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Priyanka and Anshu: Bungalow Road, Kamla Nagar

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Swarms of people passing the Bungalow Road seem to miss the unmissable. Having honed the art of ignorance myself, I quite successfully give certain human coordinates that form the aesthetics of the area as much as McDonald’s or Bookland a miss, but not this time.

Priyanka and Anshu, having evaded the liberal policies of the government, carry an air of versatility, to be able to fit in or rather have the surroundings fit them. The articles they are selling are like accolades on offer. They sell stationery items.

Having punctuated the area for over 8 years, 16 years old Priyanka, who is typically seen reading elementary school books outside Planet Fashion, boasts of having taught business skills to many top notch garments vendors in the area. Bablu, a prominent garments crusader in the area confirms the claim. “Priyanka taught me the nitty gritty of the garment market, from getting the articles at wholesale rates from Tank Road and Ramesh Park to selling the articles and managing my accounts”, says Bablu.  He assists his partner in managing a make shift niche where wide variety of clothes can be seen arranged in files of threes on a cot.

Albeit a school dropout, Priyanka takes pride in attending tuitions from 3 to 6 PM every day. However, she laments her parents’ decision to make her leave school and doesn’t want the same fate for her 4 younger sisters. A resident of Chandrawal Village, Priyanka’s day starts with helping her mother with domestic chores after which she gets down to tutor her younger sisters. “I study everyday so that I could teach my younger sisters”, says Priyanka.

On a typical day, she can be seen with a box of assorted stationery articles switching spots to try and get potential customers. Her wingman is usually 9 years old Anshu, who unable to pronounce the ‘N’ in her name calls herself Ansu. She considers Priyanka her idol and can be seen copying her jargon in her own way.

The duo earn somewhere between Rs 600-700 per day on weekdays and over Rs 1200 on weekends. Priyanka claims that she gives her earnings to her father who works in a thread factory in Malkaganj. She also takes pride in having an account in Canara Bank.

After a day’s work, much like the other 40 children selling different articles in Kamla Nagar, the duo retires at 9PM. Their employers are their parents who tally the numbers of articles sold and the earnings upon their return. About to leave, I extend my hand towards Priyanka for a handshake. She shies away and instead folds her hand wishing me adieu.

Featured Image Credits – Jowhiti for Tripadvisor

Sidharth Yadav

[email protected]

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Beyond the Obvious of Delhi University Colleges

Beyond The Obvious: Hindu College

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The largely red building of the college glares at you on traversing the Delhi School of Economics and St Stephen’s college corridor. The premises are flanked by the Ridge forest on one side and the D School on the other. This part of Delhi has been the epicentre of the Indian freedom movement with Hindu College spearheading the student’s campaign majorly in the Quit India movement. The college was established in 1899 to counter the hegemonic control of the British over higher education in Delhi after the establishment of St Stephen’s college. Late Shri Krishan Dassji Gurwale, the founder of the college boasted of the secular and inclusive being of the institution when it functioned in a small establishment in Kinari Bazar before finally shifting to the current spot in 1953.

That the inclusive and liberal being of the college, although having undergone many reconfigurations has stayed intact is unmissable when one comes to the college during a festival or regular college days. The annual college festival Mecca, which succeeds in having major personalities every year has been the zenith of the institution’s liberal being when an entrant is allowed inside the premises without any hassle to witness motley range of events in the state of the art infrastructure of the college. The Virgin tree Pooja that happens every 14th of February also sustains the diverse aesthetics of the institution. A student of the college can visit any part of the college, attend classes of other departments, make public engagements with students and organise academic events in a relatively easy fashion. You’d find a unique activity once a week around the student centric area of Pizzas and More (PAM) ranging from sponsored events and society promotions.

The Parliament of Hindu College, which is the student body here, has inculcated political acumen in the students as  a result of which major political organisations at the varsity like ABVP, NSUI, AISA and SFI strategically position themselves in the ecosystem of the college to start political conversations. Being a student of the college, I constantly feel the repercussions and calls for student movements that happen in any part of the varsity. At the college level, the political environment calls for polarisation between majorly two sides that consolidate themselves and then contest for the parliamentary elections.

Interesting is the fact that departments like History and English have their own libraries which aim at furthering the academic interests of students. The Bharat Ram Centre, the cultural square of the college boasts a gothic style art gallery and is right at the centre of a magnificent garden. Art and photography exhibitions are a common sight in this area. The Bharat Ram Centre garden offers a composed atmosphere to have conversations and read books. The college canteen on the other hand symbolises a euphoric being of the college life at Hindu.

The institution boasts one of the largest sports grounds in the varsity with a sports centre, gymnasium and facilities for indoor sports being inheritances from the Common Wealth Games 2010, whose centre for the rugby sevens was the varsity. You’ll find many students playing volleyball and basketball in their breaks in the field. The college functions on the philosophy of letting the students decide the path to their own academic and co-curricular brilliance on the sidelines of having a system of administrative checks and balances.

Sidharth Yadav
[email protected]

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Campus Central

DU North Campus: Where the Insiders go

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Jyoti Chinese Corner at Patel Chest Situated amidst the gazillion printing shops and book stalls in Patel Chest, Jyoti is a small stall dishing out excellent food. For such a tiny establishment, it certainly boasts an extensive menu starting from the famous momo and chowmein, to thukpa and shyapta (a Tibeatan meat dish). The portions are also quite large. The only glitch perhaps is that it is constantly packed and seating is limited to about 5 persons. However, for such good food at reasonable rates, who would even complain waiting for a few minutes? One insider tip is to order the ‘home delivery momo’ which although priced substantially higher than the regular momo they serve, is definitely a must have! Le-phing at MajnukaTilla The best reason to visit the famous Tibetan Market, which is a 15 minute auto ride away from North Campus, is perhaps to try ‘Le-Phing’ which is only available here. A famous Tibetan street dish, Le-Phing is usually priced at Rs30 a bowl, and served both dry and with soup, and you can either choose it in yellow or white. Most stall owners are tight lipped about how they prepare it, so you probably won’t even know what you’re actually having. It’s basically a cold mung bean noodle dish dolled up with soya-beans, soya-sauce, salt, vinegar and some magical chutney-like concoction. Perhaps an acquired taste, Le-phing has some serious die-hard fans. If you join the club, expect frequent trips to MajnuKaTilla in between classes to satiate le-phing cravings. Waffle Hut at Kamla Nagar This is a waffle joint in a small bylane in Kamla Nagar, behind the McDonalds on Bungalow Road. Be-fitting its name, it boasts a wide range of freshly made waffles with both sweet and savoury toppings. In case you want to try an extensive variety, it is advisable to order quarter sized pieces with different toppings. The unique pizza waffle is definitely worth a try! Since it is tucked in between many other shops, you might overlook it, so asking for directions is helpful. Bistro at Kamla Nagar A perfect way to ‘TRY’ to beat the summer heat is to have one of the various drinks and sundaes available at this stall. While there are many places around campus offering the same, its main attraction is its pricing. An almost half-a-litre glass of Virgin Mojito comes at 50rs, and a substantial helping of chocolate fudge sundae at just Rs.60. In addition, veg sandwiches and snacks are also available. Although seating isn’t available, you can’t help yourself from going back once you’ve tried it. FUNKY at Bungalow Road A mini Sarojini-Nagar, Funky is a clothing shop that many DU students frequent. Although there are many vendors selling cheap clothes on the streets, the collection here is the best. Tops, dresses, trousers and shorts are priced at around Rs.150 to 250. An occasional gem in the form of a cocktail dress or branded item isn’t uncommon here. However, sometimes the clothes are a little costume-like, so a keen look through the racks can go a long way. Also, they do bring in new stuff quite frequently. Since it is somewhat hidden in a basement amidst the shops in Bungalow Road, it is best to ask seniors or friends for directions.   Swareena Gurung [email protected]]]>

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Campus Central

Spotlight: Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College

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22-06-2016 05.05.13                          

Infrastructure:

Situated at the north campus of the university, the college boasts of a 5 building structure with a world class sports stadium along with a lawn tennis and a basketball court. The college’s newly opened multi-storied air-conditioned library (also half of the college’s class rooms have air-conditioning system in place) has books on almost all the topics available to mankind. The topmost floor of the library is glass-walled and honestly speaking, looks like a squash court. [gallery size="medium" ids="43282,43280,43281,43279,43278,43277,43283,43284,43285"]

What to do in between classes:

  • As you head your way out from the library, you will see cafe coffee day’s ‘cafe day express’, welcoming you to try its hot coffee along with exotic vegetarian and non-vegetarian snacks.
  • If you prefer something more sub-continental, you can head straight using a narrow passage to the college’s canteen. There, you will find all the mouth watering foods from aloo-ki-tikki to North Indian Thaali. Though the odd thing about the canteen is that the bill you get features the name of Miranda House instead of the college’s own name. Too much affinity, I guess.
  • The college is almost perfectly located, with the Kamla Nagar market, the Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar market and the Hudson lane at just a walking distance.
  • If you are visiting for the first time, it is recommended that you do visit the Tom Uncle’s Maggie point and the Wood Box cafe.
  • The college has its own Gurudwara in the premises for you to seek peace at.
[gallery size="medium" ids="43286,43288,43287"]

Delights to catch on:

If you really want to enjoy such an environment and are bored of your boring college routines, you should visit SGTB Khalsa College and especially its standout area, ‘jannat’. Jannat is located at the centre of the college and is a hub of almost all the activities that take place in the premises. From the art society displaying various art forms to the photography society featuring its best photo shoots, from the dramatics society’s street plays to the Music society’s foot-tapping performances, Jannat sees it all through the year. The name comes from the fact that the place is beautifully maintained and also has an exquisite lawn. [gallery size="medium" ids="43289,43292,43290,43293,43291,43347"]

Annual Fest, Lashkara:

So, once you are here at the North Campus, SGTB Khalsa is a college you must surely visit and since the fest season is near, you should also attend the college’s annual fest ‘Lashkara’ which features almost all the Punjabi celebrities from the music world. [gallery size="medium" ids="43348,43349,43351"] [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="43352,43350"]   Images by Gerush Bahal for DU Beat Brij Mohan Pahwa [email protected]]]>

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Reviews

Food Review : The Food and Booze Exchange, near North Campus

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If you too are one of those people who are jaded by the idea of going to Hauz Khas or Connaught Place to dine at a luxurious lounge, then it’s time you looked at North Campus!

As much as students like going to eating joints in the Hudson lane, they still feel a dearth of proper lounges in the North Campus. As a result, they travel in metros covering long distances to reach CP or Hauz Khas where most of the lounges are situated. But, The Food and Booze Exchange, with its quirky name, has come to change all that. Situated in Roop Nagar, near North Campus, The Food and Booze exchange is one of the newly opened lounges near the North Campus where we got a chance to review some of their specialities recently! Snippets from our experience: 

The decor and more..

When you enter the place, the interiors and the decoration of the place are what you notice first which are completely in-sync with the ‘stock and investment’ motif present in their name. Ranging from vast graphics on the wall of investors making a bid to numerical silhouettes carved out, in place of windows, for the natural light to come in, all thoroughly amuse you.

[gallery ids="42213,42215,42214"]

To quench your thirst..

After taking a look at an interesting line of mocktails and other beverages in their menu, we decided to order ‘Guava Exchange Punch’ which is gaining momentum with their new customers and ‘Kiwi Lemonade’. Both of the drinks were refreshing and perfect to beat the scorching summer heat. 

[caption id="attachment_42223" align="aligncenter" width="200"]Kiwi Lemonade Kiwi Lemonade[/caption]

Delectable delicacies.. 

Post the revitalising  beverages, we ordered the following food items to gorge on: For starters we chose to order a Kebab platter and Veg Platter. While the Kebab platter was full of non-veg delicacies like Chicken Tikka, Chicken Seekh Kebab, Murg Malai Tikka and more, the Veg platter on the other hand was replete with the customary Hariyali Kebab, Veg Seekh Kebab, Tandoori Soya Chap and more. The generous proportion and taste of the platters was worth a try and didn’t disappoint us at all. In the main course, our team ordered a Veg Lasagna and an Olive and Mushroom Pizza. While the freshly prepared Lasagna was a delight to our taste buds, the Olive and Mushroom Pizza was a light and crispy thin crust pizza with unique toppings, A+ for creativity! [gallery columns="4" ids="42232,42231,42229,42230"]

Cost and Benefit.. 

While the place does boast of a fancy interior and some mouth watering dishes, the place may not be a regular hangout joint, owing to its lounge setting, but it is definitely a cool after-party, farewell party and other occasions suitable place for college students! With a great and on time service, generously portioned dishes and uplifting beverages, the place is sure to light you up and we recommend you to try it.   Pictures by Alex Arthur for DU Beat Reviewed by: Shubham Aggarwal

Riya Chhibber ([email protected])

Nishita Agarwal ([email protected] )

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DUB Speak

North Campus- A No Big Deal!

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North Campus

It’s that time of the year again when the farewells have just ended and everyone is busy with exam preparation. It’s also that time of the year when students are eagerly waiting for the exams to end and the fucchas to arrive. Well, the fucchas -to- be, on the other hand, have nothing to do but sleep, eat, dream and repeat. Dream about making it to the college they’ve always wanted to be in and have a taste of the freedom that college life promises. And a lot among these young aspirants also dream of making it to North Campus.

Allow me, a former North Campus aspirant just like them, to bust all myths about this place.

1. Elite Colleges
When people talk about North Campus, the first thing they mention is the number and names of elite colleges it has. Hindu, Stephen’s, Miranda and the list goes on. What they forget to take note of is that some of the best and top colleges of Delhi University are either Off Campus or South Campus Colleges. (Heady hint: LSR, CBS, JMC)

2. Food Joints
Can college life ever be complete without eating joints? Nay! So, when people from North Campus come up to you to tell you about how North Campus (NC) has Hudson Lane and apart from the million other small eating joints, tell them about Satyaniketan which is home to almost all the cafes in NC or the proximity of Amar Colony from PGDAV College and drive home the point by mentioning the proximity of HKV, Shahpur Jat and Cyber Hub from South Campus.

3. Markets
Now, everyone knows how the North Campus walas have K-nags all to themselves but let’s not forget how South Campus has Lajpat Nagar, Khan Market and Sarojini Nagar nearby and the proximity of off campus colleges to the Paharganj Market. We’re not the only privileged one’s here!

4. Infrastructure
Yes, the infrastructure in many North Campus colleges is top notch but that let’s not underestimate the off campus colleges. In the past few years, a lot of off campus colleges from ARSD College to Deen Dayal Upadhyay College have shifted to better locations with better infrastructure facilities.

5. Courses
Off Campus colleges offer specialized courses which is not common in North Campus. Lady Irwin College and Institute of Home Economics, both of which are off campus colleges are the only colleges which offer courses in Home Science.

The next time someone from North Campus comes to you talking about the environment in North Campus ask them to think about the time of the elections in the campus and compare the crass cacophony of sloganeering with the peaceful environment in Off Campus Colleges!

Akshara Srivastava

Image Credits: http://churchak.org/

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Campus Central

The E-Rickshaw Phenomenon in North Campus

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It’s impossible for me to escape the hordes of e-rickshaw waalas when I exit the Vishwavidyalaya metro station for I need to reach the cycle rickshaw of Chun Chun , who I struck an acquaintance with a few months back, for he is always stationed outside my college. Chun Chun, who hails from Bihar and lives in the Majnu-ka-Tila area has a perpetually animated way of doing almost everything, from riding the rickshaw to engaging in political discussions with me. His animation always beats my cogent arguments.

Of late, he’s been discussing how the e-rickshaw waalas have taken over the city by targeting specific areas with the largest concentration of short distance travellers (including the north campus), thus affecting the livelihoods of cycle rickshaw waalas like him.

The e-rickshaw community has grown from 4,000 in 2010 to more than 1,20,000 in 2016 in the city. As per a research by the Centre for Civil Society (CCS), 37% of the drivers were either unemployed before taking up the occupation or were cycle rickshaw pullers. Around 21% were either factory workers or daily wage labourers.

The concept was e-rickshaws was initially started in China, which is the largest e-rickshaw manufacturer in the world. In April 2015, Hero Electric became the first domestic company in India to launch the vehicle at Rs 1.10 lakh and named its model ‘Raahii’. Most of the rickshaws that ply on North Campus roads are Raahiis, which can travel up to 90 km on a single charge and also have inbuilt accessories for the drivers, like USB mobile charging system and electronic lock system. The batteries of the rickshaws have a life of about six months and new ones can be had for 25,000.

The drivers in the area have average net earnings of 550-800 rupees per day, which is more than that of cycle rickshaw waalas – Rs 300-450, and is slightly less than that of autorickshaw drivers – Rs 700-1000 (CCS). More than 89% of the people who took the job as e-rickshaw drivers saw an increase in their salaries after joining the occupation. Charges per passenger are set as per the rules laid down by the e-rickshaw unions of respective areas.

Most e-rickshaw waalas would disallow carrying a fifth passenger if a TI (traffic inspector) is on duty in the area. This is a common sight around the Vishwavidyalaya metro station in the mornings. You’d find the area outside the station in frenzy mode from 10-2 PM as the window signifies the peak time for the drivers.

The e-rickshaw phenomenon is also seen by many drivers who’ve come from motley occupations as a means for social upliftment and security. It has essentially become a part of the city’s travel ecosystem.

Feature Image: The Hindu

Sidharth Yadav

[email protected]

 

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Uncategorized

DU students cycle to North Campus to support Odd-Even Formula

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DU students cycle

Although we’re just over a week into the new year and the odd-even era, the online memes, political discussions, corny jokes regarding Mr. Kejriwal’s initiative have become an integral part of our everyday life since the initial announcement was made.

However, despite all the jokes and complaints the people of Delhi have shown remarkable cooperation with a surprisingly small list of violators on a particular day, an increase in those using public transport and people carpooling and cycling to work in order to help the Chief Minister improve Delhi’s alarmingly poor air quality.

It is with this aim that a group of students decided to cycle from their homes to Delhi University’s North Campus on the first of January 2016. Although, colleges were shut till the 4th these students decided to go for a trial run and vowed to cycle to college all year! One of the students from SRCC told a media correspondent that as a New Year Resolution he has decided to restrict the use of his vehicle to Sundays. Another student from Hindu College acknowledged the difficulties associated with the formula but went on to remind us that we have to make a start somewhere and that this is the time to do so.

Although results, in terms of air quality improvement are yet to show, there seems to be no shortage of support from Delhi’s residents. Students of both DU and JNU are actively participating in making the lives of commuters easier whether it be designing mobile applications or setting up kiosks to provide people with information and encourage them to cycle, carpool or use public transport.  With the fifteen-day trial period slowly coming to an end, the support of Delhi’s residents will be integral in determining whether or not the formula is here to stay.

Image Credits: The Hindu

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Campus Central

The Five-Card trick to a North Campus life

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With a fresh batch of students embarking on their DU journey here is a bucket list of things to do in North Campus before you pass out of college:

1. Campus Tour:

[caption id="attachment_34205" align="alignnone" width="300"]Image Credits: dailymail.co.uk Image Credits: dailymail.co.uk[/caption]

No matter where you’re studying, a tour of the renowned North Campus colleges is a check in the box everyone should have to understand what DU life is really all about. Most colleges like Hindu, Hansraj and KMC usually have a lot of activities going on, with society auditions and election demonstrations being a common sight during the first couple of weeks of college.

2. The Ridge:

[caption id="attachment_34206" align="alignnone" width="300"]Image Credits: littleblackbookdelhi.com Image Credits: littleblackbookdelhi.com[/caption]

The mysterious Ridge behind St. Stephen’s College has been the setting for almost every single ghost story DU has produced, but if you’re looking for werewolves and shape shifters you’ll be disappointed since the only real threat to humanity are the hundreds of monkeys that inhabit the forest. With lots of open spaces, the Ridge is a nice place to sit down and have a good conversation away from the hustle and bustle that takes place in the colleges. If you’re feeling very daring and live on campus, visit the Ridge at night for a completely different experience altogether.

3. The Vice Chancellor’s Office:

[caption id="attachment_34207" align="alignnone" width="300"]Image Credits: dubeat.com Image Credits: dubeat.com[/caption]

Most DU students make this trip once or twice during their three years in college for many reasons (mostly to get their transcripts corrected), but it is definitely a trip worth making even if you aren’t compelled to do so. Formerly the Viceroy of India’s residence, the VC’s office has majestic lawns and beautiful statues- making it an ideal place for students to have lazy lunches or power naps especially on a sunny day in the winter.

4. Kamla Nagar and Hudson Lane:

[caption id="attachment_34208" align="alignnone" width="300"]Image Credits: lovehindustan.com Image Credits: lovehindustan.com[/caption]

Kamla Nagar and Hudson Lane have and will continue to be an integral part of every DU students life throughout their college years. Filled with some of the best eating joints in the city, between ‘K-Nagz’ and ‘Hudson’ one is sure to find great places for lunch or coffee, and that too at very reasonable prices.

5. The V-Tree Festival

[caption id="attachment_34209" align="alignnone" width="300"]Image Credits: dubeat.com Image Credits: dubeat.com[/caption]

Irrespective of whether you have plans or not, visiting Hindu College on Valentine’s Day is something everyone must do at least once during their time in DU. Hindu College’s famous ‘V-Tree’ is decorated with streamers and numerous other items for what is indeed a very unique kind of prayer ceremony. With nearly a hundred students and even a dhol to top it all off, the festival creates a vibrant and exhilarating atmosphere and is definitely an experience every DU student should be a part of.

 Feature Image Credits: du.ac.in Shraman Ghosh [email protected]  ]]>

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