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Kalki Visits St. Stephen’s, Talks About Her Upcoming Podcast with BBC

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Actor and writer Kalki Koechlin visited the St. Stephen’s College on the 14th of August 2018 to talk about her new BBC World Service podcast, ‘Kalki Presents: My Indian Life’.

The podcast, released on 4th of August, is a series of real-life experiences that talks ‘about being young and Indian in the 21st century’. “It is about great, compelling, fascinating stories from all around India,” said the film and theatre artist, who is also known for actively speaking about social issues.

After a small welcome, the Margarita, with a Straw star and her fellow panellists, Geeta Pandey, Mallika Taneja, Eshan Hilal, and Aditya N. had an interactive session with the audience in the college hall. Some students had an on-stage belly dancing session with Eshan, who has been featured in the first episode of the podcast, ‘Dancing To His Own Beat’, a story about a Delhi-based professional belly dancer from an orthodox Muslim family. The best belly dancer won a solo photograph with Kalki.

Aditya performed a song for the crowd. “I found myself in the St. Stephen’s College stage after almost 16 years,” said theatre artist Mallika, an alumna of Kirori Mal College, who appears in the second podcast which is about a woman using her naked body to convey a powerful message. The event went on till 4:30 p.m.

Kalki gave autographs and also allowed clicked selfies with fans. “The program was supposed to start at 3 p.m. but she (Kalki) reached here at 2:30 p.m. and I think that’s super nice of her as an artist. She’s a beautiful person with a pyramid of kindness and professionalism in her,” says Aashiya, a student of St. Stephen’s College who attended the event. BBC informs that there would be ten episodes in the podcast and that it would be made available on as many platforms as possible.

Feature Image Credits: Geeta Pandey

 

Ananya Acharya
[email protected]
(Inputs from Aashiya, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi)

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Campus Central

Things to do in Your First Year Apart from Academics

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The first year of college is like a genie’s lamp. You rub on it and woosh! The magic arrives. Make the best out of your first year by following these tips.

The first year in college is a fantastic time for you as it is an upgradation from your monotonous school life and is a great way to step into adulthood. So buckle up as you read the list of things that are available for you to pursue in college apart from academics.

College Societies

College societies provide an incredible way to gain a lot of exposure. The University of Delhi (DU) has a vast range of college societies. From dance and music societies to the ones in the fields of theatre and debating, from the alluring fashion societies to the fanatics of literature, there are so many societies with which you can register and be a part of. What’s the wait for, then?

Organisations

Organisations like Enactus or AIESEC are among the many forums that a college student can actively be a part of. Enactus is a community of students and young entrepreneurs who work towards progress of the society and environmental issues. So if working alongside the social sector is what interests you, being a part of Enactus is a good option. Almost every college affiliated to DU has its own Enactus team, so go ahead and make the best use of it. Working along similar lines are many more organisations like ‘Tamanna’, CRY and so on. Although they are not associated with DU, being a part of them refines you and accelerates growth.

Working alongside Student Publications

Working along with student publications which encourage participating students is a good way to expand your horizons. If you’re a good writer or you feel you have immense potential in this field, do not hesitate from joining them. A few of the examples are DU Beat, Delhi Poetry Slam, The Anonymous Writer and so on.

Find your own Hamilton House

If you have followed popular culture, you’d associate Hamilton House with the vintage windows and elitist fragrances of Columbia University. Here’s a chance to create one or be a part of one. The purpose is to entail and find an area of similar interest and work upon it in work groups who meet up and discuss issues. Be it the welcoming wafts of coffee on a Starbucks outlet, or the décor of aesthetics at the Oxford Bookstore, find and create your own little secret club, or your mini ‘Dead Poets Society’.

 Explore the City’s Cherished Clubs

Be it the Indian Mountaineering Foundation or the Delhi Cycling Club, Delhi has within itself an entire array of co-curricular activities to provide to you. For reading maniacs, book clubs are a perfect opportunity to meet and interact with like-minded people. Check this link out to understand the different book clubs that you can be a part of https://notionpress.com/blog/delhi-book-clubs-that-every-bookworm-should-join/

 

Feature Image Credits: Enactus.org

Avnika Chhikara
[email protected]

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DUB Speak

Your College Isn’t Over Just Because You Failed That Society Audition

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Society auditions seem to be the ultimate gateway into finding friends and purpose in college. With so much at stake, how does one deal with the failure of making into their preferred society? 

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”Winston Churchill. This sounds phony, but it’s true.
The first week of August is over and chances are that the society orientations and auditions must be wrapping up as well. If you are one of those people who auditioned for extra-curricular clubs and societies, but unfortunately didn’t get through then this article is for you. We can’t claim to be experts in offering advice, however, we’ll repeat the lessons you are familiar with but need a reminder about.
The societies and cells in the University of Delhi (DU), be it the ever vibrant dance societies or the smug English debating ones, are repositories of talent. DU owes its spirit to them. It’s only natural that most of us want to be a part of these groups, for which we undergo a strenuous selection process. Some of the more competitive ones amongst us start preparing for it weeks in advance.
On the D-day, several things can go wrong. And even if they go right, you might still not find yourself amongst the chosen lot. And obviously, your heart will break, plain and simple. You’ll yearn to join those Dramatic Society members whenever you see them practicing in their high-pitched and compelling voices and reverberating energy. All of this will hurt and in all honesty, it sucks. There is no other adjective to explain this dismay and dejection.

To say that you have to be and can be bigger than your failure is unerring, but it also stems from this over expectation of healing. Take your time to crib and curse. The recovery needs to be neither graceful nor easy. Allow yourself the luxury of sorrow and once you are done, it would be time for an after-action review. Sit and analyse what went wrong, ask the members of the selection panel for feedback. It’s imperative that you reflect on what you did and avoid similar mistakes in the future. While this contemplation is never straightforward, it’s totally possible that the reason you didn’t get in has nothing to do with what you did wrong but with different expectations of the selectors. Maybe you are amazing at Indian classical music, but the society folks wanted someone who can beatbox. Your takeaway from this rejection should be self-assessment and experience. Make most of it even when you feel like murdering an entire clan.
At the onset of new sessions, societies recruit members liberally and what usually happens is, by the next month or so, a few recruits leave the society for several reasons. This opens up space for new members again, hence, your chances to join your desired fraternity are still available. Make sure you tell your seniors about your availability and try again.

Now, it’s time to use the ‘when one door closes, another opens’ analogy. Look around and scout for other opportunities that are still open. You may never know about your cinephile credentials unless you sign up for the Film Club. You might never unearth your abilities in entrepreneurial action unless you join the Enactus unit of your college. A huge part of college life is also about discovering oneself and it’s time you try as many things as possible. Keep your mind and your options open. There is a saying that sometimes it takes a wrong turn to get you to the right place. So maybe, just maybe, your destiny and passion lies in an obscure club waiting for you to locate it.
There is more to college life than societies. Have faith, seek beauty in the mundane, and you will fare the failure. We are rooting for you.

 

Feature Image Credits: Kartik Kakar for DU Beat

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

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Campus Central

EXPENSES INCURRED WHILE LIVING AWAY FROM HOME

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Expenses for every out-station student are what Justin Bieber is for every girl he dates: Injurious and Harmful. For the freshers of the University of Delhi (DU), here is a listicle of things you would be spending money on if you are staying away from home, whether in a Paying Guest (PG) accommodation or in an apartment on rent.

Traitor PG Owners

PG owners of Delhi are disloyal role players. Before you get admitted to their PG, they will lure you with promises of “one fruit with dinner every day” and the “best security” available. As such, they convince you to pay insane amounts of money for abominable accommodation. PG owners may charge anything in the range of INR 6000 to INR 20,000. If your college fee is INR 13,000 for the entire year, your PG might charge you the same in one single month.

Miscellaneous Things You Don’t Realize You Are Spending Money On

Although they might look insignificant, miscellaneous things such as toothpaste, shampoo sachets, sanitary pads, and detergent occupy a large portion of your monthly budget.  From buying bed linen to buying an umbrella, the most arbitrary of chores can prove to be strenuous for your wallet.

Food

Even if your PG provides you food thrice a day, you would soon develop a thousand problems with it. Sometimes you wouldn’t like the dal and at other times, you would think the chapatis are too shriveled, thereby prompting you to order-in food every now and then. The food ordering and delivery companies such as Swiggy which operate 24*7 only add to the ever-escalating expenses. Besides, if for some perplexing reason, you do like the food at you PG, college life wouldn’t allow you to make time for it. Going out with friends, classes ending late, and tempting food trucks outside your college create a menacing hole in your pocket.

Traveling

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. had hiked the metro fares twice in 2017 and in case of certain metro lines, had doubled the same. Thus, even if you strategise that you wouldn’t be expending on traveling, that is one resolution that breaks quicker than your trust in Dharma Production’s portrayal of selfless liaisons and altruistic romances. Moreover, if your PG or flat is at a considerable distance from your college, then you would have to earmark at least INR 2000 to spend on traveling by autos and rickshaws.

Expenses Incurred While Living In A Flat

You would have a universe of expenses to deal with when you start living in a flat. Although rented accommodation is usually cheaper than PGs, the overhead costs of living in a flat are sizeable. From paying the electricity bill to buying gas cylinders, from settling your domestic helper’s bills to getting a plumber to fix the kitchen exhaust pipe, the accompaniment costs of living on rent would be almost equivalent to the rent itself.

Course Study Material

It is an irony in life that while not everyone studies in college, everyone does buy the course study material. The reading material might as well lie untouched in your table for months, but they do occupy a substantial amount of space and your monthly budget. The course in DU is extensive and there is an abundance of sources which you can refer to while preparing for the semester examinations. As a result, students end up buying piles of xerox copies of study material, even though they might not actually use them.

Feature Image Credits: Small Business Trends

 

Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak

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Admissions 2018

How School is Different From College, And How to Cope Up With The Latter

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The modus operandi of a college with its jam-packed classes and extremely busy professors defers from the relatively relaxed atmosphere of a school. Although it might not be easy to shake off the feeling that school is over, you will face the ultimatum of settling in inevitably. Here are some ways in which you can understand, right at the bat, the crucial differences between the operating systems of schools and colleges:

  1. To each his own: Unlike the schools where there are set timetables and teachers know the students personally, colleges are have thousands of students. The professors are too busy with academic ambitions of their own to go out after every student and ask them about their progress. It is largely the duty of the student to pursue their educators and let them know if they face any problems.
  2. It’s not all a party: No, unfortunately colleges in University of Delhi (and elsewhere) do not host year-long parties. Parties are highly small in number and restricted to a handful of formal occasions like fresher’s, farewell, the fests, and so on. Even though informal parties might abound, students are often seen buried in books, trying to outpace the amount of readings given to them to save their lives.
  3. Bunking is not occasional: Those of you who have concocted rose-tinted dreams of college life being full of bunking classes and going to their “hangout” spots, are about to get a rude shock. Professors are strict about attendance in many colleges, and unfortunately, it is one of those ways in which they actually track the movements of the students.
  4. Hush, it’s not all that bad: Although there are many things that make college life harder than school life, there are some amazing perks to be enjoyed as well such as the relative independence it offers, the wide range of societies that cater to the different skills of a student and of course, the out-station trips and the fests. Enjoy these moments with full enthusiasm because of their apparent rarity, almost like pearls found in an oyster.

Although college life can be intimidating to many, the important thing to remember is that adjusting to college life is something every student grapples with in the beginning and figures out by the end of it.

Feature Image Credits: Surabhi Khare for Mercatus

Sara Sohail

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Campus Central

 A Guide to Fighting Apprehension and Uncertainties About Your Course

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As your initial classes begin, so does your fear and anxiety regarding your course. While having second thoughts about the chosen course is a common phenomenon amongst students, knowing how to maneuver through these doubts and uncertainties is important in order to extract the most out of the three years’ undergraduate programme in the University of Delhi (DU).

As the alarm clock resounds and a new morning invites you, your drowsy self gets up and gazes into the mirror. While you attend to your routine morning activities, your mind is shrouded by a cloud of perplexing thoughts.  College is the arena which beholds the foundations of your career. Hence, it is natural to feel minor pangs of anxiety about your chosen course and worry about your compatibility with the same.  However, you must not stress about these apprehensions,  since these are mere insecurities which will fade away very soon.

Every course offered by DU has significance, so don’t get jittery or plunge into a confused state of mind based on assumptions that your chosen course is not adequate or not good enough. Exhibit some gratification. Queuing up for admission in the sweltering and oppressive weather of Delhi to secure your seat in DU is an achievement in itself! Then why do these unwholesome thoughts come into your mind and engulf you in a bout of uneasiness? It is because you haven’t received clarity of your course yet.

The best way to acquire greater clarity would be to undertake some research and understand what exactly your subject of choice entails and what it has to offer.  You may also look for opportunities like internships associated with your field of study to get better insight into the same.

Here are a few points to bust the insecurities:

Research Extensively on Your Course

Thanks to the age of the internet, you will be able to gain access to many websites providing you the information required to conduct an extensive research on your course and the career prospects emanating from it.

Coordinate Your Future Plans With Your Course

Since it is your first year in college, don’t be too hard on yourself. While you don’t need to be ascertained about what you want to pursue in life,  you must start structuring basal ideas about how you can connect the offerings of your course to your areas of interest.

Experienced Faculty Across All Courses

If there’s one thing which makes Delhi University so great, it is the amazing and supremely qualified faculty brimful with years of experience and unparalleled expertise. Your teachers will be able to do away with your qualms once the classes begin and you delve into your syllabi.

Time Heals Everything

Last, but surely not the least, give some time to your course and to the other changes that you have encountered. As Leo Tolstoy would say, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Give it time as it is an inherent aspect of human nature to invariably take time before  adapting to something unfamiliar. So don’t be under the impression that you’re the only one skeptical about your course.  Once you take a few deep breaths, you will soon be able to comprehend what a privilege it is to get to spend three years in one of India’s most prestigious universities.

 

Feature Image Credits: Eflux Conversions

Avnika Chhikara

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

Recounting My First Week at College

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The ‘firsts’ are always memorable. Here’s recounting my first week at college while hoping yours went likewise.

Truest of joys are lived in the coalescence of our dreams. The 20th of July 2018 marked my Orientation Day in college, and it also marked the day I saw my dream of studying at the University of Delhi (DU) come true. While thousands of us approached our colleges in the highest of spirits,  there was a great deal of anxiety too. However, as the week progressed, the anxiety also dwindled. Thankfully, the weather has been blissful, if the resulting muck is not to be accounted for. But this week has been an amazingly informative and inspiring one. The atmosphere increasingly becomes more intoxicating! However, it goes without saying that some inherent downsides were also present. Henceforth, I have endeavored to be more realistic in my account.

Our fear of crowds, seniors, and our own batchmates takes root from the fear of judgement. In this regard, a senior of mine told me, “Everyone judges you, but this is why you are here. You judge people and find in them the requisite companionship. Do not fear this judgement. This is your time, live it fully. Let nothing hold you back.” As repetitive as it sounds, it is an absolute truth. Initially, I was afraid of being laughed at. I feared that a wrong answer to a question would probably diminish my credit among rest of the stellar performers who have made it to my college and course. But at the same time, I reminded myself that if one can make people laugh, it is his or her victory. However, if they laugh mockingly, it is their loss. This week I have learned so much about the discipline that I always dreamt of studying, that every moment in learning this discipline has been an insightful and learning experience.

Undoubtedly, another highlight would be the brilliant people I have come to know. From the learned to the rad, all my seniors have offered the best advise and counsel. A large number of us came here hoping to find friends for life. While many have already struck similar chords with like-minded people, many others have not been as fortunate. After years of being with their high school friends, they find it difficult to fill the void of companionship in a week. Give yourself and others some time because all good things take time, after all. But remember to remain original and true to yourself while creating new bonds, because you are all you have to offer. Presenting any other version of yourself would not do justice to who you inherently are.

Today, after a week of walking straight into a dream, it still feels surreal. And very ideally, it will always be. I do not presume I have learned all in a week, neither should you. But I have witnessed a change already, as have we all. Acceptance and compassion start with us. We all are afraid, varyingly if not equally. But it is in the nature of fear to take away our happiness. Fear is the end of growth. Opportunities will come, but your endeavor to grasp them will determine everything. This idea is my greatest takeaway from this week. Most colleges have commenced their registrations for enrolling the excited freshers in a number of societies – possibly the most celebratory avenues in colleges. Before I entered the gates of my college, I was told about societies,  “Join them all, even the ones you find remotely interesting. Live them fully, as per your interests. Do not ever hesitate.” Now whenever I enter them, my conviction strengthens.

Believe and thrive, grasp and grow. I hope you have an adventure as great as you deserve. I hope we all do. With the first week’s closure, I know one thing for sure, that I will have loads of fun. Will you?

 

Feature Image Credits: Kartik Chauhan for DU Beat

Kartik Chauhan

[email protected]

 

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Campus Central

Teachers’ Column: A Journey of Reminiscence

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As the University of Delhi (DU) wraps up its hectic admission season, DU Beat wishes to take you on a ‘Journey of Reminiscence’ with the people who make the University the best in the country: Teachers
As you find yourself at the threshold of this journey that you will remember all your life, we aim to give you a glimpse of what has been. Even though our teachers may seem very intimidating, not relatable, and often distant, it is important to remember that they once were where we currently are, they were once students. They have dealt with heartbreaks, failures, deadline submissions, college flings, and everything else we are experiencing right now. Over the years, they have accumulated this experience and bundled it up in warm smiles, reassuring glances, and occasionally in the form of strict reprimands.

These staunch personalities have been inspirational figures for the students of Delhi University, and will continue being the source of light for thousands of graduate students. Not only do they propel students towards the path of success, their life lessons have prevented students from gloating about their achievements, and being gracious about the little things. Teachers, they’re just like us!

Here are the statements of a few teachers of Delhi University who share some fond memories of their college days and give valuable messages to the incoming batch of 2018-19.

“I have had the pleasure of studying in both the North and South campuses of DU. Few of the fondest memories from my college days are associated with the badminton courts of South Campus and the cafes in Kamla Nagar. DU sure has changed over the years and one of the most striking features is the makeover from rickety U-Specials to the swanky Metro rides which all of us enjoy today, but the heart and spirit of the varsity is still the same. DU occupies a significant place in the academic and socio-cultural scene in the country. That will not change for many decades to come.”

-Prof. Parikshit Sirohi

Campus Law Centre

“This University provides a platform where students from the length and breadth of our country can design their dreams and decide their futures, while creating a beautiful tapestry of culture. Each college is a microcosm with its unique opportunities and challenges and I wish to see students overcome those challenges and seize those opportunities. Academic rigor aside, DU is a cultural gold mine. You must extract as much as you can!”

-Dr. Saleem Mir

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Cluster Innovation Centre

“College memories are the sweetest memories that I cherish. In my first year our class had decided to bunk a particular lecture; as we were not prepared with our readings. Though we bunked the lecture but our leave was cancelled because of hostellers. I still remember how much we regretted our decision. College provides you with a lot of opportunities; make the maximum use of it. Stay focused, be member of societies that interest you. Go for an education which encompasses the holistic development of an individual and not just awards you with a degree at the end of three years. Hard work, dedication, and sacrifice are the keys to success.”

-Dr. Shachi Chawla

Department of Political Science

Daulat Ram College

“I did my graduation from LSR and I’ve spent some of my best moments in the college canteen. The Paneer Dosa with extra sambar on offer used to fill our days with pleasure. My class used to be an epitome of diversity. I still treasure the Manipuri Lungi that my friend from Manipur gifted me. DU is the place to be in if you want a well-rounded experience of college life. So enjoy each day, be it good or bad. You’ll cherish the good days and learn from the bad ones.”

-Prof. Sonali Chitalkar

Department of Political Science

Miranda House

“There is always something that stands out about each student. A few of them are perennially hungry and always show up to class with a bowlful of maggi while others stumble in their pyjamas for the early morning class, still groggy with sleep. The first day of college is your first step towards autonomy. Do not worry about your appearance. You don’t have to look like a student who has stepped out of a Karan Johar film. Wear comfortable clothes and a friendly smile. Here’s a pro tip, bring a few extra pencils or pens. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to break the ice with your classmates if you have an extra pen to share.”

-Prof. Garima Yadav

Department of English

Shaheed Bhagat Singh College

“During my college days, Valentine’s day had just emerged as a fad. As my friend and I attended our lectures that day, our fresh-in-college rebellious selves scribbled notes to each other, planning our coup d’état from the double lecture by sneaking out from the side windows. Owing to my horrible aiming skills, one of the balls of paper landed directly at the Professor’s desk. Incidentally, I secured highest marks in that paper and am still in touch with the said Professor. DU has much more to offer than just fashion, hip cafes, and politics. The hallmark of this institution is the vibrant spaces it creates for learning outside classrooms.”

-Prof. Rachita Mittal

Department of English

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

“Before anything else, the fresher’s must know that they are learning in an environment with zero judgment. In DU, you are safe to make mistakes. I understand that learning from mistakes isn’t always the best way, but sometimes it’s the only way. Second, even teachers are always learning. Students need to know that we are neither above nor beneath them. If we learn together, we’ll make a terrific progress. My fondest memory of teaching in this University is associated with the care I’ve received all these years. Every year on my birthday, my students get me a cake, sing me the ‘Happy Birthday’ song, and embellish the walls of the classroom with birthday decor.”

-Prof. Dhani Ram

Department of Commerce

Ramjas College

“College life is marked by a lot of freedom, so the students should make the most of it keeping in mind their limits. College life has a lot to offer to freshers: there are college societies, trips, and the eventual exam fever. I would just say that learn, grow, and groom yourself in the three years of college life.”

-Ms. Saloni Arora

Department of Commerce

Jesus and Mary College

Our professors happen to be a fascinating bunch of people. Having dedicated a fair share of their lives to academia and learning, they are able to think dynamically and creatively. Being surrounded by students, specifically the crème de la crème of students in the country, in a varsity that is the hot-bed of student politics, gives them a rare kind of insight. Their lessons and words of wisdom, both inside and outside the classroom are precious and deserve to be cherished. These snippets of knowledge come from a place of great experience and a fundamental desire to create change and are therefore, extremely valuable. The role of academia in the creation of a free-thinking society can never be over-estimated. It is easy to fear and be intimidated by our professors by virtue of their age and experience. In such moments, it is crucial that we look back at these anecdotes full of candour, vulnerability, and youthful mistakes, and remember that they too were once young, falliable, and insecure like we are.

 

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat.

Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak

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Meher Gill

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Former DU Beat Correspondent Writes Her Second Book

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A former DU Beat Correspondent, Namrata Gupta writes her second book, a romantic thriller titled ‘The Full Circle.. Stumbling Upon A Sinful Mystery”

Namrata Gupta, an alumnus of Delhi University and a former correspondent at DU Beat, wrote her first book, ‘A Silent Promise’ (2015), while she was pursuing her graduation in Literature from Hans Raj College. She went on to get a masters’ degree in Management from LBSIM, Delhi. Her debut novel, ‘A Silent Promise’, was launched by Mr. Petko Doykov, the Ambassador of Bulgaria, and has been a part of Gurgaon International Film and Literature Festival. Wishing to make an immutable influence on the minds of readers through her writing, Namrata got her second book, ‘The Full Circle.. Stumbling Upon A Sinful Mystery’ (2018), released recently.

‘The Full Circle.. Stumbling Upon A Sinful Mystery’ is a Romantic Thriller. The book captures the story of a traveller, Aditya, who on his journey to finding a ‘home’, ‘home’ in the spiritual sense of the word, becomes a part of various stories and helps people in his own way.  He helps strengthen people, makes them realise their own worth and changes them for the better before leaving for some other place. He gets very popular at the places he visits because of this quality. Aditya always took something from the places he visited and this somehow helped him give something to his next destination, which is now Darjeeling. Aditya meets his contrast in Zinnia, who prefers stability in life, while staying as a tenant in her mother’s house. His adventurous way of living life is challenged when he develops strong feelings for Zinnia, who considers his way of life as a prolonged hobby. While helping Jacqueline, an emotionally distraught girl, into shaping her life in a new way, he realizes he feels lost, for the first time in his life, without Zinnia. Amidst all the happenings, he stumbles upon a devastating secret about Zinnia’s past that will turn her life upside down. The past and the present merge beautifully as they uncover the truth behind her past.

The book breaks stereotypes at many levels and questions ‘settlement’ as being related to ‘fixedness’. The concept of a ‘home’ is shifted from the physical domain to the spiritual one. The book asserts the fact that ‘home’ doesn’t necessarily has to be a place. It can be a person too. And ‘settlement’ is a state of mind, related to contentment with one’s life.

Namrata has always loved travelling and exploring new things. She feels that the memories of the places one visits is the best form of treasure that one can accumulate in his life and the best of the stories are narrated when they are told across boundaries. Fascinated by the idea of having a home everywhere and nowhere, she went on to explore how travelers live and impressed by their way of life, she decided to give the idea greater reach by writing about it. At the same time, wanting to write a thriller, she merged the two concepts. And so in her book, the story of a traveller is charted out in a Romance Thriller framework.

Besides capturing a range of stories at the places Aditya visits, the novel also highlights a range of complexities in its characters, who come from different cultures, backgrounds, mind set and have had different life experiences. Zinnia’s is a complex character. She has had her own struggles to fight with. She is tough yet soft. She exhibits motherly care yet is a young girl at heart. In the same manner, Jacqueline and Aditya too have had their own past. Jacqueline’s character is reformed from an emotionally distraught girl to an empowered one. Aditya is shown with fine degrees of empathy, understanding, maturity and kindness.

The book can be bought from major offline stores and online from Amazon at https://www.amazon.in/Full-Circle-Namrata-Gupta/dp/9387022285

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DUB Speak

Lessons Learned From DU’s Hectic Admissions Season

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Admissions Season in the University of Delhi (DU) throws us into the real world and teaches us lessons that would benefit us in the long run. 

The months of June, July and August are exciting ones in the Delhi University. The colleges witness crowds of youngsters with bags full of dreams and excitement. With some fear and some frenzy in their eyes, students come to seek admission in a Delhi University college hoping for all their dreams to be fulfilled. It is indeed an enthralling sight to see.

However, the admission time is a crucial one just as much as it is exciting. Students miss to get into their dream college by just a difference of 0.5 % at times. This is a phase of life that no one ever forgets. The regular checking of cut-offs, going to colleges to fill the admission form, submitting the fees, etc., all of it happens under the heat of the scorching sun. The chaos, rush, heat, exhaustion is enough to take a toll on you.  The admissions season is a rite of passage that teaches us lessons that prepare us for the real world/ This time of the year teaches some very basic things in a subtle way. It can be summed into the 3Ps:

Patience

While sitting in front of the computer screen to check the latest updates on cut-offs or standing in the queue to submit the forms and applications, one learns to be patient. Doesn’t matter what chaos is going on in your head, the determination of getting into the college of your dreams keeps you going and dominates over the frustration of the slow system.

Perseverance

The ambitious nature of students helps them get the desired percentage but by coming to the city and realizing/taking in the big competition that exists, one learns perseverance. In the huge sea of students who are just out of school, there are many wanting the same college as you and out of them, many wanting the same course as you. With the limited number of seats and an ample amount of people applying for them, one understands that it is vital to keep trying and that there is no giving up. The whole phase teaches you how to persevere and to do it with all your heart.

Politeness

After completing the tedious task of filling out the forms and submitting them to the respective colleges, when one finally gets into college, one learns to be polite. And this is something that comes naturally to you when you meet all the seniors and try to get into a  society. After all, you wouldn’t want to be blacklisted by a senior by being rude, would you? Interacting with new people with varied backgrounds, one learns that it always helps to be polite. It helps one remain placid and in a way also paves the way to make more friends.

No book or class can teach us such qualities. It is when we are out in the world and have to manage everything by ourselves that such lessons come in handy. After coming to the city, leaving the comfort of homes, one stands face to face with the real world. And the admission process pf Delhi University teaches one how to do so.

 

Image Credits: The Financial Express

Akshada Shrotryia

[email protected]

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