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Delhi University Stands Against Climate Change

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Under the shadow of the Global Climate Strike and the increasingly popular students’ movement, Fridays for Future, the Delhi-based revolutionary student group, COLLECTIVE organized a discussion on the climate crisis at the Faculty of Arts on the 20th September.

The slogan of the event was “System change not Climate change” and through the discussion, the group sought to educate and invite people to join the movement against climate change.

The event saw speeches from students and professors from various departments of Delhi University. The range was incredible, mostly because it was a very free and organic discussion. Everybody was encouraged to speak about their understanding of climate change and their battles with it. It was littered with informative statistics and unsettling personal experiences. The event was organized with the immediate goal of highlighting the United Nations Conference on Climate Change which is to be held on the 23rd September. Sourya, a member of COLLECTIVE, said, “If this conference happens like its predecessors, then we’re well aware of the positions that will be taken. Profit-making multi-national corporations are given leeway to abuse the resources in the name of development. Strong statements are never made and they continue to be pardoned”. He also stressed on the need for radical change in the way governments and citizens approached climate change. “Personal lifestyle changes are important, but when the situation is so grave that every year Chennai sees a severe water shortage, Mumbai sees forest fires and more of Assam continues to go underwater, radical systematic changes have to be made”, he added.

A thread connecting all these different speeches was about the importance of recognizing the politics of climate change. The issue can no longer be viewed in isolation, it’s marred with the politics of inequality. The first speaker introduced this by speaking of the Carbon Credit System, “the developed countries have devised this innocuous-looking and a very mischievous tool called carbon credit system. Instead of reducing their carbon emissions, they buy carbon credits from poorer countries which naturally do not release as much carbon. In this way, they technically exceed their emission limit and with the help of money, they pass on the worst effects of global warming to poorer countries. They bypass their own commitments to the international committee.” Richer nations and rich individuals even within poorer countries have massive carbon footprints, but ultimately they also have the resources to protect themselves from the effects of climate change. The brunt of higher temperatures and polluted water bodies is faced by the poor and the marginalized. “Social justice is inherently linked to aspects like these”, he added.

Only the rich can protect themselves in the war against climate change, the poor inevitably become casualties. To illustrate, Professor Debjani, from Indraprastha College for Women, spoke to the crowd about climate refugees. In her home state, West Bengal, the Sunderbans are increasingly being submerged due to rising sea levels. “These are people like us, ordinary people, thousands of people whose livelihoods and homes are being destroyed due to some effect of climate change”, she said. “If someone is doing something in North America, it affects all of us.”

The lack of Government interest in Climate Change was also pointed to. “The only thing our government has done to acknowledge climate change is to change the name of the Environment Ministry to ‘The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change’. Every year we witness the same events, water shortages and floods in the country, but we normalize it. It is never discussed in Parliament, we will not stop until the Prime Minister takes notice and makes climate change a national issue. In western countries, citizens are threatening to occupy Parliament if leaders do not introduce effective legislation, we need to do the same”, a speaker added. Statistics were discussed highlighting that India’s major cities like Delhi and Bangalore will become uninhabitable by 2030 because of zero groundwater levels and the quality of air.

While legislation points towards trying to bring change within the capitalist and neo-liberal global framework, some speakers spoke about a more radical change. Professor Sudha from Delhi School of Economics defined climate change differently. “Climate change is the inevitable outcome of capitalism. The essence of capitalism is to keep growing and keep increasing profits. This can only happen at the cost of resources. It’s contradictory to discuss a movement against climate change within the capitalist framework. We cannot be concerned about climate change without being concerned about capitalism. The system of production and consumption has to change.” She urged listeners to separate their ideas of happiness from that of materialistic joy. She left the crowd with a million-dollar question, “Is it better to live a life with more things or with more time?”

In that context, speakers also spoke about not letting corporations fool you. “The solution to climate change isn’t green finance or green economy. These are just more products created by the capitalist to sink us deeper into capitalism. The problem is with commodifying natural resources. Climate capitalism is about generating crisis to make more profit”, a speaker added.

A very powerful speech was made by a student who lives in Jim Corbett. He spoke about how capitalism is destroying his home. “Growth is a capitalist conspiracy. They pollute the planet, you get sick. You go to their hospitals and contribute to their profits. Cities become unbearable and they lure you out for a well-needed vacation. You leave Delhi and go to my hometown and stay at their resorts. We are hostages of this conspiracy and we are making them rich at every step while they destroy the planet.” He also spoke of a possible solution, “If each of you speaks to a few of your friends, in the next two years we can have a climate army. An Army so powerful that no politician would dare tread on this road in front of Arts Faculty.”

After the speeches, the organizers conducted a postcard campaign where all the attendees addressed the Prime Minister about the crisis of Climate Change. This event bought forth multiple important viewpoints and quietly but effectively spoke about the urgency of change. “Do we just want to preserve the status quo or do we want to change the system?”

Feature Image Credits: Noihrit Gogoi for DU Beat

Pragati Thapa

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DUB Speak

Reality Check: Mental Health Care in the University of Delhi

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The state of mental health care is in dire need of improvement so that it can cater to what is now emerging as one of the leading problems among students.

College life is perhaps the most unique part of a person’s life. It is a world away from the idiosyncrasies of the school. It is the beginning of a new life; a life which brings joy, ambition, and freedom. A life which also brings in stress, and anxiety. The stress of living away from home for the first time, the stress of becoming productive, the stress of getting into new relationships, and the stress of internals. As we find ourselves in this whirlpool of emotions, it gets very easy to lose track of ourselves.

“When we enter college life, it is drastically different from school, you leave your protected bubble and enter the real world. You do things you have never done before. And all that takes a toll on you, especially adjusting to a new life when you barely know anyone around you. A counsellor is a really good buffer zone to help you adjust to the new life and even deal with the great academic pressure,” said Nighat, a student of Psychology from Aryabhatta College.

This is where a college counsellor comes in. A counsellor is a professional designated by the institution to help students deal with their problems — be it mental, psychological, academic, social, or economic — in a productive and effective manner. While some colleges like Hindu College, Miranda House, and Daulat Ram provide a counsellor, there are many colleges without the provision for one. Even when colleges do provide a counsellor, they are often inaccessible to the students. On speaking to a number of students, we found that most were not aware of the presence of a counsellor on campus.

“It is very important to normalise and remove the stigma around seeking a counsellor. Sometimes, just talking to friends does not work. A counsellor is someone who can guide you better. It is only recently that I have seen changes in the perception regarding mental health. I have been working here since 2014. Earlier, the students used to come with hushed voices and quiet footsteps, to not alert anyone else. It is only now that I’m seeing a change where students come in more freely,” said a counsellor from a University of Delhi (DU) college.

With the increase of awareness, there has been a surge in the mental health events or workshops being conducted during “Mental Health Awareness Week” by the Psychology Departments of various colleges. These workshops are usually in collaboration with mental health organisations, where several University students also volunteer. These organisations have become very popular among young college students as they organise poetry sessions, anxiety management activities, and much more. Apart from the college counsellors, there is also the Delhi University Women’s Association which offers counselling services at nominal charges.

What should be noted is that the onus to work for better mental health should not begin and end in a designated mental health week. It should also not be restricted to departments. There should be a regular availability of a skilled counsellor, authorities should take the onus to ensure interactions between the counsellor and the students, and basic facilities should be provided for the same. Few college societies have worked towards this, by using peer mentoring and understanding the importance of catharsis through sharing.

The counsellors should be more involved within the fabric of the college, since becoming a familiar and approachable face is of utmost importance. For a long while now the importance of mental health has been undermined, and it is time that it gains the momentum it deserves.

 

Feature Image Credits: Friends’ Corner via Facebook

 

Satviki Sanjay

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Shivani Dadhwal

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The Life and Legacy of Safdar Hashmi

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Read how a politically stimulated University
of Delhi (DU) student became the icon
of cultural resistance in India.

As soon as you exit the Mandi House
metro station, one of the roads you might
come across is the Safdar Hashmi Marg,
which houses the famous Shri Ram Centre
for Performing Arts. Mandi House, home
to the prestigious National School of
Drama and other prominent cultural hubs,
acknowledged the fiercely rebellious artist
by naming a road after him, posthumously.
Safdar Hashmi is an indispensable figure
when it comes to cultural resistance
through art, specifically theatre art.
He pursued English Literature from St.
Stephen’s College and then got a Master’s
degree in English from DU. During his
post-graduation, he got associated with
Indian People’s Theatre Association
(IPTA), the cultural unit of Students’
Federation of India (SFI).
Hashmi soon left the body and founded Jan
Natya Manch, commonly abbreviated as
JANAM, as IPTA’s offshoot in 1973. When
Indira Gandhi was alleged to have rigged
the elections against Raj Narain, Safdar
produced a street play named Kursi, Kursi,
Kursi based on the questionable incidents
that took place during the 1967 elections.
The play made JANAM and Safdar Hashmi
immensely famous across the country.
In 1976, impacted by the exploitation
of labourers’ and workers’ conditions in
factories, Safdar Hashmi, along with five
other artists, directed a 13-minute-long
play titled Machine, depicting a situation
where factory workers were beaten up
by the security guards when they asked
for fairer working conditions. This play
instilled the conscience of people and
made them question the vicious cycle
of capitalism. It became so popular
that it was recorded and later remade
in several languages.
After Machine became a cult hit, there
was no looking back for Safdar Hashmi
and JANAM. JANAM got actively involved
with the issue of workers’ rights and,
within six hours of fare hikes by Delhi
Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, the
group directed and performed a nukkad
natak (street play) on the same. This was
followed by plays on various themes like
the distress of small peasants, religious
fascism, unemployment, inflation,
violence against women, etc. In the
short life of 34 years that he lived,
Safdar Hashmi gave 4000 performances
of 24 street plays.
It was a doomsday for the cultural
resistance movement when, on a chilly
winter morning, Safdar Hashmi was
attacked while performing a play in a
neighbourhood of Ghaziabad. Hashmi,
along with his fellow artists, was
performing a play for the candidate of
Communist Party of India (Marxist),
Ramachand Jha, when the Congress’
candidate, Mukesh Sharma, came and
asked him to evacuate the area to let his
rally pass. When Hashmi asked him to wait
until the play ended or to take a detour,
Mukesh and his goons got infuriated and
created a ruckus, vandalising and beating
the audience as well as the performers.
One labourer, Ram Bahadur, was killed,
and Hashmi, while trying to save his mates
and fellow artists, got hit by an iron rod.
He was fatally injured and got admitted
to a hospital but could not be saved. He
passed away the following day.
At the time of his death, he had earned the
stature of a hero amongst the proletariat
(workers, laborers and deprived citizens)
and artists. A huge crowd gathered to
witness his last rites. Incidentally, it was the
largest mobilisation after Independence
where people joined with a prior notice.
Today, Safdar Hashmi is a cult figure seen
as the symbol of Indian cultural resistance.
His life and legacy have continuously lived
beyond his own years, through art and
cinema. For instance, in 2008 Rajkumar
Santoshi directed Halla Bol starring Ajay
Devgn as an ode to Hashmi, who died
while performing a play titled Halla Bol!
In times of political unrest and democratic
upheaval, it is important for us, as
students in the hotspot of youth and
national politics to look back at those who
persistently utilised art to stand up for their
principles, voicing the need for justice and
revolutionary change.

Feature Image Credits: Telegraph India

Priyanshu
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DUB News

Fit India Movement Launch in Delhi University

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The convention hall of the Delhi University (DU) saw students from all across the university attending the live screening of the launch of The Fit India Campaign by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on the occasion of National Sports day.

 

“I want to see you fit and make you fitness-conscious”, said PM Narendra Modi in his last

Mann Ki Baat session. This planted the seeds for the Fit India campaign, a nationwide movement which aims to encourage people to inculcate physical activity and sports in their everyday lives. The campaign is launched on National Sports Day which is celebrated on 29 August every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of the hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand.

 

A live screening of the launch event of the Fit India Campaign was organized by the Sports Council of the University of Delhi at the Convention Hall, Viceregal Lodge on 29 August 2019. The event which began at 9:30 am saw Dr. Benu Gupta, associate professor, Kirori Mal College deliver the welcoming address to the students.

 

It was followed by the lighting of the lamp ceremony by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Yogesh K Tyagi. To amplify the event, the students of the Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies performed the Sarasvati Vandana.

 

A fitness video was then played which talked about Yoga Day, mental illnesses and the importance of sports in our lives. It delivered the message that the Fit India Campaign is meant to inspire the nation to become more active and take care of themselves. Vinita, a student of Kirori Mal college affirmed saying, “This movement is a very nice initiative, especially for the students, as we feel like our life is just going to college and coming back and sleeping and eating. Through this movement, we can all pledge to be more active.”

 

The live session of the launch of the campaign by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi was then screened at the hall. The program saw a cultural display by the students showcasing different sports followed by an address delivered by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, in his speech, addressed everyone as students since everyone had been a student at some point in their lives and urged everyone to walk 10,000 steps each day to remain fit. Aditya Malik, a student from Ramjas, commented on the movement and said,” It is a new start of our prime minister so it could lead India to a new stage where we can perform well. In my village, we are not aware of yoga due to illiteracy but efforts by all of us will lead India to a new level.”

 

“I feel that we all should have a routine which keeps us fit. I plan to follow PM Modi’s words and walk 10,000 steps daily.”, said Simran Arora, another student from Kirori Mal College.

 

This event saw students taking a pledge to strive to be more active and making India more fit, a step a day.

 

Featured Image Credits- Rishabh Chauhan for DU Beat

 

Satviki sanjay 

[email protected]

 

Priya Chauhan

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Arts & Culture

The University and the Society Culture

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Every year, lakhs of students apply to the prestigious University of Delhi, thousands get it, and a few hundred join the college societies. The month of August in the University calendar witnesses orientation programs, society auditions, WhatsApp forwards to the freshers, and posters on notice board informing about the society. 

Amidst the arduousness of the ensuing academic pursuit, a college society plays an important role in giving its members the kind of experience they have never witnessed. Most of the students join these societies in order to enhance their curriculum vitae. However, down the line, they also understand that the exposure from the society not only transforms them, but also plays an important part in their holistic and professional development. It helps them express themselves, raise their voice against something which can create an impact in the university space. Meeting the deadlines, working in a team, recruiting people, generating revenue, and day-to-day management are some of the responsibilities handled by the society members. This extensive work that goes into making of any society, be it a newly formed one or an already existing one, demands enormous amount of energy and dedication. Shreya, a member of the fashion society of her college said, “Like every coin has two sides, it is the same with societies. Sometimes, the job is taxing. There is a schedule to be followed, a number of things to be done, paper work, coordinating with the society members, and what not. But at the same time, it is fulfilling. I have become confident. I know how to manage a team. Over the years, the society members become your family, you practise with them, eat with them, travel with them. Half your day is spent with the members. Your seniors teach you so much, and probably that is the best thing. When you see them working with sincerity and dedication, it really pushes you from within to strive for better, each and every day.” It is true that society is a gateway for finding friends in college. It helps build a mutual relationship of trust and respect, and also paves a way for healthy discussions.

Having said all this, I do realise some of us are not a part of any society. There can be multiple reasons, though. Some of us didn’t get in, some may have left the societies after having an idea of the hectic schedule, or probably some of us did not bother to join a society at all! A common factor the students who were not a part of any society talked about was the work and hours of practice. Some of the students live far away and dread reaching the college sharp at seven in the morning. Others believe that it is important to prioritise academics over extracurricular activities. Amanya, a recent graduate who was a part of the western dance society of her college said, “I joined the society in my first year. Hours of practice, missing classes, not being able to cope with my studies, and reaching college early in the morning were the reasons I had to leave my society. The fest season drove me crazy, I used to reach home late and had no energy to do anything productive after that. It was extremely difficult to manage. After a point of time, it felt like a burden.”

Coming to the those of you who did not get into any society this year- it’s okay if you failed that society audition. Your college life is much more than one audition. I have always believed that something better awaits all of us. Having given your best and still not being selected is something most of us have experienced at some point of time in our lives. You might feel disheartened and dejected. But utilising our potential in a productive way is totally up to us. Keep an eye on other societies, if not western music society, you might end up being a part of Enactus of your college. If not all this, make sure you indulge in something you like, maybe you can join a certificate course or try learning a new language. College life is about discovering yourself and your abilities. There are a variety of options available in this free world. Being or not being a part of any society, I hope your college years transform you into a confident, informed, and a more responsible individual.

Anoushka Sharma

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News

Delhi NSUI President Files Complaint After Receiving Threatening Phone Calls

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Since the night of the attack on the Savarkar statue, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Delhi President, Akshay Lakra, alleges that he has been receiving disturbing phone calls, threatening to attack him if he doesn’t end the protest.

In the aftermath of the Vinayak Damodar Savarkar statue controversy, the drama continues to unfold at the University of Delhi (DU) as the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections inch closer. The illegal installation of the bust saw an immediate reaction from the NSUI, who threatened a mass protest if the bust was not removed within 24 hours. Lakra has now filed an official police complaint addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police to look into the threats that he has allegedly been receiving via phone calls.

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This comes after NSUI members led by Lakra attempted to blacken the bust and ornament it with a garland of slippers. In his complaint, he claims that for the past few days he has repeatedly been receiving calls wherein he was subjected to life-threatening statements. The callers have been pressuring him to end his protest against the statue and photos from his Facebook account have been shared widely describing him as a hater of Savarkar. Due to fear for his family and friends, who can be easily identified through his social media accounts, Lakra has deactivated them. He says that he has been getting innumerable calls every second of the day from different states of the country, primarily from Maharashtra. While verifying, he realised that most of the numbers were registered on true caller by the names “Akhand Bharat”, “Hindu Ekta”,” Swaraj Manch”, “BJP supporter” and “Hindu Mahasabha” and even “Narendra Modi” himself.

 

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He also mentioned that the callers have expressed their affiliation and solidarity to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The letter requests the police to take immediate actions against the perpetrators and Lakra has also given all the numbers via which he has been receiving troubling phone calls.

Lakra in the complaint states, “It has been a traumatising experience for me. The ABVP members mentioned should be held responsible for any harm and mishap caused to me.” To support his case, he has provided photographic evidence of several continuous missed calls on his cellphone. While all the other numbers are of Indian users, a number from South Korea and Bahrain has also been giving him calls which he suspects is originating from the accused group.

 

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“People might say that what I did was a political stunt but it is clearly not because I am not running. I just want to start a conversation and have a debate. There is an attempt to impose one particular ideology in the country and to rewrite history. The ABVP has encroached on the property to forcefully install the statue but they have no proof to prove that Savarkar is Veer and no basis to equate him with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose or Shri Bhagat Singh. I am not afraid of the wrath of the RSS”, he added.
Speaking to DU Beat, Saimon Farooqui, National Secretary, NSUI, said, “RSS & ABVP have always made dishonesty and bigotry as their instruments to cheat the nation and the universities. Earlier they tried to deceive the students by spending INR 22 lakh of the DUSU budget on “tea”. Last year, they deceived the students of the university by approving the candidature for the post of President of DUSU of a person who had fake documents and carried a fake degree. Today they are trying to brainwash the students of the university by trying to prove a bootlicker of the English Government as a freedom fighter and putting him on the same pedestal as Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose. I’m proud of our Delhi State President Akshay Lakra for this step and the entire NSUI family backs him for this move. If needed, each one of us would come to streets to blacken and remove the statues of thousands of Savarkars like this.”

Additionally, the negative attention that Akshay is receiving has gone well and beyond DU. Popular accounts on Facebook run by elderly men are openly abusing him and threatening him. Shiv Sena leader, Uddhav Thackeray, has also joined the wagon commenting that anyone who insults Savarkar should be beaten openly!

The National Media Convener for the ABVP, Monika Chaudhary, surprisingly, denies any involvement of the ABVP in this matter, and dissociates herself and her party from the scenario. She retorted that the complaint was “completely false” and that the ABVP does not engage with this level of politics. She also stated that none of the numbers mentioned on the complaint could be connected to any ABVP office-bearers. “It is not the actions of an official member of the ABVP. It could have been an ABVP sympathiser or a person who is a big fan of Veer Savarkar,” she said. She also went on to say that this complaint is merely a means to achieve “fame and popularity” for Lakra in light of the upcoming elections.

We are yet to see what steps the Delhi Police will take against the complaint filed. It is also important to note that if true, the scale of backlash being directed at Akshay Lakra is unprecedented and constitutes harassment. It speaks volumes about how students exercising their freedom of speech and action within university spaces are not immune to attacks from the vicious web of internet trollers who rely only on keywords to immediate make insensitive comments.

 

Image Credits: Akshay Larka for NSUI

 

Pragati Thapa

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The Reality of College Life: Fresher’s Edition

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After the initial week of jitters and anxiety finishes, faces start to become familiar and the freshers’ no longer need to ask three people for directions to their classrooms. Here’s looking at college life, through the eyes of a fresher.

 Somewhere between metro rides, attending lectures half-asleep and making innumerable plans to meet at the nearest chai tapri each day, college life for the most recent batch has kick-started. And it is exultingly unexpected and exhausting at the same time. High school puts most of us in a sheltered and protective delusion where one is far away from the finer nuances and greater responsibilities of adulting.

My initial experience of college life at the North Campus of the University of Delhi (DU) has been liberating and eye-opening. The diverse spectrum of students, the dynamics of an all-girls institution and the ever-lasting juggle between academics and co-curricular activities forms the entire experience of college which continues to teach me something new every day.

The college has become a stepping-stone of unlearning for me. The judgments, opinions, norms, realities, and conditions that I was exposed to earlier, have all been rethought. The political protests, opinionated teachers, vocal classmates, and active media on campus have exposed me to broader perspectives, new ways of thinking and encouraged me to look at things through a fresh lens.

Satviki Sanjay, a first-year student of B.A (Honours) Philosophy from Miranda House says, “Despite popular belief, going to college in DU is so much more than just “chilling”. It gives you the much-needed space to work on your interests and your area of study, which was not possible in school. Being at the University gives you freedom but at the same time, it teaches you the idea of being responsible for yourself. For me, the most enriching experience so far has been meeting different people in numerous societies and being exposed to varying opinions.”

The diverse and democratic environment of the University has exposed me to its rich legacy and heritage. It has already pushed me to put my best foot forward, push myself, make the most of the opportunities at hand and get out of my comfort zone. Like me, many first-years are looking forward to the next three years of college and live by the motto – “Sleep more than you study, study more than you party, party as much as you can!”

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat

Bhavya Pandey

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The Reality of College Life: Fresher's Edition

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After the initial week of jitters and anxiety finishes, faces start to become familiar and the freshers’ no longer need to ask three people for directions to their classrooms. Here’s looking at college life, through the eyes of a fresher.  Somewhere between metro rides, attending lectures half-asleep and making innumerable plans to meet at the nearest chai tapri each day, college life for the most recent batch has kick-started. And it is exultingly unexpected and exhausting at the same time. High school puts most of us in a sheltered and protective delusion where one is far away from the finer nuances and greater responsibilities of adulting. My initial experience of college life at the North Campus of the University of Delhi (DU) has been liberating and eye-opening. The diverse spectrum of students, the dynamics of an all-girls institution and the ever-lasting juggle between academics and co-curricular activities forms the entire experience of college which continues to teach me something new every day. The college has become a stepping-stone of unlearning for me. The judgments, opinions, norms, realities, and conditions that I was exposed to earlier, have all been rethought. The political protests, opinionated teachers, vocal classmates, and active media on campus have exposed me to broader perspectives, new ways of thinking and encouraged me to look at things through a fresh lens. Satviki Sanjay, a first-year student of B.A (Honours) Philosophy from Miranda House says, “Despite popular belief, going to college in DU is so much more than just “chilling”. It gives you the much-needed space to work on your interests and your area of study, which was not possible in school. Being at the University gives you freedom but at the same time, it teaches you the idea of being responsible for yourself. For me, the most enriching experience so far has been meeting different people in numerous societies and being exposed to varying opinions.” The diverse and democratic environment of the University has exposed me to its rich legacy and heritage. It has already pushed me to put my best foot forward, push myself, make the most of the opportunities at hand and get out of my comfort zone. Like me, many first-years are looking forward to the next three years of college and live by the motto – “Sleep more than you study, study more than you party, party as much as you can!” Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Bhavya Pandey [email protected]]]>

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University of Delhi – The Cradle for Indian National Politics

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With a remarkable number of politicians on-field who have graduated from The University of Delhi (DU), one can aptly caption the Varsity as the cradle for Indian Politics. It then becomes very natural to ponder upon the question: ‘What makes DU the ideal place for politics?’

Shashi Tharoor, Arun Jaitley, Kapil Sibal, Maneka Gandhi… and the list continues.

A common thread which connects all of them is their Alma Mater= DU.DU stands as a place which serves as the first turf for experiencing and coming face-to-face with the many realities and images of India one hears through the thousands of students who come here from all walks of life, from all places, and from the lengths and breadths of our nation.

Calling it the cradle for Indian National Politics seems natural enough because of various factors, all of which fall just in the right place justifying the title so. These are:

 

  • LOCATION

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Vicinity and closeness to the lawmakers matter a lot. Being in the capital of the nation gives the student politicians and protestors of DU a handy advantage of being capable enough to have their voices heard in the power centre of the country, thereby not only presenting up the demands concerning university life, but also of the things they observe around themselves. The age-old proverb, Dilli door nahi, rings a familiar bell.

  • PLATFORM

 

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DU offers the ideal place to bring out your voice, your opinion, and your views on any and every matter that concerns you. Be it through performing arts or through student protests, your voice will not go unheard here. The ideal place for expression and to get into action, DU shapes your personality by bringing the importance of politics close to you.

  • DIVERSITY

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It is in DU that you get to actually experience India, through the eyes of students who come from all parts of the nation. Be it the North-East or down South, DU does not limit itself just to North India but accepts and stands as a melting pot of cultures, traditions and experiences students from all walks of life have to offer. Their experiences make you more receptive, aware and alert of things that are happening in the country and fail to reach up at levels of concerns. The DU experience sensitises you to the nation you are living in and what issues are pulsating through its veins.

Hence it wouldn’t be wrong to say that DU stands tall as the mighty cradle for grooming the leaders of our nation, leaders who are inspired, motivated, evoked and aware of the ground realities and ready to ace up the face of the Indian political scene.

 

 

Feature Image Credits: Niharika Dabral for DU Beat

Amrashree Mishra

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Year End

The Best and Worst of the University of Delhi in 2018-19

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From celebrity promotions, marches and protests to crimes against students, winners at international competitions and struggles to maintain funding, University of Delhi has seen a rollercoaster year. We bring you some of the highlights from this year.

The Worst: 

August 2018

Body outside STGB Khalsa

Image Credits: India Today Social

  • Dead Body Found Outside Khalsa College

On 5th August 2018, a dead body with its head and hands chopped off was found outside Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur College at 8 a.m. The police predicted the corpse to be of a 30-year-old male.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/08/dead-body-found-outside-khalsa-college/

MPhil PhD Hunger Strike
Image Credits: DU Beat archives

 

  • Hunger Strike Organised By MPhil and PhD Students

A hunger strike took place on 1st August 2018 in the Arts Faculty of Delhi University. The protest was against the modifications in the M.Phil and PhD admission procedure, demands against the enforcement of the University Grants Commission’s Ordinance VI by DU were put forth.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/08/hunger-strike-organised-by-mphil-and-phd-aspirants-at-arts-faculty-against-admission-process/

 

Mahraja Agrasen website hacked
Image Credits: Maharaja Agrasen College

  • Maharaja Agrasen College Website Hacked and ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ Displayed

On 3rd August 2018, the website of Maharaja Agrasen College was hacked for three hours. Everyone, including the students, faculty, and the college administration were left in a state of shock by this development. The photograph of the college on the website was replaced with a photograph of stone-pelters. The hackers not only uploaded a photograph of Pakistan’s national flag but also wrote ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/08/hackers-write-pakistan-zindabad-on-maharaja-agrasens-website/

 

September 2018

girl jumps from bus
Image Credits: DTC

  • Delhi University Student Jumped Out of Bus to Escape Molesters

On 30th September 2018, a 19-year-old Delhi University student jumped out of a DTC bus to escape her molesters after months of continued abuse. The victim’s sister had shared the ordeal in detail, in a series of tweets.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/09/delhi-university-student-jumps-out-of-moving-bus-to-escape-molesters/

November 2018

dsj mourn their president
Image Credits: DSJ Media Group

  • DSJ Students Moaned on the Untimely Demise of Their First President

In a road accident that occurred on 4th November 2018, Prashant Yadav, a student of Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) lost his life. On 6th November 2018, which was his 20th birthday, a public condolence meeting was organised by the students DSJ at the Faculty of Arts at 4 p.m. The students paid tribute to Prashant Yadav, who was considered the backbone of the “Stand with DSJ” movement.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/11/dsj-students-remember-their-first-president/

 

December 2018

delhi-school-of-economics
Image Credits: Delhi School of Economics

  • Phone Snatching Escalated to Stabbing

A PhD student of Delhi School of Economics was attacked by unidentified phone snatchers on 2nd December 2018. The incident took place late night at the Naala Bridge at Patel Chest Institute, North Campus, which is in close vicinity of Maurice Nagar Police Station, New Delhi. A robbing attempt by bike ridden perpetrators escalated into violence, and the victim was stabbed in the back multiple times, with a knife.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/12/phone-snatching-escalates-to-stabbing/

 

January 2019

cvs
 Image Credits – DU Beat archives

  • Gun Pulled Out in Broad Daylight at CVS

A gun was allegedly pulled out during an altercation between some students at the College of Vocational Studies on 28th January 2019 around 1:30 p.m. The police had to be called to control the situation. Our source informed us that two third-year students are said to be involved. The gun was pointed to the Central Councillor of the college union.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2019/02/gun-pulled-out-at-cvs-campus-in-broad-daylight/

 

March 2019

delhi univ
Image Credits: Niharika Dabral for DU Beat

  • DU’s Proposal for Funds Rejected by MHRD

A proposal put forward by the Delhi University Administration for Rs 5000 crore for the construction of a few buildings for the use by the University was struck down by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.  The issue of funds crunch was raised by the DU administration at various platforms, but the money that it had already was not spent by it and was returned to the University Grants Commission.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2019/03/dus-proposal-for-seeking-funds-rejected-by-mhrd/

 

M.Sc Dept Press Conference
Image Credits: M.Sc Mathematics Department, DU

  • Mass Failure in DU: M.Sc and Other Departments Organised Press Conference

The M.Sc. Mathematics Department, as well as other departments, organised a press conference as a result of the poor administrations and blunders made by several departments in the evaluation of papers. More than 90% of failing patterns were drawn up from various departments. The rechecking and revaluation processes accumulated 3.18 crores in the past three years.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2019/03/mass-failure-in-du-m-sc-mathematics-and-other-departments-organise-a-press-conference/

April 2019

delhi univ
Image Credits: Niharika Dabral for DU Beat 

  • Delhi Government Stopped Funding of 28 Colleges

Owing to failure in the constitution of their governing bodies by Delhi University (DU), Delhi Government stopped funds to 28 DU colleges. Manish Sisodia directed the Finance Department to stop the funds, which amount to INR 360 crore annually, over what he termed the “deliberate and mala fide attempt to delay formation of governing bodies”. He believed that with no governing bodies, there was no way to keep an eye on the colleges’ functioning.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2019/04/delhi-government-stops-funding-of-28-du-colleges/

 

 

The Best

September 2018

NSIT
Image Credits: NSIT

  • NSIT Granted University Status

After a long period of 2.5 years, the central government finally approved to grant University status to Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (NSIT) on 27th September 2018. Now running as a university, NSUT has the autonomy to revise curriculum, create its own Academic Council, and fast-track administrative decisions. The University will remain answerable to the University

Grants Commission.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/09/nsit-granted-university-status/

 

October 2018

Nishtha Dudeja
Image Credits: Zee News

  • Delhi University Graduate Nishtha Dudeja Won Miss Deaf Asia 2018

Nishtha Dudeja, a twenty-three-year-old commerce graduate from Delhi University, won the Miss Deaf Asia 2018 title, being the first ever Indian to have won any title at the Miss Deaf World Pageant. The pageant held its eighteenth edition recently at Prague, Czech Republic.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/10/delhi-university-graduate-nishtha-dudeja-wins-miss-deaf-asia-2018-title/

 

October 2018

lockup

 

 Image Credits: Mahi Panchal for DU Beat

  • The All-Night Protest Staged by Pinjra Tod

Starting at four in the evening, members of Pinjra Tod gathered at Faculty of Arts on 8th October 2018 with several self-made posters displaying messages like ‘LSD- Lockup, Safety, Dhoka’ and ‘Tod do taale’ (break the locks) to stage a protest against privatisation of education, accessibility, and equitable education.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/10/lsd-lockup-safety-and-dhoka-inside-pinjra-tods-all-night-protest/

 

du enactus
Image Credits: Enactus

  • DU Colleges Dominated the Enactus World Water Race

Six out of the top 12 and three out of the top four projects shortlisted for the World Water Race belonged to India, more specifically the University of Delhi. The Enactus World Cup was held from 9th to 11th October. World Water Race is a competition that recognises and mobilises Enactus teams and their projects tackling the water and sanitation crisis.

FurtherReading: https://dubeat.com/2018/10/india-dominates-the-enactus-world-water-race-six-out-of-12-projects-belong-to-du/

 

gita gopinath IMF
Image Credits: Livemint

  • DU Alumna Appointed Chief Economist of IMF

Dr Gopinath is a B.A. (Hons.) Economics graduate from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, who later pursued a Masters in Economics from Delhi School of Economics. She was the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University, then appointed as the Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She succeeded Maurice Obstfeld.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/10/du-alumna-appointed-chief-economist-at-imf/

 

December 2018

DSJ meets presidentImage Credits: Mohammad Ali

  • DSJ Students Table Their Grievances Before Former President

Despite a slew of vociferous protests and agitations by the students of DSJ, most of the promises touted by the administration were never fulfilled. Intending to bring the protracted tussle between the students and the DSJ administration to a close, Mohammad Ali, a DSJ student and NSUI youth politician, submitted a petition to Pranab Mukherjee and Kapil Sibal.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2018/12/dsj-students-table-their-grievances-before-the-former-president-and-kapil-sibal/

 

January 2019

amrita rao
Image Credits- Akarsh Mathur for DU Beat

  • In Conversation with Amrita Rao

On 23rd January 2019, Amrita Rao got candid with DU Beat about her life, career, and the industry, when she visited Conference Centre, North Campus along with her co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui to promote their film ‘Thackeray’.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2019/02/a-tete-a-tete-with-amrita-rao/

 

February 2019

Increased seats
Image Credits: Tribhuvan Tiwari for DU Beat

  • Increased Seats for Economically Weaker Sections

The DU administration decided to implement and increase the economically weaker section (EWS) quota by 25%, leading to 6550 more seats across all colleges. This plan shall see that the new academic year will have 6550 more seats for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

FurtherReading:https://dubeat.com/2019/02/increased-seats-for-economically-weaker-sections/

 

March 2019

Miranda House Appoints New Principal
Image Credits: Odisha News Tonight

  • Miranda House’s New Principal Takes the Seat

After successful completion of Dr Pratibha Jolly’s tenure as Miranda House’s Principal, Dr Bijayalaxmi Nanda takes the seat. A professor of Political Science and Gender Studies in the College, holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree, a Master of Philosophy degree from Delhi University and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2019/03/miranda-house-appoints-new-principal/

 

April 2019

women's march (1)
Image Credits: Pragati Thapa for DU Beat

  • Student Groups, Women from DU and Across the Country Marched for Change

On  4th April 2019, women across all ages, religions and social classes came together to voice their collective dissent against the current government and their propagation of a politics of violence and hatred. Prominent student groups present in the march were members of  Pinjra Tod, Women Development Cells of Lady Shri Ram College, Indraprastha College and Miranda House. Students expressed concerns regarding women’s representation in politics, condition of minorities, etc.

Further Reading: https://dubeat.com/2019/04/women-march-for-change/

 

Feature Image Credits: Mahi Panchal for DU Beat

Prachi Mehra

[email protected]

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