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2020: Not The Year of Students

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As the war on the wretched virus wages on, every single person is also dealing with the consequences of the same. With their whole future in front of them, students are staring a mammoth obstacle in front of them.

The year 2020, as many says, has turned the world upside down. Numerous concerns surround the apprehensive students. The Economic pandemic that will follow this outbreak topping the list. With the markets crashing down, major industries will suffer a huge loss leading to unemployment and layoffs. Travel and Tourism industry which employs around 4 crore people expecting 12 lakh layoffs while the retail industry expects 1 crore layoffs. The stress of having unemployment is already circling every student’s head.

Getting a placement only seems like a handful of a challenge for them. And with DU signalling more delay in third-year examinations, the challenges only seem to increase. While DU authorities are confident that they can conduct the examinations online, many doubt their ambitious plans.

As many students aim for higher students in India as well as abroad, the sudden change in the schedule and work environment of the whole world has left students on pins and needles regarding the upcoming entrances and selections. As many universities from around the world start their entrance examinations and other formalities for admissions from April to June. Students who plan on studying abroad, are becoming sceptical of their future aspects leading them to rethink their priorities and choices.

This botch to the whole semester has left students perturbed. Manav Gupta, a third-year B.Com (Hons) student, said, “The uncertainty which is surrounding the virus as well as our examinations has left me confused and frustrated as to what I should study and what I shouldn’t. It is also truly disheartening that my batch will be missing our last days of college and might even our farewells”.

Not only is this wretched virus affecting the students with dreams of studying  abroad, but also the ones who have been preparing for various entrance examinations in the country. Be it NEET, JEE or SSB, all these exams have been postponed and uncertainty hangs over them.

Akshat Singh Rathore, an Army aspirant who was preparing for SSB this year, said, “Last year I took a drop to prepare for SSB examinations, but not only have the exams been postponed but also the stress over the preparations for the same is growing”.

Similarly, Mrinalika Chauhan, who had recently cleared her Tata Institute of Social Sciences entrance exam, said, “I just cleared my TISS entrance process which includes an exam and a series of interviews. But the result of the same is not being declared due to the coronavirus and this has put me in dilemma, should I wait for the result or should I apply elsewhere also”.

In addition to this, the first and second-year students are also suffering with many teachers facing difficulties in finishing the course in time. Even though many colleges were quick to take classes online but recent incidents have derailed this effort as well. Many teachers have reported incidents of harassment by students in online classes via obscene messages and language.

Speaking on the issue, Shitakshi Thakur, a student of Maharaja Agrasen College, said, “Just recently we had a class on Skype and it was an utter disaster as well as an embarrassing for us students. One of the students disrupted and disturbed the class again and again. It feels like we aren’t ‘educated’ enough to take online classes.”

The Coronavirus and Economic Pandemic along with the social distancing has taken a toll over the students’ mental and emotional health. However, the pandemic is also a stark reminder of how powerless humans are even though we tend to think otherwise.

 

Feature Image Credits: Paintvalley

Aniket Singh Chauhan

[email protected]

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DUB Speak

With a Heavy Heart: Signing off, Head of Marketing 2019-2020

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On 15th October 2017 I was at a family function when I asked my cousin brother who was the director of DU Beat then that I wanted to join DU Beat. My initial plan was to join DU Beat as a photographer and learn. But my cousin suggested that I should go for marketing. Never thought that that suggestion will change my life forever.

I sent my resume (which was not that great) to my cousin and he then forwarded it to the then marketing head, Saim Akhtar. It took almost two months for me to clear all the rounds due to my laziness. But thanks to the patience of Abhilasha Gandhi (Head of Media operations 2017-18) and Ayushi Singhal (Head of HR 2017-18) I was recruited in DUB on 7th January 2018.

I have been a part of DUB for almost two and a half years. Have worked with three teams and more than 100+ people. My journey in DUB was nothing short of a roller coaster. When I joined the marketing team there were eight members in the team (including me) and I was the youngest amongst all.

The month I joined DUB organised their very own fest called Mushaira. Mushaira was one of the best things that happened to me in DUB. In Mushaira I handled my very own gaming stall which witnessed a footfall of more than 200+ gamers. I met rest of the departments then I bonded with them immediately. That’s the thing about DUB no matter where you are from or what you are studying you’ll fit right in. So did I.

In DUB, I always got a weird stare whenever someone got to know that I was doing Maths honors. But to be honest, I have spent majority of my college time with DUB peeps rather than studying maths. And I have no regret or remorse. I have no idea when DUB became a family from a team.

In October 2018, I went to Goa with the DUB fam for covering Waves, the cultural fest of BITS Goa. No matter wherever I go, Goa will always remain the best trip of my life. I slept for 12-15 hours in five days. From seeing sunset at Baga beach to seeing sunrise at Dona Paula we didn’t realise how that time passed away. I have been to so many places with DUB fam that I never thought I will ever go and hopefully we’ll go and explore more places.

In marketing, it took me six months to get my first deal signed. I was a little demotivated but after signing my first deal I was very happy. I learned everything about marketing from my cousin sister and also my mentor, Kriti Gupta. She scolded whenever I messed up and taught me how to avoid doing the same mistakes in the future. Without her guidance and training I don’t think I would have made a good executive. I closed roughly around 15 deals for the organisation. One thing I learnt in marketing is that patience is the key. It’s like you have to chase a client for weeks and after the completion of the campaign you still have to chase them for weeks to get the payment. This I can say that I definitely became a patient person.

The best thing about my job was that it required less field work as compared to other departments but at the same time this was the worst thing. Reason being you sometimes get bored at home waiting for leads to come and you were hardly coordinating with anyone. Things went like this for almost an year. Our meetings never took place with other departments so hardly anyone knew us. But I went to almost every fest and I met everyone there. I spent more time at fest with DUB team rather than attending classes at college. In a media organization, marketing team is the one which works behind the camera. Hardly anyone knows us but without us, the organisation cannot run. It’s like we are the back bone of the organisation. However, without the hardwork of other departments we won’t be able to sell ad spaces on our platforms.

On 9th April 2019, I was elected as the new marketing head for the tenure 2019-20. This was the first time I was going to lead a time of my own. Under me, I trained three talented executives who have so much potential in them. I tried to help them whenever I can and helped them reach their targets. I never thought that from being a rookie to becoming a head I’ll learn so much. But thanks to DUB, I learned a lot.

I’ll miss a lot of things about DU Beat, like Monday meetings, seeing other departments stress over print cycle, tapri sessions and attending fests. I don’t think I’ll be able to get the same joy that I got from DUB from any other organisation. But as all things comes to an end my journey with DUB also did. I never thought that my tenure will end without a farewell. DUB farewells are the most memorable things. I have given two farewells and this time it was my turn to get a farewell. Because of the pandemic that’s going on my dream of getting a farewell will remain a dream. But it’s okay as at this moment surviving is more important than a farewell.

I hope to stay in touch with all the beautiful souls that I have worked with and probably I’ll crash one or two Monday meetings.

I wish the new heads all the best for their tenure.

Signing off,

Deepesh Varshney 

Head of Marketing, 2019-2020

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DUB Speak

With a Heavy Heart: Signing Off, Head of Photography 2019-2020

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Here are a few words by the Heads at DU Beat, sharing the experiences which built their journey, as they bid adieu to this family. While this journey comes to an end, the memories last forever. Vaibhav Tekchandani, Head of Photography, who has been one of the warmest and friendliest faces also helped us reach new heights under his leadership. Read on to see his farewell note for the session 2019-2020. 

My journey at DU Beat began in September 2018, of course, this was after I was rejected by my Head of Photography, Akarsh Mathur, who thought I would not be able to give time to the organisation. I don’t know what happened after that, but it didn’t feel like the end of my journey at DU Beat, so I applied again. After clearing the interview round with a positive result, I was a member of a team that had so much to give to me.

Starting from Village Area, my gaon, that gave me a family, gave me love. In the beginning my concern was that since I joined late, the team might not be as open to a new member since strong bonds and friendships were already formed. However, as and when I joined, the whole team was so welcoming I cannot explain it in words. It was overwhelming.

I am not a guy who attends college, therefore, college life meant nothing to me until my 1st year but then I joined DUB in my 2nd year and that is what made me realise the actual essence of college life. It gave meaning to the whole ‘DU Culture’ that I had not yet experienced. I never really looked forward to Mondays until Monday meetings at 4 pm became a thing (let’s just say I was there at sharp on time to make me look extra responsible).

DU Beat as a whole taught me a great deal, it taught me how to get yourself into the barricades with just your confidence, taught me to work in a dynamic environment and with not just the photographers but all the departments at once. From being a photographer to be an unofficial bouncer, I’ve seen it all and I can’t be happier about the people I have seen it with. To add to it and for a little more effect, let’s just say they’re magic beans to my jack.

The next tenure when I was appointed as the Head of Photography, it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life, to lead a complete photography team in such a big media organisation paved a way for one of the best journeys that I’ll cherish forever. I honestly could not have asked for a better team. All I ever hoped was to be as good as my former Head of Photography, Akarsh Mathur, if not more.

I’m super proud of my team and they are a bunch of the most talented people I’ve come across. DU Beat has made me a better photographer, filmmaker, and mentor. It has given me new skills, exposure, friendship, a chance to work with great and humble people and most importantly a part of my life to look back to. DU Beat will always be something close to my heart, something I’ll always treasure!

Signing off,

Vaibhav Tekchandani

Head of Photography 2019-2020

 

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Features

The Incomplete Wish List: The Batch of 2020 Laments

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Plans were made and the wish list of the final-year students was set, but never did they imagine that they were marching towards uncertainty. The Covid-19 outbreak has certainly infected the plans of the outgoing batch, who need to keep peace with their incomplete wish list. Read on to find what the class of 2020 feels about it.

It was the beginning of March 2020 when everyone was dreading for the mid-semester vacation, to head back to our hometowns, do internships, catch-up on the pending studies, and rejuvenate ourselves for the next half of the semester packed with fests, internals, and of course our GRADUATION! Little did we know that our expectations would just move into the helix of uncertainty. It does feel now, that one should have attended that particular day of college they bunked or that particular society meeting for which they made an excuse, so that they could get a little more before things turned out such. While the University is shut amidst the lockdown and some of the major college fests have been cancelled, it is hard to believe the reality. However, the virtual world still keeps us connected and sane during these times.

Shivanu Prav, a student of the outgoing batch from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), says, “As we know that it’s the journey that matters and the people whom you meet along it. I am going to miss all my friends and the things we did, but what makes me feel terrible is that now we won’t be able to do those final things (roaming, bunking, trips, visit to teacher’s house, farewell and convocation) that we planned for. I will miss the glitter in everyone’s eyes by the thought of being graduates at the same time, a sadness of getting apart from each other. I will miss every inch of myself which I lived in SRCC.”

While many colleges have started with online lectures, few students are finding it difficult to cope with the increased screen time, while others have an issue of internet avilability. It only takes us back to missing our college lectures and the classroom environment.

Shivani, a final-year student from Miranda House, commented, “This long break takes me back into my three-year old self. Now I have started fighting with my brother again. I am struggling everyday with my eyes after Zoom lectures and long documented notes.

This is a big pause for me as an individual and the humanity as a whole. This is where we decide our course for this decade.”

Even during this uncertainty, the connectedness between the batchmates is what keeps us going. The plans we had, may not have come out in the way we wanted, however, it teaches us the importance of the memories we spent in the beautiful years of the graduation.

Aarti Rajput, another final-year student from Lady Shri Ram (LSR), adds, “There are various things we wanted to fulfil but I can’t believe that we are waiting for the completion of our graduation like this. We wanted to enjoy these few days of our graduation with our friends and teachers…But now we are sitting at our homes on the video calls. We are crying by recalling our beautiful days that we have spent together. I wish we could celebrate our farewell, graduation party, and attend those last classes which we have missed for no reasons.”

While the students would miss their college once they graduate, these few months were important for looking for the unexplored parts of the Campus, hanging out at Maggi Point, and spending the last few days with their friends and teachers. The graduating batch who had applied for further studies abroad are worried now, and some have even dropped their plans with the worsening situation due to the pandemic. DU has postponed the final exams “until further notice”, however final-year students are anxious due to their delayed graduation. It is true that we are the unluckiest batch. Because we don’t have any chance to live back those beautiful days of our lives, and create memories in our last days of college life. The only thing that keeps coming back to my mind are those lines from Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic song, ‘Har pal Yaha jee bhar jio, jo hai sama kal ho na ho.’ We are just hopeful that this too shall pass and the Class of 2020 would pass with flying colours.

Image Source: Sriya Rane for DU Beat

Sriya Rane

[email protected]

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