Image Credits: India Unimagined

 

Niharika Dabral
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Vijeata Balani
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DUB Speak

Our Stance On Women’s Safety: Post Nirbhaya Case

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The Delhi gang-rape shook the entire country urging people to question themselves on women safety and women empowerment in India. So let’s see how far have we really come along since then.

The horror of Nirbhaya rape case is still fresh in the minds of Indians. Shame, embarrassment and disgust is all one is reminded of when one thinks of the incident. This urged people to come out on the streets in anger and remorse protesting against sexual harassment. It highlighted the degree of danger women need to deal with and more importantly, the need to make the country a safer place for women.

It did have some immediate impacts:  the 2013 Criminal Law Amendment Act, also known as Nirbhaya Law introduced a minimum 20-year-sentence for gang-rape culprits and those who are found guilty could now be given a death penalty. This was a big step taken by the Indian government to ensure adequate punishment to such offenders. The government defined acid attack as a crime with a minimum sentence of 10 years that could be extended to life in the 2013 Amendment Act. Also, the government made acid attack a non-bailable offense with a provision to pay Rs. 3,50,000 to the victims within 15 days.

Taking a stance on sexual harassment, the 2013 Women at the Workplace Act has given protection against sexual harassment to all women in the workplace, including those informal industries and domestic workers. Also, stalking or voyeurism crimes are non-bailable which earlier were bailable. The introduction of new laws focusing on women safety and maximum punishment for offenders. These laws try to cover as many ways as possible to minimize the various possible risks and crimes towards women. However, these laws and the rigidity towards the issue seem to have made little impact. Statistical data show that rape cases in India moved up from 24,923 in 2012 to 34,651 in 2015. According to NCRB, conviction rates in Delhi went down from 49.25% in 2012 to 29.37% in 2015. However, Delhi Police released a stat showing that the conviction rate has increased 5.4% from 2012 to 2015.
The Modi government launched the ‘I Feel Safe’ app, a personal safety app which is accessible even without data connection. The app was launched in 2016. The app places automatic call to 100 and tracks the location of the person in distress within 30 seconds. As per a report by Quint, published in 2016, sexual assault cases in Delhi have tripled since 2012.

Even after so many years of debate, discussion, the ‘apparent’ progress, stats reveal that we are nowhere near achieving the goal of women safety. In fact, we are worse off. Highlighting the matter does not mean that the matter is being solved. It can never be solved until it is confined to change of laws and introduction of apps. There will be a difference only when there is a change in our mentality. Yes, such things take time but we need to first move in the right direction. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Feature Image Credits: The Time Magazine

 

Karan Singhania
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DUB Speak

Do These If You Are Away from Home This Diwali

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If you are planning not to go back home this Diwali, you should definitely try the following so that your holiday doesn’t go to waste.

The festival of lights is already here, having enlightened people to make their plans for this Diwali. The sight of the earthen ‘diyas’ brings smile to the faces that look forward to light them. The entire idea of bursting crackers makes up for the most memorable moments of everyone’s childhood. The variety in the scent of the mouth-watering dishes that overpowers the breeze- become the harbinger of the guiltless cheat.

However, if you are planning on staying or are staying away from home this Diwali; you will be in need of the some suggestions. This is because despite consoling oneself of one’s capability to spend through the festive days. It becomes tough: the thoughts of the past have this tendency of haunting you, making you miss your friends and family, thereby, filling you with a sense of regret of the decision of staying alone.

1) Join your relatives:
This should top your list if you are lucky enough to have relatives in the same city as you are living in. This is equal to spending time with your family. Moreover, cousins make up for the best match to spend a festival with; you might recall your childhood memories, play card games and most importantly, have home-made food, something that most people are unfortunate to miss out on.

2) Spend some me-time:
This will definitely work for you if you are a loner kind of a person. The best part of staying away from home is the luxury of being able to give yourself time and perch upon the thoughts that otherwise you would have been unable to do with all those doting relatives surrounding you. You can either watch a movie and order good food or just sleep the entire day and do nothing. This is definitely not less than nirvana!

3) Volunteer at charitable homes:
This might be a good way to spend the Diwali if you are missing the company of your loved ones. You might foster some new and exciting bond with people who will have really interesting stories to tell. Moreover you will contribute and help bring light to the life of people living in the margins. These neglected people living in reduced circumstances are not able to spend this festive time as they rightfully deserve to. The smile that you will bring on their faces might bring you a lot of joy and happiness. As everyone says a little good deed goes a long distance.

4) Getaways on a limited budget: There are a lot of good places to visit near Delhi. These trips can be covered in a day or two on a very limited budget. There won’t be a better time to take a trip that you have long been planning to but are unable to because of the busy schedule. You can visit Lansdowne, McLeod Ganj, Kasauli, Surajkund or any other place. This getaway will help you rejuvenate yourself especially as semester exams are not far off and you will need to start preparing as soon as Diwali ends.

5) Explore the city:
If you don’t want to take a trip there are many other options that you can try. Delhi itself has a lot of beautiful places and monuments that you can go out and explore. You can take your camera and capture these beautiful places. Being alone has an advantage that you are not dependant on someone else to make a plan. Other than that you can indulge yourself in some shopping. Who does not like spending money on clothes and food?

So we hope that you seize the day and enjoy this Diwali at its fullest.

Image Credits: Fsquare Fashion

 

Shrija Ganguly
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Anukriti Mishra
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Events

Mental Health Foundation and AIIMS organise India’s first Mental Health Festival

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On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Mental Health Foundation (India) in association with the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS organised India’s first Mental Health Festival. With the tagline, “Art has the power to liberate your soul”, the daylong event saw an array of creative activities and art forms revolving around stress, emotional well being, trauma, and mental disorders.

The festival started with lighting of the lamp ceremony by Prof. R Guleria, Director of The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences. Then Dr. Nand Kumar, Organising Chairperson, and Shri Anil Aggarwal, Chairman of Ramjas College, addressed the audience and congratulated the organizers for the noble initiative.

The first event of the day was a vibrant dance performance by Four Steps India, a psycho-educational and therapeutic center. Dancing to the tunes of “Taare Zameen Par”, the special kids enthralled the audience and spread the message of ‘Disability is not an Inability’.

This was followed by a thought-provoking act performed by Zaahir, the dramatics society of Mental Health Foundation (India). The play spread a strong message of following your passion despite the societal expectations by charting the journey of a girl Saumya, who grew out of self-harm and achieved self-acceptance.

Later, an informative debate moderate by Dr. Saurabh Singh discussed the pros and cons of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences talked about the Act from a patient as well as policy perspective. They also discussed the decriminalization of suicide and how over 50 million Indians who live with some form of mental illness suffer due to lack of awareness among the masses.

After the debate, the much-awaited dance completion took place. After clearing the preliminary rounds, two teams contested for the win. Advaita – the dance society of Keshav Mahavidyalaya tapped to the beats of peppy Bollywood hits, while the second team consisting of two dancers Ayushi and Vani gave a beautiful Bharatnatyam performance. The competition was judged by Mr. Prashant Sisodia, Entertainment Editor at NDTV.

At noon, the iconic Bharatnatyam dancer and Padam Shri awardee, Ms. Geeta Chandran graced the Mental Health Festival in the capacity of a Chief Guest. She spoke about how Indian classical dance reinforced positivity in her life. Natya Vriksha, a dance company founded by Ms. Geeta herself also gave a captivating dance performance which received a hearty applause.

The last event before the break was a symposium, moderated by Mr. Sanjeev Upadhyaya, which brought out varied viewpoints on the topic- Mental Health in the Workplace.  One of the panelists, Mr. Rajeev Chandran, Global Head of Accenture’s Leadership programme asserted that corporates must treat mental fatigue as a legitimate medical cause. Mr. Kaunain Sheriff, a senior correspondent of Indian Express, spoke about the stress that journalists are facing after the advent of social media in newsrooms. Overall, it was a very insightful discussion.

After the break concluded, the event continued with the same zeal with the Poetry Slam Competition, ‘Words Will Set You Free’. Participants from various colleges performed their moving pieces of the spoken word, that was followed by a special performance by slam maestro and jury memeber, Diksha Bijlani.

This was followed by public lecture and panel discussion, again, on the topic, ‘Mental Health at Workplace’ which was presented by AIIMS. The lecture was aided by an informative slide show and the focus of the discussion was on how mental illness should be recognised in the workplace, just like physical illness is. This event was followed by a short tea break in the foyer.

Right after, the fest resumed with the exciting Music Competition, ‘Creating Symphonies on the Go’ which had three excellent performances lined up by artists from different genres. The competition was judged by Ms Kamakshi Khanna and Ms Mandakini and was enjoyed thourougly by the audience.

The last event of the night was the closing performance by Manzil Mystics, choir group who performs traditional and folk Indian music. The group enthralled the audience and brought India’s first Mental Health Festival to an end.

 

Feature Image Credits: Shivam Sharma

Niharika Dabral
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Anagha Rakta
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Arts & Culture

Celebrate Diwali This Year By Visiting These 6 Great Diwali Melas!

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Diwali is that time of year when the entire campus lights up with frolic and festivity. And this time, the festivity is expected to be better and bigger than ever, with various colleges planning grand Diwali melas.

With seasonal festivities around the corner and the mid-semester break having just ended, it’s time to recuperate in a fun manner. Diwali melas serve this very purpose, reminding everyone that the festival is about more than just bursting crackers and spreading pollution. DU Beat interacted with the representatives of a few organising teams of various colleges to ask them what makes their Diwali mela different from the others’. Here are their responses:

Suruchi, Hindu College (12th October, 11 a.m. onwards)

It is innovative because the decoration on display is made entirely out of waste material, particularly using the pamphlets from Mecca, Hindu College’s annual fest, and Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections. The mela provides an opportunity for the blind society to set up a stall, from which all proceeds go towards underprivileged students and individuals in nearby slums.

 

Diwali Mela, Hansraj College (11th October, 12 p.m. onwards)

Just like in previous years, this year too, all the proceeds from the Diwali mela campaign will go towards an educational trip for the students of Padhaku, the educational wing of NSS, Hansraj College. Many fun events and games have been planned out for the attendees, including a special surprise that would be revealed on the day itself.

 

Zistatva, Gargi College (11th October, 9:30 a.m. onwards)

Grand celebrations have been planned this year, including an inauguration ceremony with the chief guest, Somnath Bharti, and special performances that would be put on a showcase for the event, alongside fun pre-jitter events that were held on 10th October.

 

Sparsh, Jesus and Mary College (12th October, 10 a.m. onwards)

This annual fiesta, organised by NSS JMC, is expected to be bigger and better this year, as JMC has entered its golden jubilee year and celebrations for the same have begun in full swing. From fashionable items and scrumptious delicacies for everyone, many NGOs will also put up self-made products for sale.

 

Aashayein, Kirori Mal College (12th October, 11 a.m. onwards)

Organised by Sahyog, which aims to empower underprivileged children under NSS KMC, this event will be a fun affair. Many activities have been planned for the day, including treasure hunts, beg-borrow-steal, rangoli making, and golgappa eating competitions.

 

Noor, Lady Shri Ram College for Women (14th October, 9 a.m. onwards)

The theme for this year’s mela is ‘Dastagiri’, which means ‘helping’. Apart from NGOs putting up stalls, there will also be a special kids’ corner with activities and refreshments dedicated specifically to them. There will also be a cultural programme where children from various NGOs would be given a platform to engage with the audience through singing, acting, dancing, or anything else which they would like to showcase. However, men above the age of 14 are not allowed at this fair.

 
Feature Image Credits: NSS, Jesus and Mary College

Vijeata Balani

 

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Arts & Culture

Unmasking the Privileged Classes in Delhi University

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Known for the diversity of its student community, the University of Delhi ends up masking the dominance of the privileged in its spaces by not addressing the emptiness of the concept of merit.

Despite the perpetual complaints of corruption and inefficiency within public institutions and government offices, public higher education institutions continue to be icons of (relative) integrity in India. Government colleges regularly top the lists of best institutions in the country. Unlike private institutions for one, they seemingly are based on merit alone rather than unscrupulous “donations” and have a sense of legitimacy associated with them. The University of Delhi is no exception, with it painting a picture of being socially progressive with its apparently diverse crowds from all over the country.

However, a simple examination of the makeup of the student body shows a different side. While the geographical diversity holds up to an extent, it shows a dominance of those from urban areas. This is important for a seemingly inclusive institution, considering the fact that about 70% of the population lives in rural area, and is also indicative of the obvious dearth of facilities in rural areas. Socially, a look at the merit list shows the disproportionate lack of lower caste and minority religions. An article by Nidhin Shobana pointed to her similar observations of the alumni list of Miranda House and is worth a look.

Even without the statistics, encounters with the caste/class privilege are routine and invisible. If you had lived in a big city, chances are you probably have a few schoolmates in the University, too. Or, there must be other students in the University from your city, from the same circle of three or four top schools of that city. Or, maybe you’ve had instances where you’ve run into an old classmate/neighbour/family friend on the University campus, wondered “What a small world!”, and left it at that. If you ask those who do not belong to your social strata, however, it turns out that these chance meetings and coincidences have their frequencies going down as one’s social standing goes down.

Of course, this is not a sweeping generalisation. There is no total dominance. It does seem odd, though, that most people who seem to do well as per the narrow definitions of marks scored are of a numerically minuscule class, and will probably also dominate corporate and administrative fields when they leave these institutions. Even worse, there seems to be no conversation on this unfair dominance that hides diabolically in the name of “merit”.

A quick activity can illustrate the point that this article is trying to make – we urge our readers to ask within their respective classes, students who are Dalits and Bahujans, to raise their hands. The few hands will speak for itself.  Premier institutions of the country, like the ones within the University of Delhi, reek of the hegemony of the Brahmin-Savarna class. Merit isn’t the sole reason that lands them within the confines of such colleges, but the perpetual cycle of a fairy advantageous existence because of their social standing within the larger society. It is the ugly truth that we must confront. It is the norm that has dictated the corridors of such colleges for decades now. Nidhin Shobana’s article, speaks of the same.

So, the next time you hear someone in the university merrily quip, ‘what a small world’, pat them on their backs and ask them to think twice.

 

Feature Image Credits – Fuccha.in

 

Ankita Dhar Karmakar
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Rishika Singh
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Hindu College

Hindu College Under Fire for Sexist Poster

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On the morning of 4th October, an image was posted by Pinjra Tod – a collective against the sexist and discriminatory practices in higher educational institutions – on its Facebook page. The image was of a poster from Hindu College, which said “Hindu mein Maal aur Maal dono milta hai”. In Hindi, the word “maal” is a slang term that is used to either refer to women in an objectifying manner, or to refer to narcotic substances.

An excerpt from Pinjra Tod’s caption sums up the view of those aghast at the language used in the poster thusly: “The many ways in which patriarchy reinforces itself every day in our campuses to convey the message that we may be studying in a university, we may be sitting in classes together, but women are to be primarily seen as sexual objects of exchange amongst men.” The poster almost seems to be bragging about the presence of women in the college, who are apparently not to be treated as equals or as peers of same intellectual calibre, but primarily as objects for men to lust over. Women are used here in the same breath as addictive substances, indicating that both are objects for pleasure. What adds to the whole issue is the fact that the poster was used during a Freshers’ party, and was probably one of the first messages that the new students picked up from their seniors regarding women’s place and perception in the institute. Universities are meant to widen horizons regarding thinking openly, but the regressive poster seems to be contributing towards promoting the opposite.

The Prime Minister of the college’s student union, Brijesh Tiwari, issued a statement that condemned the incident on Facebook. An excerpt from it said, “The Hindu College Parliament unanimously condemns the usage of such shamelessly gendered and misogynist phrases on campus or anywhere else. We at the Parliament consider it our utmost endeavour to arrive at a stage of gender equality, withering of misogynist practices and tendencies, and an overall climate of equal opportunities for all genders. We recognise how such phrases and their usage become an impediment in trying to achieve all of the above. The Parliament ensures that it will do its best to nip all such practices in the bud and to ensure that the student-driven crusade against misogyny must never be weakened.” Further, administrative lapses on part of the organisers and “deeply entrenched” misogyny that is “not a new innovation” were blamed.

This is, however, not the first instance of discrimination and sexism in Hindu College. Back in August, women students protested the administration over the differences in the hostel fees for men and women. The newly opened women’s hostel, in the college’s 118-year history, charged its residents more than double the fees charged from the men.

 

Image Credits: Pinjra Tod

Rishika Singh
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News

18% GST on Educational Institutions, DU Professors Want a Rollback

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Professors from the University of Delhi want the removal of the Goods and Services Tax which is applicable on academic activities such as application forms, examination fees, and entrance fees.

Former President of Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and a professor at the Department of Social Sciences, Aditya Narayan Mishra has already written to the Union Human Resource Development Minister Mr. Prakash Javadekar to reconsider charging the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from students as it will ‘burden’ the students by making education inaccessible.

“The imposition of the 18 per cent GST on the admission and examination forms for the young trying to get admission in universities, on the other hand, is nothing but education denied to those coming from economically weaker and backward sections of the Indian society,” reads the letter written to the union minister. “Please withdraw GST on students’ fees immediately and make education inclusive,” Mishra said in the letter.

The GST, India’s biggest reform tax, passed as an act in the Lok Sabha on 27 March 2017, finally coming into effect across the country on 1st July 2017.

With a motive to make the taxation process simpler by eliminating the concept of multiple taxations, the GST is all set to strike the education sector as well. A lion’s share of the economy is fulfilled by the quality education and high levels of literacy. However, the way the tax will affect the education process makes the faculty of most Delhi University colleges apprehensive.

The faculty is protesting against the imposition of 18% of GST being levied on admission as well as examination forms for students across universities, claiming it will slow down the social transformation of students.

Teachers claim this move will neglect the economic situation of the students and their parents, who are working as watchmen, security guards, or are engaged in other menial jobs. “The government needs to make higher education accessible to youth, treat it as an instrument for upliftment for those unable to afford it. My students have expressed their parents’ inability to afford higher education if they have to pay money at every stage,” said Rajesh Jha, a professor at Rajdhani College to India Today.

The professor’s sentiments echo the feelings of most of the underprivileged parents of this country, those who wish to send their children to premier government institutions but are unable to given their financial restrictions. “The country’s goal must be to make education as accessible as possible, but with further taxation on university fees, it seems to defeat the purpose”, commented a former professor from the University of Delhi.

“Given how caste and class politics plague the inclusion of so called ‘lower caste’ people into the educational premises due to being enmeshed in the vicious cycle of caste privilege, the government’s move on taxation isn’t quite smart, it only manages to marginalise the already marginalised”, opines a former student from Miranda House.

 

Feature Image Credits: India TV Paisa

Ankita Dhar Karmakar
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DUB Speak

A Love Letter to Girls’ Colleges – The Torchbearers of Feminism

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Gargi, Daulat Ram, Kamala Nehru, Lady Shri Ram, and other girls’ colleges are not just institutions of higher education for women – they are symbols of resilience and strength; they are icons of feminism. 

The role of women’s colleges is to provide a space for women to learn and grow. These safe spaces help us tap into our hidden potential, which had earlier been buried by the heteronormative gender norms present all around us. Women are acutely aware of the baggage that comes with being women. The amount of scrutiny and censure that we go through across our lives is shocking. We are so accustomed, so numb to this omnipresent censorship, that we come to know of its existence only when it has been lifted. When college life began and I came to experience the freedom that came with being in a girls’ college, then and only then did I realise exactly how much I had been stifled by the outside world. Everything from our appearance and clothing, our language and behaviour, our social habits and ways of life, invite intrigue. We are ever so conscious of every aspect of our being and existence simply because we know we are constantly judged for it. Gargi College, Maitreyi College, Daulat Ram College, Miranda House, and every other women’s college out there in Delhi University and across the rest of the country does not just represent a place where women pursue higher education; these colleges act as symbols of strength, attesting to the resilience of women.

When students protested last year in my college, I saw women beating huge drums, chanting slogans and sitting in the sun for hours, without their spirit breaking because they were fighting for a greater cause. I learnt from professors who introduced me to feminist literature and to capitalism’s role in the subjugation of women, who made me write lengthy papers on how women had been relegated to a minor role for centuries. These conversations happen in co-educational institutions of higher education and I am more than certain that most of them do an excellent job talking about the aforementioned issues. But anyone who has set foot in a girls’ college knows that the walls of these colleges hum with the words Gloria Steinem and Mahasweta Devi. Conversation about feminism and gender roles is not limited to the classroom. Society practices, canteen breaks, and casual conversation revolve around topics that are not discussed enough in mainstream media and popular culture.

Another gift that a girls’ college education gave me was the gift of real life idols and heroines. My professors with their deep sense of idealism and duty turned out to be the most admirable of people who command immense respect. There were occasions when I all but wanted to climb on top of my desk and shout “O Captain! My Captain!” because of how fierce these lectures were. College presidents, seniors, classmates all turned into real life idols who constantly served as examples of women who win. Life was one giant Pinterest board coming to life, with both interesting outfit ideas and life-changing quotes being available at the same time.

I have begun to slowly shed the decadent remains of oppressive societal norms and expectations. The environment of a girls’ college was so “woke” and aware that it changed who I was. It told me that my opinion was relevant, that I must not let small things slide by, that every jibe or sexist joke that I ignore and do not call out contributed to a larger cycle of sexism and misogyny. A greater sense of self-esteem and pride came with learning in such a positive environment. As I carried heavy desks or climbed ladders to put up hoardings and banners – tasks which I hadn’t done before because they were traditionally physically challenging tasks automatically assigned to men – I realised how gender norms had limited and caged my potential. The realisation of my physical strength is merely a metaphor for every lesson that I learnt while being in a girls’ college. The idea of certain jobs being done by men and others by women is so deeply ingrained in our culture that we don’t really question it or realise how problematic it is. Recognising gender roles and actively fighting them was another life lesson that college taught me.

But it’s not all fair and sunny in the land of girls’ colleges. These colleges are often targets of various jokes being circulated on DU-related unofficial social media pages. Girls’ colleges are portrayed as gloomy places where the greatest concern that the student body has is the absence of men. Not only do such jokes undermine what these institutions stand for but also try to distill and limit the essence of our college life to the lack of interaction with members of the opposite gender. Ergo, men continue to influence and largely dictate the narrative surrounding our colleges even when they are not part of them. Not only that, recently, certain Facebook pages sharing DU-related content have been circulating problematic posts regarding girls’ colleges. These posts at best reiterate pre-existing negative stereotypes about girls’ colleges and at worst express outright violence, ridicule, and hate. This shows how our colleges are now under the same kind of scrutiny and judgment that we once were. It also tells us that the battle is far from won.

The respite gained by entering these institutions is temporary. The walls of these safe spaces shall not be home to us forever; life will once again go back to being what it once was when we graduate. The fight for gender equality will not be won by creating safe spaces for women in every street and corner. On the contrary, by reclaiming what is ours – the streets and public spaces and parks and libraries and markets – then and only then will we be able to truly live the way we want to. When co-educational colleges start talking about gender as frequently as people in girls’ colleges do, when these discussions do not just involve and concern women, then and only then will we truly be able to live in a free, liberated environment. Then we would not need safe havens from the outside world and the need and idea of educating people on the distinction of gender will die out. Perhaps then, girls’ colleges will lose their relevance, but they would fade out with glory, their contribution to the cause of feminism and in the fight for equality being fundamental.

 

Feature Image Credits: Debating Society of Daulat Ram College

Kinjal Pandey
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Features

What has the BHU Incident Been All About

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The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has been on the boil following alleged molestation of a student on 21stSeptember, by three men and the university officials refused to take action and blamed the victim, instead.

What have been the circumstances?

The protest is on going for quiet afew days. This began midnight on 21st September, Thursday, after three men riding on a motorbike molested a student, pursuingBachelor of Fine Arts degree of the Mahila Mahavidyala of BHU.

The alleged molesters hurled abuses, passed lewd remarks, and touched the victim inappropriately only a few metres from where a security guard was present. The girl, the protesters said, cried for help but the security guard did not move to make an attempt.

The girl was traumatised when she reached her hostel. When her hostel-mates gave her assurance, she narrated the entire incident to them. Concerned over everyday eve-teasing and frequent molestation of the girls on the campus, a group of students of the hostel went to report the matter to the warden.

The girls complain that instead of listening to their grievances, the warden blamed the victim for the incident. “What were you doing outside your hostel so late?” the warden allegedly asked the victim as reported by India Today.

Infuriated by the warden’s moral policing and indifferent stand, the girls sat on a dharna outside his office at around midnight on  21st September. The women staged a bigger dharna at the Lanka Gate of the BHU campus on  22nd September, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Varanasi.

22nd September was a stressful day:omen from other hostels and courses also joined the protest. The protesters demanded action from the Vice Chairman,Girish Chandra Tripathi, who wanted to meeta few of the protesting girls in his office chambers, as claimed by the women. “What happens is that the VC calls around 10 students and warns them against raising their demands. The students are suspended without giving a chance of resting their case. The matter ends there. We are concerned about our safety,” Akansha Singh, one of the girls who was protesting, told India Today.

Later, BHU issued a statement saying that the protest by the girls demanding safety on the campus was politically motivated. This comes into light although, unlike Delhi University or Jawaharlal Nehru University, BHU doesn’t have a students union. Teaching staff too don’t declare political affiliations.

After the violence on Saturday, the girls took out a silent march. But the police apparently had an issue with this as well, brutally chasing the protesters away, allegedly with batons. Yet the girls continued to lead the march, supported by many male students as well. The demands of the students were simple – they want installation of CCTV cameras, proper lighting of the campus and gender sensitisation of university staff and security personnel.

Did the administration do anything so far?

Beside making sexist and discriminatory statements (In an interview to The Indian Express, Tripathi justified the discriminatory policies against women students, particularly with regard to hostel curfews on the grounds that, “security for boys and girls can never be at par.”),U.P Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath sought a report from the commissioner of Varanasi on the entire episode.

The government has so far removed five officials for negligence of duty and transferred them to other places.An internal inquiry, found them responsible for alleged disturbance and violence, thus removed to ensure fair enquiry. Meanwhile, 1200 students have been booked for violence.

Chief Proctor, O.P Singh, resigned from his post, and the government appoints BHU’s first woman Chief Proctor, Royana Singh.

However, this is not a rare instance in Banaras Hindu University’s history. According to a report by Huffington Post, there has been a surge in cases related to sexual crimes and harassment in recent years, ever since the current Vice-Chancellor, Girish Chandra Tripathi, took office. In 2016, there were cases of sexual assault, including gang rape of a male student and complaints of harassment made even by female faculty members. The frequency of such severe crimes points to the authorities and administration’s lack of seriousness in addressing safety issues. This is particularly the case with women, who already face a spate of curfews and curtailment of freedoms. Calling these restrictions ‘strict’ would be a understatement, for they apparently treat adult women like tender creatures of pristineness and purity, who shouldn’t go out to for their own safety. Consider some of the statements of the Vice-Chancellor, like “Consumption of non-vegetarian food makes women impure according to the Malviya values,” “Girls who study in the night are immoral,” and “Don’t think like a journalist, think like a father. Think of what ‘appropriate clothes’ would mean to a father,’’ upon being asked what constitutes “appropriate clothes” in this Youth Ki Awaaz interview, where his sexism is on open display. Through absurd rules like no phone calls post 10 p.m., no internet connection in rooms, and deadlines on venturing out, in the name of “protecting women”, they are being robbed off their freedom. Depriving a whole section of the society from thinking for themselves and allowing them the same freedoms as men is deplorable, and it is even more shameful when it happens in the constituency of the same man who tweeted, “Women empowerment is crucial to India’s growth. Days of seeing women as ‘home makers’ have gone, we have to see women as nation builders”.  Keeping aside the dismissal of homemakers for a moment, one is presumed to think that the way things are, “nation-building” will only be done till 8p.m. – the hostel curfew time.

 

Feature Image Credits: The Indian Express

Rishika Singh
[email protected]

Ankita Dhar Karmakar
[email protected]

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