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htcity MY CITY
TIDBITS FROM DELHI UNIVERSITY’S RICH HISTORY
1) Not many know but DU’s Foundation Day is on May 1 and a flag hoisting ceremony takes place every year. 2) The college building of Indraprastha College for Women, also the oldest women’s college in DU, was given the heritage status in the year 2002. 3) The Viceregal Lodge, that
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HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016
CULTURE
is the office of the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University has a rich history to it. It is here that a hidden chamber in the basement of the building was the place of confinement for Shaheed Bhagat Singh. In this building, an heiress Edwina Ashley, who was a guest at the Viceregal Lodge was proposed for marriage by lieutenant, Louis Mountbatten. Room in which this proposal was made is now the office of the Registrar of the University of Delhi and also carries a plaque.
Since admissions are on, we decided that it would be best to have shows that would address various admission concerns RK SINGH, CONSULTANT AT DUCR
The shows, DU Ki Hulchul and Admission Express, are aired at 90.4MHz for half an hour daily at 10.30am and 2pm respectively
DU’S RADIO STATION COMES TO ASPIRING STUDENTS’ RESCUE
PHOTOS: AMAL KS/HT
As the name suggests, DU Ki Hulchul is all about the current hulchul in the campus On Admission Express, we talk about location of a college, its history, alumni, courses, facilities and how to get there ANIL KUMAR, SENIOR VOLUNTEER
Delhi University Community Radio is airing two ‘admission special’ shows to help anxious students with vital information Nikita Saxena
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ith the admission season on in DU, any kind of information that clears confusion regarding the process, cut-offs or important dates is no less than treasure. Of course, there’s assistance from seniors, parents and volunteers in the varsity, but the more, the merrier! A saviour of sorts for anxious DU aspirants is Delhi University Community Radio (DUCR), 90.4 MHz, which was started in 2007. The radio station is airing two “admission special” shows, prepared by DU administration and student volunteers. Aired for half an hour daily, DU Ki Hulchul starts at 10.30am while Admission Express starts at 2pm. RK Singh, consultant at DUCR, tells us: “Since admissions are on, we decided that it would be best to have shows that would address various admission concerns
of the students. The admission specials started on June 1 and will go on till the admissions are on.” In DU Ki Hulchul, volunteers provide information on topics that include online admission process formalities, cut-offs, information on open days, and admission process dates. Anil Kumar, a senior volunteer, says, “As the name suggests, the show is all about the current hulchul in the campus — the online admission process. We also talk to students who have come to the campus to know the problems they’re facing.” The second show, Admission Express airs recordings of Open Day sessions and provides information on two colleges of the varsity everyday. Kumar adds, “During this show, we broadcast the Dean of Students’ Welfare Association’s session at the Open Days. These 13-minute
The shows are prepared by student volunteers and DU administration long recordings are very helpful for those who cannot attend the Open Day sessions. As for information on colleges, we talk about its location, history, alumni, courses, facilities and how to get there.” On June 19, when the Open Day sessions come to an end, DUCR will start giving
information on two courses every day, outlining the subjects one will have to study under the course, the colleges it is available in and so forth. Volunteers at DUCR also address queries of aspirants. “One can send admissionrelated questions by emailing them to us, on Whatsapp or
by calling us on our landline number (all details available on their website: www.ducr.du.ac.in),” says Pooja Singh, a senior volunteer. She adds that owing to the large number of queries sent in by students, DUCR is considering making their shows longer. n
nikita.saxena@hindustantimes.com
Small wonder pens love for Dilli All of 10, Parth Kumar’s book tells the story of a young boy, Sparkle, and his adventurous experiences in the city BOOKS Henna Rakheja
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When my English teacher read parts of my story, she encouraged me to complete it and I looked around me to seek inspiration PARTH KUMAR, AUTHOR
ost school children are taught to write essays about their city. But for 10-year-old Parth Kumar, a mere essay or poem wouldn’t have sufficed his love for Delhi, so he took to writing a book! For many, it would be difficult to believe that a boy of his age would have written a well-illustrated book, Sparkle Goes To Delhi. But a chat with the little one breaks all prejudices. “I started writing the story at the age of seven but then I stopped because I thought it’s getting a bit boring for me to write,” says Parth, whose speech is as thought-through as his written word. “When my English teacher read parts of my story, she encouraged me Title: Sparkle Goes To Delhi Author: Parth Kumar Price: `245
to complete it and I looked at the world around me to seek inspiration. I also took inspiration from my favourite book series, Magic Tree House, in which they go around the world,” he says. Parth’s book tells the story of a 10-year-old boy Sparkle, who, with much ado, manages to visit Delhi, and experiences various adventures. “I love my city. I visited all the places in Delhi from Qutub Minar to Humayun’s Tomb and Red Fort... some, with my parents and others with my maasi, who has also done the illustrations for the book,” he says. Wherever Parth went, he asked his elders to narrate stories about the monuments. “I was amazed to hear that Qutub Minar originally had seven storeys, out of which two fell when the monument was struck by lightning. Its five storeys have 379 steps. If given a chance, I’d really want to climb up and see the view that Sparkle gets in my book,” he says. n
henna.rakheja@hindustantimes.com