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Modern Indian Language courses to get 10% cap on enrolments by Delhi University

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The Delhi University has decided to bring out a proposal where a 10% cap will be put on the number of students opting for Modern Indian Language (MIL) as optional subject at the undergraduate level.

 Various colleges of the varsity provides students with different Modern Indian Languages such as Sanskrit, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Punjabi as an optional subject to students of BA programme and B Com programme courses which when opted are compulsory for the students to study in the first two years as a core course.

The decision taken by the DU’s Academic Council (AC) aims at equally distributing students in each of these languages in every college. The committee is also contemplating introducing a uniform relaxation policy for all the colleges who awards 4% to 10% relaxation in marks to the students who take up these languages while taking admissions.

The standing committee passed the agenda items during its meeting last week which states, “The admission committee felt the need to relook the eligibility criteria related to MIL having a uniform policy of awarding advantages to students who wish to pursue languages in higher studies for all colleges.”

This move also reduces the burden on colleges which are offering more than one language courses as an optional subject. All the language courses would be able to draw students and not only a select few will get precedence over others.

According to a B.A. programme student from Gargi, “Fixing the number of students for language is beneficial for students as some colleges do not have infrastructure to accommodate too many students in one class, that leads to the division of sections and many times a complex time table not suitable to all. Above all, if a student is really willing to study a particular language allotment needs to be done on the basis of merit or any other fair procedure”

This move might also reduce preferability for only one or two languages and complete neglect of others which often results in colleges to stop offering them to the students not only affecting the students but also the teachers.

According to Hindustan Time’s unnamed source from the standing committee, “This has happened in many colleges, they have stopped offering many languages eventually. The idea behind fixing the number of enrolments is to encourage regular admissions in all languages.”

Image credits: Adithya Khanna for DU Beat

Antriksha Pathania
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Arts & Culture

Riding up to Paigaam: Natuve and their Theatre Productions this year

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As Natuve, The Theatre Society of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College comes up with its annual street play fest, Paigaam ’19, the showstopper to the University fest season, our correspondent traces their success journey through the fabled hippodromes of the capital this far.

A typical day at Safdar Hashmi Theater. Delhi’s play going coterie, an endangered species, the entire crowd, standing on their feet, clapping, like a part of them knew that they hadn’t seen anything of this warmth for a time. A mere college theatre society, Natuve’s original production Mx. Mute had just got over.

There are many words which come to mind when one tracks the progress of this theatre society over the last four years. If you happened to take a walk down the left wing of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, any day of the year, the weather bleak or rosy, the sun on your shoulders or shying away from your eyes, you can count on finding the kids from Natuve, drifting in their black kurtas. Right from the soul scorching heat of the Delhi summer to the glorious winters, the society works to bring out the best in themselves, and magically makes their very own amateur effort, with a world of experiments, imperfections, and innocence, rise and shine.

Natuve came up with two plays this year. Mx. Mute and Vyavsaaya Me Tarakki Paane Ke Chamatkaari Totke. While the formeer gave a subtle spin to the issue of assimilation of the LGBTQIA+ identity in the society, standing out particularly for the phenomenal work of the chorus to showcase genders, characters and societal reactions, Vyavsaaya, on the other hand was a hilarious musical comedy, keeping the audience at the edge of the seat at all times, not missing to prickle, however, with its sharp, nuanced satire.

The plays had many an innocent flaws. A few hiccups in transition, a tad too overexcited lightwork, a few rookie mistake in the sounds, and a few mis-directed laughs, yes. Nevertheless, what stood out was the hard work of every last person, what won hearts was their sisyphean desire to make their play the best it could be. The constant fire to give as much life to the art as possible. This won them awards, yes, the most in the college circuit this year, but more importantly, they continued the meteoric rise of Natuve. Yes, that’s the word we were looking for. Natuve continues to be a beloved.

Join them at their fest tomorrow. With Natuve, you have my word, the sun would be a bit kinder to you.

 

Image credits: Nikhil Kumar for DU Beat


Nikhil Kumar
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Campus Central

More than a Dozen departments in Delhi University are being run Without Heads

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In addition to this, around 4000 teaching positions vacant in various colleges of the varsity.

As many as 13 Departments of Delhi University (DU) are currently functioning without a permanent dean or head. This lack of a regulatory figure has led to a disruptment in the activities of the concerned departments.

According to Rajesh Jha, a member of DU’s Executive Council (EC), there are 13 departments that don’t have a dean or permanent head. Additionally, there are two more departments whose deans’ tenures have ended, but they are temporarily working as deans on the request of the University administration, as expressed by him on The Sunday Guardian Live.

“The University administration is reluctant to function in a normal manner; it comes up with strange anti-education initiatives, and is not taking care of the real needs of the university. There are 13 departments that don’t have a permanent dean or head. Nearly 20 DU colleges have no permanent principals. The funds allocated for various development works of the University are not being used properly,” Jha further added, speaking to the same news agency.

Works including research, among others, are getting affected due to this. Administrative works, too, naturally, are being affected. “The DU administration, mainly the Vice-Chancellor (VC), is reluctant to address these problems,” Jha complained.

According to the EC member, in the Faculty of Medical Science, posts of eight department heads are lying vacant; similarly, in the Faculty of Social Science, three posts of heads are vacant. The Faculty of Interdisciplinary and Applied Science and Faculty of Commerce have one post of head vacant in each center.

DU teachers have been, time and again, protesting for the appointment of administrative and teaching, but all has fallen to deaf ears since the University’s affairs are still being run in an ad-hoc manner. Nearly 4,000 teaching staff posts are vacant in the various colleges of DU and the teaching is being managed by ad-hoc teachers.

Every year, there is a steady increase in the number of students that DU houses, but it does not run the same way when it comes to staff. There is an imbalance between the ration of students and teachers; therefore, the standard of education is on a decline.

Image credits: DU Beat archives

Maumil Mehraj

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Campus Central

DU refuses to grant maternity leave to professor, HC intervenes

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Ad-hoc teachers continue to face barbaric rules of the university, even the ones denying them of maternity leave.

The Delhi High Court has sought response from the Delhi University on a petition alleging that it was not granting leave to its female ad-hoc teachers.

The petition, which was filed by a female professor of Sri Aurobindo College, contended that under the Maternity Benefit Act she was entitled to six months leave, the varsity refused to grant her the relief as she was not a permanent employee and was employed on an ad-hoc basis.

The petitioner also contested that the Supreme Court had held that maternity benefits are available to all irrespective of the type of employment — permanent or contractual.

Taking note of the submissions made by the petitioner, Justice Suresh Kait observed that according to the apex court judgement and the act, she was entitled to maternity leave and asked the lawyer on behalf of DU to take instructions on the issue.
In her plea, the woman has claimed that she had sent several representations to the University since January 4 seeking grant of maternity leave as her expected date of delivery was February 22.However, DU failed to respond and she gave birth on February 3.

According to her lawyer, the professor has been on leave without pay as the varsity did not sanction her request for maternity leave.
DU’s lawyer told the court that her contract was renewed every four months and at present it stands expired on March 18.The lawyer also said it was a policy decision of the varsity to provide the benefit to only its permanent employees.

The High Court has now scheduled another hearing on the 10th of April,2019.

Image credits: DU Beat archives

Jaishree Kumar

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DUB News

Revision of DU Syllabus Invites Friction from the Faculty

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11 departments and one college were asked to prepare a first draft of the revised curriculum by 29th March; each department was to come up with a minimum of four drafts before finalising.

The University of Delhi (DU) has yet again asked the heads of 11 departments and Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW) to start revising the curriculum of their undergraduate courses and introduce the revised syllabus in the 2019-20 academic session.

The varsity’s undergraduate curriculum revision committee (2019) wrote to the heads of 11 departments, which comprised of computer science, history, botany, music, zoology, Sanskrit, microbiology and environmental studies, and the administration of Indraprastha College for Women, with a revision schedule, asking them to “abide by it”.

This pronouncement received criticism from the faculty members who were displeased by the bypassing of the democratic steps that are to be followed in reforming the syllabi. They called it a “serious statutory violation”. The members of the Executive Council (EC) and Academic Council (AC) wrote to Yogesh Tyagi, the Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, against the “manner” of this revision.

Rajesh Jha, an EC member, said to Hindustan Times, “As per DU rules of revising syllabus, the departments would root the draft of revised curriculum through individual committees of all courses offered by any department. It is then sent to each faculty for approval. It is further passed by the standing council before going for a discussion in AC. Then the final draft is passed by the EC. The university has bypassed all these steps.”

The EC and AC members have requested Tyagi to withdraw the communication. “The schedule was prepared without any consultation with the statutory bodies. So, we request you to revise the UG syllabi in a statutory and democratic manner and withdraw all the communications concerned,” states the letter.

The schedule orders the departments to constitute their respective committees and prepare the first draft of the new syllabus by 29th March. A minimum of four drafts have to be sent before deciding on the final one, which is to be submitted to the respective Heads of Departments (HoD).

The Undergraduate Curriculum Revision Committee also asked the HoDs to make public the draft, and to invite suggestions from all the stakeholders.

The flipside to the current air of resistance from the faculty, and a reform in the current syllabus is not just appreciated, but needed. “Being a premier university, the revised curriculum is not only going to help our prospective students but would also set a trend for many other universities,” the committee’s statement said. However, it is the untimely and unconstitutional method of doing things that the student and the faculty communities collectively have a problem with.

Even in 2016, the History elective paper was entirely changed two months into the semester, marring the efforts of the students and teachers alike, and was met with opposition because a substantial investment went to waste. To avoid these confusions, a democratic process in a central university like DU must be adhered to.

Feature Image Credits: Niharika Dabral for DU Beat

Maumil Mehraj

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Campus Central

Manish Sisodia writes to the DU Vice- Chancellor: seeks extension of the Tenure of College Governing Bodies

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Manish Sisodia, Delhi Education Minister has written a letter to the Vice- Chancellor of DU, Yogesh Tyagi seeking the extension of the tenure of the governing bodies of all 28 government- funded colleges for a period of three months.

This move came after the tenure of the governing bodies of these Delhi Government funded colleges got over on March 8.

Terming the University’s refusal to give extension as a “politically targeted move”, Sisodia further said in his another letter written on March 20 to the VC, “The political overtone in this whole process is quite palpable and is not expected from your high academic office.” 

Of the twenty-eight State Government funded colleges, twelve are fully funded while the remaining sixteen receive 5% funding from the Delhi Government. Colleges like Deen Dayal Upadhyay College, Bhagini Nivedita College, Acharya Narayan Dev College, Keshav Mahavidyalaya and others are fully funded by the state government while the rest sixteen include colleges like Gargi College and Kamala Nehru among others.

It is to note that these governing bodies are fully responsible to take all decisions for the smooth functioning of a college, including the admission and appointment process. Earlier too, the Delhi government had stopped funding in these colleges without the consensus on the GB nominees, which resulted in the teachers not receiving their salaries.

“It would not be desirable that the colleges are run without properly constituted governing bodies. It is therefore suggested that the term of the existing nominees be extended,” Sisodia’s letter further read.

Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi is yet to comment upon the matter. However, an official in the administration said that the university might take some decision on the extension by the next week.

Image credits: DU Beat archives

Shreya Agrawal

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DUB News

DU’s Proposal for seeking Funds Rejected by MHRD

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A proposal was put forward by the Delhi University Administration in order to ask for funds for the construction of new infrastructure but it has been struck down by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The Delhi University administration asked the Ministry of Human Resource Development for Rs 5000 crore for the construction of a few buildings for the use by the University, but this proposal has been struck down by the MHRD. The MHRD termed the proposal as ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘over-hyped’.

According to sources, the DU administration submitted a quotation for the construction of buildings and had sought Rs 7,000 per square meter on an average, which was objected by the finance committee members who termed the quotation “unjustifiable”.

However, the issue of funds crunch has been raised by the Delhi University administration at various platforms, but the money that it had already hasn’t been spent by it and was returned to the University Grants Commission.

An elected member of DU’s finance committee said, “The DU administration has failed to spend Rs 300 crore it had received for the construction of buildings and other development work. The unspent money has already been returned to the University Grants Commission. Due to the short-sightedness and lethargic approach of the DU administration, the funds had lapsed”, as quoted in Sunday Guardian.

A proposal for a fund to the tune of Rs 5000 crore for the construction of buildings in DU was submitted by the DU administration in March during the finance committee meeting where MHRD officials were present. But the quotation that it had put up was considered to be too high. The DU proposal had sought Rs 7,000 per square meter as construction charges, which, compared to current market rates available for the construction of any building in Delhi, is more than thrice. Thus, MHRD officials openly criticized the DU administration and struck down the proposal, terming it unjustifiable and overhyped.

According to sources, the DU administration also sought for clearance of old bills of contractors but the validity of this demand was questioned by the finance committee on the basis that some of these bills are pending for over three decades. A similar demand was raised by DU to sought Rs 40 crore to clear a bill, but the original tender was of Rs 6 crore.

Abha Dev Habib, former member, Executive Council, DU told DU Beat, “While the UGC/MHRD has the right to scrutinize any proposal seeking a grant, increasingly the fear is that refusal to give grants will become a way to push universities to take loans for infrastructural requirements through Higher Education Funding Agency. These loans will have to be repaid primarily through student’s fees. We also want to add that right now the focus of the Government and universities should be infrastructure and manpower expansion required to cater to the EWS expansion. Unless this is done on a priority basis, universities will fail to cater to the increased number of students to intake on the count of EWS quota starting from this academic session.”

Thus it can be said that if the grants aren’t approved by the MHRD, then a hike in the fees of the students can be expected.

Image credits: DU Beat archives.

Priya Chauhan

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DUB Speak

Assessment System in Delhi University: Does it let the Vacations go as Planned?

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We weren’t yet done with the fest season when we realized that it’s already time for the mid-semester break. All of us have our bags packed but are we really ready to go on a break yet?

Even semesters are shorter and comprise more extracurricular activities than academics. They are busier than the odd semesters because of college, society and department fests and somewhere because of the fest season, students lose track of everything else going on, which includes classes, internals, assignments, presentations, and everything else. But when the fests finally got over and students tried to get hold of their academic lives it was already time for the mid-semester break. Mid-semester break is the time when students plan to do everything that they kept on postponing till now and is the best time to catch up with friends. But the bigger question is, “does the assessment system of the University leave us with a mid-semester break?”

The assessment system of Delhi University is a continuous process that goes on throughout the semester as it includes assessments of all the core as well as elective papers which starts at the beginning of the semester and goes on till some days before the study break. While some people have most of their assessments lined up for the latter part of the semester; whereas some others had back to back assessments in the early part of the semester which makes them comparatively free towards the end of the semester. However, one common thing for almost everyone is the lineup of assessments after the mid-semester break as till this time most of the professors want to get done with their assessments and thus this leads to a very hectic schedule for the students and a need for them to balance between all their papers and the vacations that they might have planned.

Anamika Khanduri, an Economics Honors student of Kamala Nehru College says “we have a lineup of internals scheduled after the break as we did not have many assignments till now because of the fests. However, amidst the study schedule that we have planned for the break, we have a separate schedule for chilling and thus utilizing the much-needed mid-semester break.”

However, a student of Miranda House tells DU Beat, “we had most of our core assessments before the mid-semester break so we are comparatively free during the break.”

For the outstation students, the only time to go back home, visit family and catch up with old friends is this break. The main issue faced by them is that because of the assessments lined up they really need to pack more books in the luggage and spend more time with the books than with their friends and family.

“Home doesn’t really feel like home because all I do is study throughout the day for the four internals that follows the break”, said a History Honors student of Miranda House.

Akansha Priya, a second-year student of Sociology Honors, Miranda House said, “we had only one internal till now and have all our other assessments after the semester break.” About the assessment system, she says, “It would be better if we have assignments managed in a better way because it becomes very hectic to have so many assessments in a single week.”

Everyone has different views about the assessment system but almost everyone agrees that the assessment system of Delhi University is a very hectic process. But being a continuous process it also helps in the preparation for the semester end exams and it brings the students in a habit of studying continuously. Thus it can be said that the system is effective in some ways but it needs to be managed in a better way so that it leaves students with time to relax because college life is not all about studying and giving tests but is more about taking the unexpected adventures.

Image Credits : Image by Annie Spratt Pixabay

Priya Chauhan

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Bazinga

Bazinga: Mid-Sem Break Cut Short; Classes to Resume from 20th March

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The mid-semester break is being cut-short due to the prolonged cancellation of classes in the previous weeks.

Due to continuous strikes and cultural fests in the previous weeks, many classes got cancelled from 26th February 2019 to 8th March 2019. To compensate for the cancelled classes, Professor Yogesh Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, in accordance with Professor Tarun Kumar Das, Registrar of the University has decided to shorten the mid-semester break.

Previously, the break was scheduled from 17th March 2019 to 25th March 2019. According to a press release, the classes will now resume on Wednesday, 20th March 2019. A press release stated that the decision is being undertaken for the welfare of the students, so that their studies are not affected. The release also states that the administration understands the difficulty the outstation students face to study in Delhi. On top of that, cancellation of classes because of strikes and fests only harms the academic pursuits of the students.

Despite good intentions of the varsity, the outstation students are unhappy with this decision. Most of them are already in their hometown and have plans for Holi with their friends and family. Agrima, a first-year B.A English (Hons.) student from Gargi College says, “I am from Lucknow. I always book tickets ahead of time because they are cheaper. I had already booked my flight for Sunday, 24th March, but now the classes are beginning early. By any means, I will not be able to come back on time, so I will lose out on my attendance.” Another student from Meerut said that he was not willing to spend Holi away from his family. So, even though he could reach on time, he has decided not to come back for these extra classes.

On the other hand, many students appreciate this move of the University. Praachi Ratra, a B.Com (Hons.) student from Jesus and Mary College stated “Our syllabus was behind the schedule due to the strikes and the fest season. Our teacher usually cancelled the class because there were only a few students in the class. Most of them were enjoying the fests. With these extra classes, the students can also catch up on the missed attendance. I am very thankful to my teachers and the University for co-operating.”

Student unions’ of various colleges like Miranda House, Gargi College, Hansraj College etc. are also unwelcoming of this move. A union member of  Hansraj College said, ” Colleges organise their cultural fests every year, it is a moment of celebration for all of us. It is not a small deal for the college and sometimes classes do get cancelled because there are not many students present. Most of them are busy with the fest preparations. We have never heard  something like this before. The students are already in a holiday mood. How are they going to celebrate Holi away from home?”

DU Beat tried contacting Professor Tarun Kumar Das, but he was unavailable to comment.

Despite criticism, this decision shows that the University is giving education an upfront by resuming classes early.

Disclaimer: Bazinga is our weekly column of almost believable fake news. It is only to be appreciated and not accepted.

Image Credits: Niharika Dabral for DU Beat

Sakshi Arora

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Campus Central

DSJ Students May Move to Court Against the University

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As stated in a press release, the students of Delhi School of Journalism have decided to move to the court for non-delivering of the promised facilities.

Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ) has been in the limelight for continuous protests and agitation against the University administration for non-fulfilment of basic infrastructure facilities like a proper media lab and a computer lab required for the course, since its inception. Dr. M.M. Yogi, Officer on Special Duty, Delhi School of Journalism had assured the students that their demands would be fulfilled ‘soon’, but the situation remains unchanged.

In a revolutionary move, students have now decided to appeal to the apex court against the University to resolve their problems and grievances. According to a press release, students of DSJ, Mohammad Ali, Suman Shekhar, Shahid Ansari,and Ankit Shukla moved to the Supreme Court regarding the matter.

Mohammad Ali, a second-year student of DSJ informed DU Beat that despite paying the highest fee in the University of Delhi, students of DSJ are deprived of basic facilities. He also stated that this step has been undertaken after facing disappointment by the hands of other senior authorities of Delhi University like the Vice Chancellor and Registrar. The students are seeking help from renowned lawyer Mr. Prashant Bhushan.

Maknoon Wani, another student of DSJ stated “The University and DSJ administration have collectively breached our trust. After a series of protests and the subsequent assurances given to us in writing, there hasn’t been any significant development in our college. No media lab has been established and we don’t have the infrastructure required for the proper functioning of the course. Lack of transparency is also an issue for us.” He added that the University has not made any records public citing that the audit has not been done. As a last resort, the students have decided to move to the court.

On the other hand, a press release by Professor J.P. Dubey, Honorary Director of DSJ stated that the students are being provided with the basic facilities, decent classrooms, media workshops, and field visits. It also states that students of third and fourth semester have been provided laptops and are also being exposed to various national and international agencies. 25% students from each batch and section are provided fee concession of 20% to 80% of the tuition fee was also mentioned in the release.

Mohammad Ali believes that if everything goes well, they will soon file an official court case against the University with the help of senior lawyer, Prashant Bhushan. Mr.Bhushan has also assured the students to help them in every possible way.

 

(With inputs from DU Beat Archives)

 

Image Credits: Suman Shekhar

Sakshi Arora

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