Osmania Courier - May 2013

Osmania

Courier

A bimonthly lab newspaper published by the Department of Communication & Journalism, Osmania University, Hyderabad | May 30, 2013 | Vol. 59 No.1 | 14 Pages Rs. 5

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PREVIEW

Safe Campus !2 ________________

Science research in OU ! 3 ________________

Courier Bureau

German Dept.

Golden jubilee !5 ________________

If one were to describe the Arts College, Osmania University, one could say it is a confluence of diverse architectural styles.

Constructed under the supervision of Belgian architect Monsieur Jasper, it has elements of Gothic, Moorish, Arabic and Hindu styles.

The granite marvel was painstakingly put together after the architect’s numerous trips across the world. The pink stone used for the

built in Hindu tradition. A blend of histories is apparent everywhere one gazes.

The splendid edifice housed the entire University for some time after it first opened.

For the students, faculty and the morning joggers, the building may be a familiar sight and may form a backdrop for their activities but for visitors, it is beauty preserved for posterity.

More stories on!the Arts College inside!

Moments to cherish at 79th convocation Syeda Zahara Jabeen

Arts College Annual Day ! 8 _______________

building was quarried right on the sprawling, 1,500-acre campus. The amalgamation of various styles in the Arts College building is a testimony to the ingenuity of the architect.

The grand arch that welcomes visitors is built in Persian Pishtaq form; the columns on the first floor are reminiscent of those in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora; the arcades and parapets are ancient Moorish; and the galleries are replete with ornamental pillars

It was all cheers and high spirits as Osmania University held its 79th Annual Convocation at the Tagore Auditorium on February 7, amid tight security.

Clad in white, a total of 279 Ph.D. and eight M.Phil. candidates received their degrees while 29 gold medals were awarded to toppers from various departments.

The chief guest Prof. Goverdhan Mehta advised youth to dream big and aim for the impossible. He said: “In a competitive world, good is not good enough.

Even better is not enough. Only better than the best will make the

grade.”

Talking about research, Prof.

Mehta, who is a National Research Professor and holds the Eli Lily-Jubilant Chair at the University of Hyderabad, said, “Research and teaching are inseparable and are intimately conjoined.”

He described research as an elixir that fuels creative energy and instincts, and enriches the intellectual life of a university in a way that nothing else can.

OU Vice Chancellor Prof. S. Satyanarayana, said that the 79th convocation was significant as it took place after a gap of three years and also because this decade marked the prelude to centenary celebrations of the university.

A scholar receives her degree from Vice Chancellor Prof. S. Satyanarayana as the chief guest Prof. Goverdhan Mehta (right) and Controller of Examinations Prof. G. Bhikshamaiah look on.

OSMANIA COURIER MAY 30, 2013

2 | FOCUS

UGC team for safer campuses

SITTING PRETTY? Improved cell phone connectivity, transport facility inside the campus, functional street lights, better representation of

women in decision-making bodies are some of the demands of girl students.

Pranita Jonnalagedda & Sneha Verghese

Girl students and women staff on the campus are facing a host of problems related to their safety and well-being, ranging from sanitation issues in the hostels to sexual harassment.

Healthcare facilities and stores are not available on campus. Hostel

students face the most inconvenience without regular bus services through campus as they have to walk a couple of miles on their own, even at night, if they need medicines or other basic necessities.

These problems were voiced at an open forum organised by the Task Force on Gender Sensitisation set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as part

of a nation-wide review of women's safety in Indian universities.

Women representatives from various student organisations recounted the problems of overcrowding in hostels and lack of safety on campus for hostel students.

Several student representatives reported that women students walking to the hostels in the

Items of concern Syeda Zahara Jabeen

A skimpily clad actor gyrating to high decibel music, leering men beseeching her, psyhedelic lights, and smutty lyrics.

All ingredients of an item song which has come to become one of the manistay of Indian cinema. There seems to be a trend called item songs. She is the centre of attraction or the object of pleasure. Nowadays producers and directors are keen on including item songs in their movies. And their leading ladies are more than happy to dance to these tunes.

Very few movies are released sans item songs. It is not that such songs are new to our theatres. Item songs have a long history. Right from Vyjayanthimala to Helen to Zeenath Aman – all of them did at least one item number.

In films of yester years, such numbers were usually done at a villain’s place. It is not hidden fact that even those item numbers represented women indecently but then again such songs were picturised at villain’s parties. And people hardly follow villains.

But today, item numbers are

performed by heroines and heroes, who have a huge fan following. In such a scenario if a heroine dances to a raunchy number, surely it is going to have a huge impact on society. Girls are starving to death in order to resemble their favourite heroine and boys

on the other hand see every woman as an object of pleasure, which is giving rise to crimes against women.

These songs are so popular that even a sixyear-old sings ‘Wanna be my chammak challo...’ and understands it very well, thanks to the meaningful moves. Though we have laws such as the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, nobody seems to care.

Ours is a country where women are worshipped in the form of Saraswati and Durga, but these songs are hitting the theatres, representing the women in anything but decent way. Movies are meant to entertain people and not lead to promote indecency.

Public figures, be it politicians, musicians or actors, carry certain responsibilities towards society. They are seen as role models whom people want to emulate. Noted actors, whom people look up to should desist from doing this though the moolah may be high.

evenings are being teased and sometimes manhandled by outsiders using the campus road.

Some of the roads connecting the bus stops on the off campus road and hostels are not lit well and no security guards are posted on these roads.

Women students also emphasised that these problems have been brought to the notice of the

university authorities on several occasions and accused the authorities of turning a deaf ear to their complaints.

Student representatives demanded that apart from restoring bus service, a medical and general store should be opened on campus within easy access for the women students.

The six-member task force consisted of Prof. Meenakshi Gopinath (Chairperson), Prof.

Mary E. John, Prof. Ayesha Kidwai, Prof. Kulwinder Kaur, Prof.

Janaki Abraham and Prof. Susie Tharu. Prof. Padmaja Shaw from the Department of Communication & Journalism, Osmania University, conducted the open forum.

Prof. Gopinath exhorted students and staff to contribute their ideas on how gender sensitivity could be made a part of every institution’s common practices. She said the committee’s objective was to gain insights into the existing mechanisms available for the welfare of women, their effectiveness.

The Committee also visited the University of Hyderabad and English and Foreign Languages University. It is expected to recommend measures for the safety of women and youth and programmes for gender sensitisation on campuses.

“Unless you seek and sustain a movement for gender sensitisation, nothing that is done by any authority from the top could make a difference. Anything that comes from the top is bound to fizzle out.

It’s only when you put some pressure that you get results,” Prof.

Gopinath said.

Change mindsets Saligram Shashirekha

Changes in the legal framework, educational films, attitudinal change and strengthening of the women’s movements would, to a certain extent, serve as a deterrent to the increasing incidence of rape, dowry-related violence, female infanticide and sex determination tests, the ugly faces of gender discrimination against women in India.

There is an urgent need to insert new amendments to provide extra legal teeth to IPC Section 292 (sale of obscene books), Section 293 (sale of obscene objects to young persons), Section 294 (obscene acts and songs) and to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986 and other laws.

Films must be made with certain moral and noble values that educate as well as entertain the masses, making them conscious of their social problems. If the inhuman and barbaric acts against women are to be exterminated and women are to be given dignity and respect in society, then the quality of the films must be improved drastically so that cinema creates an atmosphere of awareness and creativity directing the people towards music, patriotic and educational values.

Educational programmes can be fruitfully conveyed to rural and

The need of the hour is attitudinal change. We have to change our mindsets urban audience through the visual media. Such an approach can bring about a new look to Indian society where women can live peacefully, with respect and dignity.

The need of the hour is attitudinal change. We have to alter our mindsets and treat women as human beings with the same rights to which men are entitled.

Unless there is an attitudinal change, no law or policy is going to succeed.

The Father of our Nation supported the cause of improving the women’s condition through education and reform of marriage laws.

He remarked, “Woman has been suppressed under custom and law for which man was responsible and in shaping of which she has no hand. Woman has as much right to shape her own destiny as man has to shape his.” Women’s movements can play a vital role here.

It is not that we lack ideas, but we lack the will and commitment to translate our words into actions.

OSMANIA COURIER MAY 30, 2013

NEWS | 3

Science research on upswing at OU Funds adequate, but hiccups persist Sneha Verghese

The science departments in Osmania University are scaling up their research activities in line with a big increase in the allocation of funds for research in pure sciences in the 12th Five-Year Plan.

Speaking to Osmania Courier, Prof. V. Sudarshan, Principal, University College of Science, said that the quality of research in the University was on par with that in worldclass institutes, and that several faculty members were working on important research projects that could lead to publications in high impact factor journals.

With funds being funnelled, the labs and research facilities are being spruced up in a planned manner to support research. The University has now been identified as a University with Potential for Excellence (UPE), which makes it eligible for a Rs. 50crore grant.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also sanctioned grants for R&D to 15 departments, which include, among others, Zoology, Genetics, Mathematics, Biochemistry, and Geophysics, under various programmes like SAP (Special Assistance Program), ASIST (Assistance for Strengthening Infrastructure in Science and Technology), CAS (Centre for Advanced Study), DSA (Departmental Special Assistance), and DRS (Departmental Research Support).

With the UGC grant from the 11th plan, the University has already established the Central Facilities for Research and Development (CFRD) housing fa-

cilities like Central Instrumentation Lab, Information Technology and Communication Lab etc.

However, Prof. Kandasamy Ulaganathan, faculty member at the Centre for Plant and Molecular Biology (CPMB), OU, says that the Science dapartments are no longer attracting bright students to take up research as they are lured by the Information Technology (IT) sector.

“IT field requires more skill than intellect, and even an average student can do well. But research in basic sciences needs the best brains. The volatile situation on campus further discourages students from applying,” he said.

Prof. V. Maniah, Head, Depart-

Budget blues for OU Courier Bureau

Osmania University’s budget for 2013-14 carries a deficit of Rs. 41.72 crore, thus opening up the prospect of the authorities seeking additional funds from the State government.

The University has projected an expenditure of Rs. 370.82 crore for the year while an income of Rs. 328.67 crore is expected. Apart from the block grant of Rs. 170 crore given by the State government, funds are expected from the examination fee (Rs. 40 crore), internal resources (Rs. 32.89 crore) and PGRR Distance Education Centre (Rs. 5 crore).

Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Satynarayana said that he would seek Rs. 45 crore in additional grants from the government for the smooth functioning of the varsity.

The highest deficit ever projected in the varsity’s history is due to new recruitments and commitments of arrears at a time when there is no addition to the block grant. The PGRR Centre for Distance Education, once a cash cow, is no longer fetching huge sums as enrolments have dropped due to competition from new universities and expansion of colleges in rural areas.

On the positive side, several research grants have been sanctioned to the University by the UGC while fellowships awarded to students have also increased.

Prof. Satyanarayana said seven teachers had received Emeritus fellowship while two faculty members got BSR fellowship. Two post doctoral fellowships tenable at US varsities have been sanctioned to faculty members in sciences under Obama-Singh Knowledge Initiative.

The government has sanctioned Rs. 19.94 crore for setting up a PG centre at Siddipet in Medak while a proposal to start another PG College in Jogipet in Medak district is under active consideration, the V-C said.

ment of Chemistry, says that the global trend is focused on applied research rather than fundamental research.

“Students are generally more interested in obtaining a degree rather than understanding the concepts and gaining knowledge.

Instead of being thorough in the basics, they tend to pay attention to a specialised area. It’s like trying to reach the top of a tree without strengthening the roots”.

“This explains the high number of publications in applied sciences. Besides, the multidisciplinary nature of research nowadays also ensures more publications,” he told Courier.

A recent report on the research

trends in India by Thomson Reuters shows that Chemistry, a basic science, has the largest number of research publications globally. But the citation impact was found to be highest in the applied fields of Engineering and Material sciences rather than in pure sciences like Molecular Biology and Geology.

While these trends are affecting basic sciences across the country, some problems warrant the immediate attention of those at the helm within the departments and at the level of the University. Though efforts are underway to strengthen research, scholars do have some problems to air.

OU Budget shortfall at Rs. 41.72 crore Items of Expenditure

Revenue sources

Projected expenditure

Rs. 370.82 crore Of which

State government’s block grant

Rs. 170 crore Examination fee

Salaries

Rs. 181.30 crore

Rs. 40 crore

Pensions

Internal resources

Rs. 85 crore

Rs. 32.89 crore

Plus: Revised

pay scales New recruitments Consolidation of pension Establishment of Post Graduate Centre at Siddipet

PGRR CDE revenue Rs. 5 crore Additional grants to be sought Rs. 45 crore

Things are looking up too: Several research grants have been sanctioned to the University by the UGC while fellowships awarded to students have also increased. Seven teachers got Emeritus fellowship while two faculty members received BSR fellowship. Two post-doctoral fellowships tenable at US universities have been sanctioned to faculty members in sciences under Obama-Singh Knowledge Initiative.

Coming up under the University with Potential for Excellence scheme: New block in Second floor at Central Extension of Genetics University College of Science Facilities for R&D department

Rs. 7.3 crore

Rs. 5 crore

Rs. 1.5 crore

Plus:!New hostels for men and for women PhD students planned

Says a Ph. D student from the department of Chemistry, on condition of anonymity: “We don't have basic facilities such as proper running water in the labs. The sinks are always choked. The computer lab is common for PG students and research scholars and we do not get enough computer time. We have to visit the library at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in order to do the literature search for our work.”

“We are forced to pay for all our requirements, from a glass rod to the chemicals, from our own pockets. Apart from utilising the annual contingency amount of Rs. 20,000, we spend Rs. 6,0007,000 from our monthly fellowship to do our research work.

Though we are told that grants of Rs. 80 lakh to Rs. 1 crore have been sanctioned for the department, we are unaware of how and when it is being used,’’ points out another student.

Vindhya (name changed), Department of Zoology, says, “We don’t have a distilled water plant here. We have difficulty in obtaining model animals for our experiments. Kavitha (name changed), Department of Environmental Science, however, says that she faces no problems with her research work, and the facilities in the lab are sufficient.

However, a there is a unanimous opinion among the faculty that the funds allocated to the departments as per the annual budget of the state government suffice only to pay the salaries of the staff and to meet their daily requirements and in handling practical classes. There is no support for R & D from the university itself, they say.

Varsity moves ahead with UPE projects A year after being accorded the ‘University with Potential for Excellence’ status by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Osmania University is moving ahead with the implementation of the holistic development and materials research programmes.

The University has also constituted steering, consultative and implementing groups for each of the three interdisciplinary projects under the head of ‘holistic development’. The projects envisage setting up three new Centres for Advanced Research & Training – in Earth Sciences, Governance & Development, and Translation & Multilingualism.

A six-member expert UGC committee recently validated the University’s proposals in the focus area of Materials Research after discussions with senior members from participating departments, the administration and faculty.

The committee consisted of Prof. H. Devaraj (Zoology), Prof. Atul Harish Chokshi (Materials Engg.), Prof. S. Manocha (Materials Science), Prof. Anjan Das Gupta (Biochemistry), Prof. Dharminder Kumar (Biomedical Engg.) and Prof. K. Gunasekaran (Addl. Secretary, UGC).

COURIER BUREAU

OSMANIA COURIER MAY 30, 2013

4 | NEWS

Arts College premises to be spruced up

Syeda Zahara Jabeen

Lush green lawns, flocks of pigeons and groups of students unwinding greet a visitor to Arts college. To beautify the ambience further, the University administration is embarking on an ambitious programme and very shortly, one would see an equally beautiful and lively backyard of this heritage structure.

Prof. S. Mallesh, Principal, Arts College, said the first-of-its-kind makeover project is estimated to cost around Rs. 12 lakh, which would be tapped from the UGC General Development Fund under the 12th Plan. Work will com-

mence once fund allocation is done, he disclosed.

“Most of the students and staff who come from bus stop usually walk from a deserted backyard.

No more,” he says. “We have fenced the surrounding areas of Arts College to prevent children from playing cricket.”

Generally, the department of gardening is supposed to look after the surroundings. But the Principal said he was taking charge personally to see to it that greenery is maintained.

A park on the right hand side of the Arts College building is also being considered.

Talking about the interiors of

plexes and stadia tucked away in different corners are difficult to locate.

One Iranian student said that the University should distribute a directory with a map to freshers and also make it available on the Internet. Else , the University should set up Information kiosks at the main entrances with OU staff guiding people visiting the Universit.

He suggests that signboards and maps which mention the distance would be of great help to students and visitors.

Visitors and tourists to Osmania University find it difficult to locate departments or the various facilities located on the sprawling campus as the signboards and display boards are defaced with posters of various organisations and events including those of student unions and political parties.

More than 12 colleges, eight hostels, gardens, bus stops, two railway stations, different departments and other institutes are located on campus. There are at least three major entry points into the campus – Shivam, Ramnagar, and Tarnaka.

Except for a few landmarks such as the Arts College, there are several places which have no clear

Courier Bureau

Foreign students who had to face hassles scouting for rental accommodation in the city can now heave a sigh of relief with the opening of the new international hostel for students of Osmania University. The new building was inaugurated by the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Ved Prakash recently.

Constructed at a cost of about Rs. 6.75 crore , with a built-up area of nearly 50,000 sq.ft., on the busy thoroughfare near Tarnaka cross roads.

There are just two floors with provision for two more stories.

The plush building, which can house 172 students, will only be available for male students pursuing their Masters or PhD courses for now. The reasons being cited are

Students flock to classrooms – for coaching

Syeda Zahara Jabeen

directions on signboards. Everyday, several people including students visit the University Press and Examination Branch, the nodal points for purchase/submission of forms and collection of certificates. The administration building also draws people from affiliated colleges for clearance of files etc. The OU Centre for International Programmes, sports com-

multiple, including security.

The hostel has 16 two-bed rooms and 18 three-bed rooms on each of the two floors. “Each twobed room also has a small kitchenette while a common spacious dining hall and kitchen on each floor is available for cooking. A sports lounge and a reading room with television are other attractions,” says C. Venugopal Rao, Director, University Foreign Relations Office. The idea of an International Students Hostel was mooted way back in 2002 and a proposal was submitted to the UGC seeking a financial assistance of Rs. 3.63 crores.

The authorities then planned to accommodate 200 students and an International Transit House with a provision of accommodating 50 girl students. The wait has ended after 10 years.

the 94-year-old building, Prof.

Mallesh says, “For physically handicapped students, we are going to build toilets in the cellar.

This work will be taken up by building division”.

The Principal is planning to upgrade large lecture halls in the college, such as room nos. 57, 133 and 140, all of which can accommodate 200-250 people.

“We are planning to equip these rooms with LCDs, public address system and air conditioning.

Windows and curtains installation work will also take place,” Prof. Mallesh said. These works will start soon after the winter semester ends.

With most signboards defaced, campus is a maze Mohd Azharuddin

New hostel opens for international students

Photographs: Srinivas Takore

With the academic year coming to an end, students on campus are fully focused on preparing for competitive examinations and various entrance tests scheduled for the next few months.

Arts College, the epicentre for various protests, now presents a different picture. In the afternoons, a large number of students are seen headed for the classrooms.

At the centre of this change are the classes run by the University’s Competitive Examinations Coaching Cell (CECC) funded by the Uni-

versity Grants Commission (UGC).

“Students from around the University and affilliated colleges are eligible for these coaching classes,” says M. Ramakrishnaiah, Director, CECC. He adds: “Funds were sanctioned for holding classes for National Eligibility Test for Lectureship (NET), State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) and for Banking recruitment tests.”

Students seem to be happy with the lectures, as reflected in the jam-packed classrooms. It helps that the medium of instruction is both English and Telugu for SLET and Group-I exams.

OSMANIA COURIER MAY 30, 2013

NEWS | 5

‘Zeitgeist’ marks 50th year of German dept Sneha Verghese & Pranita Jonnalagedda

On 23rd February, 2013, an entire country was recreated inside a modest auditorium. Germany, the land of Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms, was brought to life in all its splendour through “ZEITGEIST”, a cultural fest, organised by the students of the department of German, Osmania University. “Zeitgeist”, meaning “Spirit of the Time”, was held to commemorate the German department’s Golden Jubilee. The 2hour event saw students showcasing various skits, dance forms and songs in German.

The colourful event began with

a traditional Indian Kuchipudi dance performance by Radhika and Veena, and was followed by a brief introduction to the history of the German department by Pavani Kanaparthi and Raghuvamsi, the event hosts.

The array of programs included a thought provoking oneact play titled “Wen Suchst Gandhi”- a story of a modern Gandhi seeking help from everyone to take his bed ridden wife Kasturba to a hospital. What odds Gandhi encounters in his quest forms the crux of the story.

The comic drama “Der Artzbesuch” that showcased the interac-

Many students are of the opinion that an M.A. course in German should be introduced tion between a subjugated husband and his domineering wife had the audience in splits.

The highlights of the event were the Waltz (German folk dance presented by the students of the department) and a yodelling performance by Rupsa Banerjee. Yodelling is form of folk singing where the person singing

has to make rapid and repeated changes in pitch and it is said to have originated during early Stone Age. The Waltz, one of the oldest dance forms of the world, was performed to the tunes of the violin, the bandola (solo instruments), and guitar, was a treat to the

eyes.

The audience continued to be enchanted by other German melodies such as “Guten Morgan”, “Ohne dich” and “Noch im hunderttausend jahr”.

There were theme based programmes as well – “My Life, My Nature” was a programme that conveyed the message to save na-

ture.

The entire event was conceptualized, planned and presented by the students themselves, with minimal help from their professors. “Two months of hard work resulted in this event. We even had to forgo classes sometimes.

But in the end it was worth it”, said Md. Khaja, the event host and organizer. Kaushik , a Junior Level student, doing his engineering from Aurora College, designed all the posters and acted as technical support for the event. “As this is a part time course, most of us could spare only around 4 hrs a day. In that time, we tried to gather funds, practiced for the events and finally the event was successful”, said Pavani, one of the hosts of the event.

The students felt that since they were doing a diploma course, nobody considered them a part of the university. Hence, their main aim had been to make their presence felt in the university by conducting this event. Nitesh Kumar Gupta, an Advanced Level Course student and participant, said, “We joined this course as it guarantees us good job opportunities.” However, many students were of the opinion that an M.A. course in German should be introduced.

The event was mainly funded by ex-students, and a significant contribution of Rs. 10,000 was made by the Principal, OU Arts college Prof. Sankasala Mallesh Prof MSN Reddy , Registrar, Osmania University, Guest of Honour, said that there was an increase in the demand for foreign languages due to globalisation and that learning a foreign language would fetch students good career opportunities in multinational companies.

Prof. S. Mallesh congratulated the Department on its contribution to the University and society.

Mr. JVD Moorty, Head of German Department, also spoke .

The event was attended by nearly 350 people, some of whom were ex-students. Many Germans were also seen enjoying the program.

‘There is never a dull moment’ Sneha Verghese & Pranita Jonnalagedda

“I believe in the literal meaning of Athithi. In Hindi, “A” means “without” and “Thithi” means “date”… So a guest is truly one who walks in without making an appointment”, says Prof. J.V.D. Moorthy, Head of the German department, Osmania University, as he welcomes us into his office. He continues, “And that is exactly what I like about our country. Business, official matters, everything is dealt with informally, but with a warmth that is absent in every other part of the world.”

After graduating with an honours degree in Economics from Delhi University, he went on to do his Masters in German.

When asked about the transition from economic policies to a foreign language, he replies that learning German happened by chance. “I started learning German just because my friends had enrolled for the course. And

“More people are willing to learn a foreign language, as more job opportunities are available now...”

Prof. J.V.D. Murthy my parents were only too happy as it kept me away from playing cricket!”

He started teaching German at Central Institute for English and Foreign Languages (now English and Foreign Languages University) in 1985. Then he joined Osmania University in

1989 and has been a part of the faculty since then. His enthusiasm is evident as he talks about the Department’s golden jubilee celebrations that took place on 23rd February this year. “We organised a cultural fest called 'Zeitgeist' that included German songs, skits and the Waltz. The best part was that the students

came “Zeitgeist” means “Spirit of time.”

So does he find a difference in the scenario as far as the students are concerned?

“The numbers have increased”, he says, “More people are willing to learn a foreign language, as more job opportunities are now available, especially in the BPO sector. More than 300 students will be appearing for their exams from our department this year.” He proudly says that most of his students are well placed in reputed companies like Accenture, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, etc., where they draw salaries ranging from Rs.15,000 to Rs.50,000 per month.

But the absence of an e-classroom facility bothers him.

“There isn’t enough support for our department in the form of funds”, he says. “An e-classroom will be a valuable learning aid for students of all foreign languages.”

Apart from German and teaching, he has other interests too. His love for nature made him join the AP Bird Watchers Society in 1983 and he is an active member till date. His other passions include travelling, sketching, and playing the Harmonica and the Casio. “I can sing as well, but not the way the public would like me to!” he jokes.

He describes himself as one who loves talking to people. “It could be anyone -- lorry drivers, street vendors… but each conversation gives me something to think about.”

For a person who has always been a teacher, we ask him if he’s bored with his job. “It’s like asking a tour guide about his job, as the places he shows around remain the same. I had never planned to take up teaching, it just happened.. and I don’t regret it. There’s never a dull moment, as the students change every year” he smiles.

OSMANIA COURIER MAY 30, 2013

6 | NEWS

Mech students to crank out racing car ‘Supra’

Making waves

Commuting woes continue on campus

Halima Sadiya

Osmania University Vice Chancellor Prof. S. Satyanarayana (third from right) launches two books authored by Manne Krishank (third from left), spokesperson, OU Students" Joint Action Committee. The first copy of the book, #No One Dies", was presented to Mr. G. Vivek, MP (extreme right). The other book was #Facebooked Revolution", a collection of the author"s posts on the social networking site.

Mohd. Taher Hussain Sheeraz, a student of MCJ, Osmania University, receives Certificate of Participation from Prof. Usha Raman for his research paper titled #Mass-self communication and social movements A case study of India Against Corruption movement 2011 and the Egyptian Revolution", presented at COMMCLAVE 2013 at University of Hyderabad on February 28.

OSMANIA COURIER Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) under No. 8132/62.

Reported and edited by the students of the Department of Communication & Journalism, Osmania University. Published monthly except during vacation.

News and views expressed in the newspaper do not necessarily represent the official view of the University.

Editorial Trainees Syeda Zahara Jabeen, Pranita Jonnalagedda, Sneha Verghese, Saligram Shashirekha, Mohd.

Azharuddin, Srinivas Takore, Halima Sadiya, Suman Dhayal, Naveen Vaitla, Sertseyonas Negash, Liu Shiming, Mohd.

Taher Hussain Sheeraz.

Editor M. Srinath Reddy, Head, Dept. of Communication & Journalism.

Associate Editor Prof. K. Stevenson Assistant Editor B. Ramakrishna Printer Director, University Press & Publications. ________________

FORM IV The following is the statement of ownership and other particulars about Osmania Courier as required under the Registration of Newspapers (Central Rules), 1956.

Place of Publication: Hyderabad Periodicity of Publication: Monthly (except during vacation) Printer:!Director, University Press & Publications, O.U. Editor:!M. Srinath Reddy Names and addresses of individuals, partners and shareholders holding more than one per cent of the total capital: Osmania University, Hyderabad 500 007.

I hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.– Editor ____________ Feedback is welcome and may be sent to: oucourier@gmail.com

@

_________

Osmania Courier is now available online in pdf format at: www.issuu.com/osmaniacourier

Mechanical Engineering students are set to get their hands on the tools again, this time aiming to create a racing car, christened ‘Supra’.

This is hardly a few weeks after their design for a fourwheel steering mechanism won the Innovation Technology Award 2013 that carries a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh.

Raja Rao, co-captain of the team, who conceived the idea, said, “Last year, our seniors made a two-wheel mechanism.

So we thought of making something new.”

It took the team ten months to carry out the design that has five-part suspension, steering, breaking, roll cage and transmission.

The team had 25 members including five girls, and worked under the guidance of Prof. V. Uma Maheshwar.

The vehicle was made in two phases – designing and fabrication. Designing was done on the computer and fabrication took four months. Navayuga Constructions, Deepsea Technologies and Mahindra and Mahindra sponsored the project that cost around Rs. 2.4 lakh.

The contest was held in two rounds. In the first round, held at Bangalore, around 260 colleges participated. Of them, 120 were selected for the next round held at Indore.

A bus stop inside the campus wears a deserted look Suman Dhayal

Plying of shuttle bus services on campus is one of the several solutions suggested by students and staff to solve the transportation problem even as the AP State Road Transport Corporation refuses to operate buses through the campus.

Ms Singdhy, Zenna and Sukruta, students of Psychology, said they face problems with auto drivers demanding higher fares for destinations inside the campus.

Thus their daily commute to college was eating into their monthly budgets of food and books, they said, adding that a bus service would save money.

Mrs. Yellama, in her late 50s, working as a support staff, says she has to leave home early to reach office in time.

Most of the women students

complain about having to walk long distances in the hot summer and hope that some form of transport within campus would ease their problems.

Dr. Veeraja, Professor in Psychology Department, says that the administration should think about alternatives such as starting special bus for staff and students on campus, as many of the departments are located away from the main road.

Reacting to the suggestion, Prof. M.S.N. Reddy, Registrar, Osmania University, said the University would consider this option but added that it would require several approvals and might not happen immediately.

The Registrar said that the administration had already requested the state transport authorities to start their operations through the campus.

IN BRIEF #Outsourcing, a way of using HR" A two-day national seminar was organised on recent developments by business management department. Dr. Balram, Deputy commissioner of customs and narcotics academy, IRS, was the chief guest. B. Selvarani Head, Department of management, spoke about outsourcing in relation to making use of human resources in new ways. Students of business management said that there is a

Courier Toons

need to observe the changes tak- Teachers from around 80 colleges ing place in world economy as well affiliated to Osmania University as India’s economic scenario. participated in the meet.

##T" varsities need special syllabus" A Telugu Teachers’ annual meet held recently has called for the freedom to create special syllabus for Telangana universities. The conference was chaired by Prof.

S.V. Satyanarayana, Head, Department of Telugu, UCASS.

Osmanians donate blood for blast victims

Around 90 members of staff and students of Osmania University did their bit for the victims of the twin blasts at Dilsukhnagar by donating blood. The blood donation camp was organized by ‘Shakti Youth’, at University College of Arts and Social Sciences.

Sneha Verghese

OSMANIA COURIER MAY 30, 2013

FEATURES | 7

Gripping myth Pranita Jonnalagedda

The trilogy has finally come to an end. An end that is eloquent, intriguing and page-whizzing! The Oath Of The Vayuputras takes off from where The Secret Of The Nagas ended - with a surprise! A slow paced beginning gradually picks up into a journey filled with lots of bolts from the blue along with numerous questions.

In The Immortals of Meluha, Shiva, a Tibetan along with his tribe is invited to the kingdom of Meluha of the Suryavanshis – who are at war with the ‘evil’ Chandravanshis. The kingdom is also facing attacks from the Naga terrorists. Meluhans drink Somras, a magical drink that gives a long life to humans. Shiva’s throat turns blue after he consumes Somras and he is hailed as the Neelkanth, owing to a belief that the person whose neck turns blue after the consumption of the drink will be a reincarnation of Lord Rudra. In this book, Lord Shiva helps the Meluhan king, Daksha to defeat the Chandravanshi king, Dilipa.

Then next book, The Secret of The Nagas, reveals that Shiva’s mission to end evil was not to capture the Chandravanshi kingdom.

He realizes that even here, there is a belief in the legend of the Neelkanth. While the two kingdom’s way of life is distinct, there is nothing evil about either of them. He is guided all through by Vasudev pundits who are able to communicate with him through his thoughts. But there is something that is still graver that is making the river Saraswati to dry up. What is it that is amiss?

And in this final chapter of the Shiva Trilogy, the mystery of the

The Oath of the Vayuputras,

by Amish Tripathi.

Westland Press.

Pages 565. Rs. 350 EVIL has finally been unraveled.

But how does Shiva eliminate it from the face of the earth with so many uncertainties in front of him? It has dawned on him that his old allies are now his rivals.

How does he fulfill the journey of his life that fate has bestowed upon him? Who are the Vasudevs who keep guiding him all through? What have the Vayuputras got that could help Shiva accomplish his mission? Well, the book will tell you all these and you are sure to be gratified, as all questions will be answered.

This story of Lord Shiva is a fictitious take on the mythological story of the Mahadev that generation after generation has been lis-

tening to. Retaining the same feel and essence of the original story, the entire epic is retold with a new take. The journey of a man who is hailed as God due to his fate, how he proves himself worthy of the title given to him is what forms the crux of the story.

While most of the characters are the ones we have seen in the earlier two books, the new characters are exceptionally well drawn.

Avoiding clipped sentences, the author brings characters to life.

Introducing new characters in a not-so-clear yet very clear way seems to have become synonymous with Amish’s trilogy. The evolution of various characters over the series is a trait the author needs to be applauded for. You feel empathy, sympathy, anger all at a time.

Knowing the ‘real’ story of Shiva and Sati, the ending of the book is not really shocking. However, for the ignorant, the surprise element in this last segment of the trilogy wouldn’t be welcome. But maybe that’s what the purpose of the entire journey was – a reason to end evil! And a strong one it is!

The writer seems to have left no stone unturned in retelling the epic of Lord Shiva. The book seems to be wonderfully observed and all important aspects have been cleverly retained.

While all aspects have been a thumbs-up for me, the only factor that could discourage a reader is the size.

For a reader who is new to this series, I suggest you grab the first two books anon because this is one you wouldn’t want to miss. To the familiar readers, you won’t be disappointed and will be left craving for more! As for me, I am bowled over!

impressions of the city and the University...

The first thing I saw, tasted, smelled, and heard was totally different from what I knew previouslyabout Hyderabad. I found the city crowded with people and different kinds of vehicles. It’s a city with a high volume of traffic.

As a matter of fact, in the beginning I felt lonely in a plural society with different cultures, languages, and religions. The reason is simple. I was brought up in a relatively small city with little population and few vehicles on the road. Of course, people who leave their native countries suffer from homesickness but it slowly wanes Initially, I was so scared of a few things that happened in the College of Arts and Social Sciences Campus, OU. There were violent protests, frequent bandhs, and postponement of

examinations At its worst case, some people were vandalising the departments and some of them went to the extreme- manhandling staff, marring the smooth teaching-learning atmosphere.

Fortunately, all the people around me, my teachers, classmates (the regular ones), and my neighbours in the place where I stay, did and still are doing everything to comfort me.

I was able to remain focused because of the unstinted support iI received from several people including Dr. Vijay Kumar, an Indian working in my home country Eritrea who told me about the University and the historic city of Hyderabad.

I did visit a few places Charminar, Hi Tec city and I am convinced that there is all round development taking place at a rapid pace.The people and the warmth they exude is something which impressed me.

As is obvious, I stay connected with my family, friends and well wishers baack home in Eritrea through the Internet.

They are all a click away.

Credit also goes to information and communications technology.

Naveen Vaitla

Come evening time, bookworms, evening walkers and campus employees gravitate towards what has become their favourite meeting place. Nestled between the E1 and E2 hostels, the place goes by the name of Sala-ud-din tea stall.

As one ad campaign puts it, a lot can happen over a cup of tea. The customers here seat themselves on naturally occurring boulders under the shady trees, and sip their tea – an experience they can’t buy in any Irani hotel.

On a typical day, youngsters can be found discussing recent notifications, examination patterns, contemporary issues, while groups of walkers chat about current trends, personal and family issues and University employees discuss their work, problems with the superiors.

That’s not all. Sala-ud-din tea stall has been the venue for many resolutions and decisions on umpteen issues.

Srinivas, a student of M.A. (Telugu), says, “When I feel bored or lonely, I come here and have a cup of tea. It always gives me a boost, particularly the fresh breeze.”

Asked about the tea stall’s beginnings, Sala-ud-din says: “Forty years ago, in the 1970s, my father migrated to the city from Medak district when my house was destroyed due to heavy rains. My father used to wake up in the wee hours, at 4 or 5’a.m, light the kerosene

stove to make tea, and would continue till 7 in the evening.”

“By God’s grace, there are no ups and downs in my tea stall business. In fact, there won’t be because tea has become a part of culture and tradition. Almost everyone is so habituated to having tea that people can’t work energetically without having tea at least once a day”, he continues.

On the proposals of making tea the national drink, we hear a loud voice shriek, “Sala-uddin bhai do chai laao!”. Salauddin turns to serve the order, as if replying to my question.

Siraj, younger brother of Sala-ud-din says, “During my initial days, we used to sell tea at Re. 1 per cup. Due to rising costs of milk, sugar, we had to increase the price. But we offer a cup at an affordable price of Rs. 4 whereas in many other hotels and tea stalls, it is Rs. 7 to 10.”

“We are managing to keep it affordable with the help of government subsidised kerosene oil,” he says. “University gave us livelihood but we can’t give anything in return.”

In the words of Sala-ud-din, the most difficult days were during the 2009 Telangana agitations when police personnel used the tea stall as a strategic high ground to tackle the demonstrators.

Apart from tea, the stall offers samosas, biscuits, and dilpasand. In an unexpected twist, Salauddin says he doesn’t sell cigarettes as those are injurious to health.

Harbin – not your average Chinatown

A roller coaster ride Sertseyonas Negash records his

A lot happens here over a cup of tea

Liu Shiming

My hometown, Harbin, is one of China's most famous historical and cultural cities and a tourist hotspot with worldwide reputation. With winter temperatures often going below -30°C, it is known as the ‘Ice City ‘, ‘Swan under the pearl’ and ‘Oriental Moscow ‘, ‘Oriental Paris’ and so on.

Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province of the People's Republic of China, and is the northeast China's political, economic, transportation and cultural center. It is China's largest provincial cities in the area, with the seond largest population in mega-cities.

The city is also home to 48 ethnic groups, with an ethnic minority population of 660,000. Special geographical location and historical processes have made this town exotic. It is a confluence of minorities of the North and the history, culture, and the integration of Chinese and foreign cultures.

The highlight here is the Ice

and Snow Festival that has managed to turn the city's extreme winter cold into an attraction for outsiders. The winter, despite the frostbite-inducing weather, is the best time to visit as it's the town's most festive time of year. That’s when

the city is dotted with outstanding ice and snow sculptures.

Some of highlights in previous years include translucent reproductions of the Great Wall and Beijing's Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tian'an Men), and lifesize pagodas.

Arts College Annual Day 2

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1. Vice Chancellor Prof. S. Satyanarayana (left) and UCASS Principal Prof. S. Mallesh (right) welcoming the chief guest, noted poet and activist Gaddar (centre).

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2. (From left) Vice Principal Prof. M. Gona Naik, VC Prof.

Satyanarayana, Prof. Surya Dhananjaya, Gaddar and Principal Prof. Mallesh take turns to light the lamp.

3. Gaddar takes to a song in his characteristic style.

4. A student recreates a scene from the epics.

5. Girls regale the audience in traditional attire...

6. ... who in turn play their part with cheers and claps. ______________ Moments captured by Mohd. Taher Hussain Sheeraz

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