Unmagazine By Campus Diaries - February Edition by Campus Diaries

CAMPUS DIARIES’

feb2014

UNMAGAZINE BEST OF CAMPUSDIARIES.COM

Evolve

RS.50

INSIDE: 23 AAP vs CONGRESS 52 how to measure your bra size 64 internships of the month

evolve. Today. Everyday.

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CURATOR’S NOTE Humans are made up of ideas. We generate, renovate and evolve ideas as a part of our existence, as a part of our survival. When I was little, I was very fascinated with the idea of becoming a scientist—experimenting, ideating, mixing, screaming ‘Eureka!’ in my head everytime I had discovered a new way of doing something. Whether it was an idea of how to make my house maid learn English faster or how to make a food item taste better. I am sure you have your own stories of experimenting endlessly too because this is what makes us who we are. But, the question is, how often do we have room for these ideas?

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FEB 2014

One might argue that we might not have room for ideas in our lives because we are so engulfed in our everyday mundane. That can’t be true. Because when I was compiling this issue, my theme was staring right in front of me. All the stories I curated were brimming with a new approach to thought and application. And I realised that we are now slowly moving away from the monotone we live in, open to the evolution of ideas. Evolution is a continuous process, playing like a movie reel in your head. Your ideas will always keep shaping up into making that ‘Eureka!’ day possible. A day when you’ll have your super idea, like these contributors in this issue. Are you ready to be a part of this evolution? Don’t you want to keep up?

the team SUMIT SAURAV CEO RAJ CHOURASIA CTO SAMATA JOSHI Head, Content SONIC PRABHUDESAI Head, Business SHASHANK SHEKHAR Data & Analytics NISHAN BOSE Head, Product Ops. COVER ART Vivan Kamath

DESIGN Aakansha Kukreja Vivan Kamath

Rohit Dasgupta Shruti Kabo

Sadhna Prasad Aniruddh Menon

EDITORIAL Neha B Aditi Mishra OUTREACH TEAM NEW DELHI

BANGALORE RAM ram.cancerion@gmail.com ARJUN MANOHARAN arjun.campusdiaries@gmail.com

NIKHIL KUMAR nikhil7kumar@gmail.com

NAMITA KULKARNI kulkarni.nami@gmail.com

TRISHA CHOUDHURY trishachoudhury7@gmail.com

CHENNAI RAHUL BALAN rahulbalan@yahoo.co.in

MUMBAI VINEET BHATIA vineet.bhatia982077@gmail.com

MANIPAL

PUNE

SIDDHARTH AJWANI ajwani_siddharth@yahoo.co.in

SUBHROJIT MALLICK subhrojit.mallick.2012@sse.ac.in

VARUN BHAT varunbhat94@gmail.com

COIMBATORE

SURATHKAL

KARTHICK M finishchampster@gmail.com

AKSHAY KAMATH akshaykamath08@gmail.com

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Published by: Sumit Saurav

UNMAGAZINE

CONTENTS EDUCATION/CAREER

The Story of Chottus and Rajus

10 things I learnt from my Internship at Flipkart

COLLEGE

19 This is College Life - The Life You’ve Waited For SOCIETY

Is AAP’s Measure for Women’s Security any Better than Congress’?

The Man Who Transformed a Village

28 MUSIC, ART & THEATRE

Typeface

TEACHER, TEACHER!

How Can a College Student Change the Society?

PROJECT

Operation Black Dot

IT HAPPENED TO ME

What a Sport!

IN FOCUS

Roobaroo-Beyond Borders

Braject

RideSmartBLR

FICTION AND POETRY

Latency

CARTOON

I Have A Boyfriend

PorTfolio OF THE MONTH

ININTHIS ISSUE THIS ISSUE Pratyush Patra Alumnus of IIMC Dhenkanal, Bhubaneswar An unapologetic procrastinator, Pratyush refuses to work till his ass is on fire. Covering films and culture for a leading English daily in Bhubaneswar, he has many dreams. Well, most of them are pretty vulgar.

Tina Tengra HR College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai Tina is a young passionate girl who exudes happiness. She strives to turn her can’ts into cans and dreams into plans.

Danish Shaikh Dr. D.Y.Patil College of Applied Arts and Crafts, Pune Danish is a Second Year Applied Arts student, obsessed with Typography. He considers himself to be a terrible Wordplayer.

Tanya Malik St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Tanya is from Delhi. She went to boarding school in Dehardun Welham Girls for eight years. She’s a writer, calligrapher and a professional dancer.

Rhea Maria Dease NID, Ahmedabad Apart from being a full time animation student and blunderwoman, Rhea is an amateur writer and Queer Theory enthusiast who worships at the altar of Stephen Fry.

Tanya Kotnala NIFT, Shillong Although a fashion design student, her happiness sets out afar garments. Her foremost devotion is for illustrations and the arts. She finds it amazing when the usual combines to become something unusual.

Shravanthi Venkatesh Christ University, Bangalore She’s a Bangalorean to the core, but is fascinated by different places, people and cultures. Her field of study involves the ways of the mind. She aspires to master telepathy and move on to telekinesis.

Utsav Das Alumnus of IIT Delhi, New Delhi Having recently stepped into a professional life from that of a student’s, Utsav relies on expressing his thoughts. Expressing to himself. To learn and to evolve.

Vrinda Batra Lady SRi Ram College, New Delhi A travel and cookie enthusiast Vrinda has been a literature enthusiast since her childhood and likes reading and writing as much as she likes breathing.

Periyanayagi Subramaniam HOD, Mass Media, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai She teaches Mass Media studies, also the head of the department at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

Amitoj Singh MES Abasaheb Garware College, Pune When he’s not in the lab staring down at microbes, Amitoj is usually looting bookvendors or wrestling with his dog. Loves food, music, movies and likes his hot Cuppa Joe shaken, not stirred.

Thakur Rahul Singh NITK Surathkal, Surathkal Rahul, these days, is fascinated by the whole idea of travelling the world and loves being busy while running his startup BooksOnHire.

Kanika Manasharamani Fergusson College, Pune Kanika—the short math geek. She’ll be the one zoning out in English class to think of an equation and the one zoning out in Math class, trying to analyze a poem. She thinks she’s socially awkward.

Joanna Davala Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore Joanna is an artist. Her work varies from still life paintings, bizarre animal subjects, typography, logos etc. She tries to be versatile in her work, and incorporate humour into the things that she makes. Her other fields of interest lie in music and chips.

Aadesh Bhangre Nair L. S Raheja college of science and commerce, Mumbai Aadesh is a final year journalism student and a core team member of Operation Black Dot. He is a cat person who feeds on trance and ambient music and hates wearing pants on Saturdays.

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

Evolve +

Youth

The Story of Chottus and Rajus pratyush patra iimc alumni, batch of bhubaneswar #future

2012

s each one of us knows our country is divided by many factors and one such factor is future—future of India that lives in multi-storeyed buildings and Bharat that thrives in hamlets. Let me tell you a story. A story not of romanticism but reality. A story of a kid from any non-descript village of Bharat. Each of these kids is different if seen through a magnifying glass but in most ways they are the same- their problems, their passions and most importantly their desires. Any Bharat kid, let’s call him Raju, has dreams. Over the years, he has gained access to the radio, newspapers, cinema and television that keep him informed about his city brethren. He thinks of himself as a lesser being because he is not that rich, doesn’t exude mannerism like them and lacks the kind of education and environment that will assist him in standing a chance against them. But Raju continues to dream. Dreams, however, are dime a dozen.

“ Illustrations by Sadhna Prasad

In the movie, I am Kalam, the protagonist, Chhotu, does not talk about education for all (unlike a la Malala), but is more concerned about getting himself educated, inspired by APJ Abdul Kalam, our former President. The Rajus and the Chottus are all the same. They are probably enrolled in primary or secondary government schools but in the back of their minds, they know that Delhi or Calcutta University is a farfetched dream. The ones who make it there become stars of the village—the trendsetters for generations to come. But their parents probably never wanted them to dream so big initially. The midday meals remain the biggest motivation for sending kids to school rather them engaging them in child labour. People from rural areas may be simpleton but they are hardworking fellows. So when a village kid who is genuinely sharp is given the chance to study, he studies as if his life depends on it and well literally it does.

”

EDUCATION/CAREER

“ There is a noted institute called ‘Super 30’ aim for. Becoming a hair expert, model, in Bihar that teaches 30 underprivileged filmmaker, dietician naturally never students to get into IITs. And believe me, crosses their minds. Their conviction every year, these kids who do not have lies in meeting necessities. But, let me also tell you that the separate rooms in their homes let alone computers, air conditioners et al crack scenario is changing drastically in two respects. Some city dwellers are leaving the exams—at least 25 of them. Every dreamer dreams differently. their comfy couches and are ready to So, for a kid from Bharat who grew up wander in villages to teach and enlighten in perpetual penury, he seeks stability the village folks and then there are the from his job and from Indian point villagers-turned-cosmopolitans who are of view, government jobs are the best returning to their roots because they bet. One gets healthy pensions after don’t want the progress of just a family retirement while enjoying several perks alone but that of the whole community. in the tenure with negligible danger This has given the dreams of Bharatiya of getting sacked. So, the residents of kids a leap of hope and faith. Today, Bharat have moulded their dreams in a they are becoming journalists, writers, certain pattern- a pattern where all their theatre actors, or sportspersons leaving energies are focused on getting in IITs behind self-assurance. The lines between for high pay packages or getting into India and Bharat are diminishing and it Civil Services for both power and money. is happening because of the youngsters. There are many vacant government jobs When the sophistication of India and (read:vacancies in government sector) diligence of Bharat meet, sparks of in umpteen departments, which those evolution are bound to fly. who failed to get into the IITs and IAS,

Today, they are becoming journalists, writers, theatre actors, sportspersons leaving behind self assurance. The lines between India and Bharat are diminishing and it is happening because of the youngsters

”

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

Evolve +

Learning

10 things I learnt from

My first internship at

Flipkart

Thakur Rahul Singh | NITK | Surathkal

#Internship 14

EDUCATION/CAREER

Before I begin, this is not a guide about how to get an internship or how do you go about it after you get one, because trust me... I should be the last person to advise you on that! This story is just about the key takeaways from my experience at one of the fastest growing companies in India

one

No harm in trying! What's there to lose? That’s how I got the internship anyway. There was an opening on their website for management graduates and being half an engineer, I simply mailed my resume which I had cooked up the night before! My supervisor later told me that they either take coders or management graduates and me being neither, I believe I got quite lucky!

two

Don’t go after the money I know this is cliched and you might have heard this a million times. This was something I myself did not believe until I actually figured there was much more to earn, err... learn that is worth a thousand times more than the money they pay you. But, the money part doesn’t hurt, does it?

Illustrations by Shruti Kabo www.campusdiaries.com/unmagazine

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

three

Don’t take yourself too seriously for the first few days Yeah, I know you got this real awesome internship and you want to prove yourself blah blah... I think it’s better to get yourself acquainted and comfortable with the place where you will be spending your next few weeks and of course they better be hectic, or what’s the point of the internship anyway?

four

It’s okay to make mistakes We, as interns, think that we have to be perfect from day one. I think what our supervisors actually look for is our ability to learn and yeah, that better be quick.

five

Just don’t do it for the heck of it I mean seriously, be very selective in choosing your internship and if you are selected, only go if your are like dead sure. Because trust me, it won’t be a nice experience if you are wondering half the time about what you are doing there.

EDUCATION/CAREER

six

Don’t always look for big names, smaller organizations offer much more exposure The whole point of an internship is to learn as much as you can about what you like as fast as you can and this is very much possible at startups or growth stage companies and not the big ones where the whole thing is highly structured and stuff. Does the company brand really matter here, well, if you ask me, it’s a strong NO.

seven

Fixed working hours... what is that? If you are interning at a place where you love what you do, refer to point six again.

eight

Don’t start loving the fact that you are getting paid to do what you like It’s always nicer to “create” something you like. The trick here is to constantly remind yourself that you are only doing this internship as a source of learning and nothing more. Keep the spirit of entrepreneurship alive, always. Flipkart was born out of Amazon (the founders worked there), and maybe something else will be born out of Flipkart? Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

www.campusdiaries.com/unmagazine

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

nine

Make friends Yeah, that helps. No, seriously, it does.

ten

Enjoy every bit of it Take every day as it comes and never be afraid to express yourself or your idea, however stupid it may seem because like they say, “ Stupidity is the genius in making, you just have to keep refining it” Okay okay. I cooked that up.

I guess this was more like a Don’ts list, but anyway let me know what you felt after reading the above. Hope you enjoyed it.

COLLEGE Evolve +

College

THIS IS

COLLEGE

LIFE THE LIFE YOU’VE WAITED FOR

Tanya Malik St. Xavier’s College Mumbai #experiences

ndia’s diversity can be most appropriately explained in terms of the college experience and campus life it offers at a higher level of education. The four key metros of the country lie on either side and offer a plethora of programs, facilities and experiences— most of which are unique to the city. Vrinda Batra, student of English at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, tells us a little about her city—Delhi! DU has established itself as one of the most sought after, prestigious places of higher studies in the country. Vrinda says, “Delhi University. For four years? This left me with an amalgamation of emotions. College is supposed to be the best portion of your life, so perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. At the same time, I wondered if it would be worth it. From what I’d heard, college in Delhi was a nightmare, and Mumbai was laid back in comparison. But there must be something about Delhi University that put it a notch above the rest. First day at Lady Shri Ram is a blur now. But I remember noticing a number of excited students, and even more

From what I’d heard, college in Delhi was a nightmare, and Mumbai was laid back in comparison. But there must be something about Delhi University that put it a notch above the rest. First day at Lady Shri Ram is a blur now. But I remember noticing a number of excited students, and even more excited looked the teachers —Vrinda Batra, LSR, New Delhi

Middle Lane, Khan Market, New Delhi www.campusdiaries.com/unmagazine

excited looked the teachers. Now, at the end of my first semester I can surely say that we have received quality education.” The recent changes in the Delhi University system has changed the program from a three-year course to a four-year one, introducing foundation courses that the students feel could have been better, more organised and interesting. “However, in terms of the discipline courses, I have not been let down. Unearthing classical Literature and at the same time reading through contemporary Indian literature, I have been given the opportunity to cover a wide genre of poetry, drama and fiction, most of which I look forward to in the coming years. Describing the Delhi college culture in a few words is tough—it is energetic and exciting. It keeps you on your toes and at the same time, makes you work through the year.” After college hours, you can spot Delhi University kids at Khan Market, the most popular market place with a number of shops and exciting eateries!

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

From the hustle and bustle of Delhi, Mumbai allows you to relax and breathe even if a thousand people surround you. With no pretensions, the city makes way for your talent, giving opportunities by each passing minute. —Tanya Malik, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

Neatly pointed out by Vrinda is a myth I believed in too. As a Delhi born and brought up girl, I did not even consider coming to Mumbai for college as the two cities stand ‘poles apart’. This is my story of my city—Mumbai! My visit to Mumbai changed the entire notion and picture I had of the city in my head. The city engulfs your heart. Yes, it took me exactly three days to fall in love with Mumbai and decide that this would be my home for three years. As a student of Mass Media at St. Xavier’s College, one of the most sought after colleges in the country, I have seen myself experience things that people would believe

happen only in dreams. This city of dreams, the city that never sleeps and the hub of Bollywood— something that gives India its identity in a number of ways proves to its people every day why it stands apart. From the hustle and bustle of Delhi, Mumbai allows you to relax and breathe even if a thousand people surround you. With no pretensions, the city makes way for your talent, giving opportunities by each passing minute. The curriculum in college is tough yet fun, with a number of things to keep you busy through the year. A signature difference between Delhi and Mumbai,

Cafe Mondegar, Colaba Causeway, Mumbai

which I cannot help but point out, is the dressing sense of college students. While Delhi witnesses extremes of either being too dressy or too casual, Mumbaikars can be recognized in any part of the country wearing the most casual clothes with the confidence of wearing a tuxedo! You can find students from schools, junior colleges and degree colleges in Bandra or Colaba at any time of the day or night. An area in the suburbs, Bandra can be easily described as the “liveliest student hub” of the city while Colaba at the other end is a hot favorite with all!

COLLEGE Ritika Agarwal, a student from St. Xavier’s College , Calcutta remarks on the campus life in her city—Kolkata! “There is a general trend of morning and evening classes which allow students to pursue their interest and hobbies along with their graduation. It has enough opportunities that a metropolitan city can provide with few distractions making it an ideal place for students to tap their potential and achieve their best. Kolkata, being the cultural capital of India with its competent faculty and ample opportunity creates a holistic environment for

students to achieve the best.” Says Sakshi Sikaria, a student of Business from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, “Rosogullas, Sandesh, Illish maach—what comes to our mind when we think of them, it needn’t be said aloud, it’s of course the city of joy— ‘Amader Kolkata’! When I think of Kolkata, it is not the splendour of Howrah bridge, the century old trams or the lush green gardens of Victoria that come to my mind , but it is the phuchkawalas, the boat rides at Hooghly, the hustle bustle at barabazaar, the smell and the utter chaos that give me a true sense of

When I think of Kolkata, it is not the splendour of Howrah bridge, the century old trams or the lush green gardens of Victoria that come to my mind, but it is the phuchkawalas, the boat rides at Hooghly, the hustle bustle at barabazaar, the smell and the utter chaos that give me a true sense of Kolkata —Sakshi Sikaria, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata

Phuchkawalas, Kolkata

Kolkata. Coming from North India, the thought of even my college in North India was something I questioned and requestioned. However, it did not even take a month for me to take to it. College offered me a number of things to do including clubs and activities after classes. The rich culture and tradition bred by Bengalis engulfed me from the first week and in no time I found

www.campusdiaries.com/unmagazine

myself amidst the white and red sarees gearing up for Durga Puja. Just a semester in college and I have learnt the true essence of Kolkata— emotions, colour, festivity, pride and culture.” Students of Calcutta University can be found having a good time at Kookie Jar, one of the most famous bakeries at all points of time!

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014 Karan Dev, a student of Christ University, talks about his city—located down South— Bangalore! The city which has always taken pride in being the hub of India’s smartest students. He remarks “Bangalore, the garden city of India for more reasons than one, is a major student hub. It houses the leading institutions in the country in the field of law, medicine and business among others. Over the last few years, colleges like Christ University have attracted students from all over the country. This has therefore contributed to a diverse citizenry who have in

turn added to the culture of the city. The common hangouts for students are coffee shops, pubs and restaurants. Due to the 11 PM deadline, most clubs and eateries do not stay open for the duration of the night. While most students disagree with this, it has in a way contributed to the progress of the city. College life in Bangalore is truly a national experience.” Christ College, Bangalore is well known to the rest of us as the college with a dress code. For a while, all one can do is laugh at the idea of it. Says Rayhaan Imam, a student of Communications at Christ, “Even though we are meant to

dress formally, there are times it comes in good use. Firstly, girls find it more attractive than loose track pants and secondly, the good-looking professors acknowledge your presence too! College has always been strict about classes. But that’s okay, because either you get to sleep during the boring ones or day dream and smile in the ‘beautiful’ ones!” The Bangalorean campus junta are usually found at their favorite hangout place, Airlines—day in, day out, that’s where they’ll be or having a good time shopping on Commercial Street!

Commercial Street, Bangalore

Over the last few years, colleges like Christ University have attracted students from all over the country. This has therefore contributed to a diverse citizenry who have in turn added to the culture of the city. —Karan Dev, Christ University, Bangalore

SOCIETY

Evolve +

Governance

IS AAP’S MEASURE FOR WOMEN’S SECURITY ANY BETTER THAN CONGRESS’? VRINDA BATRA Lady SRi ram College, NEW DELhi #politics The Aam Aadmi Party. Arvind Kejriwal. Jan Lokpal. Delhi Elections. Arvind Kejriwal. Jan Lokpal. Delhi Elections.

ll sound familiar, don’t they? And why implementation of security in Delhi. And what is wouldn’t they, after all the Aam Aadmi the point of an increase in reports if the response Party and its emergence in politics as a strong of the government is slacking? What Delhi wants opposition against BJP and Congress was one is a negligible rape rate, if not an entire absence of the most common coffee/tea conversation of of the crime. 2013. Their aims and objectives echoed the needs Recommending parole for two convicts of the common Delh-ite who seemed to have had of rape, Sheila Dixit was opposed by BJP and absolutely enough of the tyranny of the Congress criticized by their president , Vijay Goel who said in the capital. ‘The CM says she wants a safe city for women and Of all the promises made by the party, it was blames police for all mishaps and,on the other the pledge for improvement of women’s security in hand,she goes against the recommendations the rape capital that caught everybody’s attention. of police and wants parole for convicts of such But, what was it that the AAP was providing that heinous crimes. This blame game and inability to reduce the the Congress failed to? The Congress’ half-hearted attempts to figure of rape cases alongside with her eyebrowprotect and assure women’s security could be raising suggestion regarding convicts had her noted a number of times over the past year. In condemned by a mass of the capital. The cherry a report in September, NDTV stated that the on top was her refusal to accept responsibility for number of rape cases had jumped from 468 in the infamous Nirbhaya case of December 2012, 2012 to 1121 in 2013, an increase of 121 percent. commenting that the rape had taken place in a While on one hand this could mean that more private bus , thus it was to be dealt with by the women are coming out of the closet to report police. Of course, we are expected to overlook her cases, it could also be a representative of the poor role as the chief minister of Delhi and accept that www.campusdiaries.com/unmagazine

Illustrations by Shruti Kabo

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

it is absolutely normal for rapists to lure women into their private buses and use iron rods to molest them. Soumya Viswanathan’s ‘adventurous’ nature and her decision to be out at 3 was also held against her by Dixit. Obviously, she has a sense of humour far worse than all of ours and somebody should explain to her that women choosing to do as they please instead of doing as other’s expected is NOT a crime. Going over the abundant instances of denial of responsibility, a prudish and almost orthodox outlook of women who didn’t behave the way ‘a bhartiya mahila’ should shows Sheila Dixit’s complete failure and indifference in terms of women security. She is almost giving a pass to rapists, with the stagnant system of case filing, investigation and legal procedures. Nothing has been done to reduce ‘gundaism’ on streets. Coming form an all girls’ college, I have often been a victim of or witnessed eve teasing right outside the walls of my institution. Where is the protection? Where is the prevention? While malls and metro stations, alongside with North Campus had a proper security system, boards with helplines and presence of cops at the right time-numerous places had been overlooked by the Delhi government and police. Let us now look at the Aam Aadmi Party. They sure seemed to be extremely enthusiastic about alleviating the concerns of the women of Delhi in terms of security. What does the AAP propose to do that will be effective , in contrast to the conditions prevailing under Dixit’s regime? First was their suggestion to create a ‘Citizen Security Force’ in each one of their constituencies that will serve as an unarmed force to invigilate over crime and safety within their set regions. This appeal was initially scrutinized and perceived as a restriction to the freedom of women. Many people questioned their role , wondering if they would serve as some sort of prudish control on women. However, Shazia Ilmi reassured the public that it was actually to ‘help and not patrol women.’ Its purpose is to provide legal assistance and security to women and not question their clothes and appearance. While this ideology tears away from the ‘usual’

judgement of women by authorities, its effect is questionable. What will an unarmed force be able to do if the rapists are armed? Moreover, how will they ensure the complete absence of such crimes? Women are raped within the confines of their own homes sometimes. How do they intend to prevent such cases? A role of the Women Security Force is to provide legal assistance to women who bear the interrogation and humiliation dealt by the cops on reporting rape cases. ‘Kahaan ghum rahi thi , kiske saath?’ ‘Itna late?’ ‘Akeli kyun thi?’ ‘Ladka tha saath main? Raat ko akele ladko ke saath...’ The legal procedure shall be carried out by a woman with support from these forces. What AAP really wants is that the Delhi Police comes under their orders. They feel that while Delhi has almost all the powers of the State , the control over the police is an important one. If put in control of the police , they seek to amalgamate the Delhi Police and WSF. The revolutionary Rakhi Birla, the Women and Child Welfare Minister has also impressed Delhi with her surprise checks of autos and buses at night. At the same time, the sincerity of these checks is questionable. You see, Rakhi Birla would be spotted wearing a Nehru jacket and Gandhi cap. This in itself sets her apart from any other woman awaiting an auto or bus. Thus, this attempt is rather dicey. While on one hand it could be a genuine attempt to ‘clean up’ the public Delhi transportation, it could be just another media gimmick to garner more support . By making women security a concern of all the departments, they have also prevented the blame game, making everyone in the AAP responsible for the protection of the women in Delhi. Atishi Marlena of the AAP in a Google Hangout streamed live on Nov 28th, 2013 said that women’s security needs to be thought of and treated in a holistic manner and that was the reason why they chose their multi pronged approach to the issue. Unfortunately, most of their suggestions seem better on paper. Marlena suggested that better lighting and spacing of public areas along with gender sensitisation of the capital should be an effective deterrent to rape.

SOCIETY

While this sounds extremely pleasant and even possible , there have been instances when lighting and spacing has not been the cause of rape cases. The recent case of the rape of the Danish woman comes to light here. The Danish tourist was gang raped in a garden near Connought Place at a time when lamplights were not even required. Despite the urgency that AAP has laid on women security , nothing much seems to be helping women roam the streets of the capital freely so far. To top it off, AAP, much like Dixit blamed the police and their indifference for this incident. Not seeing much of a distinction between Congress and AAP here, are we? Also , while gender sensitisation seems like a great solution, one wonders how the government intends to create such a notion in the minds of the rather patriarchal society of the city. AAP has focused on women security immensely, after being irked by the ineffectiveness of the Congress through the Nirbhaya and fiveyear-old Gudiya rape instances. Their dedication toward ensuring women security is the only impressive aspect and instils some hope in our hearts. Their intention to cover the city with a more equitable distribution of the police (if handed over the department), the employment of women in PCRs and WSF to appease the sensibilities of the women and attempt to make the each CSF employee a ‘security guard for each ilaaka of Delhi’ does provide some support to women. Their partial sacrifice on alcohol income is also noteworthy and admirable. Their decision to ask muhallah sabahs if they want to have alcohol shops in their regions makes many happy for this can curb the presence of drunken men within localities. Women education and alleviation along with the installation of CCTVs in areas, provision of marshals in buses and effective policing have all been measures suggested that seem to be logical and effective. While one cannot say that the AAP has been successful so far in terms of protecting its women, they do seem to be making a sincere effort. It is difficult to deny that they treat the matter with utmost seriousness. At the same time, it is too early to state that these measures will be successful. While Binny recently stated that AAP has deviated from ‘its promises to the people’, it is unfair to tag this entire effort as a fail. We can merely wait and watch what is to become of all these promises.

www.campusdiaries.com/unmagazine

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

Evolve +

Management

the man who transformed a village and what can you learn about grassroot innovation from him

kanika manasharamani | fergusson college, pune | #REvolution

ail a man as the next Anna Hazare and you’d find him quaking in his shoes with the consequence of having a vastly opinionated country detest and worship him. Popatrao Pawar however just scoffs at the comparison. The man (or the boss, as Rama, a friend, so succinctly summarises him) transformed his village Hivre Bazaar—in the tradition of Ralegaon Siddhi— from a low-yielding village with a level of unemployment and resulting crime so high that it became the favourite punishment outpost for many a government official to a village that is to serve as the model of development for villages across Maharashtra and the rest of the country. When he returned to his village in 1989 – 18 years after having left it, he found it a village transformed by alcoholism, draught and violence, far removed from the green hills and peacefully cooperating families he’d left behind. With the support of the women and the youth in his village, he was unanimously elected sarpanch of the village panchayat. The next thing he knew he was holding a gram sabha where the people made demands for improved healthcare, availability

Illustrations by Aniruddh Menon

of water for sanitation, availability of water for agriculture and availability of water for drinking. Reasonable demands made to a man by a village in the rain shadow area of the Sahyadri that recieves an annual rainfall of 579mm (part of the lowest 5 percentile of rainfall recieved in the country). A believer in need-based planning, he used their seemingly impossible demands as input information and went about trying to come up with a solution. When faced with further hurdles, he went about solving them in exactly the same way. For example there was a high migration tendency among the human resource available to him and high levels of alcohol consumption among the section of the population that weren’t potential migrators. Both of these lead back to a common problem—an alarmingly high rate of unemployment. Popatrao Pawar then studied available government schemes and policies—a remarkable example of what a well-informed citizen can achieve and came up with a common solution. He used the employment guarantee scheme and involved the Forest department to build trenches along the forest area and plant 4.5

SOCIETY

lakh trees. From then on he began an intense programme of soil and water conservation along simple scientific ideals, their efforts redoubled after the village received the first National award for community-led water conservation from the Union Ministry of water resources. Over the next twenty-one years the villagers were to work together to build a model of water management that when studied—is inspiring in both its planning and execution. The planning for its precise, scientific nature and the execution for its spirit of unselfish co-operative brunt work. The villagers came together—most of them on a strictly voluntary basis—to build check dams and bunds. Education resulted in a sanitation drive to build a sufficient number of toilets (It is now one of the few villages to have one toilet per house) and jointly planned crop cycles which eliminated water- guzzling crops like banana and rice. The results are extraordinary *translated from Hindi* ‘Our Schools went from the 4th grade to the 7th grade and now 40 % of students from the surrounding villages come to ours to

study. Our water and soil conservation plan went so well that we now have a surplus to be able to provide for cash crops. Earlier one could be considered rich if he could afford a single gehun ki roti, now we have 60 millionaires in our village and poverty is almost non-existent. Barren hills are green again and every house has a toilet. We have a slogan in our village that goes—‘show us one mosquito and take a 100 rupees’ that’s how confident we are about the quality of our sanitation’ As the executive director of Maharashtra State government’s Model Village programme, Popatrao Pawar has reworked his model to a two year program to fit he jokes ‘the fast paced life’— the three most important elements of which are leadership, transparency and government support. Here is a man who could very well teach in one of the IIM’s littering the country, although he probably wouldn’t get in. The proof as they say is in the 2600% increase in milk production or the fact that ‘Bapu ke Sapno Walla Gaon’ emerged from the decrepit state of things 30 years ago.

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

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Art

TypeFace danish shaikh Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Applied Arts & crafts | Pune # CONTEMPORARY

ypeFace is a collaboration between my first love, Typography and a bit of Photography. Considering that fonts are professionally known as Typefaces, I imagined them to be painted on faces, thus, the naming this series as TypeFace.

Above: Bomb Right: North

MUSIC, ART & THEATRE

Top left: Charcuteric Engraved Top right: Blob Left: Typeface

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Initiatives

How can A COLLEGE student change the society? T

Periyanayagi Subramaniam Head of Department Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) St. Xavier’s College | Mumbai #leadership

he forces that we have no control over seemingly dictate the direction of our lives. Or so we have been told—by our parents, mentors and largely by the ‘system’. So, we are trained from childhood to rein in these forces— We will be successful professionals if we learn to ride these forces and then turn them around to work for us. Our brand of education teaches us this art and science, our social circuit fine tune our responses to these forces and our economic greed for prosperity leads, aids and determines our level of success in reining in these forces. We do not attempt to conquer the forces we only train to manage them. In simple translation—the system is the forces of free market enterprise. The forces are political and legal governance, individual income, social networking opportunities, caste and social class, MNCs’ (Indian And Foreign). As students we complete our primary/ secondary/ senior education keeping in mind the competition for the few seats in good higher education institutions. We are pushed by every person in our life to learn professional skills at all costs to excel vis-à-vis our contemporaries in class, network with powerful forces within the institution and other contacts through the institution and keep our ears fine tuned to grab opportunities for well paying jobs. Outperforming and being smart workers are essential qualities to climb quickly up the corporate ladder. In the end, we are compelled to declare our rate of success to the world by the gadgets, brands and lifestyle we parade. In the hurry to achieve this success, we trample our primary senses to see the situation around us as it is. Like now in Mumbai, we encounter the thick haze in the mornings. We continue to see everyday, trees at various levels of decay on the road sides and the BMC trimming the branches of

TEACHER, TEACHER!

such ‘dangerous’ trees. We have seen for a couple of decades every storm water drain filled with trash; repeated laying and relaying of arterial roads; disappearing hill ranges that surround greater Mumbai; prowling leopards in the streets adjoining SGNP in Aarey, Powai, Mulund etc. Do we not see it because we feel we can do nothing about it? Our rhetoric—these problems will have to be addressed by NGOs because the government anyway does not bother. Because a common man/woman cannot fight the powerful people and the politicians end up making money from these issues. And anyway we cannot afford to jeopardise our roadmap to success, right? What we fail to see is that each deteorating situation is a business opportunity. In recent times, it’s noteworthy that well qualified youth with successful employment in MNC’s are leading the way in seizing this opportunity and changing the ‘I am helpless’ rhetoric. Graduates from the IIT, MIT, LSE, Oxford, Cornell are leading the way in social concern turning to entrepreneurial engagement. They are throwing away their high paying jobs in the consulting groups, with software development leaders to plunge into social entrepreneurship. They are lighting the streets, cleaning the air, providing water. These issues are not just prevalent in the rural areas but increasing in cities. In doing these services these professionals have evolved a new social entrepreneurial business model. These youth are turning turtle the design of the corporate cartels who have influenced and regulated the education system to provide them with corporate slaves. These social entrepreneurs are using this very same education to fight the mass market driven consumerism of the corporate. Students especially under graduates need to sit up and follow this new economic order. They

Illustrations by Sadhna Prasad

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

“

Constant, abrasive irritation produces the pearl; it is a disease of the oyster; similarly–the social entrepreneur is a disease of the society. - The change generation

have the responsibility to take upon such social engagement. Such social services providers are leading the way to new definitions of success. A success mutually benefiting troubled society and self interest. A success with an economic benefit. The carefree years of undergraduate education need to be pledged to understanding the systems that drive our lives. Understanding simple problems like traffic jams, air pollution and identifying that there are simple solutions that can resolve these problems without the interference of BIG BROTHER. These are the days of Assange, Snowden, RTI, Lokpal Bill, AAP. Days where social involvement is necessary, fashionable and remunerative. To know more about the young brigade of change generation check water.org, fastcoexist.com, ideo. org, Arakku Valley coffee plantation project. Social entrepreneurial leaders like Baba Amte, Bunker Roy with the Barefoot college model, Azim Premji with the Azim Premji University, Shaheen Mistri with Teach for India are game changers. Making the effort to read and update on their work by itself will be a social initiative. The initiative taken to acknowledge that it is one’s own laziness and self indulgence that allows the social miseries we encounter in our day to day life to persist. We need to indulge ourselves into acknowledging that as an educated class we could use this education to conquer the forces. A lot of people never use their initiative, because no one told them to.

”

PROJECT

Evolve +

Responsibility

operation black dot

Aadesh Bhangre Nair | L.S. Raheja College of Arts and Science | Mumbai | #Voting

Voter ID Registeration organised by OBD

Operation Black Dot (OBD) is an initiative by the Thincquisitive Foundation & DDB Mudra Group to make voting easy, engaging and fun for urban youth

hrough Operation Black Dot, we are enabling college students and young professionals in Mumbai to register to vote as well as breaking down political discourse in a format which is relatable and interesting so that they can make an informed choice. From October through January, we were in 60 campuses across Mumbai helping students and other first time voters, register to vote for which we have been collaborated with the Election Commission of India. We have also developed a desktop app to ensure faster and systematic processing of first time voter registrations. Given our current socio-economic and political scenario, we are very well aware that 2014 general elections will play a key role in shaping the future of our country. Hence, every â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;thinkingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vote matters. OBD makes an attempt to help the youth understand current issues and interact with potential candidates in a manner which is relatable and interesting.

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

While trying to reach the urban youth of Mumbai, we have attempted to reach them through a myriad of platformsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Undecided Voter webisodes & OBD Hangouts are two such initiatives. The Undecided Voter is a series of webisodes wherein the character Sid (played by RJ Jose Covaco) who is a novice to politics and political system learns something new every webisode in a funny, quirky manner. OBD Hangouts on the other hand gives the Mumbai youth a chance to meet with their elected representatives and prospective candidates in an informal setting and to discuss debate and ideate with them issues, ideas and solutions to matters concerning them and their constituency. OBD will also be hosting a conclave which will see leaders of national stature addressing the youth. This project was started by Samyak Chakrabarty when, during a conversation with his close friend he realised how the young people in the present day, which form the major chunk of the population of the country are hostile towards politics. This gave him the idea to start OBD so as to engage the youth to understand and be a part of the system that is theirs. He then got few more like minded people on board, all college students and young professionals. Since its inception, a lot of students have volunteered to join OBD and be a part of the process. The fact that youngsters who we were otherwise disinterested and ignorant toward politics have started to discuss and talk about it, ask questions speaks volumes about the change. This was very well observed at our very first Hangout with Priya Dutt, MP Mumbai North Central and will hopefully continue in days ahead.

OBD Hangout with Priya Dutt

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The fact that youngsters who we were otherwise disinterested and ignorant toward politics have started to discuss and talk about it, ask questions speaks volumes about the change

â&#x20AC;?

PROJECT

Quick Checklist by OBD:

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PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO OF THE OF THE MONTH MONTH Joanna Davala FOCUS Illustration Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m from Bangalore and study at Chitrakala Parishath. My works vary from still life paintings, bizarre animal subjects, typography, logos and so on. I try to be versatile in my work, and incorporate humour into the things that I make. I enjoy taking inspiration from the seemingly plain, and turning it into something completely different. My other fields of interest lie in music and chips.

CONTACT joanna947@gmail.com Bangalore, India.

Individual

PORTFOLIO

ILLUSTRATION

This is just something I drew on a whim. I think it brings out my personality.

This came about because of my love for drawing handsâ&#x20AC;Ś any artist will know that drawing a hand is similar to trying to fall upwards.

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

Left and Right: What if?

PORTFOLIO

Left and Right: Because it looks cooler this way.

TYPOGRAPHY

Above: My love for Typography. Drawn, not Photoshop-ped. Right: Dr. Seuss, anyone?

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

2013

Start-up festival celebrated the rise of bangalore as the startup capital of india

5000 100+

attendees

presenters

launches

partners

100+

500

15+

120+

art startups

founders

nationalities

events

2014

NOW

Construkt Festival Celebrates the Convergence of Creators Across borders, Boundaries & Domains Foundations are shaking. Walls are collapsing. A new era is upon us. The future will be built by a bold tribe of creators, who defy convention and cut across disciplines. Construkt Festival is a gathering for creators of all kinds. Entrepreneurs. Artists. Activists. Makers. Hackers. Chefs. Scientists. Brewmasters. Craftsmen... and you? Come build the future.

construkt creative communities

Converge. Collide. Create. Construkt Festival 2014.

Bangalore, March 20 - 23 Tickets + Info at http://construkt.me

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

Tina Tengra | HR College of Commerce & Economics | Mumbai #passion

Illustration by Shruti Kabo

IT HAPPENED TO ME

Evolve +

Yearn

his is a story about a girl. A girl who grew up in a family where most of the men played some sport or the other. Growing up as a tomboy of the family and the boy in the house, she was always inclined towards playing games. As a child, she would rather go down and play ‘Hitti Kitti’ than comb some Barbie doll’s hair. She would put on a pair of Adidas shoes, shorts and tie her hair up in a neat ponytail so none of it came on her face. Girlfriends? What were those? She hardly had any, even though she went to an all girl’s convent school. Whilst everyone was singing, “Our father who art in heaven...” she’d be singing, “Glory Glory Man United...” She would mostly be around boys because they were the ones playing Cricket and not the girls who were too scared of the bat or ball. As she grew up, she not only developed an interest for sports but also started playing many. It all began with watching her dad cycle and play Snooker, aunt play Throw ball and grandfather play Cricket. She was a motivated girl. She wanted to play sports too. Then like a God sent man came to her school as a coach. That Catholic man, yelling at everyone and calling them names (abbe donkey), just amused her. She really developed a fondness for the sports he used to teach because she could relate to the dedication he showed towards them. She slowly began training in Football and Handball. My my, that handball was small and still way bigger than her tiny palms. Nobody knew how she got that power and performance out of that tiny body. She played all the time. Trained continuously. No season ever stopped her. She’d get dirty in the muck and still try to volley the football out of the puddles until she finally did so. Then she took a decision that changed her life forever. She took up Karate. She was seven years old when she started training in the sport of Karate along with her father who was already a Black Belt and had trained for several years earlier. Both of them bonded over a common liking for that sport. She did not learn Karate because she wanted to defend herself, she learned it because she wanted to kick someone’s ass. That

“

Growing up as a tomboy of the family and the boy in the house, she was always inclined towards playing games. As a child, she would rather go down and play ‘Hitti Kitti’ than comb some Barbie doll’s hair. She would put on a pair of Adidas shoes, shorts and tie her hair up in a neat ponytail so none of it came on her face. Girlfriends? What were those?

”

someone was a boy who lived opposite her and kept teasing her as a kid about her weight. She wasn’t obese and she wanted to show him what she could do. She just was like that. Always needed an incentive to push herself. This time around it was revenge. 7-year-old and revenge. Sounds crazy. No wonder she chose something that can be as lethal as Karate. So there it began her journey from White onwards. So the rules went as follows: 1. Train in class. 2. Learn all the techniques required. 3. Go for Karate camp 4. There appear for an exam 5. Pass that to move on to the next grade. What was surprising was that she quickly learned the techniques and all that was needed for higher exams and even skipped a rank and went onto a higher one when she was 8-years-old because she was already good enough. She had started developing a liking for weapons and how they work so she even learned weapon training. She would swing a sword around and wouldn’t

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care about the bruises the Nunchakus caused on her body. She was a tiny girl with muscular thighs and arms but a really soft heart. She could take people beating the black and blue out of her skin but not someone yelling at her for something she did, or didn’t do. What most people didn’t know was that along with Karate and all the other sports she was playing, she was also a State-Level Swimmer and Maharashtra No.1 in Judo for two consecutive years. When asked what and how many sports she played, she always messed up and forgot at least one. There were quite a few to remember after all. She was about 12 when she was chosen to represent the country in various other sports. She played the Junior Soccer World Cup in Sweden and Denmark and various other Throw Ball State and National events. She was given the most Prestigious School Shield for “Best All Rounder” along with “Best Sportswoman” and “Rising Superstar”. Suddenly she saw herself losing focus from her main sport, Karate. Her family was very proud of her

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

for the grades she had reached and competitions she had won in Karate and so they decided that she should set her focus back on what is most important. Her father used to pick her up from school and with a huge kit bag ride her quite far to her training place, where she would train with him. From running and physical exercises to conditioning of the body in harsh and physically hurtful situations to practicing for hours together, she had done it all. She was a 13-year-old girl who would do push ups on her knuckles and punch on wood and sand bags. It wasn’t similar to any of her contemporaries. She was passionate. At that age she gave her Junior Black Belt exam and when she turned 16 she gave her Senior Black Belt exam where she ran 15kms continuously followed by tons of other physical exercises and katas and free sparring with opponents. She even broke a tooth and had to get a surgery. But that did not stop her there. She stayed through the exam with a bleeding mouth and when it was all over, she walked out with her hair full of grass and muck, her uniform brown and wet from her sweat and her thighs and arms swollen but with a sense of pride that she had never felt before. Winning no State or National

“

She played all the time. Trained continuously. No season ever stopped her. She’d get dirty in the muck and still try to volley the football out of the puddles until she finally did so

”

level or International level competition could replace that pride. Just then she had decided that even if she was not allowed by her master to learn further katas or techniques which she needed to win a competition, she would do it and learn them by herself. So she took to Youtube and saw all videos from all angles of every kata she needed to know to win the competition. She practiced for hours and hours at home and in her colony garden. She had scraped her foot to an extent that she could only feel one thin layer of skin before her muscles. State Championship 2011, she performed all those katas to the surprise of everyone who had been training her and training with her, including her master...... and she won. She wore that Gold medal and gave no credit for it to anybody else. It was all her. She did it against all odds and showed everyone how passionate she was. Winning had always played an important role in her life. She absolutely disliked losing, not because she had a big ego but because she worked too hard to see herself lose. She continued to win the State and National level tournaments till 2013. 2013, that year brought a lot of

IT HAPPENED TO ME

problems for her. She fell extremely sick and began having excruciating pain attacks in her calf. She could not move or walk. Her leg was in a cast. She didn’t give it too much importance and continued with all her activities. All sorts of physiotherapy were tried on her. Until one day the doctor asked her to get an MRI of the spine done. The next day they checked her reports and as the doctor said it, it dawned on her that she was in some serious trouble. “All the years of playing these high combat sports have affected your body in the wrong manner. You have last stage acute disc herniation and nothing can help you except a surgery. You need to stop now!” SURGERY? OF THE BACK? AT THE AGE OF 17? Hello, she was a sportsperson! What if something went wrong? Her doctor gave her strict instructions that she may never be able to play Karate again. She could practically hear her heart break into pieces. How could he even say that? She was not going to give up Karate for some injury. She had several injuries over the years. But she realized this was different, this was serious. Her friends and family supported her throughout, not to mention even her competitors

did. However, nobody could feel or understand the emotions and thoughts that were running through her mind. She cried for nights at a stretch and stayed up thinking what she could do. She was frustrated and upset to a limit where she couldn’t go a day without picking a fight with someone. They were playing with her two most important things; emotion and focus. She felt mentally weak. It was her last shot at a National Gold Medal before she entered the Women’s category with very experienced players. She wanted to make most of this opportunity. She needed to win her State tournament and be crowned Maharashtra No.1 for the 3rd consecutive year. She had to do it somehow! So she put on knee pads, she put on her injury tape, took her uniform and went off to participate in the State level tournament without thinking twice what could happen if she would injure herself any more. She stood there on the mat and yelled “Kururunfa” and started her kata. On her face, you could see strength, power, and confidence but in her mind her body was falling weak and she was feeling powerless but she didn’t let that get the best of her. With every move

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

she performed, the pain got worse but when I am so close?” All she remembers is being that just motivated her to win it! She completed her flying kick and ended anesthetized and then waking up with right on the spot where she had to. There a huge scar on her back. Those stitches! it was, she had bagged the finals. She had They were huge! How many? 15? 18? That done it yet again. Maharashtra No.1 for mark didn’t affect her, she wanted to live with it and feel all Rambo about it, the third consecutive year. She left the premises with a gold medal just as her best friend calls her. But the around her neck to add to her collection pain that came along with that surgery and a certificate, the ticket to her last was even worse than before. It was National tournament before she entered unbearable. She had sleepless nights a higher category. She was rushed and no medication was strong enough immediately to her orthopaedic where then. Each time she moved her body to he examined her and asked her to move get up from the bed or even just turn, to a hospital and prepare herself for the she felt as though 20 bones in her body Lumbar Disc Herniation surgery that had been broken. Can someone feel he was going to perform on someone this much pain? Or was it just her mind as young as her for the first time. She playing games? The current therapy was scared. She didn’t know how it was where they’d pass a current through going to go. The night before the surgery your body in order to relax your nerves all she could think about was, “Will I be was surprisingly the only calming part. Days passed by and all she could do able to get up and play? Will I be able to win the Nationals? Am I losing this was see her chance at Nationals slowly chance? Am I so weak? Why me? I have pass by. She always needed someone to worked so hard for this, spent every hour give her a push, but she never thought of the year dreaming about it. Why now, that would be on a wheelchair. Sitting

“

She stood there on the mat and yelled “Kururunfa” and started her kata. On her face, you could see strength, power, and confidence but in her mind her body was falling weak and she was feeling powerless but she didn’t let that get the best of her

”

IT HAPPENED TO ME

“

Today 6 months after her surgery, she is still in recovery mode and has gone back to being that reckless child who wants to go win. She has started her workouts (in that tracksuit) and will definitely go on the mat with her uniform and belt on, yell “Supareimpei”, perform the best kata of her life and get the judges to raise the same colour flag as that of her belt.

”

idle all those days just made her feel like a ticking bomb. She would go to her phone’s photo gallery and stare at the picture of her medal wall which couldn’t even accommodate all of them, thinking of only adding one more prestigious medal to it. Each day she would receive cards and chocolates and all sorts of goodies from her friends and all she said to them back was, “Take me out of here. Do something. I want to go play!” A day before Delhi Nationals was going to be held, she was discharged from the hospital which also happened to be her birthday. She pleaded and requested her parents and doctors to allow her to go and participate but all she got in return was “Are you mad? NO!” As frustrated as she was she knew something had to be done to calm her down because even in her heart she knew there was no way she could go and do Karate while taking support of a walker. It was just dangerous. What if she could never walk again! The thought was frightening. So to make herself feel better, she stood in one open space in her house and performed her katas by moving

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only her hands. This gave her a sense of responsibility towards herself and those who loved her. For the first time she hadn’t done something reckless to go out there and do what she thought was right. To top it all, her parents bought her a tracksuit with the Indian flag on it and the card with it said, “Happy Birthday Champion. You will be okay in no time and then no Indian will stand a chance against you. Love Dad and Mom”. Today six months after her surgery, she is still in recovery mode and has gone back to being that reckless child who wants to go win. She has started her workouts (in that tracksuit) and will definitely go on the mat with her uniform and belt on, yell “Supareimpei”, perform the best kata of her life and get the judges to raise the same colour flag as that of her belt. And as I look at my scar while writing this story about myself today, I not only have a tear trickling down my cheek but also a heart filled with love for all those who stood by me in my bad times and a mind that is oh-so-ready to win the next championship.

IN FOCUS

ininfocus focus

ROOBAROO - BEYOND BORDERS Co-created by a founding team of students from Fergusson College, ILS Law College (Pune) and St. Xavier’s College (Mumbai), Roobaroo is being curated at Campus Diaries. It aims to establish a human, ground level socio-cultural exchange between youth communities in India and her neighboring countries. The first season of Roobaroo, titled #Pune2Peshawar, aims to foster this dialogue between communities in India and Pakistan. The objective is getting to know each other better by indulging in real conversations. campusdiaries.com/projects/roobaroo-beyond-borders

BRAJECT Braject is a project introduced with an objective of creating meaningful conversation around bras and informing the youth and sensitizing them toward the advantages of wearing the right bra and the disadvantages of wearing the wrong one. The project will be driven through interactive content like stories, infographics, pictures and informative videos to engage especially young girls in paying attention to the simplest of things we experience. The project, being curated by Campus Diaries is led by Tanya Kotnala, 3rd year student at NIFT Shillong. campusdiaries.com/projects/braject

#RIDESMARTBLR In association with Uber Bangalore and Zoom Cars, #RideSmartBLR, is a project designed to create awareness and empower Bangaloreans to choose smart riding options available in the city and to encourage safe driving while at it. The objective is to make driving and travel in Bangalore safer, smarter and more responsible. This story, ‘Road Trip Your Way Into Someone’s Heart’ published under the project, gives Bangaloreans info about the many road trip options they can choose from, to make that date perfect! campusdiaries.com/projects/ride-smart-blr

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Culture

Remembrances Amitoj Singh A dedication to my grandfather. A man who spent time in both, Pakistan and India MES Abasaheb Garware College | PUNE | #nostalgia Illustration by Aniruddh Menon

IN FOCUS

ven as I write this article, my grandfather has already quizzed me about the meaning of a couple of Urdu words, and has, in a very kind manner, chastised me for writing about a project titled ‘Roobaroo’, even when I don’t have the faintest idea about the meaning of this word. My grandfather always says this, “Jine Lahore nai wekhya, o jamya hi nai” (Translation—“Who hasn’t seen Lahore, hasn’t been born yet”). As a child, this led me to question my life, and whether I was really alive or not. As a more mature adult, I now realize what my grandfather means—The beauty of the city is such, that one has to experience it at least once in his/her life, and then, truly, will one be alive! My grandfather was born in 1933 in Rawalpindi, a city now known only for its famous cricket hero—Shoaib Akhtar. Pre-partition, Rawalpindi, or simply ‘Pindi’, as they called it, was a region densely populated by Sikhs and Hindus. My grandfather grew up in Thoha Khalsa, a Sikh village located a short distance from Rawalpindi. Thoha Khalsa is one of those places where the worst atrocities were committed, during the partition. This one horrific memory apart, my grandfather has lots of pleasant ones of the time he spent in Rawalpindi and Lahore. He often tells us about the times his friends and he would fill their pockets with dry fruits (Almonds, dried apricots, pine nuts, etc.) in the morning, and roam around the city streets the entire day, simply walking and taking in the scenic surroundings and munching on the dry fruits. He tells us about the extremely cold winters there, where he donned almost six layers of clothing, full length socks and thick leather shoes, and just managed to stay warm. He tells us of the times the entire family would gather in their house, and sleep on manjis (traditional woven beds), in warm, thick and cozy rajais (quilts) during the winters. With almost child-like enthusiasm, he regales us with vivid descriptions of his big house in Lahore, where a large family of almost 20 people lived. He tells us about the markets in

Lahore was a beautiful city. Well organized, well planned. There was a bazaar there, called the Anarkali bazaar. You could find everything over there. Everything in the world. There was also a garden there called the Shalimar garden. Very beautiful. There was a fort there, built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He was born there.

In Lahore, you’d find a Gurudwara right next to a Mosque. The boundary wall would be common... He tells us of the times the entire family would gather in their house, and sleep on manjis (traditional woven beds), in warm, thick and cozy rajais (quilts) during the winters

Lahore, famous for chicken delicacies and various sweetmeats. He tells us about the kindness of the people there—how there was no animosity between people of different faiths, and everybody was courteous and well mannered towards one another. In my opinion, religious hatred doesn’t exist. It’s probably just a propaganda created by small minded people for their own material gains. He tells us how absolute strangers sheltered them during their flight from Pakistan to India, and he is grateful for their kindness and compassion. I don’t ask him to tell me stories about his time spent in Pakistan anymore, not because I don’t enjoy hearing them, because I know that it hurts him to think about it. Whenever he recollects the time he had to leave Pakistan almost immediately—leave behind his house, possessions, his friends, I know he feels sad. He may not show it when he recounts his time there, but I know it hurts him inside. Like many others, he wishes that the partition never happened. I would like to take him to Pakistan once, to Rawalpindi and Lahore. And I’d like to see Lahore myself, so that I can tell my grandfather, “Yes. I’ve seen Lahore now. I’m finally born. I’m finally alive”.

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

How to measure your Bra sizE Tanya Kotnala | NIFT | Shillong | #Share

Illustration by Sadhna Prasad

IN FOCUS

Evolve +

Enlighten

A good fitting Brassiere is possible! Here's the classic formula to find your perfect brassiere fit! Measuring your bra size was never this easy.

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

IN FOCUS

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UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

Evolve +

Innovation

Are you ready to ridesmart, bangalore?

Shravanthi Venkatesh Christ College, Bangalore #conversations Illustration by Vivan Kamath

IN FOCUS

David Back, Co-Founder, Zoom Cars Bhavik Rathod, GM, Uber Bangalore

here have been numerous incidents when almost all of us have not been able to commute—could be due to autos are too expensive or buses too full. If we had a buck for every time we have complained about our transport facility, we would have become millionaires. David Black, Co-Founder & President of Zoom and Bhavik Rathod, General Manager of Uber, Bangalore, took some time off to answer all my why(s) and how(s) of #RideSmartBLR.

What do Zoom Cars and Uber offer customers?

There are many services on offer, from pocket friendly deals such as the ‘split fare options’, where you can share the cab with someone else from Uber, to Zoom’s discount rates on weekdays etc., making it very feasible and practical to hire a cab or rent a car. The services of the company has open the doors for convenient and comfortable transport facilities at all times.

How was #RideSmartBLR conceived?

Owning a car in India is a sign of status and hence is a luxury that people in India aspire to possess. They go out of their way with the EMIs and maintenance as well as fuel charges which makes owning a vehicle quite expensive. Bars, Pubs and Breweries face several problems such as having their licence withdrawn due to numerous instances of drunken driving. Auto rickshaws make the most of the situation and double or triple the rates or worst case sometimes there is no mode of transportation available at all! Initially, Uber and Zoom collaborated for this project; later on getting more partners like Grallo, who provide event transport solutions for event organizers and the Ashoka Foundation, an NGO that works toward bringing social impact and civic change. These partners realised that their services could work hand in hand, thus, resulting in Bangalore becoming the first city in India to have the #RideSmartBLR.

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Who is this project for?

David and Bhavik, both chip in, saying that this project is for anyone and everyone in Bangalore who uses roadways for transportation. They’ve tried to address different communities by spreading awareness about the campaign in many pubs, bars and restaurants, especially where people sometimes indulge in drinking and then driving or

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014 have no autos to hail once they get out of their favourite restaurant. They largely want to target the youth community, since today’s younger generation is more connected to each other. David says that the youth are “post evangelisers” of any new movement.

What do they think is the USP of the project?

It focuses on making the society better, they say. It attempts to build the community as well as empower people to make the smart choice for travelling. In these times, when everybody is on the road in their own vehicles, trying to be someplace at any given point of time, it’s only obvious that it would double the amount of pollution, fuel usage, traffic etc. With the help of #RideSmartBLR, people can now be aware of the alternatives they can have in order to be more responsible while commuting, at the same time save on the money that goes with owning a vehicle and having a car service when you need one. Going green with the idea of shared travel, lesser number of vehicles etc. These objectives make for a better city.

What sets #RideSmartBLR apart from other social campaigns?

The attempt to engage the community in taking this project forward with more personalised interest rather than(just?) run-of-the-mill methods like putting up billboards and slogans.

What does the future hold for Uber and Zoom Cars in India?

Uber has already been launched in Delhi and Hyderabad, and they are planning to open in all the major cities where there is a demand for such services. They see themselves further expanding their services in Bangalore, the have already launched “Uber Black” which caters to the business class and are focusing on

launching “Uber Lux”, which is Uber’s luxury car services, later this year—an attempt to broaden their horizons Zoom, although a young company, is expanding at a fast rate. They started out with 7 cars in 2012 and they aim to reach 500 to 1000 in the next few months, also increasing the points of accessibility of their services by the end of this year. Zoom plans on acquiring 5000 vehicles by the end of 2015. (Starting with seven cars in 2012, they aim to procure 500 to 1000 cars in the next few months, along with increasing their points of accessibility.)

Why motivated Bhavik and David to be in the auto business?

Bhavik confesses that the reason he took up this job with Uber was because he found it to be really cool. For Bhavik, services like that of Uber removes the uncertainty and the anxiety of safe transport. With Uber it just takes the click of a button and voila! Your ride home is at your disposal before you say “Auto!” Uber is a well-established company based in San Francisco and has set up shop in 68 other cities (across countries). Bhavik is in sync with Uber’s focus on being ‘hyper-local’ as a company because he believes that the locals know their city the best. For David, Co-Founder of Zoom and Greg, Co-Founder, their ambition of democratizing transportation was their driving force. They also wanted to start a more environment conscious transport practice and encourage the use of cars only when necessary. Unlike Uber, Zoom is a relatively new company which is growing and has received positive feedback. Their mantra is efficient transportation. David says that he wanted India to have a service that empowers people to make smarter decisions while travelling which automatically encourages efficiency.

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

Latency Utsav Das Alumni of IIT Delhi New Delhi | # ART Sharp intake of breath, Pain dissolving into a smile, Momentary, yet so fulfilling, Momentary, yet, I surrender, To the calls of Him, To the calls of You.

The sun sinks, leaving shades of a beautiful twilight, The birds fly home I surrender, To a twilight rendered by Colors of faith, Colors of You.

The air is dispersed, With the vivid fragrance of plenary, There is silence in me, there is acceptance, I surrender,

Evolve +

Express

FICTION & POETRY

To the smell of the setting sun, To the smell of You.

Wading through the beautiful mess, I reach Home and ask, Unable to question, Unable to want, Unable to forfeit, But able to surrender, I ask, for the truth.

When He chose to speak to me, That once, that once, He spoke of love, He spoke of You.

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INTERNSHIPS OF THE MONTH COMPANY

LOCATION

TYPE

LAST DATE TO APPLY

Rays Power Experts

NEW DELHI

Full Time

26 / 01 / 2014

Ek Do Dhai

NEW DELHI

Full Time

31 / 01 / 2014

Laugh Out Loud

MUMBAI

Full Time

29 / 01 / 2014

Internet Design Zone

MUMBAI

Full Time

06/ 02/ 2014

Vaathsalya Quality Food Products

BANGALORE

Full Time

12 / 02 / 2014

Code ParallelT

BANGALORE

Full Time

31/ 01 / 2014

Namek Technologies

PUNE

Full Time

30/ 01 / 2014

CONEX SYSTEM

PUNE

Full Time

30/ 01 / 2014

The Medical Park

CHENNAI

Full Time

17 / 02/ 2014

Kanchi Silks

CHENNAI

Full Time

10/ 02 / 2014

University of Tokyo

TOKYO

Full Time

3/ 03 / 2014

IIT Madras

CHENNAI

Full Time

18 / 02/ 2014

ITRI

TAIWAN

Full Time

Last Week of Feb

CERN

SWITZERLAND

Full Time

28 / 02/ 2014

The Hague Institute For Global Justice

THE HAGUE, NETHARLANDS

Full Time

01/ 03 / 2014

FEB

To apply to any of these internships, write to unmagazine@campusdiaries.com

JOB DESCRIPTION

SKILLS PREFERRED

2014

STIPEND

Business Research Analyst

Graduate from a Reputed College, Excellent Communication skills, Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Word is required.

Rs. 10000 - 30000 p. m.

Graphic Designer

Graphic Design, Illustratration, Art Work, Creative, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Copywriting.

Rs. 5000 p. m.

Marketing Associate Intern

Excellent communication skills, prior experience in marketing essential.

Rs. 5000 p. m.

Content Writer

Excellent English language writing skills, Creative mind.

Rs. 5000 p. m.

Social Media & Community Engagement

Copywriting, good communication skills, witty, engaging, creative, friendly, honest.

Rs.3000 p. m.

Fronted Engineer

HTML5, CSS3, Jquery, Twitter Bootstrap, Zurb

PHP Developer

Excellent Communication Skills, Management Skills,Presentation skills.

Rs. 5000 p. m.

Marketing

Excellent Communication Skills, Management Skills, statistics, market research skills and marketing strategy skills.

Rs. 4000 - 6000 p. m.

Business Development Executive

Social Media Marketing, Content Generation, Social Media Management.

Rs. 8000 p. m.

HR Admin

Administration Skills, Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Excellent Communication Skill.

Rs.5000 p. m.

International Summer Research Program

Science undergraduates aiming for MS or Ph.D

Paid (exact amount not given)

Student internship

Outstanding academic background (within three high ranks) in university examinations. IIT students are not eligible.

Rs.5000 p. m.

International Student internship

Open to graduate and undergraduate students currently enrolled at accredited 4-year colleges and universities.

NT$24,000 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NT$36,000 p.m. boarding

Student internship

Bachelor/ Master student in Computer Sc. or Physics. Good Knowledge of English is mandatory; knowledge of French

CHF2700 p.m.

Public international law, international relations, political sciences, conflict studies, or related disciplines undergraduates. Excellent analytical and organizational skills, communication skills, knowledge of the English language (fluent) and preferably one other official language of the UN

Paid (with lunch), but exact amount not mentioned

Program Intern, Communications Intern

Foundation.

Rs.10000 - 20000 p. m.

UNMAGAZINE | FEB 2014

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