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Hans Raj College

Annual Awareness Week held at Hansraj College

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The Society of General Awareness recently saw the celebration of it’s annual awareness week, from 4th to 9th February 2016 which was an amalgamation of six events spread across the six days of the week, each peculiar in its approach and perfect in the execution. In the first of its kind event, the awareness week, Avgat worked at increasing the societal presence of every individual by bridging the gap created by economy and misfortune in particular classes.
The Annual Awareness week Avgat started with a seminar on ‘Together we can cancel cancer’ by the founding chairperson of ‘Can Kids, Kids can’, an organization run by cancer survivors. Narrated in the same dreadful tone as it hit them, the survivors told the story of their being, talked about the segregation they faced and ultimately urged the attendees to break the stigma that was associated with cancer patients.

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Taking the flow of events towards another social issues, the SGA called in organizations working for the empowerment of underprivileged people like widows, children and ex-prisoners to come, propagate and sell their goods and take a step further towards a more tomorrow in the ‘Adbudh Mela’ which was followed by more than twenty-five NGOs recruiting volunteers for more than a 1000 internships next day at the ‘Social Internship Fair’.
The staring of the Love week was marked by a tour to the orphanage, ‘Baccho ka Ghar’ where the volunteers got to interact and bond with the children and shower their affection on them parting with lots of blessings and gifts for every one of them.

 

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The fourth edition of the annual quiz competition Inquivesta was seen the next day as about a couple hundred quizzers from around the town converged for what was about to be an enthralling competition with cash prizes of 4000 and 2000 for the first and second positions respectively.

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The week concluded with the speaker session, Samvad bringing in 7 speakers from different fields to share the stage and interact with the audience. With the highlight of the event being RJ Naved, the event finished with a bunch of sighs, some creases on the forehead and lots of cheers. The volunteers went back home with a sense of pride and satisfaction etched on its back as they had just succeeded in organizing the grandest event in the history of the society.

 

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DU Annual Fest Season

Day 2 at Tarang ’16 winds up with EDM Night

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Tarang, the annual cultural festival of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, continued to spread its magical ‘vibe’ around the campus, even on the second day, that is, the 6th of February, 2016, attracting each one to their own special genre of interest and compelling all to stay for as long as possible.

Mudra, the Classical Dance Competition (Solo) involved a total number of 24 participants.
Names of the Judges:
Danielle Freddie, a Professional Kathak Dancer
Radhika Khatal, a Bharatnatyam Dancer, who’s currently pursuing Master of Arts in Music from Delhi University, and aspiring to be a professional dancer.
Names of Winners:-
1st Place: Annanya of Daulat Ram College
2nd Place: Raghav of Sri Venkateswara College and Charvi of Gargi College

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A fusion of both western and contemporary Bollywood musical band competition- Amalgam also took place along with Battle of Bands (being just Western).
Names of Judges for Amalgam:
Vipin Sharma and Shashank Angiras, from Faculty at Musicians’ Stop.
Names of Winners: The Hans Raj Projekt, Hans Raj College
Names of Winners of Battle of Bands:
1st– High Time, Kirori Mal College
2nd– Three of a kind! – Performers from different colleges

The much awaited Choreography competition Izaraz,  atrracted a humongous crowd. Six Teams from different colleges participated and the competition was judged by Ms Neha Sharma, Ms Pooja Oberoi, Assistant Choreographer Kingdom of Dreams and Ms Ayesha Walia. The Choreo Competition witnessed spectacular performances, which included parallels from Epics, Whodunits and  Diverse themes dealing with the panacea of Materialistic pursuits and some with Life.

Ms. Ayesha Walia, said, before declaring the results, “The hardwork was shining through in each of your performances. We are glad that the level of performance today has risen amazingly from our time!”

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The Choreo Society of Hindu College, who performed ‘ Vengeance ‘, which drew upon the epic traditions from hindu Mythology won the competition. The Choreography Societies of Hansraj College and Kirori mal college won the 2nd and the 3rd position respectively.

This was followed by the EDM night, with Aerreo and DJ Sameer. They hit the highs with some famous tracks such as ‘Hello’ by Adele and ‘ Lean On’ by Major Lazer & DJ Snake.  The second day of Tarang ended with the crowd dispersing after Jochen Miller concluded the EDM night.

The Third day of Tarang is scheduled to host Western Group Dance and Western Group Music competitions along with others. The band Agnee  is scheduled to grace the star night too.

Team Tarang: Day 2
Arushi Pathak
Shagun Marwah
Tooba Towfiq
Shaina Ahluwalia
Chirag Sharma
Alex Arthur
Mridul Kumar

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Campus Central

Day 3 of SRCC Business Conclave 2016 ends with Adi Godrej and Rajat Sharma

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The SRCC Business Conclave, India’s largest management fest, concluded on 5th of February after 3 days of extravaganza. The festival aims to broaden the horizons of the youth by engaging them in a series of intellectually stimulating speaker sessions concerning issues that act as the orbit around which modern business rotates. In sync with previous years, the core theme for this year’s sessions was “In touch with tomorrow.” The three days witnessed a host of eminent personalities from a variety of fields engaging youth in interactive sessions. The first day, 3rd February, began with a panel discussion on the theme ‘Startup Culture in India.’ The panellists included Ankit Bhatt from MapMyIndia, Kashyap Deorah, author of the book ‘Golden-Trap’, Rajesh Gupta from Fresh Falsabzi, Ankur Warikoo from Nearbuy and Saurabh Kochhar from FoodPanda, where they discussed the opportunities and challenges to startups in India. Next came the much awaited session with Nirmala Sitharaman, moderated by Rajdeep Sardesai. Mr. Sardesai in one of the questions asked her, “…two wasted Parliament sessions, the monsoon washed out and the winter froze. No legislation for GST. Politicians still put their personal interests forth?” to which, the lady of the hour said, “The hitch is not with NDA. If they let us pass the bill we will sit together to have lunch with them (other parties).” The events were followed by a Gala Night where Dhruv Vishwanathan entertained the audience with his mesmerizing guitar chords. 4th February began with the Shri Ram Memorial speech by Mr. Nitin Gadkari where he emphasised the role of youth in nation building is fundamental. He said, “Conversion of wealth into knowledge is called progress.” When asked about the nature of politicians he said that only the ideation of good people in the politics can result in growth. The next speaker, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal sharing the stories of his struggle and success said, “In a small garage in Ludhiana, me and my team put together the first ‘push-button’ phone of India. Then came Mr. D. Shivakumar, CEO PepsiCo India, who shed light on the strength of Indian youth saying, “What youth has today, is voice.” The next on the dias was Derek-O-Brien, who we all know as the Bournavita Quizmaster. Currently a Member of Parliament he said, “Politician bashing is very easy. There are always jokers in a pack. But the Parliament is also full of some serious talent.” The final speaker of the day was Medha Patkar, activist for Narmada Bachao Andolan and she highlighted the importance of Human resource saying, “Money alone cannot give you the suit on your body, the paper we use and even the currency notes.” The first speaker for the final day was G.M.Rao, Chairman GMR Group. Revisiting his early days and all the obstacles he faced, he said, “There was a time when I started 28 different businesses at the same time. I was grabbing whatever opportunity I was getting.” The next to come was Mr. Adi Godrej from Godrej Group who spoke about how fundamental is enforced legislation to the growth of a country but how too many rules and regulations can often slow down the process. Rajat Sharma, took over the stage who interacted in a light manner with the students. About his journey with IndiaTV, he recounted, “Sapna profit banane ya BMW mei aane ka nahi tha. Sapna sirf logo ka pyaar or dil jeetne ka tha.” This year, the Business Conclave went International, calling David Plouffe, Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. He attracted a lot of questions and curiosity, expressing opinion about India, the elections in the United States and even Donald Trump. After him came, Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Finance, who said, “The most important duty of a finance executive is Honesty.” The next to come was Anurag Thakur, MP and Secretary, BCCI, and he said, “Cricket, and sports give you the knowledge which classroom doesn’t offer. Sports is a way of life that helps in character building.” The guest speaker for the final day was Suresh Raina, when audience asked him if he was a front or back bencher in school, he laughed and said, “Main class mei bethta hi nahi tha.” The event was wrapped up with the much awaited guest, Mr. Rishi Kapoor. As he is famous on twitter for his witty, straight forward personality, his answers at the event too matched his charisma. When asked about Bollywood, he said, “The business of cinema is huge. The only entertainment after cinema is sex.”

  [gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="38784,38785,38786,38787,38788,38789,38790,38793,38795,38802,38803,38804,38806,38807,38799"]]]>

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DU Annual Fest Season

Day 2 at LSR Tarang’ 16 stars off with Indian Music (Group) Competition and Battle of Bands

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Day 2 at LSR’s Tarang ’16 started off with the Indian Music (Group) competition, Sangam. A total number of 23 teams participated out of which 11 were shortlisted for the final round. The jury for the event comprised of Vivek Bhola, a Hindustani Music Vocalist and Maitreyee Mandal, Assistant Professor of English at LSR.

Debashree Basu of Kamala Nehru College said, “As soon as we got on the stage, we could feel the enthusiastic vibe and we knew the competition shall be tough. Every year, the colleges are setting a higher bar to compete with!”

The first position in Indian Music (Group) category was bagged by Hindu College. The second position was shared by Gargi College and Daulat Ram College. Sri Venkateswara College stood at the third position.

Hindu College Collective
Hindu College Collective

With this, Projekt, the photography society of LSR held the Silent Film Making Competition, Musidora. ‘Tangent’, of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College was declared the winner, followed by ‘Ghosts in the Machine’ of St. Stephen’s College. The Quiz Society hosted The India Quiz where Apratim Chandra Singh (St.Stephen’s College), Jayant Verma(Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies), Bishal Kumar (Department of Buddhist Studies, Delhi University) won the event.

With festivities on, there are many events happening all across campus. Battle of Bands managed the gather the maximum crowd. Events like Satyrday, Elocution and Cane Workshops were a huge attraction too.

LSR is gearing up for the EDM Night where DJ Sameer, Aerro and Jochen Miller are all set to perform. Stay tuned for live updates and glimpses of celebrations across campus.

Team Tarang for Day 2:
Arushi Pathak
Shagun Marwah
Shaina Ahluwalia
Tooba Towfiq
Mridul Kumar
Chirag Sharma
Alex Arthur

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DU Annual Fest Season

Day 1 of Tarang’ 16 ends with East India Comedy and The Local Train

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Tarang 2016, the annual fest of Lady Shri Ram College for Women kicked off on Friday, 5th of February and will continue till the 7th. Day 1 began with a series of events and competitions ranging from the quiz competition and photography exhibitions to informal events and tote bag painting sessions. As the day progressed, more and more people started filling in to attend the various competitions, events and the ongoing food fest at Tarang. 

Tarang '16
Follow us on Snapchat for behind the scenes action and commentary (ID: dubeat)

 

There were many events for poetry, writing, photography and music lovers. Some fine examples of the same include ‘Lords of Words’ organised by Expressions, which saw around 30-35 participants and the results of which shall be announced on the last day of the fest. The creative writing society and ‘Slam poetry’, where Anagha Gopal from St.Stephen’s college won first position.
Women’s Development Cell of LSR organised Lutalica, an event revolving around the idea of soliloquy which saw 9 teams as participants. Neha Diwan and Simran came first, followed by Trisha amongst the winners of the event.
With this, Prakriti, the environment society of LSR hosted Block and Tackle. Among other events were Tote Bag Painting, In-house exhibition and participatory exhibition.

The Indian Music Society hosted Malhaar, the classical solo competition and Sugam, the semi-classical/light solo competition. The first prize in the classical solo category was claimed by Alish Mohan of Hindu College, followed by Binit Singh of GTBIT. The third position was bagged by Swaradhana of Daulat Ram College.
In the semi-classical category, Gurdit of GTBIT won the first prize, Sheetal of FoM was on the second position. The third prize was shared by Shreehari of MEIT and Harjot of SGTB Khalsa College.

The other events spread across the campus were photography competitions: Emakimono, Projektions, Spot On and Kairos. Projektions was won by Alex Arthur of SRM and Ishaan Sengupta of Motilal Nehru College. With these, a parliamentary debate competition and Hindi poetry competition was also hosted. Informal events like ‘Taste test’ and ‘Beg borrow Snap’ were also held.

Many events were still underway when the crowd started preparing and proceeding towards the main stage where East India Comedy and The Local Train are all set to perform.

Stay tuned for more updates!

 

LSR Tarang coverage team, Day 1:

Arushi Pathak

Shaina Ahluwalia

Alex Arthur

Animesh Agarwal

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Bazinga

Bazinga: Kejriwal orders all DU Colleges to have muffler stall at their fests

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Disclaimer: Bazinga is DU Beat’s weekly column of almost believable fake news!

With the fest season around the corner, and Delhi Government being in the mood to experiment with new policies and attention grabbing tactics, Kejriwal has now come up with a rather amusing order. The Delhi CM has ordered DU colleges to have a compulsory muffler stall at their respective annual fests!

The organising committee members of various colleges, who are on their toes over their annual fest preparations, have to meet a new request by the CM, of setting up muffler stalls at their respective fests. Insiders have shared with us that following the odd-even policy, Kejriwal is planning to derive the young voter’s opinion on the policy. He is planning to do that by asking them to buy mufflers to show support to the odd-even policy and its continuation.

According to sources, Kejriwal has launched a massive ‘Main Muffler Wala Kejriwal’ campaign among colleges so as to launch a survey among students about AAP policies in general and the Odd-Even rule in particular. As a part of the campaign, most of the well-known DU Colleges would set up an ‘AAP ka Muffler’ stall where students who support the odd-even ruling take the muffler and register themselves with the volunteers.

On being quizzed by us, one of the union members of a renowned DU college, on condition of anonymity told us, “We’ve been told to incorporate this ‘special stall’ at our fest, else we have been indirectly cautioned of consequences of not following this order. We already had sponsor hurdles and other tasks to take care of, and now this is diverting our minds.”

An inside source, while talking to us divulged that, “This is a constructive move towards a survey among students so we thought why not take advantage of the fest season and the popularity of Kejriwal ji’s muffler, so we developed this campaign with a lot of thought and analysis. We hope that students become a part of it enthusiastically.”

So what are you waiting for? Find your ‘AAP ka muffler’ soon at a fest near you!

Riya Chhiber

[email protected]

Graphic by Suhasini Sharma for DU Beat

Psst! Bazinga is our column of fake news!

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Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies

TEDxSSCBS: Spectral Hues

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The TEDx Program is designed to help communities, organizations and individuals to spark conversation and connection through local TED-like experiences. At TEDx events, a screening of TED Talks videos — or a combination of live presenters and TED Talks videos — sparks deep conversation and connections at the local level. TEDx events are planned and coordinated independently, under a free license granted by TED.
The students of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS), University of Delhi are organising an independently-held TED event, TEDxSSCBS on 8th February, 2016 at India International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. The theme chosen for this event is ‘Spectral Hues’.

The literal meaning of Spectral Hues pertains to the various colours one sees when white light passes through a prism. Metaphorically, this phrase symbolises renewal, rejuvenation and optimism. The white light represents the prevalent obsoleteness of ideas and thoughts in any sector of life; which can be eliminated only by the endeavours of those people who can think differently yet positively, who can work calmly yet intensely, who can be self-motivated yet achieve goals in a team, who bear the ability of being the risk-takers and change-makers and hence turn the world from black-and-white to a spectral hued one.
The aim of this TEDx is to propagate this thought for change.

This 100-attendee event will have speakers of the likes of Aditya Bal (chef, journalist, model), Chiragh Dewan (COO, AiroCorp), Vasu Primlani (green comedian, social entrepreneur), Vikramjit Singh (comedian, writer), Sai Prasanth (mountaineer, entrepreneur), Smriti Nagpal (Founder, Atulyakala), Naved Khan (radio jockey), Rohit Soni (artist), Tom Thomas (CEO, Praxis India) and a few more. All the speakers for this event have championed the spirit of change and rejuvenation in whichever fields they have worked in.

Register for this TEDx at: www.tedxsscbs.com/register
For any queries, contact us at
Email ID: [email protected]
Website: www.tedxsscbs.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tedxsscbs

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Interviews

A Tête-à-tête with Rene Verma, Rhodes Scholar 2016

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Our conversation with Rene Sharanya Verma, a student of History at St. Stephen’s College, slam poet and feminist rapper, and one of the five Indian recipients of the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, reveals her expectations and plans for the future.

Q. How does it feel to have secured one of the most prestigious scholarships offered to Indian students by a foreign university?

Rene: It’s quite surreal, really! I’m humbled and honoured to be joining a cohort of eighty-eight other inspiring and inspired individuals around the world who are working in profound ways to create a better future through the fields of advocacy, gender relations, policy formulation, ethics, and healthcare. More than anything, availing of the privilege to study at a premier institution like Oxford reaffirms my commitment to using my voice and work to contribute to larger cultural and political conversations across the world.

Q. What course have you chosen to study at Oxford and what is your particular interest in this subject? How does it compare with similar courses at other institutions?

Rene: I intend to pursue two Masters of Studies (MSt) programs in Women’s Studies and Film Aesthetics. Ultimately, I aim to work on feminist film theory, engaging with how filmic elements like playback music, colour, light shape and are shaped by the performance of gender. Additionally, I am interested in addressing notions of spectatorship in the context of Indian cinema.  I also hope to create films, both fictive and ethnographic, which combine my love for spoken word art, narrative cinema, humor as a site for politics and advocacy.

Both programs offer an interesting blend of interdisciplinary engagement along with specificity of the course modules provided. They focus on research methodology and theory, have small batches of students, and the thrust is on original research through one-on-one mentoring and tutoring. More exciting however, is the provision of opportunities to work with the Oxford International Women’s Festival, the Women in the Humanities programme, and the International Gender Studies Centre. This provides a great chance for young scholars in the academy to engage with grassroots activism and the possibilities and challenges of transnational feminism.

Q. Most students are apprehensive about the daunting application process that is involved in applying to foreign universities. How was your experience?

Rene: I spent my second year hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. I can vouch for the fact that application processes seem much more daunting than they actually are, especially if one paces themselves and is cognizant of deadlines. The process of applying to Rhodes is quite straightforward, and in distinction to other scholarship applications, begins quite early. I was able to zero in on my course combinations towards the end of my second year in college, and worked on my application during my summer study, which was beneficial.

One of the great things about the Rhodes scholarship is the amount of support you receive from the Rhodes Trust in assisting and streamlining the application process to the University, with reference to English language requirements, connecting with scholars from previous years and same courses/colleges. All in all, my experience has been very rewarding and relatively stress-free, so I’m quite relieved!

Q. What would be your advice to students applying abroad regarding statements of purpose and letters of recommendation?

Rene: The personal statement for the scholarship is a thousand word essay designed to present a concise version of one’s goals, aspirations, and by extension, who one really is. It can seem challenging at first, but I would highly recommend that candidates begin by thinking about the differences between an academic statement of purpose, a personal statement and a resume. It might ease one into thinking about how to approach the personal statement in a sui generis way- there is no right or wrong personal statement. I think the best way to go ahead is to present cogently and simply the arguments, questions, ideas, experiences that best define you. For instance, my statement revolved around silence, interweaving personal anecdotes with my academic proclivities and aims.

For the letters of recommendation, it would be prudent to approach professors, mentors and teachers who have encouraged your work through supervision, tutoring, discussion and are well aware of your strengths and weaknesses. I think that extends to certificates vouching for good conduct and extra-curricular activities.  It’s crucial to notify your references well in advance, keeping in mind their work schedules and other commitments. It is always helpful to provide referees with an idea of your proposed area of study, a resume and transcripts or other relevant documents.

Q. How was your experience at the interview? On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how nervous were you?

Rene:  My interview experience was quite wonderful! I did experience jitters (which would ring in at a very strong 6) prior to the interview, but luckily, the committee organized a dinner with the interview panel a night prior to our final interviews. We got to interact with the panellists, distinguished scholars, professionals, and Rhodes scholars from previous years– who were kind, jocular and very accommodating. The setup also ensured that we got to interact with our peers, which was one of the most rewarding takeaways from the experience, as some of us formed great friendships.

The interview itself was refreshing and thought-provoking. It never seemed like an interrogation, and was an engagement where I was given a lot of space to articulate my beliefs and politics, research interests and achievements. The panel was not intimidating, au contraire, the panellists were very responsive to my answers and even shared a few jokes!

Q. What, according to you, was the most instrumental factor that led you to achieve the scholarship?

Rene: One thing that I’ve learnt is that there is no one type of Rhodes Scholar, and indeed, therein lies the beauty of the scholarship. I’d like to believe that one of the most instrumental factors that aided me was that I tried to be as honest about my beliefs as possible- to the interview panels, selection committee and most importantly to myself. I reckon my interests, both academic and extra-curricular, ranging from film-making, screenwriting, theater, spoken-word poetry demonstrated a singularity of purpose, and an unequivocal avowal to ideas I am passionate about.

Q. Do you have any apprehensions about moving so far away from home?

Rene: I have lived away from home prior to this, but never for so long. I’m going to miss the little things- hugging my family in vivo, eating in North Campus, walking in the Lodhi gardens. Living alone has also made me check my privilege and be grateful for things I took for granted—like household chores, food, and the presence of loved ones. Most importantly, I’m quite nervous about the weather, but I hope to bask in the ever-elusive sun as long as possible!

Q. What are you looking forward to at Oxford? Any expectations?

Rene: I’m looking forward to using two years of my life to expand my horizons, meet new people, travel on a budget, and create some meaningful work.  I am excited to join a vast community of intellectuals, engage with a multitude of ideas, and forge lasting friendships. I’m delighted to be connecting with advocates for gender equality from across the world, fellow poets and writers and I hope to work with theatre, sketch comedy and film clubs while I’m there!

Abhinaya Harigovind

[email protected]

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Interviews

DU Alumnus, Medhavi Mathur Talks About Life At LSE

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DU Beat got the opportunity to talk to Medhavi Mathur, Psychology graduate from Lady Shri Ram College, who is mastering in Organisational and Social Psychology at London School of Economics and Political Science. She gives us an insight into the life of a student at LSE and what it is like to live so far away from home.

Q. What apprehensions did you face when you decided to move away from home and to a different country?What should an Indian student keep in mind before deciding to undertake a course abroad?

It was in my fifth semester of under graduation that a friend of mine suggested that I should consider applying to the UK (primarily London) due to the diversity of course choices offered at the M.Sc level. I decided to give it a shot and applied to a number of universities across London after carefully considering their criteria for admission into several courses of study. Till then, I wasn’t even sure of stepping outside of India! This was going to be my first time outside of home, alone, and was initially very nervous about how the entire journey is going to be like.

After a month of applying, I started receiving offers from a number of universities. By that time I had decided, my choice to study in London would depend only on successful offers from two of the most prestigious universities – The London School of Economics and Kings College London. I finally chose LSE over KCL after carefully considering the pros and cons associated with the courses offered at the two colleges, the faculty, methods of teaching and because of LSE’s brand name and prestige. After all, it is the leading social science institution in the world.

I had visited UK in 2005 and loved my experience here in every way possible – be it about the magnificent surroundings, the most beautiful cruise on the Thames, the calm and peaceful environment, the diverse international cuisines available (yes, I love experimenting with different varieties of food) and how crazy one can go shopping here!

Definitely, all international students must consider their fit with respect to settling down into a global city with a diverse range of people and cultures and in a study environment which is in total contrast with how we have in India. It’s about getting accustomed to the rigour of academics, unlearning a little bit of how we’ve been trained to study and ultimately about being able to make the most that this vibrant and exciting city in the world has to offer!

I was always fascinated by life and culture outside of India and wished to study abroad. Who knew, this opportunity was in store for me!

Q. How is the education system in UK different from that in India (DU specifically)?

The education system in India is in stark contrast to how teaching takes place here in London. I had to leave behind my almost annoying habit of cramming the contents of various courses before every exam and rather learn about the practical application of the subject matter taught. The school assesses students on a continuous basis with respect to student presentations during seminars, class discussions, several short multiple choice exams and finally the summative assessment involving essay writing with respect to real world applications of the course content, examinations and finally the M.Sc dissertations.

Academic supervisors provide feedback on every report or essay you submit which further improves the quality of work submitted during the finals.

I feel that an education system which incorporates all the above listed elements in addition to teaching students how to carry out field work in the real world to learn about the practical value of what they are being taught will help students learn in a better and comprehensive manner.

The LSE campus provides superb academic and support facilities, such as the British Library of Political and Economic Science.

Q. How would you say your degree at LSE compares to similar degrees in other institutes in terms of syllabus/ subject content and future prospects?

Like any other student, I too dreamt of studying at a prestigious institution like London School of Economics and Political Science whereby I would have the opportunity of being mentored by one of the best faculty, interacting with a plethora of students from varied cultural backgrounds which would help in widening my horizons and give me a wider comprehension of the global community.

I opted for this course specifically as my prime interest lies in the social-organizational nexus and the academic stream provided by LSE is a synthesis of social and psychological processes with focus on interdisciplinary domains between organizations and communities. Since the mode of teaching involves lectures, seminars, independent study and a dissertation, it helps merge practical experience with deep academic analysis.

The course is impressive and optimally geared towards the fulfilment of my professional capabilities. As the course provides with the main theoretical and research modules used within work and organizational psychology, it has helped optimise my interest and nascent acumen.

I chose LSE for its continuous focus on excellence, inclusivity and achievement which makes it one of the best in the world alongside many others.

Q. One often hears about how international and diverse LSE is, is it true? If settling in and feeling at home is the easy part at LSE, what is the hardest?

About 150 nationalities are represented amongst LSE’s student body and the school has the highest percentage of international students (70%) out of all British universities – ranked second in the world for the highest proportion of international students.

In my program of study itself, there are people from about 30 different language speaking nationalities.

In the initial few weeks, it surely is hard as everybody takes their own time to get comfortable and mix with the others. However, as classes and seminars begin in full swing, the process whereby students participate in a range of discussions and give seminar presentations, makes the entire adjustment process easy. Study groups form over time and help in easing out the academic burden and tension as students discuss readings and their differing points of view.

The academic and non-academic staff is very helpful and willing to guide you in every difficult scenario you encounter.

LSE provides a range of support services on campus to ensure that the whole student experience is as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, and include academic guidance, advice and counselling, a faith centre, off campus support schemes and a medical centre.

Q. Being a college student living in one of the most popular destinations in the world, how do you manage your finances apart from college tuition? What do you find yourself spending the most on?

Many students worry about the cost of living in London, but to be honest it’s easy to live economically whilst still having a great time at university. This is because being a student brings with it a lot of financial advantages. As a student, I have access to discounts, cheap social activities, and the flexibility to do part-time work. An easy way to access lots of discounts at once was to get an NUS Extra card, which gets you 10-20% discounts on fashion, food (London is the place to be for all food lovers, like me), cinema tickets, travel and coach cards.

I tend to spend money mostly on travel and grocery. It’s a good idea to walk back from college one side and enjoy the breath-taking view simultaneously. When it comes to grocery, if you’re in a self-catered accommodation, it’s a good idea to team up with your neighbours in halls to do a group shop, and take turns to cook for everyone – bulk buying for a group is much cheaper (and less wasteful) than cooking for one. Once you’re into the habit of managing your money, it makes life a lot easier and less stressful!

Q. What is a typical day on campus like?

Every day on campus brings with it something new to learn. Be it about exploring a new building, or a café, learning about an unheard of phenomenon or simply being spell bound by the lectures delivered by the professors.

In addition to attending classes and seminar groups you are assigned to, students have a lot of readings to complete before their classes. As a result, the 4 floor LSE library is a home to students who have access to Mac and regular PCs (about a thousand of them, if not more) to complete their coursework and readings. The Library, which is a paradise for avid readers is equipped with additional high tech facilities and enables students and teachers to gain ample knowledge through the easy availability of a collection of outstanding national and international publications and journals. The school also provides superb academic and support facilities.

LSE also has one of the most prestigious public event programmes in the world. I was fortunate enough to have heard Amartya Sen speak about his latest publication in November last year. The school also offers several networking opportunities and has established a global network with a small number of high quality universities across the world. In my first week, I was confident to have made the right choice.

The LSE’s career service is extremely helpful as it provides comprehensive career guidance and employment services for students seeking information on graduate employment and further study. They run a wide range of career events on campus, one-to-one career discussion and CV checking appointments, and the website is full of information to help students research and achieve their career objectives.

With respect to sports facilities, there’s the LSE Students’ Union gym, an activity studio, a badminton court, a sports ground, a fancy Gymbox, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

Q. What has been your most profound memory at LSE so far?

There’s no one memory that I can enlist here. However, a department trip to Cumberland Lodge has been one of the most delightful experiences here with fellow students. The opportunity to explore the city of Windsor in addition to being served lavish English meals, engaging talks on a variety of phenomena and the dance bar was an exotic event in itself. Apart from that, a number of networking events and business dinners have helped provide insight into the real world of work culture and ethics. The prospect of discovering oneself while gaining an understanding of a different culture and people has further broadened my understanding of humanity. This has given me a chance to become an independent and free thinking individual.

The campus is always buzzing with activities and fairs, offers amazing in house eating cafes and has a bar of its own- LSE is responsible for providing a lavish environment to every student who is looking for a once in a lifetime experience.

Since LSE is located in the heart of London, there is never a dull moment. London offers more than nearly every other city when it comes to entertainment, culture and experiences. In addition, a plethora of shopping places and ambrosial cafes can never stop amazing you. If, you’re willing to tour around, London can never exhaust you. I was left awe struck by the view one gets to see at night from on top of the Jubilee Bridge. It’s a must visit on your stay in London.

 

Read more about our series on DU Alumni at the London School of Economics and Political Science.  

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DUB Speak

5 reasons why you should join an ECA society of your college

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Being a 3rd year student, I often look back at my college life and wonder, have I done it all? That is a question all of us ask ourselves at some point, especially when you realize that life as you know it, is going to change very soon.

In retrospect, I realize that my college life would have been incomplete without being a part of my society. So if today, someone asks me why it’s so important to be a part of an ECA society, I would probably sit them down and tell them the following:-

1. It will make or break your college experience

Being in a college society is a unique experience in its own sense, but if you can’t be seriously dedicated to it, then you might never reap its benefits either. That being said, becoming a part of a society gives you a feeling of being something more than just another student, as in this team, you have your own part to play and your own unique identity. The experience you gain with the people you meet and the colleges you visit all adds up and changes the way you have viewed life so far.

2. It helps you grow as a person in life and in your chosen field of expertise

The time spent practicing and building up your production from the scratch is the most satisfying feeling in the world. To get on the stage and show the world your art, while soaking in the applause after, gives you a high, unlike that of any drug. It boosts your confidence both on-stage and off, and leaves behind a feeling of accomplishing higher, tougher goals.

3. Hard work becomes a way of life

Along the way, you also realise that you aren’t afraid of working hard anymore. After 6-8 hours of practice every day, which is typical for dramatics and dance societies, you learn to manage your social, academic and romantic life. This means that you won’t be scared of putting in extra efforts anymore, and may in fact, even become a pro at waking up early in the mornings and always reaching on time for practices (never for lectures though!).

4. Societies will literally give you the best of friends for life, for real!

For the most part, I think I will miss the moments and memories made with all my friends and seniors. Imagine spending 6 hours a day, all week, for three years in the company of the same people and never getting bored. Under the pressure of rigorous practice and performances, you will get to know their true selves like the back of your hand, and they will get to know you the same way.

The best part is that you get to be totally free with your team and it is with them that you truly discover your crazy side, one that will surely surprise you too! You tear your walls down and share a bond so deep that you won’t be surprised if you start completing each other’s sentences. However, it is worth a mention here that you might also embark upon certain rivalries in the process, but rest assured, they will also be the most fun to act on.

5. The parties and farewells are to die for!

If you have ever heard about society farewells being the most fun parties, then you have heard it right. Along with the fun and frolic, they are also an incredibly emotional affair. The farewell speeches, gifts and ceremonies make you realize how amazing your experience has been and how much you are going to miss these days. And more so, the people!

In my personal opinion, being a part of a western dance society has truly defined my college life. It has given me irreplaceable friends, a name and a taste of accomplishing something big. So if you ever get an opportunity to audition for a society, you should definitely take a risk and go for it.
It might just be the best thing you do!

Image Credits: Divik Gupta 

Tarushi Varma

[email protected]

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