On Friday morning, 5th March 2021, the CM of Punjab, Captain Amrinder Singh wrote to the Union Education Minister asking him to disaffiliate the SGTB Khalsa College from the Delhi University, and instead affiliate it to the Punjab University.

Earlier this week, the CM of Andhra Pradesh had also written to the Union Education Minister, asking him to affiliate Sri Venkateswara College to Andhra University. In a similar pattern, on 5th March 2021, the CM of Punjab has also urged the Union Education Minister to affiliate SGTB Khalsa College to Punjab University. CM had allegedly written that it would help strengthen the state’s higher education system, increasing the country’s education merit as a whole.

The government is all set to hold a round table meeting with the admins of all the universities involved to decide the fate of these colleges. However, nothing has been specified by the Delhi University’s administration or by the government regarding this matter.

I don’t even know how to react to this. It’s such an absurd idea. I don’t think the government or the DU admin should entertain these applications by inviting them for a round table meeting. I’ll not be surprised if the CM of Haryana claims Ramjas College next. What’s even more irritating is the fact that the DU admin is clarifying none of the details, no information or no official notice has been released to date.

Ashok Mehta, a professor from SGTB Khalsa College

Delhi University’s acting VC has assured the students to not panic and wait for the official decision. The students are actively staging protests against the administration. The student council of Khalsa College has called for a protest on Monday outside the college main gate. They also have plans to demonstrate outside the acting VC’s residence. Moreover, students from SVC are now protesting alongside the students from SGTB Khalsa College. They are boycotting classes, signing petitions and mailing the VC about their concerns.

Khalsa College has been affiliated to the Delhi University since 1951, from the very beginning. How can the Punjab Government expect Delhi University to give up one of its colleges to Punjab University? It just doesn’t make any sense. Moreover, there’s so much confusion about everything. Nobody has clarity over the issue.

Jashanpreet Singh, a third-year student from SGTB Khalsa College.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Read also- Bazinga: DU Declares DU Beat as its Official Newspaper

Featured image credits: Shiksha

Harsh Paliwal

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DU announced the acquisition of DU Beat into its Department of Journalism. Read on as we talk to the Humans of DU Beat and gauge how they are responding to the change.

The Delhi University administration took everyone by surprise as they announced the merger of the student-run newspaper, DU Beat (DUB) into their formal structure. The decision was announced in a press conference by the acting Vice-Chancellor, P.C. Joshi. The process is expected to be finished by the end of March.

“DUB has become an indispensable part of campus life. Seeing them grow this far from a reader’s perspective makes me feel so proud. Kudos to the whole team,

says a Political Science student from Lady Shri Ram College.

Started in October 2007, DUB began as an independent newspaper covering the issues around campus. Over the years, the newspaper has grown manifold and emerged as a formidable voice of the youth.

 “DUB has successfully worked independently for 15 years and now we are pretty excited for this new direction we are taking under the aegis of the Department of Journalism, Delhi University. It will be interesting to work with the experienced members of the University and use the available resources to expand and grow. We have high hopes for the organisation and are confident about this new journey,”

said the Editor-in-Chief of DU Beat, Sakshi Arora .

The Department of Journalism, Delhi University is well-known across the lengths and breadths of the country for its superior quality of education and hands-on approach to education.

However, certain student groups were quick to raise questions about how this merger could potentially compromise the quality of journalism at DU Beat. The rationale behind the merger is to maintain a strong connection with the voice of the students to make the University a healthy and welcoming space for all. The varsity has decided to not intervene in the newspaper’s day-to-day functioning but will just provide the newspaper with the required resources and expertise.

Many within DUB themselves were startled by the development while others called it a manifestation that came true.

“We were very surprised when we heard this piece of news. I am glad that Delhi University has recognised our efforts as a student journalist platform. We are looking forward to this move!”

Said Saanjh Shekhar, Copy-Editor at DU Beat.

“DUB is truly the heartbeat of everyone in DU. From their sizzling purple posts on Instagram to their articles and reports, it has held us together for so many years. I have had the best experience working with it and this piece of news gives me joy. And I would say the recipe of it has been: hard work, perseverance, exotic ideas and content (and losing some sleep)!” 

Navneet Kaur, a correspondent at DU Beat.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Read also: https://dubeat.com/2021/01/bazinga-du-makes-it-compulsory-to-hold-online-cultural-fests/

Image Credits: DU Beat Archives

Mehul Joshi

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As you enter college for the first time, you feel anxious about your old wardrobe. Read ahead for some fashion tips and tricks to overcome it!

As soon as you enter college, choosing the right clothes for your wardrobe becomes a challenge. School and wardrobe is however an oxymoron. What clothing details did we have in school for that matter? Only that monochromatic skirt, white shirt, or black/green pants. Thus, hating your old wardrobe in college is a natural emotion. But don’t throw everything away, just yet! Here are some tips for your wardrobe from a fellow DU student.

That Farewell Saree? Keep it.

This one is for those who wore saree on school farewell for the first time: DU and sarees have a beautiful relationship. Sarees will become a quintessential clothing component of college wardrobe. Right from your college’s Diwali Mela to the traditional day of DU fest or your farewell. Saree will be needed a lot. So don’t discard either your annual function’s or farewell’s saree. You can rejuvenate it by wearing different blouses.

Treasure your MUN suits

If you have done debating and attended Model United Nations (MUN) conferences in school, those black, blue, navy and brown formals that you wore will be needed in college too. You may join the MUN circle of your college or simply sit in an internship interview. Thus, don’t fight with the formals that you already have. You can give them a new look by pairing them with new shirts, but keep the foundational suits intact.

The Delhi/DU Fad 

As an outstation student, I was always anxious about what the “Delhi fashion” would be like. So as a first-hand note, I suggest freshers not to over-buy many things from their hometown. That’s because most clothes lose their shine amongst DU fashion. A better option is to only keep essentials like jeans, shirts, leggings, tops, etc. Rather buying things from local Delhi markets like Sarojini Nagar and that too at economical rates can prove to be more lucrative. Besides that, don’t fret too much over what people around you are wearing. Pick your own style.

Mix-Matching is the Key 

Your war-peace relationship with your old wardrobe shouldn’t delusion you into believing that it’s not worthwhile. In college, people mostly do things in a DIY way. Someone will be seen wearing jhumkas with jeans. Others will be seen wearing saree with shoes. Yet it all looks beautiful. Thus, freshers, you shouldn’t be worried about investing in paired or expensive clothes. Just go about accessorising your outfits. If you have an old top, you can pair it up with new earrings that you can buy.

Footwear and Top Wear

Lastly, it’s advised that you beautify your college wardrobe by mostly investing in top or footwear. Top wear is one thing that catches everyone’s eyes just like your heels, sneakers, boots, etc. So keep your old jeans with you and try only buying new tops. That’s because only footwear and top wear undergo drastic fashion changes.

So if your little first-year tummy is getting anxious, ask it to calm down. College fashion is mostly flexible and you will find peace with your wardrobe easily!

Read also: https://dubeat.com/2019/09/auburn-umbrella-the-pervasive-print-culture/

Image Credits: Fabindia

Navneet Kaur 

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The Delhi University administration announced that they would reduce the syllabus for the freshers by 30% for them to be able to manage their studies during the lockdown. 

On 19 February 2021, Delhi University released a notification in which they announced that they would reduce 30 per cent of the syllabus for first-year students for all the courses. The reason for this which was stated in the notification was that students did not have any classroom experience and the shift from school to college in a virtual setup was tough for them.

While contacting first-year students, a sense of relief was observed amongst everyone as most of the students were very worried as to how they would be able to cope with the increasing pressure of studies while focusing on co-curricular in college as well.

“This is huge news, we weren’t totally expecting this at all!!! I am really thankful for the DU to implement this change considering the fact that adjusting to college is tough in the 1st place only and now we are in a pandemic, hence focusing on academics is getting really tough.“

Anonymous Student of Hansraj College, 1st Year 

Many students were surprised about the fact that the administration went ahead and agreed to implement this change considering the fact that there was no demand from the students as such, but still, the administration went ahead and took this decision.

“I am really shocked that the DU administration went ahead and took this decision by themselves considering the fact that there was no aggressive protest made regarding this. It is really heartening to see that the DU administration is actually concerned about the well being of the students. I have never seen DU make a decision like this in my college life ever.“

Anonymous Student of Miranda House, 2nd Year 

Professors are also happy with this decision as they are also finding it hard to introduce college curriculum to 1st-year students virtually and for them, this burden has been slightly reduced too.

We also contacted a professor of a distinguished college in DU as well to understand her perspective on this issue.

“I am really happy with this decision since everyone in our college’s faculty was finding it really difficult to help students adjust to the curriculum of the college. This decision by the administration has made our job much easier.”

Professor, Delhi University 

For many students and professors, this is a concern, as well as most of them, feel that the students might miss out on the curriculum which they were looking forward to studying and which might help in their studies for 2nd year.

“This is a very callous move from the administration? Have they even thought about what to remove from the syllabus and what not to? And also what about the fact that the students are being derived from the education which is their right and which they might need for the future? These are the questions which the administration seriously needs to focus upon.”

2nd Year Anonymous Student, Delhi University 

DU has officially not released any details about what should be removed from the syllabus and what should not be removed. This news has garnered mixed reaction across all the spectrums, but it is to be seen whether or not it is ultimately beneficial for the 1st year students.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Read also: https://dubeat.com/2020/12/bazinga-du-to-reopen-colleges-for-next-semester/

Featured Image Credits: DU Beat Archives 

Sloka Roy

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f 2020 wasn’t a reminder enough, read on to know why love is so much more than its two-dimensional V-Day’s interpretation and deserves to be celebrated beyond it.

A Roman priest, Hindu College’s infamous ‘Damdami Mai,’ and Archies’ busiest days of the year all have one thing in common – Valentine’s Day! Like every holiday involving greeting cards, it’s- heteronormative, commercial, and reeks of privilege. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be so.

In a pre-pandemic world, most students would have confessed that it is hard to take a break and spend time with those you love, and the pandemic has done a great job of making people grateful for their friendships and relationships. However, some of us won’t need much time to fall back to our old ways – only hoping and wishing for some time to ourselves, or with the people, we really want to be with, rather than actually making it happen.

The hectic schedule of online classes, coupled with regular society ‘meetings,’ and the never-ending burden of internals and assignments add to the monotonous cycle of weeks passing by (did we even realise that January 2020 is already over?!). Before another semester passes by under the garb of binge-watching and mindless scrolling, it might be a good idea to make use of this Valentine’s Day to finally get that self-care session done after a long day of online classes or plan an open-air picnic with friends or family who you’ve been dying to meet since March last year (celebrate responsibly in COVID times).

For us, students, this time of the year is ideal to get on the bandwagon of Valentine’s Day-derivative holidays that are springing up all over the place, without necessarily subverting the traditional connotations of the day – celebrating a “Palentine’s Day” where you get together with friends to cook and eat your favourite food or “Galentine’s Day” for an all gal-pal trip to your favourite hangout spot. These may seem frivolous at the outset, but trying out new recipes or revisiting old memories with your friends outside of your Instagram story archives can be a great way to spend the ‘day of love.’

Having fun and enjoying yourself shouldn’t start and end on a day and can definitely be done in your own company. This V-Day, have a dose of self-affirmation and make it a point to pledge a few minutes of each day towards your health and well-being. This can be something as simple as spending a few moments being grateful and counting your blessings, or penning down your thoughts at the end of each day, or even starting a guided meditation routine. Start with something small that you think will make the next day a little better for you to take on.

Last but not least, remember that at the end of the day…this is just a day. Characterised by all the media brainwashing, the hyper-romantic portrayals, and the clichéd notions of love — bear in mind, that it is far from the reality of celebration of love. Make the most of the time on your hand to do something that you would truly enjoy and not something you’re made to think you’ll enjoy.

Read also: https://dubeat.com/2020/04/editorial-dealing-with-uncertainty-during-covid-19/

Bhavya Pandey

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