Kartikeya Bhatotia, Author at DU Beat - Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper

For the past few days, internet space in India has turned volatile – with debates, Facebook display pictures and Mark Zuckerberg’s posts. So what really happened to have led to this? Last week, PM Narendra Modi met with a number of top organisation leaders in USA, these included Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google; Tim Cook, CEO, Apple and most importantly, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook. The underlying agenda being to gather support for the Digital India campaign by the Government of India.

Now Mark Zuckerberg went on to show his support for Digital India and linked it to his own project- Internet.org (or Free Basics).

What is Internet.org?

Internet.org or Free Basics is a service which aims to connect regions which have less penetration of internet, reasons for which include lack of infrastructure and high internet tariffs. Internet.org however will only provide access to a certain section of internet which includes services by Facebook, Ericsson, MediaTek, Opera, Samsung and Nokia.

What about Digital India?

The Digital India initiative seeks to lay emphasis on e-governance and transform India into a digitally empowered society, and this particularly includes connecting Rural India to the internet. It also aims on IT training of rural population, setting up BTOs in North-East India among a lot many things.

Then what in the world is the problem?

The existence of Internet.org is a violation of Net Neutrality i.e. the principle that Internet Service Providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favouring or blocking particular products or websites.

Services of some websites like Facebook may be free for a person in a remote village in Chattisgarh, but access to the rest of the internet is not free. Facebook will also keep all his data, monitor his activity and temporarily store his data in unencrypted form. Not only is this a massive privacy violation, but a security threat as well.

To him, the internet will be confined to Facebook and 6 other services. So these websites will become the unprecedented faces of the internet. The telecom brands which team up to provide these services will have a chance to expand simultaneously. So, is this a huge business agenda behind something that poses to be the welfare of people? Seems like it.

As Manu Joseph writes in New York Times, “The goal of Internet.org is to bring cheap Internet to all, as long as they use Facebook.”

Digital India, although will provide you digital services, but will simultaneously find ways for the government to monitor your activity. Again, a case of violation of privacy. Talking about free access of Internet to all Indians, remember internet blackouts in Ahmedabad, Kashmir and Manipur?

Since Mr. Modi and Zuckerberg have, with quite fanfare, declared collaboration between Digital India and Internet.org, the recipe seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Of course, not everything can be commented on as of now; we’ll have to wait how Ministry of Telecom lays out the plans and policies. However, the fact that Net Neutrality is being violated by both the campaigns is a fact that cannot be challenged anymore.

Keep Reading

Top Alumni of Delhi University Colleges

Five Famous Alumni: SGTB Khalsa College

By Kartikeya Bhatotia September 25, 2015

Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, often referred to as just ‘Khalsa’, was established in 1951 as part of University of Delhi and is a much sought-after college, especiallly for commerce subjects. Popularly known for its involvement in the field of sports, it also boasts of numerous cultural societies. Alumni from SGTB Khalsa college have paved their way into many fields, including entertainment, arts, sports and more. Here are some of the popular names associated with the college:

1. Rabbi Shergill

Rabbi Shergil is a Punjabi musician well known for his debut album “Rabbi” and the chart-toppersong of 2005, “Bullah Ki Jaana”. A part of the hard-rock music scene during his college days, he subsequently formed a band called “Kaffir”. Earlier this year, he came back to Khalsa College to perform at its fest.

Image source: en.wikipedia.org

2. Saurabh Shukla

Saurabh Shukla is a well known actor and an eminent theatre personality. Starting his career in theatre after graduating from Khalsa College, he subsequently played a prominent role in many productions and eventually entered Bollywood as well. He’s known for his roles in “Satya” and“Barfi!”. He also won the prestigious National Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Jolly LLB”.

Image source: Santabanta.com

3. Arvinder Singh Lovely

A student of Political Science from Khalsa College, Arvinder Singh Lovely was the General Secretary of NSUI (National Student’s Union of India) during 1992-96. He was elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1998, where he was the youngest MLA. He was made a Minister in the cabinet in 2003. He was the head of Education, Tourism, Languages, Gurudwara Administration, in the Council of Ministers, Govt. of Delhi.

Image source: thehindu.com

4. Majinder Singh Sirsa

Majinder Singh Sirsa is the councilor and chairman, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and is now an MLA of the Delhi Vidhan Sabha from Rajouri Garden. He is also the general secretary of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (SGMC), the parent body of SGTB Khalsa college.

Image source: nocorruption.in

5. Nona Walia

Nona Walia is a columnist and has been the assistant editor at Times of India for 18 years. She graduated from Khalsa College with an honours in Economics.

Image source: twitter.com

Kartikeya Bhatotia

[email protected]

Keep Reading

DUB Speak

When will we stop treating dead children as catalysts of social change?

By Kartikeya Bhatotia September 15, 2015

About a week ago, a photograph went viral on the Internet. It was a photograph of the lifeless body of Aylan Kurdi, a three year old Syrian boy of Kurdish descent, washed up on a beach in Turkey. The internet eventually went berserk with outrage and millions “woke up” to the harsh truths of the Syrian crisis.

Syria has been in turmoil for more than four years now, with around 3 lakh deaths according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The dead include thousands of children who fell victim to chemical attacks, bombings and gun violence. All of this was widely reported all over the world, and certainly a lot of us are not very ignorant of the on-going situation in Syria and Iraq.

Except when a social media trend pops up a sensationalised photograph of a dead child (a photograph his family members have repeatedly asked not to circulate), it somehow becomes a medium for us observers to be collectively sad about, and be completely self-satisfied with the sadness. Why did the world wake up to the refugee crisis now, when children drown in seas in an attempt to reach places where they at least have a shot at life? How different is it from the children who are murdered in the street while the world doesn’t bat an eyelid – where are their slogans, where are their hashtags? Where is the bitter misanthropy and long social media commentary? Why did we only just wake up to European countries and Gulf States denying entry to refugees?

The photo is nothing but an object which sends a message that goes through a filtered and sterile lens and ultimately decontextualizes the situation at hand and reduces it to the ‘death of humanity’. We need to stop ignoring the situation in Syria just because they aren’t as sensationalised. We collectively need to stop caring about issues just because they have a weight on social media and internet today. We need to stop waiting for heart-wrenching photographs of dead children to incite basic empathy.

Image Credits: theguardian.com

Kartikeya Bhatotia

[email protected]

Keep Reading

Offbeat

Five less explored photowalk venues

By Kartikeya Bhatotia September 2, 2015

Now that most photography and visual arts societies across DU have recruited new members in their team, the time has come to start exploring Delhi. However, the list of known photowalk venues is quite short; it starts from Humayun’s Tomb, ends somewhere at Chandni Chowk or Red Fort. It’s time for some change! Here are some offbeat photowalk venues in Delhi you should definitely try:

1. Bhuli Bhatiyari Ka Mahal, Central Ridge.

Image source: dhpc.in

Built as a hunting lodge for Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the 14^th century and known for being one of the top spooky destinations in Delhi, Bhuli Bhatiyari Ka Mahal is an abandoned fortress located inside the central ridge. A perfect location to capture desolate ruins, you can appreciate the beauty of Delhi’s Central Ridge. The place is not much cleaned, though entry is free and unrestricted!

Nearest metro station: Jhandewalan (Blue Line)

2. Tomb of Sultan Ghari, Vasant Kunj.

Image source: en.wikipedia.org

Tomb of Sultan Ghari is the first Islamic tomb in India, built in 1231 AD by the son of Iltumish, it imparts the look of a fortress in aesthetic Persian and Oriental architecture. If you’ve already visited the Qutub Complex and looking to capture something similar, visit this place! Getting here will be a little hassle if you don’t have your own vehicle.

Nearest metro station: Chhatarpur (Yellow Line)

3. Okhla Bird Sanctuary

Image source: obs-up.com

Located on the banks of Yamuna, between the neighbourhood of Okhla and Noida on the otherside, Okhla Bird Sanctuary is a must visit if you are a nature lover. You’d be able to catch sight of thousands of resident and migratory birds.

Nearest metro station: Botanical Garden (Blue Line)

4. Nizamuddin

Image source: en.wikipedia.org

Though one of the most popular photowalk destinations, the Humayun’s Tomb is located right in the middle of Nizamuddin area, there are various other tombs, mosques and mausoleums one can visit here. Amir Khusro’s tomb and Nizamuddin Dargah are the top destinations. The colourful and crowded bazaars and flea markets outside are another reason why you should visit Nizamuddin.

Nearest metro station: JLN Stadium and Jangpura (Violet Line)

5. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

Image source: ncrtourism.com

Though not technically in Delhi, Asola Bhatti offers you views of pristine lakes and ponds and serene Aravali forests. It quite possibly is the best nature walk you can go on anywhere near Delhi. Though just like any other nature trail, expect a lot more distance to walk and lesser human subjects to capture.

Nearest metro station: Badarpur (Violet Line) though distance may be greatly reduced after Violet line is extended beyond Badarpur.

Keep Reading

DUB Speak

A liberal society is a myth: Moral Policing across Indian Colleges

By Kartikeya Bhatotia August 27, 2015

Right now, we’re living in an era of bans and conservative policing. Your diet, behaviour, dressing style, sexuality… nothing is exempt from the moral ‘sanskaari‘ school of thought.

Places of institution especially are keen on propagating the ‘cultural’ values onto students. Here are some of the most ridiculous rules in colleges and universities across India-

“Chappals ruining the repute of our institution”

Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology, IP University thinks that tight clothes, slippers and nylon chappals are ruining their repute as an institution of learning. The ban has been enforced on both students and the faculty.

“Can’t let girls enter the library, they’ll attract more boys.”

Turning down the demand of female students of Aligarh Muslim University for access to the Maulana Azad Library, vice-chancellor Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah has said there would be “four times more boys” in the library if girls were allowed in. What’s worse? The principal of Women’s College, AMU agrees with Mr. Shah saying a discipline issue might crop up due to presence of girls.

“No shorts for women because… security concerns.”

Women students of St. Xavier’s College will not be allowed to wear shorts at its popular annual fest, Malhar, this year. This comes from the college’s recently-appointed principal, Agnelo Menezes, who cited security concerns.

“Criticizing the PM? You’re now banned, thanks.”

Ambedkar Periyar student circle of IIT Madras was banned by the HRD Ministry spreading “hatred” against the Prime Minister. Merely criticizing the government and current policies was touted as hatred and defamation.

“This is a sanskaari bus, no boy and girl should sit together”

Gitamm University, Hyderabad has set its transport rules straight. No boy and girl should sit together in the bus. And we thought that Universities are supposed to be free from the unnecessary narrow minded guidelines society throws upon us.

Image Credits: scoopwhoop.com

Kartikeya Bhatotia
[email protected]

Keep Reading

DUB Speak

A Liberal Society is a Myth

By Kartikeya Bhatotia August 25, 2015

We’re living in an era of bans and conservative policing. One’s diet, behaviour, dressing style, sexuality- nothing is exempted from the moral ‘sanskaari’ school of thought.

Institutions especially, are keen on propagating ‘cultural’ values among students. Here are some of the most ridiculous rules in colleges and universities around India, which make one wonder if a liberal society is a myth:

1. “Chappals ruining the reputation of our Institution”
Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology, IP University thinks that tight clothes, slippers and nylon chappals are ruining their repute as an institution of learning. The ban has been enforced on both,the students and the faculty, alike.

2. “Can’t let girls enter the library, they’ll attract more boys.”
Turning down the demand of female students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for access to the Maulana Azad Library, Vice-Chancellor Lt. Gen Zameer Uddin Shah has said there would be “four times more boys” in the library if girls were allowed in. What’s worse? The principal of Women’s College, AMU agrees with Mr. Shah saying a discipline issue might crop up due to presence of girls.

3. “No shorts for women due to security concerns.”
Women students of St. Xavier’s College will not be allowed to wear shorts at their popular annual fest-Malhar, this year. This has come from the college’s recently appointed principal, Agnelo Menezes, who cited security concerns.

4. “Criticizing the PM? You’re now banned, thanks.”
Ambedkar Periyar student circle of IIT Madras was banned by the HRD Ministry because apparently, they were spreading “hatred” against the Prime Minister. Merely criticizing the government and current policies was touted as hatred and defamation.

5. “This is a sanskaari bus hence, no boy and girl should sit together.”
Gitamm University, Hyderabad has set its transport rules straight. No boy and girl should sit together in the bus; and we thought that Universities are supposed to be free from the unnecessary narrow minded guidelines society throws upon us.

Well, if all this is imposed on the youth of this “developing” country, I wonder how progressed we will be in the coming 69 years!

KartikeyaBhatotia
[email protected]

Image credits:
St.Xavier’s College – http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/St-Xaviers-bans-shorts-for-women-students-at-Malhar/articleshow/48497472.cms

Gitam University: http://i.imgur.com/57UnpZh.jpg

Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology: http://i.imgur.com/g174CUy.jpg

Aligarh Muslim University: http://s4.firstpost.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/aligarh-IBN.jpg

Ambedkar Periyar: https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/scrollstorage/1433154953-1013_11329763-1481704325454092-6240574753414877770-n.jpg

Featured image: Google Images

Keep Reading

Features

Be a sunshine in someone’s life with Seherr

By Kartikeya Bhatotia August 11, 2015

In one of his famous speeches, Martin Luther King Jr remarked, “Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”. Not many are able to absorb the profundity of this statement, let alone inculcate it in their life. Here we have three students from Delhi University, who have not only taken a lesson from Luther’s teachings, but put it to action as well. The result- SEHERR.

The brainchild of Jasleen, Rajat and Paritosh from St.Stephen’s College, Seherr was initially conceptualised as a social service initiative to encourage cottage industries on the periphery of New Delhi. The ambitious idea, however, had to be abandoned due to practical glitches like paucity of time, and something else had to be conceived. Hours of brainstorming, discussion and research then led to the birth of Seherr, a virtual welfare society.

Seherr founders — Rajat Sharma, Jasleen Kaur and Paritosh Gupta, the founders of Seherr.

Started in May 2015, Seherr is a program which seeks to provide a platform for NGOs to interact with college students and recruit them for internships. The idea is simple, yet brilliant. Says Jasleen, founding member, “We realised that there is a huge dichotomy in the field of social service. Large and well known NGOs get ample volunteers every year, while smaller, newer and lesser known NGOs face a dearth of volunteers. In fact, the better known NGOs have to frequently reject applications, discouraging hopefuls and thwarting their will to do social service altogether. This situation doesn’t help anybody.”

That’s where Seherr comes in as a solution to the issue. It tries to link the demand with the supply and cater to both the NGOs and students. By acting as a social media partner for NGOs, it hopes to help these organisations engage with the students of not just DU, but also Amity and Indraprastha University; create awareness and possibly employ students in their respective programs. Seherr currently works in collaboration with 13 NGOs, including some at the national level and some student organisations. They assist NGOs such as Asmat, I cure and Safecity with finding volunteers. Seherr is also proud of the presence of its Campus Ambassadors at Christ College, Bangalore and St.Xavier’s College, Kolkata. While offering internships to DU students through various college Campus Placement Cells, Seherr also hopes to branch out into offering consultancy services to NGOs.

In collaboration with the NGO Vajra, these Good Samaritans are currently trying to raise funds to get water supply to a remote village in UP. In spite of the time crunch and the paucity of capital that a student faces, Seherr aims at utilising DU’s large student network to carry the baton forward for change. With a 25 member strong core team, Seherr is organised into several departments like Graphic Designing, Outreach, Content Writing and Social Media and Marketing. Students can choose to volunteer or intern with them, thereby contributing to a great cause. We, at DU Beat, would like to wish the trio the very best for their wonderful project. Let us welcome Seherr, for “Here comes the sun!”

To know more about Seherr, visit their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/SeherrServes

E-mail them at: [email protected]

Keep Reading

DUB News

Delhi Government to shift DU Colleges to Ambedkar University: Wise or Naïve?

By Kartikeya Bhatotia August 4, 2015

If we are to believe the rumours and unconfirmed reports, the Delhi Government has dictated that 12 well-established colleges of University of Delhi will go under a varsity shift and join the fairly new Ambedkar University. These colleges include Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS), Deen Dayal Upadhyay College, Keshav Mahavidyalaya and more.

When I joined SSCBS I had a few expectations: that I will be getting a degree from DU, a University which boasts of high standards of teaching and research, and is among the most sought-after in the country; and that I will be a part of an institution that will continue to prove its mark for years to come.

The news that DU might not be able to hold to this shoddy benchmark is truly baffling. Not only will this move tarnish the image of one of the most respected institutions in the country for management studies, i.e., SSCBS, but also that of rising new colleges like Keshav Mahavidyalaya.

Ambedkar University was established in 2008 by the Government of Delhi for the purpose of research in the Humanities and the Social Sciences. However, most of the chosen colleges mostly offer science and commerce based subjects. Did the authorities think that through? Did the authorities think about how the structure of courses would have to be changed,more so the syllabus and the faculty?

I don’t know what the teaching standards of Ambedkar University are, but I strongly believe that merging colleges that are under DU to this University will be detrimental to the vision and mission of the University. Ambedkar University deserves to expand and touch new horizons, but not at the expense of the future of thousands of students who didn’t even sign up to be a part of this University.

The Government of Delhi needs to stop interfering in the structure and operations of an autonomous, central University like DU. Instead, its focus should be on improving the standards of teaching and fairly expanding the state universities.

Kartikeya Bhatotia
[email protected]

Image credits: Google Images

Keep Reading

Admissions 2015

A guide for the GD and PI round of BMS/BBA(FIA) Courses

By Kartikeya Bhatotia June 26, 2015

Now that the shortlisted candidates for the group discussion and personal interview round for BMS and BBA(FIA) have been announced, it’s time to prepare for the next stage. Both the GD and PI are quite easy if tackled properly, here are a few guidelines to follow which will help you to prepare for the same:

Pre-requisite

– Carrying your personal documents is extremely necessary. Check the documents required here.

– Reporting one hour before your scheduled time is necessary.

– While it’s not a mentioned requirement, but it’s best to stick to formals. Remember to dress smartly. For guys, this means an ironed pair of trousers and crisp shirt. For girls, a shirt with a pair of pants or a skirt will do.

For the Group Discussion round

The discussion will likely be on a relevant current topic, mostly related to Business or Economics. It is quite possible that you won’t know a lot about the topic. In this case, start first and wait for the discussion to pick up pace and you can respond accordingly.
If you have absolutely no idea about the topic, listen carefully to what others say and try to modify and mould something of your own. Don’t be repetitive, make your own stand.
Don’t be hostile. There might be times when the discussion gets a little heated. Maintain your calm.
Don’t pull out made-up facts to prove your stand.
The GD round has not been conducted for the past 2 years, so no one can predict a topic at this point. But researching certain topics won’t hurt – EU Free Trade, Make in India etc.

For the Interview Round

Prepare an introduction and a proper one, which you can speak for at least 60-90 seconds.
Sit and make a list of your hobbies and what you can say about them. Don’t stick to simplistic one liners. Reading books could be your hobby, but you can’t just finish your answer at that. What genre of books? Which author? How many of these books you’ve read?
Be careful of what you say, the interviewer always looks for another question in your answer. Try not to lie or exaggerate.
Why do you want to take BMS or BBA(FIA)? Prepare a detailed answer for this question.
Make a list of your weaknesses and strength. Prepare something relevant to say something about them as well. (P.S: Please don’t say my weaknesses are my strength, just don’t. Please.)
Don’t be fidgety. Sit straight. Smile.
Don’t be rude to the interviewer and do not cross question them.

All the best!

Image Credits- voivoblog.files.wordpress.com

Kartikeya Bhatotia
[email protected]

Keep Reading

Campus Central

Life at Delhi University: BMS and BBS

By Kartikeya Bhatotia June 17, 2015

1. Resume Madness Everyone gets in the race of updating their resume/CV from day one. The resume madness gets to you so much that each little thing makes you think “Will this benefit my resume?” 2. On the run of doing an internship We’re always eyeing placement cell mails and internship websites to see if there are any internships there for us. In fact, most of us forget the joy of sitting back and relaxing during the summer and winter breaks, instead we tire ourselves by doing internships. It is one of the most talked about topic in college as well. 3. When is the next BMS entrance? People are always asking this question from us even though we have no idea when it happens and how it happens, considering the fact that DU guidelines on BMS/BBS admissions change almost every year! 4. Which specialization to take? This question troubles us from semester 1, although we select our specialization – Marketing, HR or Finance in the Fifth semester. We keep asking our seniors about it, who themselves don’t have an idea 5. Placement? MBA? This question is always on our mind from semester 1 as well, although most of us stay confused till the end. The opinion of the majority however lies towards the placement, and MBA or any other postgraduate degree is either considered an alternative or something we’d want to pursue in the future. Kartikeya Bhatotia [email protected]]]>

Keep Reading