- Rickshaws are a common sight at North Campus
Friday, February 10, 2012. This date will be marked as one of the darkest pages in the history of DU. In an incident that is nothing short of frightening, a terrible stampede at Ramjas College injured several students. The college was hosting its annual fest and a certain singer, who goes by the name of Honey Singh, was to perform there at 6.30pm.
At 4pm, the traffic intersection between Delhi School of Economics and Ramjas was in a state of complete chaos with police vans speeding towards Ramjas from all sides. The rumours and panic that spread among the students who were on the road at that time, did little to help the already grave situation. The speculations soon became wild and reached all the way to Vishwavidyalaya metro station where stories of a possible death were doing the rounds.
Fortunately, there have been no reports to indicate that any lives were lost. However, a girl (rumoured to be a student of Dyal Singh College) allegedly fell in the stampede and was so severely injured by the rushing crowd that she had to be admitted to a hospital and is still in ICU. “ It was a nightmare, there is no other way to explain it. I regretted going there so badly that I was almost in tears,” said a student on the condition of anonymity.
The college authorities are underplaying the incident because the blame for the entire fiasco is being pinned on them. Students were initially entering one by one in an orderly fashion when the college decided to throw the gates open to make their job simpler. “ We decided to open the gates at 3pm because a very large crowd had already gathered by then. A girl felt slightly uncomfortable and was rushed to a hospital,” said the Principal of the college.
In collaboration with Delhi Transport Corporation, Delhi University has launched a low floor bus service to and from the Vishwavidyalaya metro station in North Campus.
The bus service began with the new session on 21st July. It charges a flat rate of Rs 5 and plies from Monday to Saturday on three routes. These three routes cover all the colleges in North Campus and have provided the students and teachers an alternate means of travelling to and from the metro station, which until now was the monopoly of the rickshaw puller.
This bus service started just in time as, in keeping with the rising prices, rickshaw pullers have also upped their rates. As opposed to charging Rs 10 for one person till the red light on Chattra Marg, rickshaw pullers now agree to provide their services for Rs 15; that too after some haggling. This might be an opportunistic temporary rise in prices to try to make a better living for a few days at the expense of freshers who are still learning the ropes of campus life and are not very aware of the prevalent rates. Even though some students sympathise with the rickshaw puller, they are glad for the availability of an alternate means of transportation. Says a student of Hindu College, “These rickshaw pullers work very hard in the heat and deserve whatever they are charging. In these inflationary times, it is difficult for them to make ends meet. So a rise in rates seems justified. However, it is difficult for us as well as we have to make do in a fixed amount that we get as pocket money. So the bus service is definitely a blessing”.
Off the beat foodie trail
1. What: Patel Chest bhelpuri
Where: Patel Chest main gate, north campus
A small over laden cart, beside a bald, fat gentleman who whips up the most delicious puffed rice potpourri. Very quaint, I’d call it.
He is well known in the area, and ask any bhelpuri connieussier, they will swear by the Patel chest guy. The recipe is a well guarded secret. The puffed rice is conjured up well with spicy sauces and flavorings, which make this bhelpuri the most unique of all varieties. The bhelpuri can be customized according to your tastes, which is a major add on. The toppings are different too in this case; there is crisp groundnut and fresh coriander, so that makes it all the more eatable.
2. What: Chhole Kulche
Where: right outside Hans Raj main gate.
His chole kulche are definitely understated. The kulche are soft and tender, while his chole are well steamed and nice. All he takes is a mere 10 rupees for a scrumptious meal.
3. What: Momos
Where: A) outside Venkateswara College, Satya Niketan
B) Momos at Bungalow road, Kamla Nagar
Stuffed dumplings couldn’t come cheaper. For Rs 10 a plate, which incidentally includes 5 momos, it’s a total rip off. With hot chilly sauce as accompaniment, this is something every DUzen should experience at least once.
4. What: Chole Bhature
Where: “Chacha’s” opposite Hans Raj hostel gate, Kamla Nagar.
Although I suspect they are a franchisee of the original Chacha’s, their chole bhature nevertheless are up to Chacha’s high standards. They could even be recommended over the original, as there is just enough place to stand and eat, unlike Chacha’s shop. At the same price per plate, this one sure is a must try.
By Mehroo Batra
The start of the new season will also mark the beginning of Delhi University coming under the secure lens of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. These cameras will be installed in and around the campus. After repeated demands of teachers and student organisations, Delhi Police has decided to put up forty six CCTVs on the North Campus by the end of this month.
The police hope to install around sixteen zooming cameras and thirty fixed ones by June 15th. The cameras will be installed at strategic locations such as the college gates, the dean of students’ welfare and vice-chancellor’s offices and nearby areas that have concentrated PG accommodations such as Mukherjee Nagar and Kamla Nagar.
A handful of colleges already have CCTV cameras. For instance, Sri Venkateswara College in South Campus has these cameras since last 8 years. The cameras are located in the canteen, the lobby and the library. The college authorities say that the cameras have proven beneficial to the college as it helps in monitoring student activities. Hansraj College also has four CCTV cameras installed in their campus- one camera each in front of the main gate, the library, the field area and the canteen.
However the question that arises is whether or not this system of invisible omniscience aimed at ensuring the safety of students, is the right way to go about things. These glass lenses watch impassively as we move about our daily lives, recording, noting all. Surveillance innately lowers the trust and increases suspicion. Don’t students have rights to go about their lives without this level of suspicion? The implication being that students are no longer trustworthy, branded guilty before the act. After all if you have something to hide, then you must be guilty. Where does privacy exist in such a setting? Isn’t privacy a fundamental right of all human beings?
Remember the nightmare you once had? When you thought someone was watching you. Well its true-. Big brother is watching you, for your own safety.
St. Stephens College
Faculty: Of all the departments at St Stephens College, Philosophy, Economics, and Physics have the best faculty. Because of an on-going court case, the college cannot appoint permanent teachers.
Atmosphere: Stephens is often thought of as an elite college, but the crowd here is almost exactly like any other college.
ECA and Sports: The College has a large number of societies, many of which, like the Informal Discussions Group, the Social Service League, the Campus Placement Cell, etc are very active. The Shakespeare society is still alive and reasonably well known. It has one of the best football and basketball teams in the university
Café: The Stephens’ cafe had been stagnating over the years, and is nowhere near its counterparts in many other colleges. The mince and the nimbu paani are popular, but that’s been the case for the last four decades or so.
Mehak Agarwal, St. Stephens College
Shri Ram College of Commerce
Faculty: The College prides itself in having an extremely illustrious faculty. Authors like Dr. P.C. Jain, Dr. C.B. Gupta, and others-whose books you revered in school as holy inseparables- will tutor you at SRCC.
Atmosphere: When some of the sharpest minds of the country congregate at SRCC to further their career interests, the atmosphere is bound to get competitive-yes, sometimes immensely cut throat at that. But in the due course of time, one realizes that the most distinct quality of College is that it never let you feel you’ve achieved enough.
Extra-Curricular Activities and Sports: The College encourages co- curricular activities through its various societies and clubs, of which only a few are active through the year while others pop-up during the winter fest and disappear with its closing ceremony. SRCC is also proud of its Placement Cell which acts as an ideal link between the academia and industry. The college fest ‘Crossroads’ is by far ‘the’ most important date in the college calendar, perhaps a notch more important for an SRCC student than the university examinations too.
Canteen: There are no two opinions about the fact that the canteen needs massive improvements, in terms of variety and quality of food, and ambience too; however that never deters an SRite from spending hours at the canteen in blissful vela.
Sourovi De, Economics
Hans Raj College
Faculty: Although the media seems to celebrate only some of the departments here, truth is that most members of faculty across departments are more worried about academia than their students!
Atmosphere: With new faces each year, new trends keep developing. But generally speaking, the atmosphere at Hans Raj is chilled-out and very friendly.
Extra Curricular Activities and Sports: ECA and sports add color, but don’t yet occupy centre-stage. Dramatics, debating and dance are amongst the most popular activities. Besides these, each department has its own society. In sports, Hans Raj is best known for its basket ball team.
Canteen: The canteen is not much to talk about, although the spring rolls, fried rice and the chole-bhature are worth a try. Its prime location right across the LP makes it the most crowded and colorful places on the college campus. There is also a Nescafe counter in college.
Vasundhara Sharma, Economics
Anchit Jain, B. Com (Hons)
Hindu College
Faculty: The Maths, Economics and the English Faculty of the college are simply excellent. The commerce faculty of Hindu is also worth mentioning.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere in Hindu is pretty chilled out. Most of the students are seen hanging around in the lush green lawns of the college armed with their guitars and endless conversation.
ECA and Sports: The Sports of Hindu has deteriorated in the past few years. However this is not the same in ECA. The Music, Theatre and Debating Societies of the college are brilliant.
Canteen: It’s quite famous for it’s seekh kebab rolls. The new additions of naan with shahi panner and momos have been a spectacular hit.
Oindrilla Dutta, Hindu College
Kirori Mal College
Faculty: The English and Economics faculties in KMC are absolutely outstanding. Being a student from English, I have had the privilege of interacting with faculty members that are extremely helpful and take a personal interest in one’s progress as a student. Also, an inconspicuous Urdu department is one that cannot be ignored.
Atmosphere: Rubbing shoulders with other North Campus colleges, KMC has its own blend of the intellectuals and the non-conformists. It certainly doesn’t compel you to make academics your only priority, perhaps allowing you to explore other aspects of your personality.
Extra Curricular Activities and Sports: KMC is most known for its widespread interest in extra-curricular activities and performing arts like Theatre and Music have long since been DU favorites. Home to excellent soccer and basketball teams, KMC has made its presence felt in Inter-College sporting competitions as well.
Canteen: The KM Canteen doesn’t seem to give its students any respite. The food remains inedible with what one can only call an almost sadistic consistency.
Adhir, Kirorimal College
Indraprastha College for Women
Faculty: It boasts of one of the best faculty in Delhi University. The Department of Mass Media and Mass Communication also has guest faculty that consists of professionals from renowned media houses of the country.
Atmosphere: Being a girl’s college, IP ensures such an atmosphere that ensures that you can walk around the campus comfortably in a skirt, a pair of shorts or even pyjamas! Also, the student-teacher relationships are frank enough for the girls to discuss their love lives with the teachers.
ECA and Sports: The endless facilities provided by the college urges the students to improve their sporting talents and physical fitness. In fact, it is the only women’s college with a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a well-equipped health club, a shooting range and an extensive play-field.
Canteen: Just outside the college gate, sits a bhelpuri-wala who serves a wide variety of mouth-watering items. From fresh fruit juice to burgers and aloo-chaat; he makes plenty of quick-meals for the laborious girls of IP college.