Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Author

DU Beat

Browsing
Arts & Culture

Leaders for Tomorrow Organises Youth Festival on Social Change

By

The largest youth festival on social change, DATE WITH DEVELOPMENT 2017, brought together over 6500 people and was organised on Wednesday, 5 April at Kamani Auditorium, Mandi House by Leaders For Tomorrow, a not for profit youth organisation.

Mr. Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, Delhi addressed the youth gathered at the event, engaging them in a conversation of how the youth can be a part of development and the role education plays in achieving this dream.

Youngsters from colleges across Delhi/NCR, including University of Delhi, Indraprastha University and other private colleges came together to celebrate young changemakers. The event was based on the theme of “India 2030: Achieving Development through SDGs” and was aimed at increasing the awareness among the youth about overcoming India’s development challenges.

The festival included panel discussions and sessions on achieving the sustainable development goals by Ms. Atishi Marlena (Advisor to Deputy Chief Minister), Dr. Ritesh Malik (Forbes Asia 30 under 30 Entrepreneur), Mr. Ankit Kawatra (Founder, Feeding India), Dr. Sanjai Bhatt (President, National Association of Professional Social Workers), Mr. Martand Shardul (Representative for Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth in South Asia) and Ms. Ritumoni Das (Co-founder, Katkatha).

The event also included cultural displays from different states and conducted final competitions in fifteen categories, including music band performance, opportunities fair, etc.

“It is very exciting to see so many young students here today, who have voluntarily come together. This shows that the youth wants to make a difference and that we are willing to work towards creating a better world”, said Mansi Saluja, one of the core organising team members of the event.

About Leaders for Tomorrow

Leaders For Tomorrow is a not for profit youth movement aimed at awakening the social consciousness of the youth by encouraging them in volunteerism and skill development. We work in the campuses to conduct social action events and leadership programmes to create true LEADERS FOR TOMORROW.

Youth Festival
Youth Festival

Contact details:

Prabhu Kunwar Singh              Chetna Saini

9971394831                                9255667466

Email: [email protected]

 

Image credits: Leaders for Tomorrow Team

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

The Destructive Wave of Flawed Feminism

By

It is often said that films are a representation of the real world and movie stars are very often the people we draw inspiration from and look up to. With the mass appeal they have, it is only natural to expect responsible and cautious statements from them, but a lot of times movie stars unconsciously end up saying statements which might be wrongly construed.

Mira Rajput added her name to the long list of celebrities speaking out the wrong thing. On being asked about choosing to stay at home with her daughter, Mira Rajput retorted,
“I am a housewife and wear that label with pride.” She said that her daughter Misha wasn’t a puppy and she didn’t want to spend just an hour a day with her and rush off to work.

The statement has triggered the fury of many feminists who took offence to her ‘new wave of feminism is destructive’ statement. They accused her of being regressive and having spoken from a position of privilege from where she failed to look at and understand the deeper dynamics of the circumstances under which women rush off to work and often do so to support their families. Her statement wasn’t well received and she was charged of belittling women who choose to not stay at home.

It is only human to err but all said and done, movie stars need to understand the profundity of their appeal and the influence they can have over people. As they say, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Image Credits: Mid Day.com
Akshara Srivastava
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Cultural Festivals

Highlights from Ullas 2017 at Kamala Nehru College

By

Ullas, Kamala Nehru College’s annual cultural fest, being held on 22nd and 23rd March 2017, began with a power-packed morning. There was an air of hustle bustle, along with several attendees who gathered within the college premises to give this much anticipated fest an energetic start.

The fest was inaugurated by Ms. Shikha Sharma, the CEO of Axis Bank and accompanied by the Principal, Dr. Kalpana Bhakuni. The inauguration consisted of lighting the lamp, followed by a keynote address by the chief guest and the Principal. After the fest was declared open, a variety of cultural events were all set to take place and enthral the audiences.

The enthralling western dance competition, Indian solo and group dance competition, and Indian choir competition were amongst the most popular events on the first day. The solo and group Indian classical dance event, hosted by Nupur, the Indian dance society of Kamala Nehru College, was one of the first events wherein the audience witnessed mesmerising dances from across the nation, be it Oddisi or Mohiniattam. The Indian music society of Kamala Nehru College, Sangeetika, held the Indian choir competition, which was a treat to the ears for all those who attended this musical morning consisting of ragas and taals. A thrilling event as always, the western dance competition had the entire auditorium packed to the brim, with students cheering for the participating teams. As the teams grooved along to catchy renditions of popular songs, the performances were a major hit.

indian-folk-dance ullas-winners indian-choir western-dance-competition

Day 1 ended with three musical performances by a number of celebrities. First, Hamsa Band got the audience all geared up and had them singing along to their renditions of popular Bollywood songs. Some of these included latest hits such as “Humma Humma” as well as some nostalgic numbers like “Hum Kis Galli Jaa Rahe Hain”.

Next up, Dhruv Sangari started the Sufiana Night with dim lights and soft sounds. After his soothing performance, the day was finally concluded by a performance from the renowned Nizami Brothers, who left the audience feeling calm and relaxed after such a full day. Ullas 2017 was off to a great start on its first day!

The second day of the annual cultural fest of Kamala Nehru College, Ullas’17, started off with the incredible performances of the Western Music Choirs of various colleges in the event Rhythm and Blues hosted by Zephyr, the Western  Music Society of Kamala Nehru College. Nrityakriti, a choreography competition curated by Adagio, the choreography society of Kamala Nehru College saw the participation of DU’s most exuberant dance creations which revolved around socially charged themes.

LaVogue, a fashion show competition organised by Glitz, the Fashion society of Kamala Nehru College saw glamour, poise and style of the best kind. The warm afternoon witnessed excited spirits with the electrifying performances exhibited at the Bass Drop, the band competition. The event saw motley of genres entertaining the crowd.

The musical high was carried forward by DJ Mash and Monkey Junk with the EDM evening. With groovy renditions, the contemporary hits mixed with adrenaline pumping beats were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

The two-day extravaganza pulled its curtains with the charged crowd dancing to the much-anticipated Star Night with the famous singer, Jubin Nautiyal, of ‘Humma Humma Again’ fame. As Ullas 2017 came to a close, the crowd exuberantly grooved towards the culmination of an enthralling fest.

Featured Image Credits: Sahil Chauhan for DU Beat

Saumya Kalia
[email protected]

Vineeta Rana
[email protected]

Joyee Bhattacharya
[email protected]

Niharika Dabral
[email protected]

Radhika Boruah
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Day 1 at Ullas’17: A Rhapsody of Melodies

By

A bundle of enthralling competitions and a string of musical charm, such was the cultural spectacle at Kamala Nehru College’s annual fiesta, Ullas!
Ullas, Kamala Nehru College’s annual cultural fest, being held on 22nd and 23rd March 2017, began with a power-packed morning on its first day. There was an air of hustle bustle, along with several attendees who gathered within the college premises to give this much-anticipated fest an energetic start.
The fest was inaugurated by Ms. Shikha Sharma, the CEO of Axis Bank, accompanied by the Principal, Dr. Kalpana Bhakuni. The inauguration consisted of lighting the lamp, followed by a keynote address by the chief guest and the Principal. After the fest was declared open, a variety of cultural events were all set to take place and enthral the audiences. The solo Indian classical dance event, hosted by Nupur, the Indian dance society of Kamala Nehru College, was one of the first events wherein the audience witnessed mesmerising dance forms from all across the nation, be it Oddisi or Mohiniattam. Raghav from Sri Venkateswara College and Suryansh from Maharaja Agrasen College shared the first position. Nimisha from Janki Devi Memorial College stood second, and Sharanya from Indraprastha University stood third.

Next in line were the riveting performances in the group Indian folk dance competition which was also held by Nupur. The performances were packed with the power of Bhangra from Punjab and the charm of Kalbelia from Rajasthan. The first position was bagged by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College for their enthralling Bhangra performances. The second position was bagged by Nazakat, the Indian dance society of Gargi College for their ‘Badhai’ (dance form of Madhya Pradesh) dance performance, and the third position was bagged by Nrityakriti, the Indian dance society of Maitreyi College for their mesmerising Haryanvi folk dance.

Simultaneously, the Indian music society of Kamala Nehru College, Sangeetika, held the Indian choir competition, which was a treat to the ears for all those who attended this musical morning consisting of ragas and taals. The first position was bagged by Tarkaas, the Indian music society of the Institute of Home Economics, the second position was secured by Samranjini, the Indian music society of Gargi College and the third position was held by Alankar, the Indian music society of Hindu College.

The evening of the first day of Ullas had several highlights. After the Indian dance events were concluded, the western group dance event was conducted. A thrilling event as always, it had the entire auditorium packed to the brim, with students cheering for the participating teams. Misba of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce won first place, with Verve of Sri Venkateswara College and Zeal of Maitreyi College winning the second and third prizes respectively.
Day 1 ended on a note of musical high with three endearing performances. First, Hamsa Band got the audience all geared up and had them singing along to their renditions of popular Bollywood songs. Some of these included latest hits such as “Humma Humma” as well as some nostalgic numbers like “Hum Kis Galli Jaa Rahe Hain”. Next up, Dhruv Sangari started the Sufiana Night with dim lights and soft sounds. After his soothing performance, the day was finally concluded by a performance from the renowned Nizami Brothers, who left the audience feeling calm and relaxed after such a full day. Ullas 2017 was off to a great start on its first day!

Joyee Bhattacharya
[email protected]
Vineeta Rana
[email protected]
Saumya Kalia
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

The Dawn of the Robot Apocalypse: Is Robot Tax the Solution?

By

With automation and technological advancement threatening the employment sector, will Bill Gates’s idea of ‘Robot Tax’ prove to be helpful?

What is Robot Tax?

In the near future, automation is definitely going take over our world and change the face of the employment sector as we know it.  Recently, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft in an interview proposed that robots should be taxed in the form of Robot tax. He anticipates that automation will replace large numbers of the work force over the next 2 decades. This is indeed a serious threat that will change humanity, and steps must be taken to smoothen the transition.

What is Gates’s central argument?

The most vital part of his argument is that in order to be “net ahead” as a society once a robot has taken the job of a human, the displaced labor must be able to perform various kinds of work so that there would be an increase in production which leads to economic growth. He argued since the displaced labor needs retraining, the robot must be taxed, and that the funds thus raised could be used to retrain and financially support displaced workers, who could then move into new jobs in other sectors like health care, education where the human touch is needed. He further added that, by taxing the robots, we would slow down the pace of automation which will mitigate public resistance to automation.

Is this idea feasible?

No, this idea is not very feasible because firstly, for the purpose of levying, paying and collecting ‘Robot tax’ levying, paying and collection, how does one define robots? If at all the puzzle of ‘ defining robots’ is solved, we would come to the question of who pays the taxes. Since robots can’t pay taxes by themselves, presumably either the owner or the manufacturer of robots will pay the tax.

If the manufacturer is to pay tax for producing robots it will give rise to a new type of tax — production tax and if it is levied will lead to double taxation. This will lead to an increase in consumer burden, where manufacturers increase the price of commodities to make up for their losses.

Moreover, this idea is not feasible because of the simple reason that manufacturers of robots can simply move to countries that don’t tax them, which would also mean a loss of job opportunities for the country that loses the manufacturer.

What then?

Gates’s idea can only be successful if this robot tax is accompanied by safety measures that ensure the displaced workers find employment in the case of a robot apocalypse.

 

Image Credits: www.robotscompanion.edu.com

Anahita Sahu

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

Oiling the Machine: A different side to DU’s Fest Season

By

DU’s fest season is the envy of most universities across the country, and yet, it has a harsh economic aspect to it which gets obscured in all the ‘fun’ and excitement.

Can you think of college fests in the University of Delhi (DU) as mega PR strategies in themselves?

Each one of them determines the college’s reputation. And if this economic perspective is applied, every decision taken to make a fest ‘grand’— students running from pillar to post to acquire sponsors within restricted deadlines, coming up with unique stalls, competing to invite the most high-profile celebrities — all cater to marketing a college’s name. Students must become entrepreneurs and ‘sell’ their fest to add to their college’s repute. It’s akin to saying that Nexus, Tarang, Mecca and others are brand names in themselves, as much as Venky (Sri Venkateswara College), LSR (Lady Shri Ram College) and Hindu (Hindu College).

Being a part of departmental associations and societies are all excellent means of keeping the co-curricular ‘alive’, alongside the academic. Some students do feel, in fact, that college-life should be a free playground in terms of experiences. “We all come to learn different things from college. Learning to speak to the sponsors or organising a fest is a part and parcel of it,” says Shivangi Bhasin, a second year student. On the other side of the spectrum, however, are students and teachers who feel that the increasing pressure to ‘perform’ in fests is taking away from the aura of the University. As ‘temples of education’, to borrow the often used metaphor, colleges should focus on improving the standards of teaching and learning and their infrastructures as well. Instead, thousands are spent every year on trivial decorations, merely to outdo other colleges.

DU’s fest season is notorious for making students miss classes due to practice or their various societies’ or associations’ meetings. Under the rigorous semester system and the  fragmented syllabi scheme of CBCS, even the teachers struggle to keep pace. And yet, the fests must be grander and better than before. Their mandate never changes. As a result, friction arises. The students can neither fully concentrate on their course nor on the fests within the limited time frame of semesters. Also, those who don’t wish to engage into the entrepreneurial aspect of gathering sponsors or promoting the fest are systematically left out in this space. Even within their association, they become involuntarily ‘inactive’ — sometimes it isn’t even their choice. Following a capitalist philosophy then, the University is fast becoming a space of ‘brand names’ and quantity over quality for many. And it is, indeed, a worrying trend.

Image Credits: Shiksha.com

Deepannita Misra

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Around the Campus

If Views Dissent, So Will Actions

By

The old-school theories on saffronisation, nationalism and Tiranga have to be given up as future calls for newer and revised visions for the nation.

Be it before or after independence, India has always had perpetual conflicts on the integration of the people who differ socially, politically and also economically. People brood over the fact that untouchability should be abolished from the society without realising that one economically backward person automatically becomes vulnerable to acts equivalent to untouchability. The conception that political security over economic security is more important in a country, has what been a degrading agent among the masses of India. ‘Masses of India’ has been particularly used because they are the ones who choose their representatives in this democratic nation who comprise of people wishing for economic development after political constancy.

All year round, the conflicts and battles are enshrouded, but as the time for elections approach, upheaval of protests, marches and rallies take place creating mass hysteria, calling for supporters. And now, colleges have become proxy battlefields for the political parties where students are used as pawns to wage wars for their leaders. So basically, it is a battle between these elephants and expectedly, the students are the ones to always get trampled upon. Student politics should mainly focus on their rights but instead, they are manipulated by politicians of all parties to fight the fights of their political masters. While becoming a part of a student body one is immediately confined to the messy system where they are forced to adopt an identity that may not be comfortable to live with. After that, the identity or rather, the label will guide their actions and ideology. Most students want to stay away from politics but they are sucked into politics whether they like it or not when they are disturbed by all the agitations around them but they are absolutely powerless. The politically active students have ‘Power’. The silent majority of students who just want to focus on their education and career are hijacked by the political minority who call the shots. Unlike the education institutions in the world where hooliganism in the institutional premises can lead to rustication, in India if you indulge in violence on the goading of your political masters, you know they will save you when you are in trouble. This, in effect, gives a free licence to indulge in violence. Thus, we have far more cases of vandalism, deaths and general indiscipline. People are thankful for the years they spent as students but when political parties come into the picture, it just generates a kind of uncomfortable discourse in the life of an Indian student. Like an offline version of the news hour debates, the student political leaders try to justify their vandalism, and their parties leading to one confrontation after another, non-stop, accusing each other of the issues going around. College heads are scared to act owing to political interference. Professors are wary of doing anything radically different and will take the beaten path. Agitations overshadow studies. Man hours are lost as a result of umpteen strikes, debates and confrontations.

Our educational institutions have become extremely inefficient owing to the type of student politics that is practised. This is a dark side of the appreciated Indian education system, which is indeed shameful. The call of the hour is to bar the interference of politics into the education system. The educated youth can make its own decisions that can be the perfect blend of social, political and economic benefits for the future. Instead of making the students their pawns to wins elections, new set of nationalist ideas could be injected among the Indian youth that totally vary from Saffronisation, Ban on Beef, Tiranga and of course the never ending wars and strikes. Let not unstable politics overshadow our economic backwardness. Let the nation move forth to economic stability and intellectual prosperity.

Image credits: indianyouth.net

politics

Radhika Boruah

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

Logan: The Saving Grace of X-Men Universe?

By

They say third time’s a charm, and a charm wrapped up in Western ways and the brilliance of the titular character. After mapping a journey of ten movies and receiving abundant criticism and some appreciation, the X-Men film series presents the third and final Wolverine-centric movie with a rich script, emotional reservoir, and marks the departure of two actors pivotal to the X-Men universe.

Before we delve into the reviews received by the movie, here is a synopsis of what is waiting for us:

In the near future, a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) at a remote outpost on the Mexican border. His plan to hide from the outside world gets upended when he meets a young mutant (Dafne Keen) who is very much like him. Logan must now protect the girl and battle the dark forces that want to capture her.

Expand your minds and fancy a superhero movie, any movie. Your mind shall retort with a grand production of a superhero saving the city, the country, or the world after a good thirty-minutes VFX edited fight between the hero and an antagonist who is touted to be an indestructible mastermind in those two hours some minute-movie. No, Logan is far from it, as one can anticipate from the trailers. In a dusty world or desert landscapes and mutant extinction, it’s 2029, and we see glimpses of Logan more than his heroic counterpart. An image of pain, mortality, and struggle weaves before our eyes with the trailer, and forms the foundation of appreciation. The trailers also present a young girl of mystery, who shall join path with the superhero and form the crux of the story.

As the early reviews are pouring on the last movie of the Wolverine franchise, the film is touted to be the best Wolverine and maybe, the best X-Men saga with a 9.5 IMDb and 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating, while the previous movies in the franchise failed to cross the 7/10 mark and were the recipient of brute criticism. The evaluations seek to extol the movie for its scruffy Western land setting, the reality of emotions, and discovery of Logan’s personal journey as these aspects solidify the cinematic experience. Complementing the logistics are the dual elements of an endearing script and Hugh Jackman’s performance of a role which brought him into the mainstream limelight. Almost a decade after the events of X-Men: Apocalypse, the movie successfully falls in line with the events of the past, but its beating heart lies in its emotions and personal relationships.

Adding the emotional tinge in this tale is the anticipated departure of Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Patrick Stewart (Professor X) from the X-Men Universe. To successfully deliver a long-spanning franchise and to conclude the journey with a story which is resonating with hearts speaks volumes of the brilliance of the two actors. The movie has been confirmed to conform within the timeline and storyline of the Universe, and shall grace the screens near you on March 3rd, 2017.

 

Image Credits: The Independent

Saumya Kalia

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Spo(r)tlight

EFL Cup victory for the Red Devils: Manchester United beats Southampton 3-2 at Wembley

By

In what was a brilliant display of the individual charisma of the super-manager Jose Mourinho and Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the red devils sealed their first major trophy this season.

The new chapter in the managerial stint of Jose Mourinho reached its maiden crescendo as Manchester United defeated Southampton 3 goals to 2 to win the EFL cup at Wembley Stadium this Sunday. The Red Devils, in spite of being dominated by the Saints for most part of the game, emerged victorious, thanks to the Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s brace and Lingard’s strike.

Ibrahimovic opened up the scoring chart as he netted a beautiful free-kick into the corner just after 19 minutes of the game, scoring his 25th goal this season. At 38 minutes, Lingard extended the ManU lead to two to nil as he slotted the Rojo pass elegantly in the bottom corner of the net from 16 yards. In no time the Saints got their well deserved goals as Gabbiadini found the net on the either halves at 45th and again at 48th minute to level the match. Finally, it was the talisman in Zlatan who broke the deadlock in the 87th minutes, standing tall above all and powering his header past Forster from six yards to seal United’s first silverware this season.

At the end of the night, it was loud and clear that the Southampton side were better of the two. They defended deep and attacked with all might. In spite of being denied a legitimate goal which clearly wasn’t an offside, Manolo Gabbiadini and company played a complete game, neutralising the United’s defence multiple times over the 90 mintues. Even Mourinho, addressing the press post-match, agreed that had the game gone into the extra time, the results could have been different. But what made Manchester United the champion was the resilience which the Mourinho-Ibrahimovic era has ushered into the team.

This wasn’t a game that Moyes or Van Gaal, or for that reason, Van Persie or Rooney could have won. This needed personal heroics, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, champion, winner and all-round hero, gave United just that as he lifted the 32nd trophy of his illustrious career and the maiden silverware at Old Trafford. Way to go!

 

Nikhil Kumar
[email protected]

 

Image credits: ibtimes.co.in

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

5 hacks to watch the movies on the cheap

By

As college students, we are all familiar with the phenomenon of being forever broke and with great movie releases ahead of us (Yes, it is The Lego Batman movie I talk of), we present to you – hacks that allow you to enjoy these films without burning a hole in your pocket.

 

  1. Make Use of Those Apps– Popular apps like Paytm and BookMyShow offer huge discounts, even on new releases. Sounds too good to be true, but check out deals like 50% cashback on ticket fare or 100% cashback on convenience fee and the best part, the greater the number of bookings, the bigger the discount!

 

  1. Do Your Research– Most of us tend to book tickets at the same halls that we’ve been going to for decades – it’s time to shake things up! Try independent theatres that have a smaller number of screens- 3CS in Lajpat Nagar, DT Cinemas in GK-2 , Golcha Cinemas next to Chawri Baazar or even Regal in CP that offer tickets at under 200. Multiplexes having movie halls with multiple screens always charge a greater fee and what’s more, you’ll even discover a new hangout spot while you’re at it.

 

  1. Choose Your Time Wisely– We often prefer evening shows but guess what, there’s a reason why they say that ‘the early bird catches the worm.’ Morning shows are available at half the price, even at pricier theatres like PVR and DT in Saket. For all those who love the luxurious experience, early shows are the answer to your prayers.

 

  1. Lay Off the Snacking– It’s a universal truth that no movie is complete without something to munch on-but I regret to inform you, you’ve got to pick between the popcorn and nachos – after all we can’t have it all. A tip: popcorn is a better option as it’s cheaper and the quantity is worth the money, nachos on the other hand are expensive and finish before you know it. However, for those who can’t keep their hands off, invest in combo deals that are more economical in nature, because we live to eat, right?

 

  1. Use Credit Card Perks– Your credit card could act as a discount pass when you want to see the latest blockbuster. Most cards offer member perks, some of which can be discounts at the movie theater. What’s more, some cards including More offer as much as 5% cash back on various purchases in rotating categories. Each company’s cash back calendar is different, so check your service agreement to see if you’ll get cash back at the movies during the year. That way, you’ll get a little extra padding in your bank account just for seeing the latest action flick.

 

Anahita Sahu
[email protected]

 

Image credits: GettyImages

Keep Reading
By