Temple of Learning: St. Stephen

St. Stephen's college, New Delhi, India: Here it’s all sparkling & emerald red bricked structure, with English speaking folks, supposed to be India’s best, established in 1881 by the Cambridge Mission in response to Government policy promoting education. St.Stephen college is one of the nation’s very best institute. Getting admittance into this college is some task
with cut-off percentage increasing every year.

Doorway to the chapel: Here you may assume you are in a century-old English garrison. Not factual, the construction is as new as New Delhi, constructed during the 40s. Don't be disillusioned. Continue hovering aimlessly. At St Stephen's, distinct to other Delhi colleges, anyone can go in, amble around, and lounge down on the grass. Yes, even stroll down the hallway. No predicament. But don't ogle at the classroom aperture. Harangue may be taking place. Studious & snobbish folks: Nonetheless, if nearby is a vacant hall, tread in. The unfilled bench and the portrayal of dead professors make the environs as hushed as a... well,
tomb If that's not spooky enough, try this: at the ground is an old well, now safe and sound inside a rounded construction. Gaze through the filthy casement and you will locate stairway going downstairs.

Corridor of wisdom: Having produced from Presidents (Fakhrudiin Al Ahmed, Zia-ul-Haq) to top journalists (Barkha Dutt, Sagarika Ghose), from sports person (Jaspal Rana, Kirti Azad) to writers (Khuswant Singh, Shashi Tharoor) it still continues to give gives India some of its best citizens. (See wikipedia LIST of famous Stephen’s alumni)Play time: I fully revere the stringent selection criteria employed by the college, which makes sure the high quality of our student intake

At the same time, I recognize that St. Stephen's has always understood that some of the most important elements of our edification occur in college outside the classroom, and that the remarkable young all-rounder with 92% marks is often a worthier Stephanian than the swat with 95 per cent. The Principal himself had authored an article titled `Marks Can't Be the Sole Indicator of Merit' on the St. Stephen's College web site (www.ststephens.edu). Someone St. Stephen's should be proud to admit; to turn him down over a few percentage points was folly indeed. At the same time St. Stephen's was, astoundingly for a college in Delhi, insulated to a extraordinary extent from the prejudices of middle-class Indian life. It mattered little where you were from, which Indian language you spoke at home, what version of religious faith you espoused. But at St. Stephen's, religion and region were not the distinctions that mattered: what counted was whether you were "in residence" or a "dayski" (day-scholar), a "science type" or a "ShakSoc type", a sportsman or a univ topper (or best of all, both). Caste and creed was no bar, but these other categories determined your share of the Stephanian knowledge.

Some fun : College's snobbery was still elitism in an Indian context, although one shaped, like so many Indian institutions, by a colonial legacy. There is no denying that the aim of founding St. Stephen's in 1881 was to produce more obedient subjects to serve Her Britannic Majesty; their idea of constructive missionary activity was to bring the intellectual and social atmosphere of Cam side to the dry dust plains of Delhi. Improbably enough, they succeeded, and the resultant hybrid outlasted the Raj.

The bright red brick structure: St. Stephen's in the early 1970s was an institution whose students sustained a Shakespeare Society and a Criterion Club, staged avant-garde plays and wrote execrable poetry, ran India's only faculty-sanctioned Practical Joke Competition (in memory of P.G. Warehouse’s irrepressible Lord Ickenham), invented the "Winter Festival" of collegiate cultural competition which was imitated at universities across the country

Harmony- college feast: Invariably reached the annual inter-college cricket final (and turned up in large numbers to cheer the Stephanian cricketers on to their accustomed victory), maintained a careful distinction between the Junior Common Room and the Senior Combination Room, and allowed the world's only non-Cantabridgian "gyps" to serve their meals and make their beds.

Fashion parade in Harmony: And if the punts never came to the Jamuna, the puns flowed on the pages of Kooler Talk and the cyclostyled Spice (whose typing mistakes, under the impish editorship of Ramu Damodaran, were deliberate, and deliberately hilarious.)

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Cool Campus: New age 'guru-shishya' relationship

DU’s kewl gurus...…is how Novy Kapadia of Khalsa College and NK Jain of Hansraj College are known among students, for they connect with students beyond classrooms On a spree to locate a few unconventionally cool teachers of the campus, , and there were quite a few lecturers comprising the cool gang of teachers.
To select a few of them, Novy Kapadia and Naveen Kr Jain from Sri Teg Bahadur Khalsa College and Hansraj College respectively came across as the coolest teachers. They are the ones who are known for their flexi hours, playing on the ground, allowing mobiles, watching movies and sharing their hobbies with the students.
So if you thought all that goes in to making some of the best lecturers in the University is just their diverse knowledge of the subject and their ability to convey it well, then you need to rethink, revalue and review. .Teachers like Novy Kapadia and NK Jain just set an entirely diverse benchmark for other lecturers. It’s not just about how well they conduct their classroom lectures and studies; it’s their easy going attitude that brings about the connect factor with the students. They make the students remember them not just for the classroom lectures but the lessons outside class too.
Talk to the Khalsa College students about the most approachable teacher, one name that comes out in unison is that of Deputy Proctor, Novy Kapadia. So what is it that makes him so popular among the students across various courses in the college?
“Well it’s the way he shows trust in us and makes us do work without even making us realise it,” says Megha Makhija from Khalsa College.
When the lecturer was asked about the same, he had a very different view to offer. “I have never done anything to gain students’ faith; I have tried to make sure that students feel comfortable here, especially the outstation students. I understand the capital’s traffic and hence let the students enter my class even after five to 10 minutes,” says Kapadia.
So is that it! Nopes, this cool teacher prefers to catch up with the latest flicks with his students too.Makhija says, “Whenever sir asks us to do something, he gives us a deadline and till that time he never asks us for the same. This makes us feel responsible.”Equally favourite on the popularity chart is Naveen Kr Jain from the Commerce Department. For him learning doesn’t stop in the classrooms; he prefers to take his students to the playground as well. Ask the mentor and he says,
“It all starts from the classroom. If I don’t take my classes seriously and do not make my students understand the situation then how will my students share their interests with me. And playing cricket is, I guess, the best connecting factor.” Well this is not all! Till sometime back, Jain had even conducted some wild life photography expeditions.
“There I used to take the students to a place where they could watch the birds and practice their interest. Though I am no more into photography, but cricket continues to be a common ground where we meet,” shares Jain.
And in order to connect with his group of students, Jain prefers to keep himself updated and not just rely on the age-old knowledge of the text books. When asked about what is that one thing that he has learnt from his students, he quips, “It’s their ability to live with multiple risks in life. They aren’t afraid to experiment and believe in their potential. They are open to move out for better options with no feeling of insecurity. The mutual learning process bridges the student-teacher gap,” opines Jain.
Cheers to this new age guru-shishya relationship! Hoping this spirit never dies

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Women Pride: Lady Shri Ram College

Birds eye view of LSR: Here's no noise, no dust. Just trees, hedged pathways, redbrick structures and English-speaking kids, rumored to be some of the country's brightest. These girls are slecet few who get chance to study in one of India's best women college. Established in 1956 in New Delhi by the late Sir Shri Ram in memory of his wife, the college had its modest beginnings in a school building in Daryaganj, Central Delhi, with 243 students, 9 faculty, 4 support staff and 3 distinct courses of study. The aim of the institution was to provide access to higher education of quality to women. LSR is a testimony to the farsighted vision of its founder and his indefatigable enthusiasm to actualize his dream.

Beautiful Lawns at LSR: Today, the college is located in a beautiful 15 acre campus in South Delhi, has approximately 2000 students, over 150 faculty, administrative and support staff and 16 courses of study. Guided by an enlightened and supportive Board of Governors, drawn from the fields of industry, law, journalism, academics and the bureaucracy, under the inspiring Chairmanship of industrialist and philanthropist, Dr. Bharat Ram, the College has become a byword for academic and extra curricular achievement.

Why should boys have all the fun?,Dramsoc Actors of Lady Shriram College for Women:The vision of creating a centre of academic and extra curricular achievement for women, of providing a context that emancipates the intellect and the spirit, of zealously guarding a space that develops critical thinking and rescues the imagination, has been actualized. The journey well begun, has infinite potential to evolve further setting newer standards of excellence.

COLLEGE SPORTS UNION (2008-09):When it comes to food, there are few who would not have heard of the LSR Café. Along with being ranked as one of the top colleges of Delhi University, LSR girls have an added advantage in the form of their quaint café.

LSR Cafe - popular hangout!: Tucked away in a separate corner, it has a unique charm of its own, with stained glass windows and stone and marble interiors. It captures the heart even before one reaches the menu billboard. However, one must keep in mind never to refer to the LSR ‘Café’ as a ‘Canteen’, particularly before an LSRite.

This cozy café has a little something for everyone. One of the few canteens…I mean, Café’s around to serve a tempting Seekh-kebab Roll and Chicken Kathi Roll for a reasonable Rs 25 and 30 respectively. There are equally tempting items for the vegetarian palate.

One plate Masala Dosa costs around Rs15 and an equally delicious plate of Cheese macaroni (Rs 22), are a must try. Have a sweet tooth? The scrumptious Apple Pie (Rs15) and Chocolate Tart (Rs14) will definitely take care of that. It does not stop here. One can even expect to find a change in the menu with a change of season! Soups, both chicken (Rs18) and vegetarian (Rs15) and doughnuts are specially served during winter months! With the hot sun sapping ones energy out, the Lime Soda (Rs10) is truly a refreshing drink. For a change, there are other options available as well. Right outside the college gates stands a culinary adventurewala, so famous among the students that they claim not to enjoy it from any other place! A mouth-watering plate of sevpuri is available for a reasonable Rs15. For those addicted to culinary adventure can catch the Momo wala in the same area.

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Capital's Book Romance

Delhi is not only city of Nijams, nomads, politicians (read as dull), moneyed (read as money but no time), labors but also of book lovers. The intellectual class of society has lot in this city when it comes to books.

Books & Music, Pavement stall, Paharganj: With India's paramount educational institutes & nucleus of coaching centers, city has lot to offer for everyone. The capital's love for books is apparent in a variety of pavement book shops and weekly bazaars, which are crammed full by people looking for some 'new' book to romance with.

Fact and Fiction, Basant Lok: For book worms (read as Avinash), there is Sunday market at Daryaganj, PVR Priya and PVR Saket offering used books at pocket friendly cost, one can sale of their old/read books and magazine and buy more at these stores thus making reading much more pocket friendly. There are good probabilities that books which you couldn't come across at best of book shops, you may discover them in these pavement stalls at pocket friendly price.

Sunday Market, Daryaganj: From novels to engineering books & from magazines to management you name one, you find many. Bargaining here is key factor, one must know the art of bargain and thus shop with a lady with him so that the art of bargain is executed to perfection. Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.

Maktaba Jamia, Urdu Bazar: During our engineering entrance preparation days, I along with Avinash, Rohit and lots of comrade used to hunt for books and study resources at these marketplaces as its very pocket affable and also during college days at IIT Roorkee me with Avinash, Rohit & others used to come Delhi at times on holiday and ramble out and look for books at Sunday Daryaganj market & PVR Priya (obviously glancing at girls also). It was by this time when we got inclined towards novel and Avinash's romance with Sheldon started.

Full Circle, Khan Market: These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its own voice... and just as the touch of a button on our set will fill the room with music, so by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart.

Jackson's, Paharganj: The collection is maddening. From Julia Child's recipes to Mozart's letters, from Princess Diana's extra-marital flings to Monika Lewinski's scandal. A lucky day could get you the first edition of a William Styron or a Salman Rushdie. Hindi is not ignored. I got my copy of Arundhati Roy's Mamooli Cheezon ka Devta (aka The God of Small Things) from here.Bargain-basement prices are another incentive. Alexander Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago is available in paperback in 'first-hand' bookshops for Rs 700. Here, the handsomer, seemingly untouched hardbound copy of the same book cost Rs 100, after bargaining, of course. That copy is in my library now!. I often derive a peculiar satisfaction in conversing with the ancient and modern dead, - who yet live and speak excellently in their works. My neighbors think me often alone, - and yet at such times I am in company with more than five hundred mutes - each of whom, at my pleasure, communicates his ideas to me by dumb signs - quite as intelligently as any person living can do by uttering of words.

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Random Alphabets 'S' for Style check

Generation X:
Remember "Ye Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera Na Ghabraiye Jahan Tak Mahak Hai Mere Kesuon Ki Chale Aiye" - Mumtaz using her dark hair to devastating effect. Or Biswajeet teasing Waheeda Rehman in Bees Saal Baad with "Dekhiye Woh Kaali Kaali Badliyan Zulf Ki Ghata Chura Na Le Kahin." Those were the times when beauty meant black hair or vice-versa. Not any more, the `Zulfon Ki Ghata' has literally been stolen.

Next is what? The only thing is, instead of badliyan, hair colour is the culprit. Gold, copper, iridium are no longer limited to the periodic table of chemistry class, youngsters are learning about them from the shade cards of hairdressers. It's destination India for all the cosmetics majors - L'Oreal, Schwarzkopf, Wella or Keune all are making their presence felt in the Indian hair care industry which stands at around Rs.1,500 crores. "It is a natural progression. India has become a global business brand," says Jawed Habib, the star hair stylist who has recently come up with a book, "Hair Care for All Seasons." Jawed says colouring is not something limited to the elite, it has percolated down to the masses. The Brylcream, V John generation is waning.
"With so much exposure to fashion, people are ready to experiment. And after trying out different hairstyles they move on to hair colour. I have clients who want a change every couple of months. Even kids know what exactly they want."

Who is beautiful of them all? A contestant at Fashion show in the Capital: Delhi is moving from Janpath to Jimmy Choo. No longer do we need to send for a Louis Vuitton bag and wait impatiently for the cousin from California to bring it on her next visit to India. Or jealously watch a Ludhiana aunt flaunting a Bottega Veneta bag from ‘abroad’.

Bring them on, another contestant at a fashion show in FICCI house, Delhi.

Delhi denizens have easy access to the biggest brands and their best lineup and they are making the most of it.Says Delhite Ruchita Sharma Bhardwaj, deputy director, head of luxury and lifestyle at FICCI, “Louis Vuitton and Chanel were here a year ago. But last October the advent of super luxury brands such as Gucci, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Judith Leiber and Kenzo in Delhi have changed the scenario. Let’s say, around 60 per cent of the international brands have opened shop here. And the market potential is great.

I have and i will flaunt it: ”With the world becoming a global village and travelling becoming a favourite preoccupation of the well-heeled, everyone wants to look uber chic. “The Delhi male’s interest ranges from salons to shoes, the woman understands the value of spending on the crème-de-la-crème (even though they could do with a little more elegance and chic, and less bling),” says Bhardwaj.
The consumer, she says, has a more discerning eye. We are not satisfied with a cheap knock-off of a Judith Leiber clutch from Hong Kong. We would rather splurge on the original from the flagship outlet in Delhi.The message is clear. The next time you feel like laying your hands on that must-have Chanel mini skirt, there’s no need to ask your NRI cousin to ship you one. Go shopping in Delhi, it’s all available right here.

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DU’S MOST TALKED ABOUT FEST

A group performs at dance competition

Khalsa College girls brought back the school days

SRCC’s annual cultural festival, Crossroads, turned out to be a crowdpuller this year too. The fourday-long event had the college campus buzzing with activities. A plethora of competitions saw students from across Delhi University flaunting their skills. As Yogesh Jahanjarya, a final year student of DU, said, “Although many other college fests are going on simultaneously, I had decided that I would not miss SRCC’s fest. This is the place where all the fun activities happen.”
LIVE-WIRE: The college had invited KK for a live performance. The news of his performance had spread like wildfire across DU and students were jostling each other to get an entry. We overheard a student telling a volunteer, “Yaar, andar aane de na. Hum apne college mein teri bhi entry karwa denge!” Students went crazy as KK sang some of his most popular numbers. Pal, Aapki Dua, Tadap Tadap... had the students singing along. Pankaj, a DCAC student, said, “The fest was amazing. I wish KK’s performance had gone on for a little longer.”

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Students get big picture

Screening of films is nothing new in the Delhi University’s North campus but for the first time the students witnessed a host of fantastic documentaries last week. The Department of Sociology, Delhi University in association with JB Media Resource Center, AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia/ School of Environmental Studies/ Alliance Francaise/ Embassy of France/ Embassy of Brazil/ Embassy of The Netherlands organised the first Delhi International Ethnographic Film Festival (DIEFF). For Delhi University the chosen venue was Vivekananda Hall, Delhi School of Economics, which incidentally is considered as the meeting points of many great working brains of the campus apart from being one of the coolest hangout zones.One thing that sets the film festival apart was the presence of filmmakers and film critics from different countries who took active part in several panel discussions and post screening interaction with the various audiences present at the venue. This not only provided a perfect opportunity for the spectators that comprised of the students, lecturers and other staff members of the colleges to discuss issues threadbare but also led to a more animated debate among the audience which is quite a rarity in the campus film screening programs that are often held in the premises of the campus. The Department of Sociology has made a fresh beginning with DIEFF. Hope it continues to touch new heights by screening famous documentaries in the coming years and enlightening the students.

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Innovation holds the key

Anukriti, the 52nd year old Hindi Dramatic Society of Miranda House, continues to stage meaningful plays that deal with burning issues of the day with a rare commitment

Miranda House College has always been in the vanguard of experimental theatres and pushing the limits of its creativity. No doubt, its Hindi Dramatics Society, Anukriti, continues to hold a mirror to socio-economic problems plaguing the country. The Dramatic Society recently celebrated its 52nd year. Apart from being one of the well-known societies in the campus, Anukriti also happens to be the oldest creative society existing in Delhi University (DU).


"As the name of our society suggests, Anukriti, meaning innovation, we always strive for creating something new, fresh and unique which are avant-garde pieces," says a beaming Neha Jain, the president of Anukriti. There are two major productions which are organised every year: stage play and street play. "This year’s stage play is an adaptation from Sharad Joshi’s writings called Andhon Ka Haathi and the street play is titled Gum Awaaz which talks about the issue of child trafficking," she explains while spilling more details about her passion for Anukriti.

With loud voices and expressive eyes, the girls are all gung-ho about their pursuits, be it street play or stage play they grab the spotlight. Donning red kurtas and black dupattas, they deliver every dialogue with a rare spontaneity and, if need be, improvise as and when the occasion demands. This is something that sets them apart. While the girls prefer to attribute this rare trait of theirs to the regular workshops being organised courtesy National School of Drama (NSD) where there is a high degree of detailing about all gestures right from the body language to perfect voice modulation as per the situation demands.

Anukriti has performed in a number of DU colleges like LSR, Hindu, winning the first prize at Gargi College and even at IIT Kanpur, where their street play was highly appreciated by one and all. "We are still left with our performances in Janki Devi Memorial College (JDMC), Jesus and Mary College (JMC) and SRCC Theatre Fest. Apart from going to the other colleges, we also invite experienced theatre personalities to our college to guide us in our shortcomings and prepare us for the next challenge.

For instance, last year a group of students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) performed Shakespeare’s Macbeth in Miranda in a very innovative way ie, by moving around the bonfires," reveals Neha. And adding another feather to their cap, Anukriti organised the first bilingual festival this year called DRIS`YA.

The alumni list of Anukriti is quite long as 70% of the NSD comprises of Anukritians. An interesting trivia: Amitabh Bachchan first performed in Miranda House during his heydays in Kirori Mal College (KMC). So it again call for a huge applaud for the girls’ acting skills as their group throws an open challenge for the guys too.

So, at the end of the day, what is the basic success formula behind this enormous success of this dramatics scociety ‘Anukriti’? The president takes charge again, "Well, frankly speaking, there is no magic potion that we drink or any success mantra that would be good enough to defines us, but, most importantly, it is the invigorating and the innovative environment which is enough to motivate all of us. We try to give opportunity to as many first year students as possible and explore new talent for our group. At the time of the selection, we make sure that we choose only those individuals who eat, drink and sleep theatre."

That says it all about Anukriti. Here’s North Delhi Plus wishing them all the luck with all their future endeavours.

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Striking a local chord

They have adapted themselves to the local way of life with ease. SEB’S funny adventures and encounters Exchanging ideas Thomas Bonnet: Thanks to a plethora of exchange programmes, students are now able to live a wholly new experience in the country of their choice. French students are keen on Asia and India in particular. The French community of students in India is growing every day; we see more and more exchange programmes between France and India. I came to India last January thanks to my French University IESEG. The aim of that kind of experience is to create bonds between two different cultures, and to bring something new to the community of these two different countries.

Can’t ignore these Gatien Roquette: These are the things that one needs to know. First of all, from DU Metro Station to SRCC one has to pay Rs 10 for one person and pandra (Rs 15) for two. At the beginning, we did not know about prices and we were always taken for a ride. Moreover, in order to relax in North Campus, there is a beautiful park in the middle of it. Furthermore, if you want to eat great Tibetan food, go to Kamla Market. There are few Tibetan restaurants especially "Soho".
the hindi factor

Moelelwa Mashala: As the countdown begins for my journey back home, one thing I will miss is using my sedulously cultivated Hindi language to bargain. I remember once going to buy a T-shirt which cost around Rs 80-Rs100 and I ended up paying Rs 120. I remember asking the dukandar to give me a T-Shirt for Rs 120. I straight away said nahi bhayyia ek saw bees (Rs 120); call it my Freudian slip or poor Hindi. I actually thought I was saying Rs 100. But, today, it’s a different story as I must say my Hindi has improved.

Learning new lingo

Priyangwada Perera: I did get a chance to taste life outside a hostel. I remember the weekly visits to the vegetable vendor at the Kingsway Camp. For many years, Sri Lankans had lived in that PG and they have always come to this particular vegetable vendor. To my greatest amusement, I found him rattling off the names of the vegetables in my own language, Sinhalese. Global bonding? Whatever you may call it, but it gave me such a joy to hear this subzi bhaiya using my language.

in the thick of things

Faaiz Kamil: When it comes to academic, social or welfare activities, everyone tries to lead by example. Students from different colleges actively participate in organising seminars, conferences and public debates which is a very vital step towards having a better society. KMC always takes the lead in organising such events as different cultural societies and departments organise their yearly seminars.

We explore more

Sam Badger: Travelling to Indian cities is easy and inexpensive. So, foreign students often try to bite off more than they can chew. And, they succeed to a large extent in their effort. But does that hold true for Indian students as well? Do Indians have less pride in their heritage? It seems unlikely. I’ve met people who proudly proclaim their Rajput leanings, yet have rarely gone to Rajasthan. My friends here often say that they have seen so much, yet they never consider traveling together to see the country. When asked, they always seem to say that they don’t travel around India for the same reason that they don’t travel around Delhi. But, I still feel, Indian students have that wanderlust.

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It’s a fashion fiesta!

Style and fashion have been defined and redefined every year in Delhi University. SDP takes a look at the incredible fashion consciousness prevailing among the students in the campus.An attire showeth a man from a pauper to a king" said William Shakespeare. And how true it is, indeed! Keeping up with the changing trends and with the ever-evolving fashion scenario, students struggle to keep their wardrobe in tune with the current fashion as possible. It is like a rat race, where everyone wants to be the best and look the best and as they say, "let us be elegant or die!" Girls and boys coming from different towns usually dress accordingly to their state specific attire. Some people coming from small towns, say, prefer to dress in Suits or easy clothing, rather than, comparatively, loud dressing style of the Delhi youngsters. Heena, of Gargi College says "I have come from Jaipur and I like dressing the way we dress there, which is wearing a suit or maybe a top with Jaipur jootis. And surprisingly, the typical jootis that I usually wear have become quite popular in my college!" For students coming from the North-Eastern parts of India, it is a completely different story all together. "The students coming from North- East are the one’s who set the trend", says Manisha Chaturvedi, of Moti Lal Nehru College. "Apart from having an excellent taste in clothes, they really know how to carry it off." Them being the "fashion gurus" with every coming year, thanks to them, the trend changes and new additions are made." And the latest one is adopted. As Oleg Cassini said "Fashion anticipates, and elegance is a state of mind…a mirrior of the time in which we live, a translation of the future, and should never be static."

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A stepping stone

These young actors from Rajdhani College feel theatre is the window to the real world—and are enjoying the experience-Litika Mehta Raja GardenLitika Mehta Raja GardenAcademics prepares you for your career, but theatre prepares you for life! That’s what came across, when WDP met the members of abhivyakti—the dramatics society of Rajdhani College. Functioning from last three years, abhivyakti has become one of the most popular societies in Rajdhani College.
When asked about the whole experience of getting associated with the dramatics society in college, at once came the reply in chorus from these budding actors, that it has changed their whole outlook towards life. Says Hemant Bhutani, a student of English (H) III year,
"It’s only 5-6 months that I have joined this theatre group, but it has been an amazing experience. I have played different roles on stage thus making me versatile in my acting skills."

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Delhi Uni(versi)ty

While North Campus is abuzz with life and academic hulchul, the foreign students in the campus shared their views about the same .Talking of North Campus and not discussing about international students would be an aberration. Foreign hands are definitely playing a role in the campus in transcending the geographical and cultural barriers between the East and the West. Even Rudyard Kipling has been proved wrong who once, in a moment of short-sightedness, averred that "East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.’’ grabbed a rare opportunity to bring to the fore the perfect amalgamation of diverse cultures in North Campus through a bunch of students selected on board to project the vivid culture in North Campus. Initially, it took them a little while to open up and share their personal experiences but then gradually they poured their hearts out and pulled no punches while talking about the various aspects of North Campus. Starting from Priyangwada who talked about how North Delhiites helped her to recover from deadly brain haemorrhage to Faaiz’s critical remarks about the omnipresent potholes in the campus, they discussed it all. While Thomas preferred to hold forth on students exchange programme, Sam dwelt at length on how lack of reliable public transport knocks the stuffing out of night life. It would be fun to read the diverse views of Moelelwa and Gatien about the safety concerns in the campus. So, it’s time to read about the candid views of these students and to understand the same old campus from global perspective.

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DU Rocks

Delhi University SEB comprising of Afghani, American, French, South African and Sri Lankan students chose DU for pursuing their further studies and not any other institution. While a few couldn’t resist being a part of the student-friendly environment of the university, others just wanted to experience the cultural divergence. Here is what each member has to say Faaiz Kaamil Kabul, Afghanistan. There are many reasons why I chose to come to North Campus. First being its student-friendly environment. Then there are good facilities and a teaching faculty that comprises the best of teachers in all subjects. We can find the best collection of books in North Campus library.Last year, I had the opportunity to do my studies in a foreign country.
I explored various options at different exchange programs with our partnership universities, that is to say, America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia. Going to India was one of my objectives. DU is one of the most prestigious universities of India and SRCC is a well-known college. A new way of teaching, new friends, actually an entire new life was beckoning me. I am really enjoying my studies in DU. Moelelwa MashalaStyabuswa, South AfricaDU makes you feel like you live in a different world, where all dreams take shape and future politicians, actors and leaders are born. And as a Mirandian, I would proudly say there is no other place I would rather be in the whole world than be in Miranda. We may come from different parts of the world but, once in DU, we are all on the same wavelengths. North Campus is also a place where one’s talent and creativity get ample exposure and expression.Thomas BonnetLille, FranceLast January, we had a meeting with our director in Lille, France. There everybody had, according to his/her ranking, the task cut out of choosing a study destination in a foreign country for a year. Personally, I was looking for a good university in Asia. I opted for Delhi in order to see the real India because of its cosmopolitan character.Priyangwada PereraGampaha SrilankaI had many of my friends here in North Campus. And everyone was full of praise for DU. So I also made up my mind to join the university for my further studies. Back home in Sri Lanka, DU is considered to be a reputed university in the popularity sweepstakes. This even further added to my joy that I have the privilege to be a part of the same university as SRK.

If you are looking for cheap and quality food, then this is the place to be in. To be honest, what is college life without pretty girls for company? And this is what you get to see in North Campus.I have always been fascinated by the secular character of North Campus as students from all parts of India and the world come here to be a part of the institution. This is the best part of North Campus. Regular cultural activities like Youth Nexus, Great Indian Rock show, competitions bring the best out of the students who get a big platform to showcase their talents. Another plus point of North Campus is its accessibility to any part of the city. If that was not enough, seminars, street plays, national and international conferences keep students busy all through the year. sam badgerCalifornia, USStudying abroad is always a daunting task. I wanted to choose a non-European and non-Latin American country, so that left me with options like Ghana, India, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Japan. I lived for a while in England, and I have visited France also. There’s more to learn from other culture than keeping to one’s self. I had read English translation of several of the Upanishads, and being a Philosophy major, I felt that there was a lot which I could try to learn. So India and Ghana, with good philosophy departments, were two good options with an Indian university obviously being the first choice. The opportunity to learn Hindi in Delhi was a big factor too. Hindi is spoken by hundreds of millions of people in India; the language is easy to learn for the English speaking than Chinese, and I had already learned some in my university in America. Anyways, I hadn’t lived in a big city for years; it could be a nice change. Though my Hindi is horrible, I’m brushing it up gradually, and it’s exhilarating to learn the language of another people.I’m glad I made the choice I did; Delhi is an amazing city, and the opportunity to come and study here is one I would take again. The people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had justify my choice.Gatien RouquetteLille, FranceI am from IESEG, School of Management in Northern France.

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Musical Delhi

If you still can’t associate today’s youth with age old Hindustani classical music, then it’s time to think again. These young talents from Gargi College have not just mastered the art but are also trying to give it a new aspe.The music of India is one of the oldest unbroken musical traditions in the world. The extreme cultural diversities of our country create endless folk, regional and classical varieties. The very rich legacy of the traditional music is still kept alive in schools, colleges etc. Delhi University produces most gifted and awe-inspiring singers, year after year. Samranjini, the Indian Music society of Gargi College, too, has some commendable singers, which makes this society one of the best in DU.This society was formed in the year 2000, and the name Samaranjini was cohesively decided upon, the word coined from a raga in Samveda. The society currently has 10 members, and more will be auditioned in the second week of college. The society holds two rounds of auditions. In the first round, from 50 to 60 people, 25 are shortlisted, which are further short-listed down to six or seven people. "We are not necessarily looking for people who are only classically trained. Everyone is welcome to audition. We select people if they show potential to learn, even if they miss a beat here and note there," says Madhumita Ramakrishna, acting conveyor of IMS (Indian Music Society). The college pays the professionals who play the tabla or other instruments during competitions, for the society, but that apart, the members fund themselves. Samaranjini, being a flexible music society, sings all genres of music, from Sufi, to folk, classical, patriotic, etc. Although they do not do any self-compositions per se, they do add a bit of their own style to the songs and make them their own.Samranjini witnessed a very successful last year. They won solo at Lady Shri Ram College, Kamla Nehru College, Lady Irwin College, Venkateshwara and Gargi. In the group performance category Samaranjini won at colleges like Kamla Nehru, Lady Irwin College, Venkateshwara and Gargi. "Samranjini has its own charm and appeals to everyone. Through this society, we as a team have learnt a lot and have gotten a lot of exposure. Thanks to IMS I feel I have emerged as a person as well," says Madhumita. Indeed it has been great going so far for ’Samaranjini’. Let’s hope it witnesses many such successful years and continues to be one of the best known music societies in the DU and beyond.Such Indian Music societies help propagate and keep the essential Indian culture alive and also help students to explore different styles of musical production between North and South. Music as the experts say is like food. When you need it you don’t have to explain why, because it is the basic to life.

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Better late than never

For foreign students, studying in DU is not without its initial handicaps. However, it is the respective country associations that help these students tide over their problems

North Campus is the place where students come from all over the world to pursue various courses here. However, lack of familiarity with local culture, mindset and language are initial handicaps which every foreign student has to cope with right. Coming all the way from Korea, Afghanistan, Nepal, Vietnam and to study in DU is not an easy task. With all kinds of problems right from accommodation to communication, the students initially find themselves like a fish out of water. In order to deal with these initial irritants, these students touch base with their respective country’s association which in turn is directly affiliated to the foreign embassies that helps them to overcome their diffidence and make them feel at home.While speaking to a few foreign students, NDP discovered how important these organisations are to them in their day to day life. "Even if we have some problem in studies, the organisation called Taiwanese Buddhist Association, arranges tutorial classes for us," says N Dac Sy from International Students Hostel, who is originally from Vietnam. Like N Dac Sy, there are other students for whom these associations act like a life support system. Sangdo Yoon of Korean nationality, and a second year student from SRCC, talks about the vital role played by Delhi University Korean Students Union in his life. "We are almost 60 Korean students in Delhi and our needs are taken care of by this association. We are even taught the basics of how to mingle with Indian students and strike up friendship with them."While other foreign students find it a cumbersome job to get acquainted with the campus and locals, for Sushant Joshi, a second year student of BCom (H) SRCC does not feel the same. For him settling here in the campus was just like any other outstation student. "If one has some friends and seniors in the campus, then life is quite easy. That is why I am not aware of any such organisation," explains Joshi.So, these foreign students’ associations continue to help these students find a small home away from home. Faaiz from Afghanistan also talked about the valuable support his native Afghan Students Association offers from time to time.

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Campus Code

Uniform will ensure that every student is treated equally and there will be more discipline in colleges Uniform will give the students an equal stage to stand. Uniforms will induce equality. Students come from different classes and cultures. The difference in their dressing often invites remarks and unfriendly gestures. Uniformity in dresses will ensure no cultural differences based on one’s attire. As a result every student will be treated equally and discipline would also be maintained in the college.
Being dressed in the same uniform will give the students a sense of belongingness to the college In addition to uniformity, uniforms will also bring unity among the students. Being dressed in the same uniform and the same colour will give the students a sense of belongingness to the college and their peers. One will feel more attached towards the other and this will make students help each other and stand for each other more often. Thus the introduction of uniforms will induce the feeling of unity among the students.

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Be a part of leg-acy

Just imagine one fine morning you go to college and stumble upon a discotheque. You might be surprised at once but "Dil me mere hai dard-e disco" will then be what everybody will sing. "A discotheque in the campus, even the thought of it is so cool. Campus life will be even more rocking," says Priyanka Gupta, a first year student.Delhi University has a lot of facilities to cater to the needs of the students, but, what if the university administration decides to open a discotheque in the campus. The thought is really bizarre but everybody would love it. Twinkle Jawrani, an outstation student who stays in a PG near her college, says "I absolutely love dancing and if such a thing happens I will be very happy. We will not go to far off places when a disc will be available in the campus itself. It will save both our time and money. In fact I can then go there anytime". Opening of a disc in the campus will be welcomed by a lot of students but still this idea may face stiff opposition from some unexpected quarters. Students will bunk more classes which will affect their studies. Arpita Khanna, a student of Economics (Hons) says, "We are here to study and not to dance. Already we have fewer lectures and if a disc opens in the campus, I think we will hardly see any attendance.’’Pranav Khurana from Hansraj College feels that there is no need to make so much song and dance over the idea of a discotheque. "We are DU students and we know how to study. In fact; it will be very convenient for fresher parties as there are lots of students who have problems in traveling to far off places for fresher parties." Just as every bill tabled in Parliament faces opposition and triggers debates, ideas like these will also raise the hackles of many. The idea of opening a disc may evoke conflicting responses, but there is no harm in propounding ideas! Or is it? We, the DU students, are always ready with our dancing shoes. Is anybody listening?

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The drama queens

One of the reputed college of DU, Lady Shri Ram has a charm of its own. With girls from all over South Delhi coming together, the united act is only too visible

Catching the latest flick in some multiplex or just indulging in some girly gossip is not everyone’s idea of having a rollicking college life. At least for the art-loving vivacious young crowd of Lady Shri Ram College, there is more to life than this. Armed with a zeal to bring in a change in the society and of course to get a good experience for their ECA (extra curricular activities), these girls are members of the very popular dramatic society of LSR. The dramatic society is the biggest and oldest in the college, functioning since nobody knows when. The gang of girls here is committed to use theatre as a reflection of widest possible range of social conditions and challenges today. This includes, but is definitely not limited to, issues like racism, sexism, ageism, classism, and all forms of discrimination that deny individuals of their rights and opportunities. The society is equally conversant with English and Hindi plays. Be it comedy, tragedy or skit the dramatic society of LSR excels in all. However it is the spoofs on ongoing social issues that happen to be the strongest points of the society. "It has always been a veni vidi vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) for us wherever we have performed. This year we had performances like Kharashein a Hindi play which got first position in the intercollegiate events and also got selected for screening at National School of Drama. Similarly Tara and Death- two plays in English enacted by the society, earned accolades from NSD. They were also screened at the India Habitat Centre," informs Apurba Roy Choudhury, president of the society. However the best part of the society is that it has something for everyone, whether it is acting, direction, play-production, make-up, set building, lighting or sound editing. Around 80 odd student members of the society are relentlessly putting in their hard work to sustain the society and make it all the more popular, both in LSR and beyond.One need not be professionally trained or have a certificate in acting to get through the historic drama society of LSR. It is only the clarity of your voice, an expressive face, and an indomitable zeal for acting that’s counted in here. The rest is taken care of by the society itself. "We’re always looking for new ideas and enthusiastic people to get involved. You don’t need to have superstar looks or be an award winner to act or help put on a play. Keep an eye open for posters and emails about workshops and auditions and you can be a part of our team!" says Zoya Parvin, secretary of the society.Putting forward her own example Apurba adds, "When I joined the society I hardly had any experience. It was only a few stage plays that I participated at my school and that’s it. It was after joining LSR that I rekindled my love for acting. And the society rightly provided me with a platform to put forward my hidden talents before all." The dramatic society of LSR is known for its finesse. But such finesse definitely comes at a cost of loads of hard work and honest efforts. In the words of its members, the society has the longest practice hours as compared to any other society. The members take out time between 4 to 7:30 every evening for their practice session. There are no weekends as offs and absolutely no offs on holidays. When asked about how they dedicate so much time to their practice, they say in unison, "We are quite good time managers. We don’t compromise study for our passion and vice-versa. We juggle it right."Such is the popularity of the society that around 150 freshers have queued up for its audition this time. "Being a member of the dramatic society of LSR not just gives a boost to the ECA section of one’s CV but makes you more confident and vocal about social happenings. The enthusiasm among freshers definitely shows how popular as a society we are. And I think this is the greatest reward," remarks Zoya.

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Cool Campus: Lesser is better

College life is not just about chilling out and having fun. From time to time it gets hectic and boring. Same old lectures, day long classes, evening tuitions- all these for six consecutive days and only one Sunday to relax and unwind…Seems quite unfair?

Indeed it is. And if the students are to be believed this is the main reason behind their bunking classes and struggling for attendance.Not very long ago, a college in the US shifted to four working days in a week, and the changes were there for all to see. Regular students, agile staff members and more efficient faculty have upgraded the university in terms of academic performance, management and financial savings. Inspired by such improvements, other universities in the US have also decided to adopt this system. Now the question is do we too need the same kind of system to achieve the desired results? Exhausted with the hectic schedule, students, however, feel the need to welcome such a change, which they think will bolster their interest in studies and college activities. "Generally we have two classes in a day, sometimes even one, which spoils whole day. Multiplying classes in a day and dividing days in a week will take best out of us as students," says Tanpreet Sandhu, a 3rd year student of BBA in Skyline Business School.Zaid Ahmad, a 2nd year student of Bachelor of International Business and Finance, Jamia Milia Islamia is all praises for this innovative system. "Four days of serious study is enough. Too much of burden, sometimes, retards our academic growth. Three days off in a week will be fine for self-study, recreational activities and to rejuvenate ourselves for the coming week," says Zaid.Even the staff members who constitute an important part of the college, also seem happy about the new concept. Satya Dev Rai, care taker, Kamla Nehru College, says, "It will be great if more personal space is granted to us, which, in a way, is going to enhance efficiency for work." So now it’s quite evident that not just students, both teaching and non teaching staff will be equally happy if the number of working days gets reduced. But the million dollar question is, will DU be convinced?

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Foreign languages: The hot-pot in DU

ONE BEST thing of the world today is that there is a profession and career for everyone, there are enormous choices for youngsters to follow their dreams. Professions that probably our parents would never understand are making a huge draw with the young population these days. And believe me, they are worth and paying as well.
With the admission process in full-swing at Delhi University (DU), the most happening off-beat courses that’s attracting students are the language courses. BA (hons) in French, German, Italian and Spanish can prove to be the road to a high-paying career in just three years.
With a flourishing tourism industry and mushrooming of multi national companies (MNCs) in India, these undergraduate courses are poised to become th hot courses on campus. The best part being the eligibility percentage being just 45 per cent, even students with low scores can be hopeful of making it big in this field.
Head of the department of the German and Romance studies, prof Shaswati Mazumdar said, “IT companies, knowledge process outsourcing companies (KPOs), tourism and travel companies constantly contact us for students skilled in foreign languages. There are a lot of opportunities today in the area of foreign languages and every student from the last batch has been recruited by the companies.”
with such rising demand for professionals in foreign languages, these courses are turning more and more eyes on them. Beyond degree courses, certificate courses can also be pursues from various colleges of DU. These courses can also be up-taken simultaneously with the degree that you are pursuing.

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