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Why online news portals pack a good punch

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Today’s tech-savvy world has allowed everything to go digital –right from food to sports to music and even the radio. It is only fitting that we find an alternative to the newspaper our father enjoys every morning with his cup of tea. We present to you a list of digital news apps for the courageous and honourable folks who admit they don’t read the average newspaper afterall!

Inshorts: We’ve all heard of this very popular news app that delivers news in short (quite literally). With crisp and accurate data accompanied by pointers explaining certain terms (yes, they do love us students), this funky app in signature red is a must read.

 

Google News: Yes and they publish news too (remember that old Tata Steel ad-after a wide range of activities, it read “we make steel too”). Let’s face it, nothing Google does is ever average and this is no exception. With a personalized newsfeed covering all possible areas of your interest, this app is perfect for those sloppy Joes.

 

Way2News : This app provides an exceptional reader experience , allowing you to skip the fluff and access the data. Let’s not forget, it operates in 9 Indian languages and has the most adorable monkey as its mascot. Yes, this is definitely worth your phone space.

We sincerely hope that all those who garner secret hatred for that badly formatted, black and white, advertisement ruled TOI will find solace in this article!

Featured image credits: inshorts

Anahita Sahu

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DUB Speak

The current Samajwadi Party fiasco: The falling dynastic Politics

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samajwadi party

The current crisis in the Yadav clan in Uttar Pradesh possesses bigger questions and threats than a mere feud over the symbols. How do we place these political developments on the broader time frame of the illogical dynastic politics in India?

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the New Year, the aisles of the great Indian political arena have been jam packed with deliberate rumpus in the top leadership of the Samajwadi Party. The approaching election dates further intensify this tussle as random horns are seen locked every other day. The entire controversy which ignited on 14th  September last year when Mulayam Singh Yadav appointed his brother Shivpal Yadav as UP SP chief, replacing  Akhilesh Yadav to which the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister responded by ousting his uncle of three prime portfolios;  has roped in all the major stakeholders of the party. Opposition drools over the entire family drama with timely crocodile tears here and there.  Fittingly, the media houses are leaving no stone unturned to be the first ear to any development at 19, Vikramaditya Marg, Lucknow.

Unfortunately, a myopic picture which the entire crisis depicts is one of the objectification of something as theoretic and communal as a political party. Only time will tell how the general mass of UP respond to this bickering of the father and son over what seems to be something as mundane and personal as family business, further degrading not only the sanctity of the already blasphemous Indian politics but also the reliability of the government.

The inevitable question here is what makes these dynastic rulers take for granted a political party, and hence the social ideology on which it stands or the general mass which supports it? What gives certain families the liberty to defame the reputation of a party which is earned over time through blood, sweat, toil and tears of countless supporters?

The answer lies in the patriarchal hierarchical setup of the Indian culture which the nation has been witnessing ad infinitum. We have ended up being a nation of people who feel that leadership, and hence its charisma,  is a trait which is passed through generations, and hence there is no questioning of the leadership skill of a prodigal progeny of a veteran father however badly they fare or what new lows they lead the party, or the nation, to.

Mr. Nehru, the trendsetter, capitalized on this ardent desire of ours for a monarchical system and taught the nation that nepotism was all right and it was only fair to later reward your siblings, cousins and children with plum posts if you happened to be in power. This formula later worked so well by 1991 that when an utterly inexperienced, disaster orator Sonia Gandhi offered the Prime Minister-ship, no-one batted an eyelid. So dismal is the situation that now when Congress seems to be getting reduced to nothing, the alternative to the appalling leader in Rahul Gandhi is thought to be his sister.

Inder Malhotra, the former editor of The Times of India, in his book ‘Dynasties of India and Beyond’, poignantly  reasons this form of feudalism exercised by these political stakeholders when he writes “the vocal minority’s denunciation of dynasties-particularly loud in India and primarily directed against the Nehru-Gandhis-is indeed out of sync with the basic reflex of the silent majority… To the bulk of the subcontinent’s population, there seems nothing objectionable in political power passing from parent to progeny”.

This resentment of a minority is something which is fatal for a democracy. Keeping in view the changing tides of the mood of the masses in India and globally, a general consensus among the political parties needs to be made to stop taking people for granted and rise above the family lines to salvage their political party in particular and the national politics in general. We do not want to see the rise of our own version of Donald Trump.

 

References-

Dynasties of India and Beyond, Inder Malhotra, Harper Collins, 2004

Sunil Rajguru, Dynastic politics in India.

Image credits: TheIndianExpress.com

Nikhil Kumar
[email protected]

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Admissions 2017

DU may conduct entrance exam for B.Com from 2017 onwards

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DU

An entrance exam for B.Com is in the offing from the upcoming academic session, in order to give students a fair chance to prove their mettle.

It has been speculated that Delhi University is likely to conduct an entrance exam for admission into B.Com courses beginning from the admission process in 2017. Currently, Delhi University conducts entrance examinations solely for professional and post graduate courses; admissions to undergraduate programmes take place on the basis of 12th standard board examination results. The most well known course under DU which does have an entrance examination procedure for the undergraduate course is the Bachelors of Management Studies.

Dr. Manoj Khanna, the convener of the Delhi University admissions committee said, “We are planning to conduct entrance exams for admission to B.Com (Honours) and BA (Programme) for the upcoming academic session. We are ready for this in terms of infrastructure and preparedness. But this needs to be accepted by all statutory bodies.” Dr. Khanna also spoke about forming a tie up with the CBSE board in this regard. He also said that the foundation of this procedure will begin with the Commerce courses, but the committee is also exploring the possibility of this move in the case of other subjects. Dr. Khanna stated, “We are exploring all possibilities. We are taking all stakeholders, including college principals, faculty and students, in confidence and consulting them. If we succeed in organising this competition for the commerce stream, one-third of the student population will be catered to.”

The rationale behind implementing an entrance examination is that many deserving students do not get admission in several reputed courses and colleges due to low scores in board examinations. Through entrance tests all students will be given a fair chance to prove their mettle. Dr. Manoj Khanna also added that the admission committee is discussing the possibility of conducting an entrance test for Science and Humanities courses too. Furthermore, the University is also assessing how to strengthen infrastructure for online admissions and preparation of entrance tests, with a focus towards evolving a “student friendly” admission system.

Image credits: DU Admissions

Joyee Bhattacharya

([email protected])

 

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DUB Speak

Nadaan, a youth-led initiative to spread awareness, love and care among underprivileged children

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Nadaan is a youth led initiative that strives to form a liberal society which is socially, economically and politically aware. Started by four Delhi University students, the aim of Nadaan is to create prudent individuals with regard to prevailing circumstances, so as to enable them to build their own perspective about it and express their opinions. It focuses on the underprivileged section of the society. They plan to target common issues which people face in their day to day lives and to add quality to the lives of the “unaware” (Nadaan) by making them aware of the social, economical and political affairs of the nation.

The organisation was started in September 2016 with an objective to mobilize the youth, one of the strongest mediums of change to make well informed decisions, thus contributing significantly to a progressive India. The organization conducts open discussions as to make children aware about the events taking place outside the confines of their homes. Their motive is to make people self reliant by enabling them to form an unbiased view about life and the world.

Presently, the organization has given a chance to the youth from all around Delhi, to make an influential change with the help of their keen observation and their orating skills. Interns working under Nadaan’s winter internship program are helping kids by conducting interactive discussions with them on topics like stereotypes, gender inequality, emotions ka funda, child and adult abuse etc. The organisation has also taken up the initiative to establish libraries in the orphanages to impart the culture of reading within kids to enable them to seek knowledge from the books and inculcate this habit as a part of their daily routines.

The founders of this initiative- two 3rd year Political Science students from Gargi College, Mansi Malhotra and Himani Sharma, a History graduate from Gargi College, Navya Varshney and a 3rd year commerce student Rumaani Udgata from Kamala Nehru College, believe in approaching the target group differently by focusing on the practical aspects of the theoretical knowledge imparted by the usual educational sources.

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DUB News

Elections: A Secular Exercise?

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In a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court, the judicial body has passed governance wherein no political party can conjure votes on the foundation of religion, caste and creed.

The verdict by the apex court was announced as a result of deliberations by a seven-member bench and was a follow-up to a petition filed in 1996. Seeking to retain the secular ethos of the Constitution, it takes into account the vague nature of Section 123 (3) of the Representation of the People Act (1951) which states that appeals made by candidates on the grounds of religion, race, caste, community, or language would be banned. The ruling is sought to shed clarity on the wordings, so as the conclusion to be a wholesome ban on the use of religion in campaigning practices. This shall have rippling effects on the forthcoming state elections coined to take place in UP, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Manipur; three out of five states where caste politics is a major factor in soliciting alliances and votes.

In its functional representation, a wall is being endeavored to be built between state and religion. The Constitution ascribes India as a secular country, and this move pushes the foundational strength of that claim. It can be understood that by the rule of extension, elections should also be viewed as a secular practice. Thus, the aim was to embellish the secular character of India; a country which is characterised by its confluence of diverse backgrounds.

This judicial activism aiming to fill the gap between one of the laws can be deemed promising, yet is a long throw from being effectively implemented to becoming successful. Firstly, there is the argument of Free Speech according to which discussions on religion and caste are constitutionally protected and cannot be restricted. Thus, any party genuinely working towards the escalation of minority classes will find itself in a predicament. Secondly, the law has existed before, and only a certain aspect of it has been modified. However, its working remains inadequate since Independence. Thirdly, the implementation is a major hindrance which needs to be entangled. Appealing for votes by pulling the banned strings is not done in the open, and is subtle in approaching voters which may prove to be hard to monitor. Fourthly, this controversial move can prove to be an advantage for BJP as it lobbies for Hindus and Hindutva particularly, which the Supreme Court in 1995 ruled as ‘a way of life’ and not a religion, and thus handing them a rabbit’s escape.

The apex court’s ruling is plausible for national reasons but unfortunately is also rigged with loopholes which might result in it being one of the forgotten laws of the land.

Image Credits: International Business Times

Saumya Kalia

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

New Year’s: Of Start overs and Carry Forwards

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Each year brings forward the approach of a ‘new you’ to be adopted post-January 1st. To accept and advance with memories or to forget, that is the question.

Facebook status updates, WhatsApp’s standardised greeting messages; all recite similar rhymes of New Year wishes. A pang of guilt lingers concerning our vernacular during the twelfth month of every year, for we’ve all been there and done that. As the human instinct goes, we are bound to critique and comment on what the year gone by was, what it wasn’t, and what it should have been. The clichéd practice presents itself with some repetitive terms; from the conventional usage of ‘new slate’, ‘new beginnings’ to the customary resolutions seeking. Our life plans begin to synchronise with do-overs as a new year sets it, an idea I address with convoluted emotions. While it conveniently provides an excuse to commit to new things to be done in the New Year, one can’t overlook the fact that things done and said don’t always stay in the past. So how does one hinge and direct the mind-set towards the ‘right’ path to follow as the sun sets to rise on January 1st? Should you stick to the road of the past or the one with a clean and gleamed beginning?

Regardless of where our personal journeys have sojourned this year, internet critics and the majority has declared 2016 to be a Black and White failure. Politically, economically, and socially, the turbulence has taken a toll on lives and minds. Amidst this uncertainty, the question rises- what do you forget and what do you take along? It’s a practice I borrowed from the Gilmore Girls Revival episodes, one which oddly works from clothes to mind placating situations. If a particular life event, memory, people or work gives you happiness (all shades of it), keep them in your life and carry forward them to the next year. If they’ve managed to extract varied degrees of contentment from you this year, they must be worth keeping with you in 2017. Love them, treasure them; for they shall be instrumental in helping you clean your slate for another year.

The other side of this pervasive process is to discard things or people who radiate any energy which disagrees with you. One might say it’s easier said than done. That it is. However, longevity reminder: life’s short, life’s unpredictable, life’s a shit show. All the veils of pretense and niceties have to fade away sooner or later, so make it sooner. Do away with things of the past which might invite despondence of any kind. Starting over is not synonymous to resetting who you were or giving it a retry; rather they are about acceptance and courage. Accepting what went, and having the courage to move far and past from that. As overrated and cliched start overs might sound, in some aspects they do curiously possess a flaming power.

Formulae and pravachans are never tailor-made, so bend the strings of your mind and mull over how you want to steer the wheel this year. The golden rule 101 proffers that personal growth should mark the success scale as the spindle of time passes us by. So before we begin to fill 2017 in the year columns and blanks, spare some moments to retrospect and introspect on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Achievements, failures, emotional blows; all should be accounted for and accepted as you get ready for another ride spanning 365 days. For New Year is merely an umbrella term for how we choose to live after December 31st; carrying forward memories, starting over mentally, and believing in who we are. Happy New Year!

Image Credits: Subbus Kitchen

Saumya Kalia

[email protected]

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Uncategorized

Journey from Cash to Cashless

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Demonetisation in our economy has given us the ride Prime Minister Modi wanted to provide, a time when we are running cashless, so as to drive out the black money from the country and fulfill the PM’s dream of making India a cashless society.

from-cash-to-cashless-society
With a sharp increase in the number of digital options, it is quite possible to manage most of the day’s expenses without too much of hard cash. You can pay for a taxi by using a mobile wallet. Those travelling by metro, bus or train, can use smart cards to pay for the service. Lunch in the college canteen can be bought using coupons. Although the occasional shopping from fruit vendors and roadside tea stalls calls for cash in hand, it isn’t a major amount. So, the government order banning currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 should not really scare anyone, right? No. Cash is still king for a large number of Indians simply because it is widely accepted and very convenient.

The challenge in going cashless is that there is no other close alternative to cash. Thus, digital payments account for only 10 percent of the transactions whereas cash payment makes up the other 90 percent. But the number of banks providing card payment option has increased from barely 60 in 2011 to more than 700 today. The card base- both credit and debit card- has also crossed 750 million. In a more speculative manner, the government is trying to drive the force to move into cashless transactions but are quietly ignorant about the spending habits of the people. The penetration of acceptance infrastructure is currently at dismal 1.3 million point-of-sales terminals. As long as the acceptance infrastructure in India does not match the pace of growth of cards and other cashless modes, customers will use cash, says an economic advisor. For a vast country like India, having only 2.3 lakh ATMs and 14 lakh POS terminals is too low. For ATM transactions, while the acquiring banks would like the ‘interchange income’ to go up, the issuers are not interested. Even White Label ATM (WLA) providers have stopped expanding the ATM network under the fear that the acquiring fee would be under stress if it is revised downward. For POS transactions, it is primarily an issuer market and profitability of the acquiring business is under threat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi admitted that he understands making the transition to cashless economy is difficult and hence he urges people to move to less cash society. However, the whole exercise of moving from cash-driven economy to cashless economy has somehow been mixed with demonetisation which was apparently done to suck out liquidity from the system to dig out black money. It is a mammoth task to achieve even one of the two. Aiming for both in one move is risky and to some extent reckless. If the move was aimed at turning India into a cashless economy, then the ideal thing to do was to make people adopt e-payments as a change of habit and not as a last ditch option in a cashless crisis situation. Though services like internet banking, online transactions, initiation of mobile wallets like Freecharge and PayTm have been promoted and encouraged nation-wide, in rural areas, farmers and poor people are still struggling to get their hands on their own money. They are selling their produce in the markets at throwaway prices because buyers don’t have cash to pay them. Mobile ATMs and Micro ATMs have been a rare sight and normal ATMs usually stay shut at least a couple of days every week now. So the change in habit seems to be forced rather than incentivised and simplified for convenience. Also, it remains limited to urban areas. Rural population is left in worse off conditions. So it has left people wondering which way is right!

Radhika Boruah
[email protected]

Image source: Google.com

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Top Picks

5 Controversies of 2016 which every DU student should know

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So here we are, having survived 2016, with all the swag and luster, at Delhi University. This year shall be remembered in the academic vicinity for various reasons. As for the freshers and rest alike, whether you were basking in the carelessness of the post-war (pun intended) vacation or were getting yourselves squeezed in the queue for hours together in the ruthless Northern summer after overnight brainstorming to dismantle the enigma of the Delhi University cut offs, detrimental things were going on around you.
If you failed to pay heed to these developments, we come up with 5 controversies which made the year.

1. Something which took freshers by surprise was the boycott of the admission process by the faculty. Later, we learnt of the boycott of the evaluation process itself. This was all in response of the University Grants Commission (UGC) gazette notification, which intended to raise the working hours. Since we ended up being taught, the crisis must have been resolved.

2. The Delhi University election sent shock waves throughout September. The guidelines against the usage of paper pamphlets fell to the deaf ears of the young candidates as is the pollution in Diwali to Delhi-ites. Three out of four posts, including that of president, were bagged by ABVP, RSS’s student outfit, amidst cries of foul play by NSUI. The 4th October pictures of Amit Tanwar, the president, posing with guns in the varsity campus deepened the charges of hooliganism and criminalisation of DU politics, reducing our expectations from our leaders which had already been weakened by all the freebies.

3. The ceiling collapse on 30th August at Daulat Ram College was the frightful realisation of long time fears of all the 63 DU colleges. This incident brought into national focus the hollow claims about the infrastructure and raised many questions. Students came out on the streets asking for more washrooms, basic sanitation facilities and better heed to grievances from immediate effect.

4. 2016, to an extent, saw the Pinjra Tod movement, an initiative which grew out of a Facebook page in August, 2015 to champion the causes of women in hostels and PG, yield results. In response to the countless protest marches, curfews have been slackened, leading to the removal of guardian’s permission for leave, among many other feats. But as Sabika Naqvi rightly maintains, there is a long long way to go.

5. On 8th November, DU professor Nandini Sundar was booked on the alleged charges of murder of a tribal man Shamnath Baghel in Sukma district of Chattisgarh. She called the allegations ‘absurd’ and fittingly no new development seems on the plate.Interstingly, this is not her maiden face off with Bastar Inspector General Kalluri. Nandini Sundar had been the whistle-blower in the alleged atrocities at the hands of security forces. Earlier this year, her trip to Bastar under the alias of Richa Keshav had already flaked controversies.

Nikhil Kumar
[email protected]

Image credits: www.123rf.com

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Top Picks

Winter Pet Care

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The December chill of Delhi bring with them a unique charm of their own.It marks the end of sweaty, humid days that drain our energy levels, making us irate and whiny. The campus of our college which we found suffocating, now seems beautiful under the bright golden sunlight, just warm enough to make that place seem welcoming. The time for wandering and exploring different corners of the city has finally come. And what is better than enjoying a piping hot cup coffee in a cozy blanket at night with your favorite book or a movie!

For dog parents as well, it’s time to take your furry mate out from the air-conditioned room and play fetch in the open. But with the chill in the air increasing as we near the end of the year, it is necessary to take special care of your four-legged friend before enjoying the season. Here are some winter pet care tips:

1.Get them a warm coat
You might think that the natural fur of your dog is warm enough for Delhi winters which, however, this is not the case. It is necessary to get your dog a nice warm coat and more importantly, of the right size. You can also use your old sweaters, get them altered according to your dog’s size and you’re good to go!

2.Cozy Bedding
If your dog doesn’t share your bed and sleeps separately (which rarely is the case), make sure that he has a warm and a cozy bed which could be easily made using an old mattress and a blanket. Make sure your dog doesn’t sleep on the bare floor.

3.Moisturize
The harshness of the weather can cause dryness to your dogs skin making him feel itchy and irritable. Help prevent dry, flaky skin by adding a skin and coat supplement to his food. Coconut and fish oils are easy foods that can help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy. If you find your pet’s paws, ears or tail are dry or cracking, you can also apply coconut oil topically as needed.

4.Do not overfeed
Dogs have a tendency to eat more during winters because of which they tend to put on weight. While it’s okay to shower him/her with some extra love, make sure your dog doesn’t get too stuffed so as to prevent other related problems.

5.Consult your veterinarian
If you see any signs of persistent cough/wheezing in your dog, make sure to pay a visit to your veterinarian before the situation aggravates.

While we all would surely do whatever is required to take care of our beloved furry babies, let us also make some time to care for the often ignored and overlooked dogs in our streets and colonies. If making them wear old racks made into dresses seems way to complicated, at least make sure they get enough food to generate the required amount of body heat. Also, do not forget to make sure that there is no dog or other animal beneath your car, taking shelter from the freezing night winds before driving off. Let’s share the warmth and care and make the Delhi winters more of a charm than curse.

Aditya Narang
[email protected]

Image Credits: www.petrecognition.com

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Uncategorized

This Winter, Binge Read!

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One thing you can’t help adoring about Winters is the saturation it brings with itself. The sheer retardation of the pace of life, the relaxation, the postponement of activity which is at the very heart of winter is simply splendid.

As you all might be marvelling the sway of winter and how come you are spending hours together rejoicing the intimate embrace of your quilt, here we are with an idea which shall further add fire to this intimacy and what’s best, shall screen you from mamma’s frowns and rebukes.

Now we all have been binge watching all through the semester and there is hardly any territory left to be conquered. It’s all cliché now.

So let’s introduce you to ‘binge-reading’, and along with it to all those heart-throbbers, mind-bogglers, nerve-throttlers and nail-biting stories which all these sequential novels have got to tell. Rest assured,  they won’t let you get off the bed, ensuring those long hours of ménage à trois.

1. Clifton Chronicles. (Jeffrey Archer)

This one is an absolute page-turner. Dive into the lives of Cliftons and Barringtons as you sympathise with Jessica, Seb and of course Harry, and his peculiar love story.

2. The Lord Of The Rings. (J.R.R. Tolekin)

Been here, seen it? But the book is a class ahead. It’s a sheer fest for the novices and ‘movie-ces’ alike, dive into the mesmerising tale of men, elves and dwarves in these power-packed, thrilling installments.

3. The adventure of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)

The story of the classic consulting detective and the modern high functioning sociopath, it needs no description. Hit amazon and begin with ‘A Study In Scarlet’. Doyle will guide you through the rest.

4. The Dark Tower Series (Stephen King)

The mangum opus from the King of storytellers, Dark tower is thrill, horror and fantasy at its darkest. Accompany Ronald Deschain as he sets on his quest to find the dark towers amid insurmountable odds in this eight book marathon.

5. Harry Potter series (J. K. Rowling)

There you have it, finally! If you still have a feeling that binge-reading is not your forté, start with this immortal, magical tale of Harry, Ron and Hermione and, of course, Lord Voldemort.

Nikhil Kumar

[email protected]

Image Credits: chachic.files.wordpress.com

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