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Admissions 2017

Join DU’s Add-On Courses for Added Skills and Upgraded CV

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If you are a Chemistry Honours student and your heart is set on Media Studies or you are looking to upgrade your CV, then short term and certificate add-on courses are what you desire. Every year, usually from August to November, various colleges in the University of Delhi open select, part-time vocational programmes for undergraduate, postgraduate, and international students.

A majority of these courses are organized by private organizations which make them expensive, and since the faculty is also recruited from private, chances are the teaching is often unimpressive. Arushi Kapoor, a French Hons. student, studied the Mass Communication, Advertising and Marketing add-on course offered by Hans Raj College last year. Recalling her experience she says, “Even though the course sounded very interesting, it, unfortunately, didn’t add any value in my understanding of media. I had expected a lot more. I will not recommend it to anyone.”

While language courses are already popular, it is the career-oriented courses that are now quickly becoming most sought after.  The certificates for these courses are issued by the respective colleges, and the classes are held after regular college hours for the convenience of the students.

List of Add-On and Certificate Courses offered by the University of Delhi

1. Kalindi College

The minimum qualification for all courses is 10+2 examination. Students from outside can also apply.

  • Video Production- The course is for 5 months in association with RK Films & Media Academy. The classes will take place after regular college hours.
  • Photo Journalism- The course is for 5 months in association with RK Films & Media Academy. The classes will take place after regular college hours.
  • Foreign Language (French)
  • Foreign Language (Chinese)
  • Travel and Tourism
  • Communication Skills and Personality Development

More information can be accessed here.

2. Ramjas College

The College offers part-time certificate courses in the following languages:

  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Japanese

For more information, please visit the website.

According to various media organizations, Ramjas College offers 26 add-on courses; the highest by any University of Delhi college. However, on the official website, there is no information related to the same.

3. Hans Raj College

Hans Raj College offers three job-oriented add-on certificate courses in the field of media and advertisements. These courses are organized by RK Films & Media Academy. Admission is on a first come, first serve basis.

The programmes offered include:

  • Radio Jockeying, Anchoring & TV Journalism– The course is for 5 months, and it will cost 20,000
  • Acting and Filmmaking– The course is for 6 months, and it will cost 30,000
  • Mass Communication, Advertising & Marketing- The course is for 6 months, and it will cost 30,000

The classes will be two or three days a week, after 3 pm.

More information can be found here.

4. Jesus and Mary College 

Jesus and Mary College, in collaboration with the RK Films & Media Academy, offers three job-oriented add-on certificate courses in the field of media and advertisements. All programmes will run for 6 months and cost Rs. 15,000.

The programmes offered include

  • Media studies
  • Advertising and Marketing Communications
  • Camera and Photography 

The classes will commence by the first or second week of August, for two to three days a week, after 3 pm.

For more information, please visit the website.

5. Gargi College

The college offers additional courses in the following fields:

  • Advertising and Marketing Communications
  • Banking and Financial Services
  • Language Course: German

The information about duration, schedule and fee will be soon updated on the college website.

6. Hindu College

The College has introduced short-term certificate courses in the following languages:

  • French
  • German
  • Russian
  • Spanish

The information about duration, schedule and fee will be soon updated on the college website.

7. College of Vocational Studies (CVS)

CVS offers one-year certificate courses in:

  • German
  • French

Admission forms will be available from 3rd July to 28th of July, 2017 between 10:00 AM to l:00 PM on all working days. The course fee is Rs.13, 000.

For more information, visit the website.

8. Miranda House

The college offers an array of additional courses to cater to the interests of students.

  • The college offers one-year certificate courses in French, German, and Spanish in collaboration with the Department of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi.
  • Eligibility: 10 + 2
  • Duration of the Course: 1 Year
  • Number of Seats: 40 each
  • Selection Criteria: Merit in various categories

For more information, please visit the college website.

Computer Application

  • Eligibility: 10 + 2
  • Duration of the Course: 2 months
  • Number of Seats: Groups of 20
  • Selection Criteria:Written test/ interview
  • Fee: To be announce

   Operations Research

  • Eligibility: I, II and III year students of the college
  • Duration of the Course: 18 Sessions
  • Number of seats: 30
  • Selection Criteria: Interview
  • Fee: Rs. 3,000

Medical Biotechnology

  • Eligibility: B. Sc. II/ III year students
  • Duration of the Course: 72 hours
  • Number of seats: 20
  • Selection Criteria: Merit/interview
  • Fee: Rs. 7,000

Bio Informatics and Silicon Medicine

  • Minimum Qualifications: B.Sc. in any life science branch.
  • Number of Seats: 20 each
  • Selection Criteria: Merit list
  • Fee: Rs. 5,000

The Rhetoric Course, Rethinking the Obvious – Examining the Rhetoric of Development

  • Eligibility: Open to students from B.A.(H) and B.A. Program Semester 3/5
  • Duration of the Course: 10 weeks
  • Number of seats: 25
  • Fee: Rs 5000

Computer applications for visually challenged students

  • Duration of the Course: 4 months (16 weeks)
  • Fee: No fee will be charged for this course.
  • The course will be conducted in ‘Amba Dalmia Resource Centre’, a part of the college library.

More information can be accessed here.

9. Sri Venkateswara College

 Part time Courses in French, German, Mandarin (Chinese), Russian, and Spanish Language. Candidates who have passed 10+2 with an aggregate of at least 45% marks are eligible to apply. For more information, please visit the website.

Indian Music and Culture

  • Total number of seats: 25
  • Eligibility Criteria- Students of Sri Venkateswara College pursuing degree programs in any subject may apply. Selection will be done on the basis of merit.
  • Duration of the Course: August to November 2017. The classes will be held on Saturdays & holidays.
  • Fee: Rs. 3,500

For more information, please visit the website.

Ayur Biology

  • Total number of seats- 25
  • Eligibility Criteria- Candidates who have passed 10+2 with an aggregate of at least 45%  marks are eligible to apply.
  • Duration of the course – August to November. The classes will be held on Saturdays and holidays.
  • Course Fee- Rs. 3,500

For more information visit, please visit the website.

Tourism and Travel Management.

  • Total number of seats- 40
  • Eligibility Criteria- Candidates who have passed 10+2  with an aggregate of at least 45% marks are eligible to apply.
  • Duration of the course – 1 year. The classes will be held on a weekly basis.
  • Course fee- Rs. 25, 000

For more information, please visit the website.

10. Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce 

Language Courses in French and German

For more information, please visit the website.

Business Data Analytics in collaboration with BSE Institute Ltd.

For more information, please visit the website.

Mastering the Stock Market- an Experiential Learning in collaboration with BSE Institute Ltd.

For more information, please visit the website.

Integrated Course on Financial Market in collaboration with BSE Institute Ltd.

For more information, please visit the website.

 

 

Feature Image Credits: Herman Miller

 

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

 

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Admissions 2017

Dear Freshers: Admissions Special Article

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Dear Freshers,

Welcome to the University of Delhi. Take a moment to feel the joy of having achieved a massive milestone of your life – making it into DU. This might be an accident of circumstances or a culmination of your endless efforts, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s just say that the whole world conspired to help you achieve your dreams. Now that you’ve successfully taken admission in the most prestigious educational institute in the country, it’s time to comprehend the gravity of this stage in your life. Delhi University will give you all that a college experience possibly can – education, amusement, friends, and most importantly, an identity.

Be ready to expect the unexpected. Every notion that you currently hold will be challenged in this campus, where every fleeting moment of idleness is filled with the urge to achieve something. The people you are going to meet, the ideas you are going to encounter, the academic environment which used to be a mark-milking tool for you until now, are all going to change, even as this University continues to be well-known for its almost meme-worthy standards of education. Stereotypes of how DU kids carry jholas and never actually study are hilarious in themselves, but they function as badges of honour for students in their time here. Popular for harbouring, or at least generating, a liberal and culturally aware generation of students, DU allows you to push yourself, whether that be through academics or extracurriculars. Well-rounded and up-to-date syllabi, along with the general elective under the Choice Based Credit System, come together to provide students a holistic education. The numerous societies within colleges, as well as university-wide associations further allow students to expand their horizons and develop their talents. Portraying ideas, thoughts, and injustices through dance, music, and theatre, is no small feat, and you’ll get your moment of glory throughout the much-publicised fest season. We guarantee that being part of a society or student association will give you the experience of a lifetime.

It’s no secret that the varsity has produced a variety of individuals – scholars, athletes, and even numerous Miss Indias. The opportunities that DU offers, coupled with its cultural and ideological diversity, produce a distinctively unique environment. Three years in this place changes you – undoubtedly for the better.

The age-old traditions of skipping classes to chill in the lawns of your college, or to run outside for a quick bite of Tom Uncle’s Maggi in North Campus are just as crucial to the DU experience as the education. You will create an entire bank of memories from this period of your life, such as begging your class representative to mark your proxy and photocopying notes for the entire semester a week before your final exam. But the most significant change in your life will not be learning how to navigate the Delhi metro or how to bargain most effectively for junk jewellery. It will be learning about yourself.

Some people believe that this University thrives on its past glory. We beg to differ. We believe it draws its glory from you. We believe that as you embark on this journey of your college life with a nervous, excited, and hopeful state of mind, you’ll end up with many achievements, but the most noteworthy of these would be your identity. As you steer your life for the next three years among classes, societies, and this mad city, remember that it’s up to you to become a part of the collective pride of this University.

You may leave DU as a completely new person than when you entered, or you may leave as merely a more refined version of your teenage self. But what’s undeniable is that you will be a truer version of yourself after having gone through all that DU has to offer. So sit tight, because you’re in for the ride of a lifetime at the place you’ll soon call home – Delhi University.

We wish you all the best!

 

With love on behalf of the DU Beat Team,

Vineeta Rana

Srivedant Kar

 

Feature Image Credits: The Odyssey Online

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Admissions 2017

Few seats still vacant as DU starts admissions based on fifth Cut-Off List

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With the University of Delhi (DU) releasing its fifth cut off list on 17th July 2017, most of the colleges have shut down admissions, barring one or two courses. However, there is still a chance for students from the reserved categories to make it to some of the colleges. On the other hand, hope flares up again for the others, as seats are left vacant due to withdrawals at the last moment in certain courses. The verification of documents, for those seeking admission now, is to be done on 18th and 19th July as the new session commences from the 20th. But the race to grab those remaining seats is pacing on full throttle in the final phase of the admission season.

The Hindustan Times reports that 10% of the seats are yet to be filled, with a marginal dip in cut-offs. Even a popular course such Economics (Hons.), which is unavailable in Hans Raj or Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW), is being offered in Lakshmibai College with 3.5% dip in marks. After several withdrawals, seats are also available at Kirori Mal College (KMC) at a cut-off margin of 96.5%. For B.Com (Hons.), after Ramjas and Sri Venkateswara College (SVC) closed admissions, some seats are still up for grabs at popular girls’ colleges such as IPCW, Kamla Nehru College (KNC) and Gargi.

Aside from Commerce, popular courses of the Humanities are also on offer in colleges such as Hans Raj and Kalindi, which are now seeking candidates to fill up the vacant seats in their much sought-after English (Hons.) course. The cut-off for this course has dropped by 3.5% points. A similar drop is noted in the fifth list for History (Hons.) in KNC, where the cut-off has dropped to 4% points. The highest percentage requirement is at Lady Sri Ram (LSR) College though, which still maintains the margin at 96.25%. The admission for B.A. Programme is closed in most of the well-known colleges such as IPCW, Ramjas and Miranda. However, for Chemistry (Hons.), Gargi, Kalindi and Hans Raj still have spots vacant. Admissions for Mathematics (Hons.) have also reopened in KNC, IPCW and Gargi, post withdrawals.

For aspirants coming from reserved category backgrounds, Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) still offers seats in the much coveted Economics (Hons.) course for Scheduled Caste applicants. It asks for a score of 92.5% for SC candidates, and 86% for Persons with Disabilities. A low cut-off between 40-60% has been kept aside for Sanskrit (Hons.) by several colleges, including Mata Sundri which boasts of the lowest at 45%.

Popular colleges in both the North and the South campus have filled up the seats in most of their courses. Yet, with the fifth cut-off list being released, hopes have renewed for students wishing to make it to one of the prestigious colleges of their choice in DU. The admission season, which has not been without its fair share of hurdles and unforeseen circumstances right from day one, is in the final leg of its journey. And as the season ends, a new batch of eagerly freshers awaits the beginning of college life. But before that happens, there are a few seats still up for grabs as not all hope is lost for DU aspirants.

Image credits: DU Beat

 

Deepannita Misra

[email protected]

 

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Admissions 2017

Discrepancies in ECA list at Ramjas puts applicant’s future at stake

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The University of Delhi grabs eyeballs every year between May to July when its admissions process commences and culminates, and every year along with these takeaways, the flaws in the administration system are brought to the fore. This year’s cycle has been highly prone to technical glitches, chaos over the calculation of marks, and an overall ambivalence over the whole process.

Pulling on this thread, a candidate, Paras Nagpal, aspiring to pursue B.Com (Hons.) from the varsity was a victim of this confusion. An ECA applicant, Paras had applied through the Theatre category for admissions. Having scored a 94.25% in his Class 12th Boards, he had temporarily secured admission in Dyal Singh College, after his name came in the merit list released and he ranked 10th out of a total of 100 candidates.

The ECA procedure started with a faint idea about the process a few days back when Paras registered with individual colleges according to the guidelines. As per a list which was announced by Ramjas College on July 14th, his name was among the two candidates selected for Theatre ECA, and with surmounting joy, he proceeded to cancel his admission at Dyal Singh College to withdraw his documents. However, much to his dismay, he was denied admission by the authorities on the grounds that an updated ECA list had been released at 11:30 pm. The new list had replaced him with an applicant in the Dance category, and his name was nowhere to be seen on the tabular sheet. Distraught, he wrote a letter to the Vice Chancellor and the college’s page to look into the unfairly handled matter.

When speaking to DU Beat, he expressed disdainfully how after checking the list once in the evening, he couldn’t have fathomed that a list released around midnight signed and updated on the website would not include his name. The authorities claimed that there was confusion regarding the best of four calculation of the other candidate whose name made it to the list, and after re-evaluation, she ranked higher. The obvious question that despite four cut-off lists, the fact that the best of four calculations were still erroneously done is deeply problematic. He added that on approaching the authorities with this grave mishandling, they held a meeting for about half hour before intimating that the seats have been fully occupied in the B.Com (Hons.) course.

Paras is a resident of Haryana and like many other outstation candidates flocked to the campus when the official admission cycle commenced. After crossing the hurdles of the online application, two rounds of ECA auditions, and an incessant waiting period, all his hopes were pinned on making it through. Now with two days left for the new academic session to commence, he is left with no colleges in his kitty and wishes that the unjust treatment of his case be looked into sincerely.

When probed, we reached out to the officials at Ramjas College. Repeated calls to the College’s authorities went unanswered.

More than two lakh school graduates every year have a desire suppressed in their hearts. A desire to study at a varsity known for grooming people, for rocketing cut-offs, for rewarding cultural fests, and for three years of an all-encompassing college life. Mismanagement and the chaos blemish the beginning lines of this journey.

 

 

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat

 

Saumya Kalia

[email protected]

Srivedant Kar

[email protected]

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News

Prominent members step down from NSUI to pave way for new leaders

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On July 14, Angellica Aribam, the face of NSUI in North East and the National General Secretary of NSUI and a member of NSUI National Committee, resigned from her post. Hailing from Manipur, Angellica pursued her Law Degree from Law Faculty Delhi University. She joined NSUI way back in 2012 when she was still in her early days of college life. Angellica used the social media platform to announce her resignation wherein she thanked the former National Presidents of NSUI as well as Rahul Gandhi.


Angellica said it has been about five years in the position and she feels that there’s a need to create space for young leaders in the system. After her resignation, another National General Secretary and a member of National Committee, Leni Jadhav resigned.

Resignation row continued till today, July 17 within congress backed NSUI with prominent Face of Youth Congress and NSUI, Hasiba Amin, resigned. Following the footprints of other two National committee Members, Amin went on to Facebook to announce her disassociation from the organisation. On her Facebook post she wrote of her entire journey with NSUI from her start in 2010 to when she went on to contest state president elections on 15th January, 2012. She thanked her entry into the system and her encouragement sources with whose support she went on to become the first woman NSUI state president of Goa and the only minority woman State President in India. She posted of her fond remembrance of the time when the entire Congress family stood by her, without asking any questions, when the opposition tried to defame her with her feature in the Lok sabha Ad campaign. “But like every other stage of life, time comes when you have to move on and let go. It’s that time for me. I have tendered in my resignation about a month ago. I believe it’s time to move on and make space for new energy – with fresh ideas and creativity, to take the organization even higher,” quoted Hasiba.

To all these turmoils, the President of NSUI Fairoz Khan told DU Beat in a statement, “It is a natural process of members joining and leaving, and whatever may come our team has always worked for the betterment of the students and will continue to do so. I did talk with Angellica, Leni and Hasiba and support their decisions to move forth in life, taking to other avenues. Some members are opting for higher studies and some are paving the way for new members. They are thoughtful enough; the new students with potential should have their role in the national service.”

 

Feature Image Credits: DNA India

Radhika Boruah
[email protected]

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Arts & Culture

IN CONVERSATION WITH: Anurag Verma, Author of Love in the time of Pokemon: Poems about love, loneliness, and other funny things

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Robert Frost once espoused, “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.”  I resonated with this quote when I read Love in the time of Pokemon: Poems about love, loneliness, and other funny things by debut poet Anurag Verma. As someone who doesn’t like to read poetry per se, this book was oddly captivating and relatable. The collection of 23 poems induces themes of tragic humor, isolation, randomness, nostalgia, love, and urban sprawl. The book was ranked number 4th on Amazon bestseller list, while its free Kindle version topped the charts.

We got an opportunity to have a tête-à-tête with Anurag about writing, weird names and lonely people living in matchbox apartments. Excerpts:

 

Why does the name on your book read Anurag minus Verma ?

There is an interesting story behind it. I was a confused kid, so while I was filling the class 10th board exam form, I forgot the spelling of my surname due to nervousness. ‘Verma’ or ‘Varma’, I thought. I called up my father but he was busy in a meeting. So wrote my name without any surname. Therefore all my official documents like passport, Aadhar Card were without any surname because they are based on my class 10th form. Although on Facebook it’s mandatory to write a surname. So I wrote Anurag Minus Verma. I found it more interesting and from then on I use it as pseudonym.

2

 

Most of your poems like ‘The man who did nothing’, ‘Sadness of building after rain’, ‘Big city loneliness’ and ‘Add Poem’ are set in an urban backdrop and give a sense of cynicism. What personal experience and observations shaped these poems?

Most of the poems are a result of wandering on the streets of the city. Eavesdropping on the the conversations of strangers, looking at people sitting alone in apartments or having random conversations about life with drunkards at a wineshop. The more you talk and look at them, the more you realize the amount of loneliness which is out on display on city streets. Though I don’t look at it from hopeless gaze because there is also a great deal of humor among people which somehow becomes the tool for survival in this strange world. That is the reason I want to incorporate various shades of human life such as loneliness, humor, nostalgia among various other things. City plays an important character to incorporate these elements.

Can you share your favorite lines from the book?

all the weight of those years

which have piled up into

minutes, days, week, years

are right here,

unfolding in the

Hotel Supreme Heritage

 

where two people watching a separate dream together,

are walking through their own nightmares

and I wonder that from the weight

of the collective loneliness in the room

the building will collapse and we would

be just another 2 people of the world dead

by the volcano of love.

When was the first time you decided that writing was was something you had to do? Was there a moment of epiphany, or the realization seeped in gradually?

I think it was during engineering. I was living kind of a purposeless life. I wrote some stories and poems during that time. For the first time I felt mildly felt good about my existence.  I had serious issues with expression in the form of spoken words. As an introvert, it was difficult for me to talk and say what I feel. When I am writing, I feel powerful, maybe the only time. I can say things which are not possible to say otherwise. Writing gives a certain degree of power to the misfits. In fact the first time I proposed a girl was through an SMS, while she was sitting in front of me.

What is the best thing about writing poetry?

Poetry gives you the chance to mix your nostalgia with fantasy. It gives a certain degree of meaning to many random events that had happened to us, and if a poet can express that with immaculate observations then it can create magic. So even a painful breakup from your girlfriend becomes an exciting opportunity to write poetry. All poets subconsciously love pain.

What’s the worst thing about writing poetry?

Difficult thing about writing the poetry is the vulnerability associated with it. You need to dwell in your past events to derive minute details and observation. For example, to write about your first love you need to time-travel to that event in your mind. So, after so many years you are back at that lost world again which you have tried to hide in your subconscious mind. You are there, smelling the perfume of your lover, feeling the texture of her dress. It opens up barrage of memories associated with it  and then evenings become lonelier.

Do you think that poetry is reviving again these days, especially with the advent of online platforms?

In the contemporary times, distribution of any art has become much easier. It’s easier to find an audience as there are lots of distribution channels available like Instagram, blogs, etc. But in terms of form and content it has become more mediocre than it was before. Now the sensational content and loud performances have taken the place of poetry which comes out from deeper observations of life. It’s more or less dead. Until someone brings a revolution, to transform it into humane, playful and contemporary form, the way it was imagined to be.

Few days ago I was reading about the writer who did a social experiment to prove shallowness of poetry in current times by posting meaningless verse on Instagram from his alter hipster ego. He instantly started getting thousands of likes and followers even for writing lines such as ‘love made her wild’.

So for the advancement of any art, we need deeper and relentless probing of human soul. Technological advancement can only help us to a certain degree.

Any tips for budding poets?

Experience life in its ugliness and beauty. Both are glorious. Never fall for easy routes. Be relentless, restless, peaceful and sometimes be nothing at all. All art derives from particular state of mind state. Prepare that mind state and let the words destroy you beautifully. As Bukowski said “For all things will kill you, both slowly and fastly, but it’s much better to be killed by a lover.”

 

About the author: Anurag is a filmmaker and Video Editor, besides being a poet and a failed computer engineer. After completion of his Masters in Arts and Aesthetics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU, Delhi), he went to pursue a course in filmmaking from FTII, Pune. Some of his films have been shown at various film festivals across the world.

 

Picture Credits: Anurag Verma

 

Niharika Dabral
[email protected]

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Features

‘Khudi’ is about finding your true calling: The Local Train discuss their new song

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In a country where the music industry focuses on making party songs with arbitrary lyrics, The Local Train is a refreshing change. The band started out in 2008, and has only gotten more and more successful since its inception, with a huge fan following that love the artists for their out of the ordinary music. We got a chance to chat with them before their gig at Farzi Café, CP about their upcoming album. Here are some excerpts:

Your song Khudi is a juxtaposition between reality and dreams, what is the message behind the song?

Paras: I think the purpose of the song is very clear in the video. Like if you daydream, and ultimately you fight for it, and then you get it. That’s what the video is about, and the song is on similar lines.

Raman: The song is about everybody who is fighting to get something, or fighting for following what they want to do. It is basically about finding your true calling, basically and Khudi as a concept means ‘self-actualisation’and that’s what it is. You figure out what you want to do and actually go ahead with it. We’re just really glad that people relate to the song.

Tell us about your upcoming album that is releasing in September. Have you guys decided on a name yet?

Paras: No, no. We haven’t locked down on one single name yet. I think we’ve written five songs and then we have 3-4 more songs to go. We’ll have a clearer idea where we’re headed in totality with this album, and then we’ll bounce off a few names again. We have a lot of ideas written down and a lot of thought are going to come in now, so we are not following one set theme.

Raman: We don’t have a general concept for anything, we just keep writing songs, like we keep playing them. I think we’ve rejected more songs then the songs that are already made it to the album which is something we’ve never done before. I think the general idea would be that we’re just writing songs because we are also going through a lot of stuff as a band, and not a lot of infra there in the country to supoort band music. There is Khudi, then there’s one that we just finished called Mere Yaar, then there is song about non-believers, there is a song about traditions that don’t make sense anymore in the modern world, there’s one about two-faced people, called Dil Nawaaz.

Your music videos frequently feature aspiring artists and unexplored talent like Ryan Matyr in Jiyen Kyun, Faizan Th in Yeh Zindagi Hai and Arjun Mathur in Khudi. Is there a reason behind this or is it unintentional?

Raman: Gareeb hi gareeb ko samajh sakta hai.

Paras: Just to clarify, Arjun Mathur is not an underground talent. He is out there and he has done more things than we have. Other than that, we have always felt that is it more important to hang out with like-minded people and it would be more fun to work with them.

Raman: And we’re very glad that whatever we’ve done, with Ryan, with Faizan, and now with Arjun, all the things have worked in their own space very nicely. Which makes us believe that we should keep doing it, like go and look for people who are doing good stuff and then ask them like ‘Hey man, you want to collaborate?’ because it is a collaboration, if you really look at it, between the band and the director and the producer and the talent that is in the video.

Ramit: We have always believed in working with people that we connect with and that we like, and they need to like us back. We need to have the same thought process, we need to be looking at the same things.

Paras: I mean, that being said, we’re not closed to working with stars. If tomorrow Deepika Padukone calls, I am not going to say no.

You guys released your first album in 2015, but you’ve been a part of this industry for a long time now. Do you feel like there is a lack of investment when it comes to indie music?

Ramit: Yes, definitely. It is a cottage industry still. It is in the metros but it is still a cottage industry!

Paras: That’s a very good analogy!

Raman: There is a lot of talent in this country, a lot of kick-ass bands in the country. But the problem is that people are more interested in Bollywood music because it gets them more money. If you’re an independent band, you really have to figure out on your own, because we work as a mini label only. We write our own music, we produce our own music, there’s no one putting money behind us. Because all the money that we go and make in our shows, we put that money on music and videos. And we run it like a label, like we release our singles, we plan our tours out, we plan our gigs out. And I think, that is the only option an independent band has.

Paras: A lot of people think that, ‘Oh! Your life must be so chill, you don’t have a day job’ but it is not a just a day job, it is a day and night job. It is a full-time job, because after you’ve made the music, what do you do? You have to take it out somehow, you have to tour the country, you have to go door to door.

Your song Aaoge Tum Kabhi was featured in the movie, Angry Indian Goddesses. Do you feel that as a band it is important to be featured in mainstream media?

Paras: I think it is important to find an audience, it doesn’t matter how you get to them, through a movie or through whatever. It is important to find your audience and the people who are going to like you for what you do. And we have always made exactly what we wanted to make.

Sahil: The song, exactly how it was released, that’s how it has gone on the movie as well.

Raman: And that’s why we respect the team of AIG, because they fought for our cause and a lot of things.

Do you feel mainstream music curbs creative freedom for aspiring musicians?

Raman: It couldn’t curb our freedom. If you’re true to yourself and you know that this is going to work and you’re honest, then it is going to work. Nobody is going to curb it.

Ramit: If somebody wants to use that as an excuse, then they are more than welcome.

Paras: I don’t think we should generalize it like that. It all depends on who you’re working with in the industry. Like, as long as we have our creative freedom, we don’t mind working with Bollywood. As long as they don’t was us to do a Holi song in March. They will curb your creativity if you let them, basically.

Delhi University is a house to budding talent and music societies and they contribute to DU’s vibrant culture. So what would be your message to these aspiring artists?

Paras: Brace yourselves, guys.

Raman: As a band, the four of us, we run our lives as a school of learning. If you’re always learning and if you’re true to yourself, you are going to get somewhere. Just try to gather as much as you can, the world has changed, the time has changed, the dynamics of the industry has changed and music also has changed. So you really have to be aware about what is good for you and what is not, like a small thing can be fruitful for a very short period of time. Like, for the four of us, our calling is to make our own music.

Paras: And creatively, please don’t try to sound like somebody else. Try and be as original as possible. Sound exactly like yourself, because no one else can sound like you and that’s very important. Our true calling is that we really like creating music. And that is the only thing that has worked in our favour. So please, focus on creating original content and no matter how good or bad that is, you can never out a price on it. It is yours.

 

Image Credits: Nischay Chabra

 

Anagha Rakta
[email protected]

Srivedant Kar

[email protected]

 

 

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UGC Asks Universities to Install Incinerators for Sanitary Napkins

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The University Grants Commission (UGC), a statutory body that provides recognition and funds to several institutes of higher education across India, including the University of Delhi, has recently issued a statement asking varsities to install sanitary napkin incinerators in all women’s hostels. The move aims to benefit both the environment and women’s hygiene.

A communication by the UGC stated, “In an effort to promote proper disposal of menstrual waste and promote the Swachh Bharat Mission, it is imperative that we take the initiative to promote menstrual sanitation and proper disposal of menstrual waste by creating awareness, encouraging every woman to use eco-friendly incinerators and promoting research for biodegradable alternatives.” The communication also added, “You are requested to consider the installation of these machines within the premises of women’s hostels.”

According to the UGC, the estimated cost of the equipment is INR 49,646, an amount that can be “directly booked under the solid waste management component of the Swachh Bharat Mission”. The statutory body also elaborated that HLL Lifecare Limited, which is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Health, has recently introduced vending machines and incinerators for sanitary napkins.

Proper disposal of menstrual waste is crucial for feminine hygiene as well as for the environment. Sanitary napkins are the go-to product for the majority of Indian women. The material that they are made of is non-biodegradable. This means that the disposal of pads in household trash leads to landfills overflowing with menstrual waste. Burning them is not a solution as it leads to the release of toxic fumes into the atmosphere. Additionally, sanitary napkins that are disposed incorrectly often end up blocking drainage systems. There is also the high risk of disease and unhygienic conditions near areas where menstrual waste is concentrated. Menstrual blood in open air attracts all sorts of bacteria to grow in it and affect the hygiene of the surroundings.

Incinerators are the best way to dispose of sanitary napkins. They provide a long-lasting and eco-friendly solution by restricting the amount of smoke produced in the incineration to the small machine. The communication by the UGC is, therefore, a welcome step in making sure women’s accommodation caters to their specific needs and provides proper hygiene along with fulfilling environmental responsibilities.

 

Feature Image Credits: India Education Review

 

Vineeta Rana
[email protected]

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Admissions 2017

The Great College Debate: College Vs Course & North Campus Vs South Campus

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The long and tiring admission process in Delhi University which dominates the imagination of aspirants since the beginning of March means taking multiple important decisions. With the onset of this season comes the dreadful pressure of making life-changing choices. While we certainly can’t dictate what you ought to do, we can list some pros and cons to help you make a worthy decision.

 COLLEGE VS COURSE

The juncture where most students get stuck is the great debate of college vs course. On one hand, you have your dream college and on the other, you have your favourite course. It is a tough call to make but there isn’t any one answer that is right for everyone.

The faculty members of Delhi University are good at their jobs all over and great professors aren’t just restricted to a few colleges. So the difference in the ranking of colleges is usually a result of other factors and not solely because of a lack of the quality of the faculty. However, it is a fact that a high-ranking college does make a positive difference to your CV. Therefore, for those who feel this factor to be essential in their chosen field can choose course over college. On the other hand, if one aims to pursue research and higher studies in one particular subject then choosing course over college might just be the right decision. As a Department of English professor says, “Before choosing a stream, the student should understand that a college tags for three years while the discipline tags throughout the career.”

The choice of college or course also depends on the career path one has chosen. If your career is leaning towards co-curriculars, it makes sense to choose a college that has the best society or team for your chosen field. At the end of the day, what matters is if you are getting the most out of your choice.

(Anagha Rakta)

[email protected]

 NORTH CAMPUS VS SOUTH CAMPUS

The north campus of the University is the natural first choice of all Delhi University aspirants thanks to its sprawling Lutyens-esque buildings and its rich alumni. But with the perennial growing standards of and around the colleges outside the University enclave, are north campus colleges really worth blind-shots?
A majority of students and professors around the University deny the supremacy of the north campus colleges and believe that the chosen course is what really matters. A University professor from the Department of English opines, “The faculty across the University are evenly qualified. Hence, there is no scope of relatively mediocre teaching standards in any college of the University. The professors across the University would unanimously agree that the preferred course should not be compromised at the cost of campus, or college, for that matter.” In this light, the varsity also allows the student to switch colleges in the second and third years on the basis of the marks scored throughout the year.

For non-educational aspects, both the campuses have a culture entirely unique to themselves, without either being inferior. Satya Niketan in the south and Hudson Lane in the north, along with other marvelous hangout zones around almost every DU college, ensure a brilliant time for every student of the University.

Both campuses have their own special charms and unique factors and it is impossible to say which one is superior. Whatever side of the city you choose, your campus will give you immense opportunities to make the most of your college life.

(Nikhil Kumar Thakur)

[email protected]

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Admissions 2017

The Great College Debate: Girls College Vs. Co-Ed College

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Let’s attempt to comprehend this age-old debate of co-ed college versus girls’ college.

Some of best colleges in the University of Delhi are all-girls colleges. These colleges not only have the best faculty, infrastructure, and societies but also harbour the charm of sisterhood that is established on the strong foundation of feminism. When you are in a girls’ college, chances are you won’t have to worry about the daily struggle of putting together an outfit. Dress up or not, in an all-girls’ college you don’t really feel any less or more because of either. There is a larger sense of freedom where one can live without a bra. In co-ed colleges, however, the inevitable pressure of being judged by the opposite sex looms large.

In a university space, one thrives by learning from discussions that take place in canteens as well as in classrooms. Being in a co-ed setup means getting varied perspectives on all socio-political issues which eventually enriches one’s understanding. However, some topics may spark discomfort for students who come from conservative backgrounds and are not comfortable in discussing certain topics in front of the opposite sex. Chitra Dabral, a student of Lady Irwin College, says, “In an all girls’ class when we are taught about “taboos” such as sex, there’s nothing I feel shy about asking. Besides, my teachers also respond candidly. I wouldn’t have felt such ease with male peers.”

Being part of a co-ed college means interaction between the two sexes which resolves social awkwardness, something that many believe students from girls colleges suffer from. Nayla Kaur, a student at Mata Sundri College, resonates that, “Some of my classmates feel inhibited in male company.” Ishita Sharma from Indraprastha College for Women disagrees. She says, matter-of-factly, “Dealing with boys depends on your personality. So according to me these two things – being in an all girls’ college and being awkward with boys – are not interconnected.”

In our society when gender roles are still starkly segregated, being in an all-girls’ college means one will have to handle all situations, right from designing rangolis to moving heavy desks.

Finally, dating is one aspect where co-ed colleges are believed to score over all-girls’ institutions. If you are straight, then chances of meeting your soulmate are higher in co-ed colleges. However, as one can observe, a significant chunk of the population at girls’ colleges also date, because the fluid movement (thanks to fests, events, and multiple competitions) in DU amongst students fuels dating across colleges.

As we can establish, there are pros and cons on both sides.  At the end, whichever college you choose to go to, your life will certainly be adventurous because Delhi University is the place to be.

Feature Image credits: www.mirandahouse.ac.in

Niharika Dabral

[email protected]

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