Pondicheri magazine by shafeek

Widerstand

Annual Magazine. Pondicherry Univesity Students Council 2015-16 pusc2015@gmail.com

Imprint

Mentor: Prof. Anisa B. Khan, Vice Chancellor (i/c) Chief Editor: Prof. P. Moorthy, Dean (i/c), Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Welfare Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Editor: Anjali G. Magazine Committee: Jishnu EN Dhrubajyoti Regon Tamizhkalaiarasi Nidhin Nath Sreejith J. S. Srutheesh. S Madhuri Pandit Sivachandiran Thesniya P. M.

Cover Page: Muhammed P Illustration:Jazila Lulu, Amala Tessa Johny, Sabareesh K Design: Krishna Praveen, Sreejith K, Nidhin Nath KA Photos: Dhineesh Chandran, Ajmal, Nidhin Nath Printing: Statement of ownership and other particulars about the publication of Literary Magazine of Students Council, 2015-16

Place of publication: Puducherry Year: 2016 Name of publisher: Prof. P Moorthy Nationality: Indian Adress: Dean (i/c), Students Welfare, Pondicherry University. I hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to best of my knowledge.

Sd/Chief Editor.

This magazine is under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Vice Chancellor massage

I am happy to know that Students’ Council of Pondicherry University is bringing out the Students’ Council Luterary Magazine of 2015-16’. I appreciate their efforts in bringing out the journal to encourage creative writing by reading and eveluating fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction by student of the university with a hands-on education in literary publishing. I wish the Literary Magazine of 2015-16 by the Students Council a great success. Prof.(Mrs.) Anisa Basheer Khan Vice Chancellor (i/c)

Welfare Deans message

I am extremely happy, as Dean, Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Welfare (DSW), to introduce the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; magazine appearing for the first time in our University. I congratulate the Pondicherry University Students Council for this noble initiative. I wish such magazine has to come regularly in the future. All the best. Prof. P. Moorthy Dean, Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Welfare

Editorial

Dear readers, A year passed by where the democratic nation has turned in to a fascist one where the Dalits burned alive and the educational institutions were saffronised. The country has been witnessing the spring of resistance from the ultimate sovereign, the people. The educational institutions were traumatized and the students were overthrown to streets. The story hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end there. It turned out to be the largest critical uprising against the regime. In such a situation our voices are to be heard, our thoughts are to be shared. Let us sing the song of resistance. Let us uphold the freedom of speech. Regards, Anjali G

TRIBUTE to the MARTYRS

of institutional murders Tribute to the students murdered by institutions

CONTENTS Stories Poems Articles Reports Letters Critics Reviews Photos

Widerstand

‘Widerstand’ means ‘resistance’ in German. It was a magazine published from Berlin since 1926 to advocate National Bolshevism, under the editorship of Ernst Niekisch, a German politician and socialist. The magazine stood against the fascist Nazi rule and eventually shut down in 1934. He was arrested in 1937 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in concentration camps, two years later at the Volksgerichtshof (People’s Court of Nazis) for ‘literary high treason’. The student movements in India is the leading force which fight against the government now. Across the country, students are on the road. Began with FTII, through Chennai IIT, HCU,PU, AMU, Jadavpur and JNU, the student community is making a great wall to the fascist forces. At this moment we cannot talk about anything else in a campus magazine. As Neruda sang, ‘come, see the blood in the streets’, we are talking about the students murdered by institutions, jailed by government for sloganeering against the state, the people dying of poverty, people discriminated and lynched because of their religion, caste, gender and even the food habits. Yes, we resist. Magazine Commitee

is a matter of grave concern

University and the MHRD.

and questions the autono-

His suicide is a fact but the

my of the Universities and

institutional murder is the

concerns the educational

realty. The MHRD, Labour

environment for the bright

and Employment Minister

young people of the coun-

Bandaru Dattatreya, local

try. The political leaders

BJP MLC S. Ramachan-

should not forget that it was

dra Rao, together declared

the students’ revolution that

openly that they have noth-

overthrew Indira Gandhi

ing to do with this incident

during and after the emer-

within the 24 hours of his

In the recent times, Hyderabad Central University has turned

gency. If “Indira is India”

‘Murder’. Who asked them

into the epicenter of student’s revolution throughout the

was thrashed at that time,

to give statements and clari-

country following the suicide of a Dalit student Rohith Ve-

nothing welcoming can be

fications if they had nothing

mula. NDA government at the Centre is openly advocating

expected to be done to the

to do with the whole inci-

its anti-educational policies and saffronisation of the Indian

MHRD minister Smriti Ira-

dent? The explanations by

education system. The clash between the radical Saffronis-

ni for the inefficient and

the ‘Honorable’ dignitaries

ing policies of the RSS and the students who would eventu-

blood sucking policies to-

made the conspiracy open

ally stand up to it was inevitable. The institutional murder

wards the education system.

and also made it clear that

of the Dalit student Rohith sparked off the rage among the

Who was Rohith? A schol-

something was fishy enough

students and spread as fire in the entire country in form of

ar? A Dalit? Or something

to stink. And yes the reek of

protests against MHRD and the Union Government. BJP’s

else? In his note he blamed

this conspiracy spread like

student wing has been an instrument of atrocities and vi-

no one but the circumstanc-

wildfire, not only among the

olence against the Dalits and suppressed community stu-

es of his action were not a

students of various educa-

dents and teachers in all over the country. The open act of

mystery. He was the victim

tional institutions in India,

such elements across the educational institutions in India

of atrocious actions of the

but also outside of India.

TURNING IN TO SAFFRON CONCENTRATION CAMPS

People watching television at prime

the right wing party. In August 2015,

Bandaru Dattatreya.

time were intelligent enough to see

in a false accusations and complaints

The complaints against the removal of

that the actions taken by the BJP lead-

of assault, ABVP wanted to throw

the corrupt and autocratic Chancellor

ers in the whole incident was not ap-

Rohith and other ASA members out

of the Pondicherry University fell into

propriate. Meanwhile, the local police

of the University. Although, the first

the deaf ears of MHRD but the Minis-

had filed a case against the Vice Chan-

report of the board pleaded not guilty

try showed remarkable interest in this

cellor of Hyderabad Central Univer-

to the charges of assault levied against

case and wrote five letters to Hyder-

sity, Union Minister of state Bandaru

Rohith by ABVP leader Sushil Sharma

abad Central University asking them

Dattatreya and two other leaders. The

and others, but it led to his suspension

to take the measure to resolve the

Ministry of Human Resources and

for one month. While the former Vice

complaints by Minister of State Ban-

Development has also appointed a two

Chancellor, considering the appeals

daru Dattatreya. The local BJP MLC

member committee to investigate the

from Dalit students, abandoned the

Ramachandra Rao, also entered the

whole case.

suspension and ordered a second in-

scene with his own vested interests.

Rohith Vemula was an activist of

vestigation committee to probe into

Soon after joining as the VC, Prof.

‘Ambedkar

Association’

the matter. It should be noted that

Rao, through his Executive Council

which has emerged as an arch rival to

ABVP leader Sushil Kumar Sharma

Sub-Committee recommended the

the BJP supported students associa-

had documented a case for his safety

restoration of the suspension penalty

tion ABVP. It was unacceptable to the

fabricating a false allegation of assault

on Rohith including four other Dal-

ABVP that the Dalit students’ associ-

against Dalit students. The registrar

it students. Making it even harder

ation of Hyderabad Central Univer-

of the university in his affidavit to the

for them, their scholarship was also

sity strongly opposed the hanging of

court admitted that all Dalit student

withheld. These five Dalit students ap-

Yakub Memon because it seemed as a

are innocent in this whole episode.

proached all possible authorities seek-

threat to the BJP-RSS agenda. The pro-

ABVP frustrated of its empty blows

ing justice but nowhere did they find

test demanding the screening of Naklu

dictated a complaint letter to the Min-

any ray of hope. And it was then inside

Sahni’s documentary film “Muzaffar-

istry of Human Resource Develop-

the tent out at the University gate on

nagar Baki Hai” was not tolerated by

ment by contacting a central minister

the 10th day, January 16th, shocked

Students

and traumatized from the incident,

gan Reddy, increasingly politicized the

fuel to the fire, accused Ambedkar

Rohith Vemula committed suicide.

case. Even BJP’s Dalit leaders started

Students Association of anti-national

When the news of Dalit student Ro-

showing displeasure openly over the

activities and questioned dead Rohith’s

hith Vemula’s suicide spread like a fire

whole case. Union Minister of Social

caste identity. Similarly, another min-

on the social media platforms students

Justice and Empowerment Thawarch-

ister VK Singh on social networking

of various universities had taken the

and Gehlot also announced an Inquiry

site Twitter called protesting students

streets protesting against the atrocities

Committee from his ministry to probe

as dogs. How can a few words from the

on the downtrodden Dalit students.

into Rohith Vemula’s suicide. Finally,

Prime Minister extinguish the fire that

Protest began from Hyderabad uni-

the remaining four Dalit students’ sus-

had risen from a Dalit student’s sui-

versities and spread to Delhi, Mumbai,

pension was withdrawn on January 21.

cide, if the perpetrators are not pun-

Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Pondicherry,

But by then it was too late. Following

ished?

Allahabad, Varanasi, Lucknow etc. In

the incident Prime Minster Narendra

The whole event had brought before us

defense of the Ministry, Union Min-

Modi also acknowledged the impor-

many neglected but important issues.

ister Smriti Irani tried to frame Dal-

tance of this case by giving a speech at

On the one hand, the autonomous sta-

it faculties of the University but was

Lucknow University. Seeing the delica-

tus of the academic institutions is in

completely put to shame when the fac-

cy of the situation Prime minister may

danger. The way two Union ministers

ulties themselves

have credited Rohith’s suicide as a loss

and a local BJP MLC S. Ramachandra

stood up against the University Ad-

of Mother India’s son but anti-Dalit

Rao, influenced and pressurized the

ministration and MHRD. Meanwhile,

statements by his ministers and other

Vice-Chancellor, exposes the reality

visits from the leaders of different po-

BJP leaders highlights the dual face of

of the autonomous stature of our Uni-

litical parties, such as Rahul Gandhi,

the government. BJP National General

versities. But on the other hand, the

Arvind Kejriwal, Sitaram Yechury, Ja-

Secretary P. Murlidhar Rao by adding

treatment of the Dalit students of the

Universities who were at the wrong

differences over the strategy to under-

report about the atmosphere inimical

end of ‘feudal’ treatment from the Ad-

stand and raise Dalit students’ isues

to Dalit students must live in? Accord-

ministration, is also a critical matter.

can be seen clearly. The high ethnic

ing to news report published in ‘The

Claiming to be modern and democrat-

cultural domination is one of the key

Hindu’ in the strongholds of racial

ic our Universities can’t hear the voices

factors behind the exploitation but the

discrimination in educational institu-

that are being raised against it. Under

Left still appears unwilling to contem-

tions, 18 Dalit students have commit-

the mask of the autonomous stature

plate.

ted suicide in the last four years. Four

the Universities condemn the voices

The issue of Dalit student Rohith’s sui-

years ago in 2012, university Grants

of Dalit students the same way Khap

cide has again forced to think about

Commission (UGC) in its regulations

Panchayats shuts the social status of

caste and caste politics. ABVP and

had officially confirmed the tragic

the dalits in villages. The Brahminical

Bandaru Dattatreya, in their accusa-

caste discrimination occurring in our

character behind the mask of autono-

tions alleged ASA of anti-national and

campuses. Moreover, under the UGC

my of the Universities could be more

extremists activities and participation

regulations on 19 January 2013, racial

monstrous, as we have seen in the con-

in racist activities in the campus. But

discrimination against Dalit students

text of Hyderabad Central University.

were the actions against the Dalit stu-

has even been measured. But what will

Today the revolution led by the Dalit

dents by the higher caste administra-

the higher caste autonomous institu-

students across the Educational in-

tors, faculties and ABVP activists of

tions have to do with this?

stitutions in India challenging the

the Hyderabad University along with

It should be recalled that in February

autonomous misdoings can be seen

BJP ministers not racist by the true

2008, Another Dalit student of the

everywhere. Dalit students associa-

definition of the word? In her press

same university in Hyderabad to pay

tion is fighting and demanding for

conference, the statements of Union

the price of being a Dalit by his suicide.

the rights and entitlements under

Minister Smriti Irani declining the

On one hand Mrs. Smriti Irani insist-

various names in various universities

suicide as the outcome of discrimi-

ed of not making the suicide into Dalit

like- ‘Dr. Ambedkar Student front of

nation how the Government views

and non-Dalit debate but one the other

India’ (DASFI), ‘United Dalit students

things through a fox’s eye. Did Rohith’s

hand BJP minister Dattatreya and Uni-

forum’ (UDSF), ‘Ambedkar Students

suicide had really nothing to do with

versity’s ABVP leader Sushil Kumar

Association’ (ASA), ‘All India Bahujan

his being a Dalit? Wasn’t he related to

embarrassed themselves by playing

students forum’ and ‘Ambedkar-Peri-

Dalit politics? It could not be simply

their own caste card. In reality, by ig-

yar Study Circle’ etc. Unlike other Stu-

ignored that his identity was ques-

noring caste you promote racism. To

dent organizations, the Dalit student

tioned and politicized. Aren’t the stu-

remove racial discrimination from the

organization raise voice to debate on

dents from Dalit communities the ones

educational institutions it is primarily

fundamental Dalit issues. In internal

who are thrown out of the institutions

important to uproot ethnic discrimina-

evaluation and interviews, the dis-

when there is crisis? After the suicide

tion of feudal era and to accept of Dalit

crimination of the Dalit students can

of a tribal student at AIIMS, when the

exclusion, otherwise talented students

easily be witnessed. Though they may

Thorat committee was constituted to

such as Rohit Vemula will continue to

not have doubt on the commitment

check the discrimination with SC, ST

vanish from the Indian universities.

of Left student organizations but their

students, wasn’t it mentioned in the

Nehal Ahmed M.A. 1st year, Politics and international relations

The country without free speech Media Cachaphony

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is

Later, JNU Vice-Chancellor constitut-

known for practising ideas of various

ed a committee for investigating but

thinkers including Tagore and Ambed-

irony is that on the basis of intitial re-

The role of media in JNU is very no-

kar. Unfortunately these ideas are at-

port seven students along with Kanhai-

ticeable proving that this issue was

tcked by the government in debate over

ya Kumar were debbared academically.

planned in a way to create a political

nationalism and anti-nationalism. On

Kanhaiya was arrested by Delhi police

propaganda for vote bank. Media trial

9th February, a group of students held

on 12th March, and cases were regis-

instead of releasing the news has start-

an event in JNU campus in solidarity

tered against him in section 124-A(Se-

ed to pass judgement and divide the

with struggle of the Kashmiri people

dition) and 120-B (criminal conspira-

whole issue into manufacturing debate

and against extra-juducial killings of

cy) under Indian Penal Code. In court,

of nationalism and anti-nationalism.

Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt which

Kanhaiya denied all the charges which

Several doctored videos were played on

was titled as “The Country Without a

was slapped against him and also dis-

news channel in which Kanhaiya and

Post Office”.

associated himself from the slogan.

other students were raising anti-India

ABVP protested against this pro-

Kanhaiya got interim bail for six

slogan and this videos proves Kanhaiya

grame by calling it anti-national activ-

months but in between his hearing, on

as seditious and anti-nationalist in me-

ities which disrupted the environment

February 15, 2016, JNU students and

dia trial before judicial trial. In regard

campus. Then they went to VC’s office,

professors, as well as journalists, were

to this, various talk show telecasted

shouting slogans demanding the expul-

attacked by BJP MLA O.P. Sharma and

repeated question by anchor: “Nation

sion of the students. ABVP alleged that

a group of lawyers. Kanhaiya was also

wants to know”.

protestor were raising slogan against

attacked on 17th February by lawyers

In a magisterial enquiry ordered by

India like: “ Bharat ki barbadi tak jang

inside the premises of Patiala House

Delhi government, seven videos were

rahegi”, “Bharat tere tukde honge”.

Court.

sent

to Hyderabad forensic lab, in

Amar Shahido ka paygam, Jaari raakhna hai sangram.. which two videos were doctored. Out of the seven vid-

That young man who wanted to be scientist and know

eos sent by the Delhi government to the Hyderabad-based

what is there beyond the stars, whom you turned in to

Truth Labs, two have been found to be tampered with

a dead body was anti national for you. As he questioned

while the rest were authentic, PTI sources said. “In the

why is that some people will remain downtrodden as some

manipulated clips, videos have been edited and voices

mad head named Manu once wrote that some people have

have been added. The main report with a supplementary

come from head and some from feet? When Umar said

have been submitted to the Delhi government,” sources

he does not believe in your idea of Hindu nationalism,

said.

you tagged him terrorist. Why because he has a Muslim

The three branches of Government: Executive, Legislative

name? Because your ideologue Gowalker said “They (hin-

and judiciary, with the revolution IT we added media as a

dus) should instead concentrate fighting the Muslims,

fourth pillar of democracy. Ideally, it is one effective pil-

Christians and the communists.” Why asking freedom

lar for check and balances for the above three branches.

from Jatibad, Punjibad, Manubad, became anti India?? Is

Irony is that all the three branches are over politicised or

India is only of caste hindus, of the patriarchal males and

over institutionalised by ruling party. In that case, media

Hindu fanatics?? The lakhs of people in kashmir, North

was considered as fourth pillar,but unfortunately, media

Esat, Chattishgarh, Jharkhand who are killed raped tor-

is more politicised and is defining their new role by doing

tured every second day in the name of Armed force Spe-

trials on debate shows. Media is there to help citizens to

cial protection Ac,t are not part of your “akhand Bharat”?

shape their views and opinion regarding political or civ-

That old man in Dadri whom you have killed in suspicion

il society. But after all this incident, where media played

of having beef is not a “beta” of “bharat mata”?

the role of mute spectators in few issues and outspoken in another issue, it compels us to think where the media is

JNU was anti national as when you give tax holidays to

going and what they are doing? And we also need to ques-

millionaires and snatch non net fellowship, we occupy

tion media as a fourth pillar of democracy or government?

your University Grant Commission, when a 16 year old

We all notice the sound coming out from our TV channel

girl get raped and killed in educational institution and you

where people are shouting and scolding at each other.

play the old ploy of character assassination and sucide, we

This is not the first time when JNU raised dissent voices

took over the streets; when you try to crash down FTII

or fight against injustice, discrimination and exploitation.

or Ambedkar Periyar Circle in IIT Madras we stand by

For example, JNU conducted various programmes and

them, extend our solidarity. JNU will always remain anti

seminars on Afzal Guru extra judicial killings. JNU is a

national to you as a tribal student from Orissa will come

place where every section of society gets space to discuss

and lead the student movement, as it will give the space

their ideas, every issues are raised by student organisa-

to a Kashmiree woman to come and speak for her people.

tions such as tribal problem, caste discrimination, communal violence, gender inequality, with full dedication by

The progressive section of this country will build barri-

different modes like protests, pamphlets, movie screening,

cades of rationality and resistance and like we did it this

seminars etc. As we all know, JNU is known for brand

time, we will defeat the saffron fundamentalism every

wagon of left ideology even though they are criticised and

time it dares to rise. Remembering the martyrdom of

condemned by right wing parties in a very democratic

Govind Pansare to Rohit Vermula, the struggle to build a

way. Then here the question is, why did this issue come

better country will continue till the time we conquer the

up like this and why was the debate of nationalism and

‘azadi’ not from India but in India.

anti-nationalism started by Right wing forces? Dipsita Dhar Mphil Student, JNU.s

People Reaction Protest rallies were organised by students and professors, nationally and internationally. Pondicherry University students also took out the “mashal jullos” in solidarity of JNU. In an email to JNU VC, Noam Chomsky asked “How can you permit police to enter into campus?” Professor Vivek Kumar, Centre for Study of Social Systems, asked “After 47 years of all this work, how can JNU suddenly become ‘anti-national’?” Kumar, came to JNU 25 years ago,

Overpolitisization?

and calls it his “social mother.” According to him, calling JNU anti-national is questioning

Sedition law was enacted by British Govern-

the very process of education that enables one

ment in 1860 to arrest the freedom fighter.

to think critically.

After that, several times debate took place to remove this law and it has also gone into sever-

According to CPI(M) General Secretary Si-

al interpretation. In a very famous case, Kedar

taram Yechury, “There can be no bigger farce

Nath Singh vs State Of Bihar (1962), the first

than Godse-worshippers putting out certifi-

case of sedition tried under independent India,

cates on nationalism.”

the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court interpreted the law in line with the 1842 case -

With neo liberal attacks on India time is getting

a person can be charged with sedition only if

tough day by day. There is continuous attack

there is incitement to violence in his speech or

on education, free speech, activism, tolerance,

writing or an intention to create disorder.

secularism etc. Now it is time to fight against

So, JNU incident were not liable to be charged

all ills and evils of society with proper and cor-

under sedition law and in case of Kanhaiya

rect means. Dialogue is very important to save

who was not the organiser of that program,

ourselves, so we all need to discuss and debate

why did he got arrested? This shows how insti-

on issues and then draw the conclusion with

tution is politicised by the ruling government

proper reading. As i mentioned above, media

and doing what they wants, as Romila Thapar

is no more reliable so we should look for al-

has brilliantly argued in her recent book, the

ternative media which give alternative view to

problem with our politics is the fact that the

us. The attack on educational institution shows

government sees itself as the state.

that we are in crisis.

#Occupy UGC Anjali Ganga Ist MA Politcal Science and International Relations

The marketization of education has

only a small minority will get access to

students council represented to admin

reached its peak when the NDA govern-

the public services. Education is the tool

about reducing fee, Vice Chancellor (i/c)

ment got in to power. Nation has wit-

which transform the society. And if the

Prof. Anisa B Khan’s reply was ‘UGC

nessed the uprising of students’ power

privatisation happens only an elite class

representatives has told us “students are

when the government tried to cancel

of society will end up in having educa-

having three or four gadgets madam,

the non- NET fellowship guaranteed by

tion. The cancellation of non- NET fel-

you need not to reduce the fees. Instead

the same. The occupy UGC protest was

lowship was the stepping stone. But the

increase it”, so what I can do?’. Even our

quiet successful when it compared to

decision of the government received a

administration wanted to cut it down,

the protests which happened earlier. The

nationwide protest.

the present scenario makes it impossibe.

combination of the left fronts had made

A third world country like India, should

Earlier the NDA government had

it to the victory that the government

be depending on education to make a

brought down the scholarship of social

came down to the students and prom-

better generation. But the current re-

sciences from 5 to 3% and they have ul-

ised to continue the fellowship.

gime focuses on to curtail the beneficia-

timately increased the fees structure of

The occupy UGC protest was a counter

ries enjoyed by the students’ communi-

the technological institution like NIT

reaction against the government strate-

ty. The plurality of ideas and the critical

and IITs. Rather than encouraging the

gy of signing the GATS agreement and

analysis of government basically emerge

students from various economic sectors

thereby handling over the public sec-

out of students’ community. Here it is

of the country the agenda of the current

tors to private ones. The forerunners of

evident that the government is trying to

regime is to confine the arena to an eco-

our country dreamt of having a welfare

suppress the voices of the same.

nomically well to do class.

state which provides beneficiary welfare

Despite being a central university,

The occupy UGC protest has caught

schemes to the needy. But lately the right

Pondicherry University also running out

the attention of media as well as inter-

wing government had tried to privatise

of budget. Last month Finance Officer of

national student community and got

the public sectors so that the government

PU had come up with a circular not to

an awareness among the people about

will be relieved from the duty which is

approach admin with new non-plan ex-

the relevance of not signing the GATS

assigned to them. The primary duty of a

penditures as they don’t have anything to

agreement. If the government alone

nation is to provide equal access to wel-

spend. Governments are cutting down

cannot sustain the regime then on what

fare schemes but what is happening right

the GDP share on education every year.

authority people may depend it any lon-

now in our country is vice versa.

According to the University administra-

ger? The current government has to an-

If India signs the GATS agreement and

tion, even the declared amounts are not

swer this billion dollar question if they

open up its service sectors to the globe it

dispersed properly. And UGC demand

move forward with the idea of signing

may end up in economic disparities and

the university to increase the fees. When

the agreement.

Sreejith J.S ll year, Integratd Economics

Era of Indian Resistance

JNU, Jadavpur University, EFLU and

after 139 days, we have decided to

IIT Madras.

go back to academics with immedi-

When Gajendra Chauhan was ap-

ate effect and will continue to protest

In his famous speech, ‘Unity of work-

pointed as the Director of Film and

through our films, scripts, music and

ing class against fascism’ Georgi

Television Institute of India(FTII),

art. Further, we will not have any en-

Dimitrove said, “The working class

India was witnessing an unseen pro-

gagement with the Ministry till the

must strive to secure the union of all

test ever in its history. 139 days long

appointments are dissolved”. Even af-

forces of the working-class youth and

stuggle gave the strength to all the

ter calling off the strike, students pro-

of all organizations of the anti-fascist

student community across the na-

tested durig the visit of the Cairman

youth, and win over that section of

tion to raise to the occasion. They

inside the campus. The message they

the working youth which has come

went on strike on June 12th, 2015.

gave to the nation is powerful.

under the demoralizing influence

Addressing the media, Vikas Urs,

IIT Madras was the next target of

of fascism and other enemies of the

student representative who has been

government.

people.”. The campuses across India

a part of all the meetings, said, “It is

Study Circle(APSC), an independent

write a new history of united resis-

a very important day for all of us. We

body of students was banned in the

tance against the institutionalised

started thinking one night, when we

campus by the administration. This

Hindutva fascism. As Dimitrov puts,

got to know that Gajendra Chauhan

was on the allegation of misusing

the fight against fascism should be

would be our chairman, who is this

the ‘privileges’ given by the admin-

united. All the political and cultural

man? What started as a question on

istration. Latter the intervention of

differences will be kept aside. So we

June 12, took shape and stirred the

MHRD and central government on

stand with them when they are being

entire nation. The strike gained mo-

the complaint by Sangh Parivar orga-

targetted. The campuses in India now

mentum as we reached out to the film

nizations in the campus was revealed.

realize the threat and stands up.

fraternity as well. We were subject-

Their complaint says that APSC tries

From the begining of the Modi gov-

ed to arrests. However, our message

to make caste divisions in the campus

ernment, educational institutions are

went out to the government, clear

and conspires against central govern-

in limelight. They break the news for

and loud. After nine meetings since

ment. Numerous protests happened

months. Starting from FTII Pune the

they were unable to resolve the issue,

inside and outside IITM which lead

fire of struggle reached out students

we realised that they don’t have the

to the removal of ban on APSC.

in various institutions like HCU,

mandates to take a decision. Today,

A clash between two students groups,

Ambedkar

Periyar

which could have been solved ami-

there in JAC. The continuing institu-

nity in JNU and outside apart from

cably inside the campus was unnec-

tional murders of Dalits and minori-

Sangh Parivar actively participated in

essarily dragged out by the new Vice

ties across the country have raised

the protest for freedom of speech and

Chancellor of Hyderabad Central

the concern of everyone following

against the so called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Anti-nationalistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

University lead to suspension of 5

this series of incidents. Student com-

label. Kanhaiya was symbolised as a

student activists. The false allegations,

munity could realise the institution-

revolutionary celebrity and was invit-

suspension from hostel and continu-

alised fascism that links the political

ed to several colleges and universities

ous mental torture from the adminis-

organisation, government and the

across the country.

tration and right wing forces lead to

students organisation and odd them

As a whole we can see the dawn of

the suicide of a Dalit research scholar,

out. Still the protest against the re-

widerstand from the students which

Rohit Vemula. The subsequent pro-

turn of killer VC Appa Rao is on its

immediately reacts and blend the

test by joint action council of UoH

progress.

protest against the threat of fascism

created waves of protest across the

When it comes to JNU, there also sto-

in our campuses. Every major protest

country. Evidence came out point-

ry is no different. When JNUSU Pres-

in our premier institutions and ev-

ing out the unfair interference of

ident Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested

ery incident that had social influence

central government and MHRD in

alleged raising anti-nationalist slo-

were carried over by the vibrant stu-

the incident. The combined effort of

gans, various shades of red and blue

dent community in India as protests

The Joint Action Council for Social

in JNU stood together along with

and solidarities. Not a single protest

Justice in HCU including almost all

other organisations and fought to

or incident in this country is in vain

other organisations other than ABVP

save the democracy in JNU. Kanhaiya

now. The speciality of such move-

compelled the administration and

was several times manhandled by the

ments are the unity. Political rivals in

the right wing forces to take back

right wing leaning lawyers in court

campuses joined hands to resist fas-

foot. Around 14 organisations are

premises. The whole student commu-

cism, which is the need of the hour.

The diary of a protestor Vipindas III year, MCA

17-01-2016 I got a rough picture of struggling campus when I reached the north ShopCom, crossing the entry. 6 to 7 people were lying under a shamiana which covered a three-side wall in square shape decorated with a slogan boards and photos of Ambedkar and Phule. My friend Uvais (M Phil student, HCU, alumnus of Dept. of Economics, PU) had told me about the strike which has conducted against the suspension of students including 5 Dalits. There I came to know that those students, who are ASA activists, have the support of various student organisations including SFI. 18-01-2016 In room, all comrades were immersed in the discussions regarding the protest gathering in the evening. With them I reached the North ShopCom by 6.30pm. It was filled with yellow light. A girl was addressing the gathering. By 8 they started singing songs and playing instruments. I joined them with a Malayalam folk song which means ‘we cannot live if we don’t sing’. 19-01-2016 It was a misty morning. I went for a tea at the South ShopCom, and its surroundings were filled with posters against ABVP and the current VC of HCU, Appa Rao. We Reached North ShopCom by 6 in the evening, a kind of coldness had pervaded the whole protest. There was no positive response from the VC. Suddenly the crowd was heading towards NRS hostel. Along with Uvais and other comrades, I too rushed into the spot. What we saw in the hostel, literally made us freeze. One among the suspended students, Rohith Vemula was in hanging position inside a room. He has used the flag of ASA to hang himself. Yelling students and friends… His suicide note on the table… University authorities came, naturally the students shouted at them. Doctors came to confirm the death. Students were in rage. They broke the glasses of ambulance which was brought to get away his body. Soon I informed Pondicherry Comrades about the incident. Rohith’s body was taken to the ground floor of the hostel. His suicide note was readout before the students. Those words hurt me more than the suicide.

“I feel like growing gap between my soul and my body, and I have become a monster I always wanted to be a writer of science, like Carl Sagan. At last this is the only letter I am getting to write”, the letter said. His words hunted me as well as the other students. Looking at the flag hanging from the fan once again through the window, I just walked outside. 20-01-2016 Students were not ready to give away the body. They demanded the arrival of VC. A group of students came from Osmania University and poured kerosene over their body and threatened the authority that if they tried to take the body before the arrival of VC they would burn themselves. Consequently more police force reached the spot. I heard that by 4 in the morning, police took the body into hospital forcefully. The strike was getting intensified in the campus. Rohith’s Mother and Brother reached yesterday itself. The strike stride up the people across the campus. By evening north ShopCom was filled with slogans. From different directions students rallied to ShopCom, holding the posters of Rohith. Many people including University student’s council President Suhail addressed the gathering. Rohith’s institutional murder was viral in the social media also. In the meantime Rohith’s body had been cremated by the police even without the consent of his mother at some unknown place. VC Appa Rao was not ready to address the students. Instead he put a notification in the university website, announcing one weak leave for the university due to ‘certain reasons’. The whole university was burning in the fire of protest. Students expressed their rage and protest by burning effigy of VC . Many teachers came in support of the students. Local and national media covered events minute by minute. Later Joint Action Council (around 14 organisations) announced indefinite hunger strike. Police took control over the campus. 26-01-2016 On the days which passed national leaders like Sitaram Yechuri, Rahul Gandhi, Prabhath Patnaik, Manik Sarkar, Hyderabad M.P. Owaisi and students’ organisation leaders came in solidarity with the protest. Many students from other institutions across the country visited HCU. From the Pondicherry University my friends came and we addressed the students. At the night time students made the place creative through their music and art works, many of them drew the portraits of Rohith Vemula. While I was walking towards the hostel the voice of students were blowing my mind “ El paublo unido jamas sere vencido”.

BARATH

BEEF EATERS GO TO PAKISTHAN

MATHA KI JAI YOU ARE

Roses are red Chaddis are khaki They’re afraid of dissent And prefer oligarchy Violets are blue Kebabs are delicious Don’t make them of beef It could be seditious I’d write some more verses Whith critique sharp and rational But its too late- you laughed Now we are both anti national -Sanchia DeSouza PhD student in the Department of History at the University of Toronto and graduate assistant to the Jackman Humanities Research Group on City Foods. Masters’ degree from the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India, and a Bachelors’ degree from the University of Mumbai, India.

ANTI-NATIONAL

# SHUTDOWN JNU

G.Tushar Integrated 2nd year Dept. of Politics and international relations

Ouroboros as imperfect as anything can get flaws stand out like thorns on a cactus a world of insecurities on your shoulders crushing bone to dust and dreams to death. turn around and walk away from it all burning bridges, building new ones, floating debris of yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mental decay come crashing into tomorrows reality filling in vain the unending void with toxic waste trying so hard to play this harrowing game, walking blind, fairness is lost upon the universe along with the rest of the human devices the tireless reflection in the mirror points the finger again this endless soul devouring cycle is getting old, but I would never turn around and walk away not even if I could.

Jazila Lulu Ist MA Politics and IR

An open letter to Mr. Adam

In the name of God... I am a sin Cut off my head Nothing concerns me any more Here is where my secret lies. You stole my missing character, With your very ice-cold kisses But youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never know where my heart lies. I am a sin Cut off my head You find love in my face, and You find love between my thighs, Just to finish your fun. I feel pity Love makes you blind. I am a sin Cut off my head You often praise me, To justify your thoughts And you rob my rights.

Criticize my blood with your knife, That cut my womb. I am a sin Cut off my head “Women are shadow of men “ But I am the fire to cook Curtains won’t hide my light You may burn into silver smokes Or, you have to go far. I am a sin Cut off my head I advise, never pardon me dear As I may mastrubate, To question your pride. I am your stethoscope Hold on, not to miss your heart beat. I am a sin Cut off my head You said, I am your rib Here I confess, ‘ you are my fucking blood’ And I lit cigarettes, In the basins of my breast. I am an owl with sleepless nights. I am a sin Cut off my head Name me as you wish, Call me a bitch! But not Mrs.Adam! And you dare to call yourself a woman I say, “I am a woman”.

Moti Joseph.V 2nd MA English

DOWN A MEMORY LANE

“ What is a library?”. Did I really hear those words ? I couldn’t trust my own ears. Did I hear it wrong ? A million questions raced across my mind as I stood numb looking at the language student standing in front of me.”Am sorry Sir but how to refer in a library”? These words shook me out of my trance.

I asked him if we could go for a stroll in

the garden. Classes were over for the day and there was not much work to be done. Shakey readily accepted to walk with me. We walked down the lane, past the fountain with no water, crossing the brown trees with branches sticking out parched and crossed the lifeless pond which was meant for science students to study the living lives found in water bodies. We searched for a shady place to sit and found an empty stone bench under the artificial shade constructed by the nature club students.

I was deeply lost in thought. Walking in the lane

was nearly a walk down the memory lane. The lush green lawns, the fountains gushing out icy water, the breezy leisurely walk in the dark shades of the tree was gone. It all seemed like a dream. It surprised me to realise that science students were more interested in peering at dead animals kept in chloroform filled bottles rather than watching

them alive and active in their natural

have those topics discussed online sir.

habitat.

We open different websites, cut, copy,

turbing the order in the racks,

paste, at times edit and submit.”

brought them to the reading room,

on hearing the blaring thundering mu-

That was a thunderbolt from the sky

took notes along with the author’s

sic ring in Shakey’s Mobile. I just then

directed at me. I guess that was when

name, publication details and page

noticed that I had remained silent for

I realised that books were meaningless

number. Keeping the papers safe we

too long and Shakey was sitting next to

to language students. I was at a loss for

rushed to the bus stops to get the last

me, not knowing what to do. I asked

words and told him to collect pictures

bus in order to avoid walking home.

him “Why did you prefer choosing

of libraries from ‘different websites’

After freshening up we would be busy

English literature as your course of

and come to class the next day. I was

arranging, editing, correcting all the

study”?

determined to inform my students

notes collected. Our staff wouldn’t be

For which he replied with a

about the importance of books and

satisfied with the number of books re-

wide grin “it was because of my name”.

what they mean to a language student.

ferred. It was really an assignment.

Seeing me blink he continued,” my

grandpa had a great craving for the

in our college days we used to rush to

the quality. No more libraries, no more

writings of some great person named

the library after college hours. The ear-

books and no more reference. Above

Shakespeare. I didn’t want to have such

ly bird catches the worm or the refer-

all, dominates the electronic giant

a long name, so I shortened my name

ence books would be pecked by some-

gulping down the fresh springs and the

as Shakey. This great person and my

one else. We could hear the librarian’s

young bubbling creative minds of the

grandpa’s emotional talk made me take

stern, loud voice,”no notebooks inside

wards. I got up from the bench, felt like

up literature”.

the library, no scribbling in library

a Phoenix vowing to help my students

Did Shakey mean Shake-

books.” We went in with pieces of pa-

taste and see the pleasure of reading.

speare ? I felt a spear being thrown at

per neatly folded, looked for the books

me. My eyes nearly popped out of my

in the racks without disturbing the or-

head. Shakey continued with greater

der in the racks,

I was brought back to reality

zeal,” however literature is interesting compared to the formulae, diagrams and the dull boring subjects. But what you said in class about referring books in a library seemed something new. That’s why I raised a doubt sir”.

I looked at him wondering

where the passion and the love for the language has disappeared. “Sir, but you haven’t told me yet about the library,” he asked. It was my time to clarify a few doubts. “How do you collect notes for an assignment?” I asked and the answer was shot back instantly “browsing in different websites, we already

As he left, I sat recalling how

Times have changed, so has

Hush! I’ve slipped so quietly into this quiet, dark space The ‘Here’ where dumb, muzzled questions from the ice-cold walls, Where beshamed tears with stubborn insistence, defiant pace Stand cursed for their very existence All reveries of mine stunned into silence As I grope in the dark for some token of sanity. That crack of light by the little corner That whisper of wind round the little bend Conspire to make mockery of reprieve With flecks of strange, loud yellow glow Mixing up the black surrounding me Till even the blackness I’d grown to learn is undecodable You reach out to me with the sun in your eyes While half-concealed there, rests that streak of dark-grey cloud You let me glimpse that day, when you seared your sides into mine You stand before me now, with torch and ready, outstretched arms

Do I jump in and trust the light you want me to see? While I still recall the unholy embers in your eyes And can still, as clearly, feel you feeling me? That moment you chose to blur all distinction. Brother dear, for softly teaching me now have you come forth Even while you spurn my tears and abhor my entreaties No, I shall shrink away from your beseeching orbs Though my foolish heart aches and longs for your once-gentle thoughts Yet, tell me not you love me, I might answer, while yet here Though I have stubbornly slipped here while you are over there, calling me out But the You I once knew is gone and I lie here Verily, I remain here and I say just for a day More, I choose the night sky over here I choose this quiet, dark space. The ‘here’ where The blackness drapes over my bruises and whispers ‘gainst you Where the dark, cold walls-Questions, teach me to walk upright again

Yonder Glow Yonder is a glow that was once mine Which glow bathed me in happy dreams-hazy delights Caressing me with a warm breeze Of half-whispered wordsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;conjured-up truths I call to it nowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;come back and smite me O smite and blind me If you must, only smite me, I pray That I once more with smiles I may Half-understood glow, with hazy dreams And with ignorance, know bliss

Colors Visions of heady purple assault me Upside-down feelings, spinning circus rings I am spinning around more than I should be State of confusion, dizzying feelings Cloud of dark brown are perfuming my way I am lost in the crowd, emptiness holds sway Sea of faces all round me I see Happy slides and films of bliss greet me And I am more lots than I should be A tinge of green and its growing inside me Ugliest feeling, threatening to expose me Coiled round my heart, as a serpent so vile

There’s no song in the air, nothing’s going right

Feel like I am naked to all eyes and smiles.

When mistakes and lost dreams gather in piles Feel deep as the ocean and cold as tiles

Must crush it myself; later, the mirror piece

I am lonelier than I should be

I am uglier than I should be

Pretty pink showers are not for me

Hints of smoke grey turning day into dark

Nor a princess’ robe on care-free field

Stumbling footsteps and fast-beating heart

Or a fairy-tale world of soon-to-bes

Drowning out reason, drowning in screams

But, for a touch of the (invisible) air on my cheeks

Scariest when what lays ahead of me

And, for all my battles, a prize-Victory

Seems to remain vague and hidden from me

I have learned that I must, in turn, embrace

I am blinder than I should be

And be painted by all the rainbow’s rays Be they subtle hues or blinding tones

Claws of red feed my mind bitter Control my thoughts and purge me of Reason

Each must make their essence, to me, known

And take me to a world of heat and regret

To pass by the rainbow, sans the mutes and the brights

One moment I’m me, the next, a beast.

Is to live life in only dull blacks and whites

I am larger than I should be

All colors are must, for humbling appreciation

Wreaths of solemn, watery-blue hug me tight

Of contrasts and survival in a world of painted emotions

A LETTER TO MY BESTFRIEND’S EX

My best friend’s ex, My pages ran blank when I decided to pour my hateful words for you. I do not know you personally, but your name is enough existence I can deal with in this lifetime. I questioned myself through my days of hostel chores, hectic classes, washroom intervals, crappy luncheon and insomniac nights, why you’re becoming a constant itch to me? But my queries lead to a random rhetoric realization that your man means more to me that he ever meant to you. You made me jealous of the times I was not there with him, but you were. I wonder how it might have felt to see his shyness overlap when your hands met, how you would’ve pretended a moment of hesitation when your lips uttered silence, in rains, in summers and in the grey sheets of winter. I curse myself why I didn’t enter his life a little earlier, why I couldn’t be his best friend before you became the betrothed. I do not claim that I could have made him happier than you did. Probably I would have been worse judging my track record in love. But may be the first rain could’ve been different, shallow less and free; the first dance could have been with the beer bottles that cheered throughout the night; our first fight and conciliation would have ended in pillow fight rather than make up sex; that he needed no reason to beat me up and I needed no excuse to pull pranks on him; we would have needed no anniversary dates and lived our lives like water streams of different colours yet merging from time to time; needed no flowers to remember how we loved each other but a slang would be enough; we would have been more cozier, even sitting apart. I don’t know if you realize his mask but I hear it laugh crudely every night on phone. Its gory wrinkles make me search for the leftovers of his innocence that others erased. Why couldn’t you open him up? Why didn’t you patch up his wounds? Where was your notebook when his pen needed to doodle and draw lines? You made him believe you are the one- the ultimate comfort in his age old battles; that you are his little globe of unscratched affection. Now you both stand apart, mingling like different breeds of birds, unwilling to share their journey. My letter to you was not written to blame you, or show you how perfect best friend I am. Let it be a threat from a girl who has promised to live for him – leave or let him live. But if you still love him more than me, you can do only one thing to help the poor kid to find his toy and his way back to home. You have to replace me! Yours frankly, His best friend.

Jishnu k 5th year integrated Msc physics

LOVE AND CAPITAL- A HISTORY FROM WITHIN

Das Capital, the book which changed the fate of

Mary Gabriel beautifully describes how Marx gained

the downtrodden. First ever in history it explained

attention and respect from young thinkers of Europe

the magnitude of exploitation the working class ex-

and at the same time showed his love towards Jenny

perience, educated them to realize their power and

through his 3 volumes of poems. “Love and Capital”

pawed the base for an ideological revolution for a fu-

is the historical story of Marx family with its tough

ture of equality and socialism. Mary Gabriel’s “love

and ingenious leader, caring and contributing wife,

and capital” tell us the story of that book through

even in the grief of losing 4 of her children and diffi-

the life story and struggle of Karl Marx, Jenny Von

cult atmosphere, and his life long intellectual partner

Westphalen, their family and friends in the backdrop

and financial supporter Friedrich Engels.

of socio-political-cultural and economical history of

The story begins in 1855 from Trier, and leads to Ber-

Europe in 19th century.

lin where Marx studied and started active political

In a review, Simon Sebag Montefiore argues “In fact,

life. He is being forced to leave Germany due to his

“Love and Capital” is enjoyable not so much because

political essays in dailies. In Paris also he is marked

of any brisk analysis of Marxist theory that it pro-

as a communist terrorist, then to Brussels, where he

vides or its endless catalog of political feuding, but

and Engels write ‘Communist Manifesto’ and then to

because of the details of family life and family pol-

finally settle in England with his family. But he does

itics that Gabriel offers up — her vivid portrait of a

not forget to plant his ideas of exploitation and so-

struggling, obsessional bohemian intellectual in the

cialism where ever he goes. The history of all working

capitals of mid-19th-century Europe.”

class movements in that age has the influence of Karl

The book narrates how the most appealing girl in

Marx.

Trier fell in love with a 4 years younger intellectual.

In the beginning of working class movement as inter-

nationals, proletariats were termed as ‘workingmen’. Marx and Engels considered this gender inequality while writing the 2nd volume of ‘Das Capital’ in the influence of Jenny. Jenny stands with Marx in his most difficult times sacrificing all her happiness and health. Even Marx’s extra marital affair couldn’t end their love. It is also the story of three girls who respected and stood with the theories and ideology of their father. The very theory has overcome the test of time, predicting the crackdown of capitalism. In 2008 when the American economy and consequently the world capitalism came to a crisis, the economists searched the solutions in Das Capital. In Germany, sale of Das Capital was 100 times compared to the sale in 90s in 2008. It is Interesting to note that capitalists sought help from a book which had ever deeply criticized capitalism. Marx was notorious for his delay in preparing manuscripts which points to his exceptionally agile intellect where his steams of thoughts give birth to new ones. Every word in ‘Das Capital’ contain the dreams and grieves of Marx’s family. In ‘Das Capital’ he says: “Capital is a social product. Works of every component of society contribute to capital. So capital is not an individual force but a social force”. Marx had two passions in his life. One was Jenny while the other was his ideology. Bourgeoisie’s love for the extra profit results in capitalist exploitation. Whereas Marx’s and Jenny’s love and life struggle with the support of Engels and many others resulted in a powerful theory, which could bring hopes to the life of those who had forgotten to dream.

Prasanna Venkadesh, M.Tech Networks & Internet Engineering,

Digital Networks and Knowledge Commons

ple started to consume information

ers and smartphones), the distribu-

I would like to start this article by

through newspapers and books. Sim-

tion of digital media is still controlled.

pointing out how the current gener-

ilarly when radio and television were

ation of people is the first ever gener-

invented, people started consuming

Let’s examine the nature of digital

ation in history of human civilization

information in a different way. Books,

media. Assume I have a digital file,

that has the ability to both produce

newspapers, radio & television where

for example a popular song from a

and consume at the same time. If we

all one way communication medium.

popular movie in digital format (let’s

trace back in time, we could see that

assume again the format here is mp3).

with history of all societies, the pro-

Due to advancement in science, en-

Now, you also badly wanted to hear

cess of production and consumption

gineering & technology and after

this song and want to have a copy.

have always played vital roles. Who-

the invention of modern day digital

So, I copied the song in a USB pen-

ever had access to the tools of the

electronics, we have already entered

drive and gave it to you. Your friend

production have always had a upper

a new era called ‘Era of Information’.

also gets a copy from you and the file

hand controlling the rest of the peo-

This era is inviting everyone to par-

spreads epidemically like this. Now

ple in that societies.

ticipate in the process of both pro-

which file is original here? How can

duction and consumption and thus a

we say this is original and others are

Traditionally, people have been only

term ‘prosumer’ is born. Though the

duplicate, when the contents of all the

consumers of information. When

tools for production are already put

files are same? Right, this is the na-

printing press was established, peo-

into the hands of people (i.e comput-

ture of digital media, there is nothing

called original as well as there is noth-

This incompatibility has led to more

example for creative commons; arXiv.

ing called duplicate in digital media.

and more social & economical move-

org is one the best example for open

ments world wide like Free Software

access research.

Another question to ponder upon is,

Movement for computer software;

“Is there any loss to me or you when

Open Hardware Designs for elec-

What we need to understand at this

we share the digital file with others?”.

tronics; Creative Commons for art

historical moment is that knowledge

Definitely not. When we share a file,

& media; Open Access Movement

creation has always been a collective

I have the copy and you also have

for academic researches; Peer-2-Peer

process. We all build something based

the copy. By sharing the digital me-

Production for digital production,

on others work. We have already seen

dia it only grows exponentially and

etc.,

how people from all over the world

not getting depleted because digital

can build the world’s collective ency-

media is not a matter. Anyone who

All the above social and econom-

clopedia, the Wikipedia where every-

understands the law of conservation

ical movements mentioned above

one can write for everyone else.

in physics can understand that only

are based on the following idea “If

matters like solid, liquid & gases can

you have an apple and I have an ap-

We already have established the dig-

be conserved.

ple and we exchange apples then you

ital platform for large scale coopera-

and I will still each have one apple.

tion, which we call Internet. Now it’s

As pointed out already, today we

But if you have an idea and I have

time for each and everyone of us to

have different mode of production,

an idea and we exchange these ideas,

organize & question the intellectual

consumption and distribution. The

then each of us will have two ideas.” -

property rights and at the same time

success of file sharing websites like

George Bernard Shaw.

to co-operate globally.

technology around us enables it, but

GNU/Linux Operating systems, Fire-

“At times of merciless competition,

there is a incompatibility between the

fox, VLC Media Player, Android, Li-

cooperation is a revolutionary act.” -

legal frameworks like copyrights, pat-

breOffice are some examples for free

Anonymous

ents and how we produce, distribute

software. Arduino, Beaglebone are

and consume.

some examples of open hardware de-

Torrents are one such examples. The

signs. Wikimedia is one of the best The writter is one of the cordinators of Swartz Club for Libre Systems (aka Free Software Users Group Pondicherry University)

BREAKING THE SILENCE

Call her ‘she’

She was a soldier of-

The epitome of ‘sound’

her own galloping horse,

She was dark and dew,

of pain and suffocation.

Knowing the fence of-

Her beauty was beaten up.

her golden palace.

The trees were booting,

Her tied hands broke-

their chains to her.

the silence of touch. ‘An angel in the house’ Of beauty, calm and peace. The folklore says that, She should be ‘in-shape’ Within a size measuredby those eyes….. They called her a witch, a group of witches, doing the maintenance.

She was a mother, kindness was flowingfrom the breast to ocean. Looking at her child’s eyes But the divine white axe rose Felling the mother’s head Still serene and graceful face. Unwinding the saga of Parashurama.

When she was a girl, He tore out a reed, near the depth of the river, ‘the great god Pan’ With his ‘half beast’ and ‘hard bleak’ grows never more again. There started the saga of suffering, The birth of an Art My Mother’s garden fullOf assorted blossoms And hues telling each Tale of cavum…..! The Pelvic Cavity tale Dreamed that no one knew And the blooms were of Blades, Piercing to the tonsured head, When she was carrying the secondChild of trees and seas the rack of ravishers He couldn’t compass the depth of the sea she wanted to be a rose again he couldn’t smell it turned to be a ‘Sun of the Day’ but he was blind, she tried to fall

but he couldn’t support She was following ‘witchcraft’, he said With a ‘magic shell’ And the Stone Age witnessed, It was a massive funeral. Taken place the vaginal mutilation The leaves stopped their murmuring, Birds stopped their chirping, The portrait of struck waves. She was trudging, The outcast princess of Karna. A script of new version. She is going to postmortem, Remaining in the deafening silence, Of dominant volcanoes. The girl of tamarind, New mangoes of bitternessthe ripe one shouted. and she loved the crows, especially the Ravens. She breaks the silence, And the saga turned outto a torrent…. The Theremin continued, hair float in themusic of torrent. No more tears, it was shiny Like the twinkling stars at night Mocking at the elite group, The destroyers…. Stepping up to the rock, dissolved in the boom. Yelled the expiation….. The catastrophe of largeness.

The Quality of Sharing Benedict Paul II MA English

On my return to the University after a short stroll through

have some of it. Though not entirely turning my head towards

the city, I sat in a bus on a seat just next to the door. Be-

him, my eyes could not but keep gazing on the chocolate. Be-

side me was a man, in his thirties, as I conjectured. Fair in

ing an unpleasant situation though, it reminded me of the basic

complexion he was, I should say, in comparison to mine

lessons of humanity that were taught us in our childhood days.

own dark brown complexion.

The ‘quality of sharing’ as our parents and teachers called it. I

Quite calm he looked, indifferent to the commo-

began to hope desperately that this lesson learnt in days far off

tion in the crowded bus, looking out the window he sat

would, at some moment ring in the bulky man’s head. But there

holding a large polythene bag and I should confess here

was not much sign of it as he kept eating it bite by bite, reducing

that I took some liberty, though against the unwritten

the prospects of the possibility of my having some, as the size of

codes of decency to run my eyes through the contents of

the chocolate bar kept dwindling from time to time.

the bag. It contained some three packets of Wheat Bread,

which I presume should be his staple food as he seemed

of sharing had found no place in the heart of so bulky a man.

to me a diabetic person, owing to the immoderate size of

Could it be that his parents hadn’t taught him the basic gener-

his stomach. There were also some packets of Noodles

osity of humankind that he had too little a heart to take such

and a pack of tea decoction. It also had some sachets of

lessons into? It took me quite some time to find an answer to

shampoo and more to which my eyes could not reach out

this. I soon perceived that it shouldn’t have been the inefficacy

clearly.

of the lesson of sharing but that possibly another lesson came

The bus kept moving and I wondered why this quality

The bus moved on with its continual jerks and

to his head; the self-same lesson that our parents had taught us;

stops and the sight of the bread packets in my fellow trav-

not to accept anything from strangers. I convinced myself in a

eler’s bag quite kindled my appetite as I had missed my

most optimistic way that, probably, he thought if he offered it to

day’s lunch. The bus having reached a stop from which it

me I would not take it. But still the sight of the chocolate kept

would take another ten minutes to reach my destination,

haunting my desire. The thought again disturbed. ‘Why didn’t

my fellow traveler, whom I would now take a little liber-

he take a chance?’ As these untoward thoughts kept coming to

ty to call ‘the bulky man’(so long as this piece of writing

me the bus reached my destination and I had no way but to get

doesn’t reach his hand), began to run his fingers through

down.

his bag reaching out for something. This I became aware

of (lest my readers think my gaze was continuously on the

heavy heart and I should also confess that I even contemplat-

bag) only by the rustling sound of the polythene that the

ed on buying a ticket to the next stop and persevere with the

bulky man was putting his hand into.

best of hopes but my reasoning sense told me there was not

No sooner had my eyes turned towards him than

much chance and so I stepped down. As I got down and turned

he picked up a bar of chocolate and began to open it. He

around, the bus began to move and I almost let out a sigh of de-

opened it and took the first bite of the chocolate and this,

spair as the bulky man tossed the last piece of chocolate gently

I must confess, kindled within me an irresistible urge to

into his mouth.

I must inform the reader that I did get down with a

”The Gospel of Mary Magdalen and Me” Adheena Daisy George II MA History

These days, one of the questions we often receive about Jesus has to do with his marital status. This question didn’t just drop out of heaven, however. It was born of the popularity of Dan Brown’s controversial novel, The Da Vinci Code. This novel advocates the thesis that Jesus was in fact married to the woman we know as Mary Magdalene, that they had a child together, and that this “truth” was covered up by the church for self-serving reasons. not only Dan Brown but also many writers like shuzhe saramago, Nikos Kazantzakis,and many othrs also write about the relationship between jesus and Magdalene. Among these writers rathy devi’s book called” The gospel of Magdalene and me” tries to analyse the relationship between jesus and Magdalene. Writer Rethy Devi is of Indian origin (Kerala), who spent up till her teenage in India, before moving to America and settling there. It was her father who was the first person in her life who gave her insight on Jesus and his life. Through him, and her exquisite style of writing she explored more on Jesus. The book, “The Gospel of Magdalene and Me” is an extraordinary piece of writing by Rethi Devi in which she hunts for a Jesus with no extraordinary powers. A Jesus for whom it was beyond imagination to turn water into wine, to walk on the seas, to revive the dead. She wanted, or through her, she want-

ed Magadalene to see a Jesus who was just another ordinary man with all kind of worldly emotions and feelings. The Gospel essentially is a fantasy – an imaginary narration of the wishes of the lord by a disciple or a beloved. Hence it carries real and surreal elements in a human spirit with feelings and emotions. The real question has been whether gospel carries gender bias? Often yes, essentially because of its surreal side. This gospel, perhaps, is the one that clears the air between real and surreal in a balanced frame of reasoning and sequencing the myth. It epitomizes the heavenly bliss in a human parlance converging the real and imaginary ingredients in a magical crucible of

violet – the inevitable combination of red and blue, the essential contrast of warmth and the coolness, the ultimate realization of rethee and nirasam, to carry the fragrance of a non-ageing woman forward. For well over, about one and a half score years, the world of magdalene and the master was apart. Yet they searched in and out for each other for no avail. They succeeded to maintain a stallion of fantasy and imaginations all through for a ride. There was hope, no, a sort of conviction to regain. They realized that it was not just a dream, nor the murmur of madness. Often it reminded them of love on whose behalf, earth returns to spring, the stars play the music of unity. Behold her!

creative influences.

Beautiful and holding the

This gospel really carries truth –

wealth of utmost goodness.

eternal and contemporary. While

In sentences of great pre-

the contemporary truth haunts

cision and balance, Rethy

the author from its darker man-

reanimates the dilemmas

ifestations as if human beings

of the post-colonial depres-

are such weaklings, when cold

sions and the neo colonial

comes in one will pile on the en-

inhibitions – the pathos of

tire clothes one can. But the novel

marginality and exile, the

succeeds in pulling up the hidden

fear of throwing one into a

eternal truth and realization of its

void, the failure of the lib-

never ending bliss like a spring

erated to remake their so-

flower with no protection, steadi-

cieties, the inexorable slide

ly pushing its way out of the snow

into ruin. She may, at times,

for the moth to come and suck

be characterized by irritable

the nectar in it, in a gentle breeze.

misanthropy, sexual disgust

Obstinate are the trammels, yet

and by rage. In the canon of

the truth prevails.

contemporary writing she is

For sure, the real beauty of the

peerless – a cold, clear-eyed

novel converge in a cogent narration of the themes in a philosophical, anthropological, metaphysical and autobiographical ambience but quite edible to even an uninitiated reader on any of the above. Some say, there are seasons in a life away from love. Can it be so? Unlikely. Love is fire and none can really define it, predict its catchment and draw boundaries. Every love is unique – it has its own mystery and constraints of comprehension. As the choice of colors vary with time, space and age, the events and its implications travel all through the lines. One color, but remains –

prophet, a scourge of sentimentality and humanism. Ever really glanced through her variety of human examples and the subsequent search for the underlying social causes? Do it, definitely you can see a Tolstoyan spirit. One can be socially successful but deliberately friendless. Naipaul agreed that a book is the product of a different self from the self we manifest in our habits, in our social life in our vices. Similar is the potential for a reader to reorient self away from the manifested self with this good book.

Rebels on the Run Prerona Dutta, II M.Sc. Mathematics

An infinite calm clouds the hearts, An eerie silence resides; The exhausted troops are on the retreat In vain the leader chides. A solitary soul amidst the din Is helpless beyond despair, Misunderstood and betrayed by all Chooses to stay in the rear. One puny pallid pig tags along In search of a compassionate being, Knowing little that this crimson dusk Is the last one heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be seeing. A faithful chap still hopes on And follows the leader ahead; Defying all odds he plunges neck-deep Into peril that lay untread. A handful exist who hypothesize Ideas grand and green, Unheeded though they daydream of How circumstances couldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been. The lion-hearted leader marches on Caring not as others fall behind. The troops drag on with flailing limbs Their morale in a grind. Night crawls in, a pall descends And engulfs the mortal sphere, The troops proceed to rougher terrains Each secretly wiping a tear. No one knows what is to come Apprehensive, they totter along; One resolution binds and leads them on Towards heralding a new dawn.

IT’S NOT A MAN’S GAME ALONE Archana Aravindan Integrated M.Sc Physics(1 Year)

The World T20 is on at full swing. Newspapers, TV, People in

modest 3 star hotels while the male cricketers are snoozing in the

the canteen all have just one thing on their mind “Who is going

warm beds of 5 star hotels. A male cricketer who has played a sin-

to win this World Cup?”. Matches are being analyzed vigorous-

gle match for the national team earns more than what the ladies

ly, temples are overflowing with prayers for Dhoni, Virat and

earn in a lifetime. But still many of them fight against their family

Ashwin. And amongst all this melodrama that is happening in

and society and still play cricket, purely for the sheer love for the

the country, a group of people are also eagerly looking forward

game. Such dedication deserves to be noticed and applauded.

to this World Cup. It is one their biggest sources of income, and

While Australia and New Zealand have recognized the women’s

probably the only time when they are the happiest. Yes they are

game by having a Women’s Big Bash League and other domes-

very much a part of this World Cup.But they are in nobody’s

tic competitions, India, where Cricket is a religion, fares the

prayers, their matches are hardly recognised by the

worst. While everyone has been applauding the Men in

masses, let alone analysed. But they still train under

Blue’s domination in the cricketing world, only few have

rain and shine. And on the match day, no taunts of

noticed that the women are on a roll too. They have won

“Girls can’t play Cricket” is ever going to stop them.

a T20 series against Australia in Australia and have white

If anything, it only makes them more determined to

washed Sri Lanka at home as well, not unlike India. But

show them that yes they can.

the similarity ends there. None of the women’s matches

Not many people may be aware of the fact that there

are being broadcasted which is partially the reason why

are actually two world cups going on right now. One

they have very few followers. The media also have been

is the ever popular Men’s World Cup. But there is also

severely disappointing when it comes to covering the

the equally important and prestigious Women’s World

women’s game. The women weren’t even allowed to wear

Cup as well. Women’s role in cricket has been barely

the sponsor’s name on their jerseys like their male coun-

recognised or acknowledged. Women have been playing

terparts.

cricket since 1745. The entire world celebrated when Sachin

There are many championing for the establishment of

Tendulkar hit 200 in a match in 2010, seemingly becoming

equality between the men’s game and the women’s game.

the first cricketer to score a double hundred in ODI Crick-

Several male cricketers also advocate the women’s game.

et. But thirteen years earlier, this record was already set by

Suresh Raina, Mitchell Starc all offer their support as

Belinda Clark, a women cricketer, who smashed 229 runs

much as possible. The BCCI has taken a leaf out of oth-

in 1997. Similarly the entire world lauded Australia when

er boards and is finally recognizing the women’s game

it notched up 434 in 2006 as the first time that 400 runs

in India. Many players are now centrally contracted,

have been scored in an ODI innings. But they totally

they have better travel facilities and accommodation

over looked the fact that some other team had already

and also better coaching and support staff. The media

scored 412 runs in an ODI innings in 1997 itself. It was

coverage has also improved and several leading newspapers like

the Australian team that time too. The only difference was that

The Hindu and cricket websites like Cricinfo have dedicated space

it was the eves that did it. While a slow game between the mens’

for the women’s World T20 and are making sure that the masses

team have often been applauded as being gritty and engrossing,

are aware of their accomplishments. But the women’s game still

most of the women’s matches have been disregarded because of

has a long way to go. Women are fighting for equality everywhere,

their slow pace and lack of powerful shots, with several calling

from engineering to Hollywood. Women who play cricket should

them as ‘painful to watch.’

also get the recognition they deserve. Yes, we can read the pitch.

Women are still struggling to be recognised at par with the

Yes, we can bowl the off cutter. Yes, we can play the sweep shot.

men. Women Cricketers fly economy while their male coun-

Yes, we can break cricketing records. Yes, we can play cricket. And

terparts enjoy the posh first class life. Women cricketers live in

it’s high time that you accept it too.

Cough Syrup Surrealism Vidyasree B. I MA English

“You can take a boy out of the Nineties, but can you take

Paloma approaches Charlie for drugs which are amply

the Nineties out of him?”- it is around this question that

available with his friends (Rohit, Viraz and Zag) with

Tharun James Jimani has woven his debut novel Cough

whom he shares his apartment. Apart from them Char-

Syrup Surrealism. An unusual combination of addiction,

lie makes friends with the twin Joes, Sania, Rishi- all as

rock music and debauchery, this novel is a psychedelic

a by product of his relationship with Paloma. Charlie

trip taking the reader to and fro between the Charlie’s

gets introduced to a music band, becomes a lead singer,

past and present.

gets “stoned” on a regular basis and gets complicatedly

Yes, Charlie a Keralite who has migrated to Chennai for

involved with Paloma and Sania. Mao, Charlie’s figment

his higher studies, is the protagonist as well as the narra-

of imagination, comes in between giving the novel true

tor of the novel (barring the few exceptions when Mao,

surrealistic touch.

Charlie’s figment of imagination interrupts). The novel

All this happens while his parents all the way back in

begins with Charlie composing his umpteenth suicide

Thiruvananthapuram harbours the dream of their child

post. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) Paloma, the hero-

graduating from Loyola and becoming an I.A.S. Officer

ine, arrives at the scene thwarting his plans. And from

like his father. When they get a whiff of what is truly

there Charlie’s life makes tryst with smack, love, rock

happening to their son in Chennai, they call him back

music- a bit like what Hunter S. Thompson called “a

with the expectation of bringing him back to normal life

whole galaxy of multicoloured uppers, downers, scream-

according to their conventions; only to be disappoint-

ers, laughers”.

ed and depressed further. Finally Charlie leaves them

Charlie is a classic 90s child; a pothead and a pop culture

offended as he cannot stay away from his niche and

aficionado who considers himself to be a lone crusader.

“smack-mates” in Chennai. Remembering what Andy

He is in an unending moaning for the lost 90s- its liveli-

Warhol said “Being born is like being kidnapped. And

ness, new globalisation waves, rock and rap culture. He

then sold to slavery” Charlie leaves his parents for his

is a representative of such men of a generation who feel

surreal microcosm in Chennai. From there Charlie be-

isolated, burdened and misplaced. In one way it is a uni-

gins wade in even murkier waters than before.

versal crisis that he represents- the crisis that most of the

The novel is set in the year 2006 against the backdrop of

people undergo during the helter-skelter transition from

Chennai- the metropolitan metaphor for young India’s

adolescence to adulthood. Still, there are many layers

(at least for the young south Indians) freedom, dreams

under this tragic-comic nice guy gone wild.

and aspirations. However Thiruvananthapuram, from

where Charlie hails, too makes its presence felt occa-

ends so far felt by the reader.

sionally. Smeared with darker colours of metro life,

The impeccable writing style compounded with Jimani’s

drugs, rock music and debauchery, the themes con-

ease of propagating the story and the thought provoking

veyed in this novel is as much vivid and multilayered

conversations Charlie has with Paloma, Sania and Mao

as the life it portrays; man’s search for authority and au-

makes this book a must read. The creativity pumped

thenticity in a facsimile peaceful world and man’s con-

into the last chapter and the ingeniously penned epi-

flict of interest that was so characteristic of the 90s- the

logue deserves special mention. So does the extensive

conflict between aspiring middle class parents and their

research work done about the 90s era; its music, books

prodigies who drooled over the MTV rock music. Thus

and movies. From Offspring to Nirvana; Bukoswki to

this novel can be summed up as a tale of growing up,

SRK; True lies to Kal Ho Na Ho almost no stones have

rebooting of life and about choices we make as young

been left unturned. However the occasional tendency of

people; of how kid’s life once (even now?) used to be a

the author to go disoriented from the plot and complex

partial imitation of what they see their rock stars do on

ideas presented in a stretch, poses the threat of irking

the TV- music jamming and partying.

the reader.

This review would be incomplete without mentioning

Cough Syrup Surrealism bears similarity with the Bell

Tharun James Jimani’s writing style. He has daringly

Jar of Sylvia Plath and The Catcher in the Rye of J. D.

dealt with the themes of drugs, metro life and debauch-

Salinger; thanks to the strikingly similar direct and

ery in a simple yet, direct language. The author deserves

strong language, protagonist prototype, the genre and

a pat for how the novel has been penned rather than

themes discussed. Beware lovers of pulp fiction for

about what he has written. The protagonist’s alter-ego,

you are going to be disappointed. This novel is highly

Mao, popping up in between gives the novel a meta-fic-

recommended for such an audience who does not get

tional touch. The author has not spent his time on cre-

too much carried away by the content; which is capable

ating a prologue or forward; the novel starts off with

of identifying the author’s merit and ingenuity in how

the deceptively simple one-liner: “to icy highs and bitter

something is presented rather than what has been pre-

lows”. This act of his is completely justified by the cre-

sented. Good luck and cheers to Tharun James Jimani;

ative, impressive and striking last chapter and the terrif-

with his intriguing and forceful debut he has proved to

ic epilogue that follows. The epilogue ties all the loose

be one of the new and promising writers.

Travel Diary Jebamalar.E Research Scholar, Dept of English

Recollections with a smile : I Was travelling by Tamil

sympathiser and was dissapointed on two counts...

Nadu express back from Delhi and when the train

that the newspaper that he bought was in Hindi

halted at Nagpur Station...there came a newspaper

(now this man cannot read it)...next he has not ten-

vendor shouting his throat out that “There is bomb

dered exact change that a Rs. 5 newspaper cost him

attack in the Chennai Airport and went on to contin-

another 5 more...now that he couldn’t get hold of the

ue about some news on the CM (AMMA) of Tamil

vendor....with dissapointment seen all over his face

Nadu”...the man who was in the upper berth (me in

all he wanted was a sympathy from the rest of us...

the lower) jumped out from sleep...called out the

and asked in a tone that was exhausted “Can any-

news paper vendor (yeppa news paper...) in Tamil

body read Hindi? Is there any news on Tamil Nadu

and got the news...paper...minutes later this anony-

or its Cheif Minister ? “ (yarukavathu hindi theriyu-

mous man got furious and with his dhoti tied up got

ma ? amma pathi yethavathu potu iruka? ) while one

down from his berth with a roaring voice...(evan da

in coupe who could read Hindi came forward only

avan...thirutu paayan....enna emathitithan...) “you

to conclude that no such story is on print...did this

cheat...where are you ? ? ?” ....turns out that this

annon co-passenger give a sigh of releif that the rest

anonymous man was but amma (CM Jayalalitha’s )

of us ended up laughing out lungs out :-)

Death... Rajesh PhD scholar Dept of applied psychology

Soul settles in God , preist preaches. Disintegrate into eternal particles, philosopher’s abstraction. Birth ends yet blooms as rebirth, mystique’s message. Sacrifice for utopia, communist’s angst. Eternal sleeping in underground, rationalist exhorts. No idea about my arrival, death’s confusion. Death died more in perspectives than in real. Why to worry death, when thyself is alive beneath present moment, life question’s.

Arnad Goswami: How a journalist creats moral panic. Musthafa Mubashir Research scholar, Dept of Electronic Media and Mass Communication.

The sociologist and criminologist Stanley Cohen theorized about intimidation through the construction of folk devils and moral panic. That is, media targeting of a group of people, mostly from the minorities, as folk devils saying they are threat to the society. Even Hitler used it to wipe out the Jews from Germany. Moral panic has immense impact on the collective conscience of society. Sometimes Arnab Goswami’s The Newshour Debates contribute to construct moral panic in Indian society. The latest episode of the programme (Feb 10, 2016) titled as ‘Tribute To Afzal Guru at JNU-Students Crossed All Lines?’ is apparently an attempt in this category. His debate was a one-man show. No other side of the coin got space. For almost 85% of the programme he barked himself without giving a chance to others. He behaved as a quasi-journalist and a spokesperson of BJP. The invitees Nupur Sharma (BJP leader), Prafulla Ketkar (Editor, Organiser) Sushil Pandit (Activist), Junaid Mattu (Spokesperson of National Conference, the channel spelt his name wrong), Umar Khalid (Student Activist from JNU), Ishan Anand (Secretary of Democratic Students’ Federation, JNU) and Lenin Kumar (Former Student Union President) became a mere audience to his public speaking. More than the show’s failure to allow multi-dimensional views, it made some dangerous inferences. Goswami termed the JNU event as anti-national and

he wondered who was funding them. He saw in the ‘cultural event’ some terrorist elements. This is an example of victimising some for what they are not. The organizers might be blameless, but were not allowed a say. If a democracy’s media do not allow differences of opinions it narrows the gap between oligarchy and democracy. Comments on YouTube The comments appearing on the YouTube page under this episode validate the term moral panic. Till 15th Feb, 2016, there were 6420 comments on it. It became a place to malign the opponents. Importantly, religious, regional and racial attacks came forth. Comments demonstrated how an Indian mind thinks and how media impacts on a globalized crowd. The first and foremost theme for comments is religion. The YouTube page was converted into a battlefield of religious sentiments. Approximately 45% percent of the views were against Islam. In fact it became as pace to malign the other religion which one opposes. Massive attacks on Islam happened because of the religion

Racial comments are so common in social media.

being represented by two Muslim names in the TV

Goswami provided one more opportunity for it. One

episode and they were from JNU. One social media

viewer named as Avid Reader commented that “LE-

user, asked,“God why you gave birth to a religion like

NIN (one of the invitees) LOOKS LIKE A BUFFALO”.

Islam?” This comment attracted more than one hun-

Another added, “fat pig and anti-national”. And so on,

dred replys.

and on, and on. The repetition of Pakistan among these comments makes us to think that JNU issue is something that related to Pakistan like a terror attack on our premises by Pakistan. One of the JNU students laments, “I’m equally saddened at the reaction of Indians to this. Just because there were may be 30 people who said these slogans, suddenly on social media people say shut down JNU, all JNU students should be sent to Pakistan etc. As a JNU student who is studying in JNU currently it really irritates me.” Indian media, especially the prime time debates, build an environment for creating moral panic. It is dangerous for a democracy to tag a minority as anti-national or terrorists whether it is JNU students or Muslims. When opinion is offered as facts, one has to ask,what sort of journalism is it leading to?

Is honor killings a necessitate for caste pride Ms. Seena J Research scholar, Dept of Electronic Media and Mass Communica-

On march 17, 2014 six month pregnant

ing her daughter for marrying against their wish-

Vaidhehi, 25 of Uchipulli in Ramana-

es. In Punjab, Nargis a Sikh woman was hacked

thapuram district, a non- dalit was

to death by her own family members for marry-

allegedly murdered by a gang hired

ing a Christian man. Dalit youth E. Ilavarasan

by her mother after she tied the knot

whose marriage to a Vanniyar woman Divya led to

with 26 year old dalit boy Suresh Ku-

caste turbulence in November 2012 and his body

mar. After three months on June 21,

was found on railway track in July 2013. The re-

2014 Bhavani daughter of Jeyakumar

cent incident at Udumalpet, where a group of

a non-dalit of Ramanathapuram district was killed by her family for marrying Satheesh Kumar a dalit

mercenaries surrounds 22 year old dalit boy V. Shankar and his 19-year-old wife Kausalya, and viciously slay one

youth from Cuddalore. More

of them and leave the oth-

than a year ago, the parents of

er seriously wounded on a

a Delhi woman, Bhawna Ya-

busy road merely indicates a

dav, were detained for kill-

lack of fear of the law.

All these incidents show an obvious picture of hon-

In India, honor killing was initially viewed in its

or killings done in the namesake of protecting the

most terrible form during the partition of the na-

family honor and the deceased family the victims of

tion in between 1947 and 1950, when numerous

caste atrocities. The honor killing in Udumalpet is

women were forcefully murdered to preserve the

merely the most recent of an ongoing saga. Often

family honor. During the period of partition, there

branded as honor killings, due to their motivation

were many forced marriages were women from In-

crop up from the thought that a woman getting

dia was compelled to marry men from Pakistan and

married outside her community brings dishonor to

vice-versa. Followed that there was a hunt to track

the family, normally such murders in India involve

down these women who were forced to marry a per-

family members rendering ferocious justice to the

son from another country and religion and when

transgressor within.

they revisited home, they were slaughtered to pro-

Human Rights Watch defines â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honor Killingsâ&#x20AC;? as

tect the family honor and they were not asserted as

acts of reprisal, usually murder, done by the family

social outcasts from their region.

members targeted against the person and his better

According to a recent study, there have been at least

half who brought dishonor upon the family. Honor

81 reported cases of honor killings in Tamil Nadu

Killing is not just a practice associated to India only.

in the past few years. Eighty percent of the victims

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a practice that still prevails in Africa, Turkey,

are female. Till date, none of them have resulted in a

South and North America and many other coun-

conviction. Women who wed oppose to the desires

tries. But the amount of incidents linked to this sort

of their community or exercise autonomy in choos-

of crimes is minimal and there is strict punishment

ing their husbands have been at the receiving end

for committing these crimes in other countries.

of a systematic and a horrific pattern of violence.

When a non dalit woman marries a dalit boy and

As citizens of this country what can we do to prevent

finally murdered by their own family members, the

such type of heinous crime? First and foremost the

dead bodies are cremated without informing the po-

approach of the individuals towards the inter caste

lice. They manage to present the murder to look like

marriage has to change. And when we mean that the

suicides and the police close the file by registering cas-

approach has to changed, it means that parents should

es under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code

be ready to accept their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wishes about their

(CrPC) as suspicious death or as cremating the body

marriage. Besides, we want to have stringent laws to

without informing the police.

handle these types of honor killings. This is an offence

A woman is always targeted by her family for vari-

which cannot be excused at any cost because humans

ous reasons, includes rejecting to tie the knot in an

do not have the right to punish the innocent fellow

arranged marriage or being the victim of a sexual as-

humans with death sentence.

sailant or for obtaining a divorce even though the hus-

Honor Based Violence Awareness network an inter-

band is abusive or if he commits adultery. The acuity

national resource network, has estimated that out of

that a woman has acted in a manner that dishonors

5,000 honor killings every year, India and Pakistan

her family is sufficient to set off an attack on her life.

account for 1,000 each. At the judicial point of view, it

Sociologists consider that the most apparent grounds

is often a herculean task to secure conviction because

for this type of practice to sustain in India, more rap-

the majority of the cases the witness will turn into

idly and almost on a daily basis, are because of the

hostile or the evidence being controlled by the fam-

unremitting firmness of the caste system. The terror of

ilies and at times the victims hesitate to give evidence

being ostracized from their caste through which they

since their family members are involved.

achieved many advantages forces them to commit this

National Council of Applied Economic Research re-

heinous crime. To them, if the daughter disobeys the

cent figures disclose that only 5% of the Indian mar-

parents on the matter of marriage and chooses to mar-

riages are with couples belongs to different castes. As

ry a person of her wish especially from a different go-

long as the marriages are being arranged by parents

tra or outside her caste, it would lead to the disgrace of

and the newspaper pages giving priority to caste based

the family honor and so they

decided

to give the eventu-

matrimonial ads, the myth of caste purity will never break. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generation must remember that

judgment, death

seven decades ago Periyar and Dr. B R Ambed-

to the daugh-

kar had envisaged that inter caste

ter and to the

marriage

son-in-law. Why

and

honor killings are

in-

ter dining are indispensable for

taking place the an-

breaking the chains of the caste bar-

swer always points to-

riers. Some improvements are witnessed

wards the rigid mindset of

in terms of inter dining but the notion of in-

the populace and they cannot

ter caste marriages seems to be very tricky to realize.

accept or tolerate those marriag-

Even though inter-caste marriages had the blessings

es happing in the same gotra or outside

and approval from the parents of the bride and groom,

oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s caste. The basic ground for the raise in the num-

social boycott, humiliations and isolation compel

ber of honor killings is due to the failure of the official

them either to break the marriage or encourage them

authority and their incapability to handle the situa-

to eradicate the newly wedded in the name of honor

tion on time in the rural areas.

killing.

Foreigner in my own Country Robin Maisnam Integrated MA Economics(1 Year)

I was really happy when I was in my own state Ma-

different from others. I love everyone because our

nipur. I think that I am a real Indian. While I was in

primary teacher taught us that all Indian are our own

Third standard our Hindi teacher taught us how to

brother and sister. Why my teacher taught us like this?

sing our National Anthem ‘‘Jana Gana Mana’’. Even

Why my teacher taught us Hindi? Still I am confuse.

now I sing with a loud voice with full confidence that

But if I asked this question to someone then, they will

I am a pure Indian. But when I came out of my own

definitely answer that because we are Indian. Ok any-

state I came to know that I not a real Indian. Why?

way I like to ask is there any written rule and regula-

The question rises to all the people like me who look

tion of any country that we should look like this or

that. Are we compulsory to be brownish in complexion

er, sister or wife? You all are educated but you didn’t know

or to have big eye or pointed nose to be Indian? I hope

the meaning of education. So you all are comparable to

that everyone learned Geography in high school. I hope

wild animals. You might be getting angry on me because

because every student in my state learn. When I asked

I speak up against you. Anyway if you are angry on me or

about the Northeast to 100 people only 5 people answer

feel sad on my words than what might be the conditions

correctly. They said that they learn Geography but they

and feelings of my people. Imagine if you were me. What

didn’t know anything about North East. Did the political

will you do? Asked yourself again and again. Me too I love

map of India differ from one book to another book? Or

my own country as much as you love your own country.

did we learn different political map of India from other?

Can you called any beautiful woman as your mother. No,

Let’s see how people treat their own people. When I an-

you can’t because my mother is my mother. If I say that

swer to people that I am from Manipur that widely open

I am Chinese or Korean or anything what is the bene-

their eye and stare at me like I am an alien. They have

fits of that. Will I get any profits from that? That’s why I

a mindset that we are Nepali or Chinese. If we are Chi-

proudly says that I am Indian and I will be always Indian

nese or Nepali then it’s ok. But you should not called or

and I will be leaving this Earth as Indian. Some people

discriminate them. Did they called you anything to you?

might become a citizen of some country, he can change

Why don’t you called an Englishman like hey whitish or

his address or Nationality or anything but a crow will be

something? But you respect them very much because

always a crow it can’t be change into a peacock even if

they are human. But never forget the history before 1947.

the crows puts on peacock feathers. That’s why I proudly

What is the difference between you and me? One day we

said that I am Indian and I love my India. When I was

all will go to heaven which is our same destination. Why

in Bangalore one senior citizen came to me and asked

don’t you like to respect us? If someone molest a women

which Country are you from? Are you from Thailand or

from Northeast they simply watch the scene like a movie.

Indonesia? He didn’t believe me when I said I am Indian.

Why don’t you like to help them? Even the police become

Ok anyway he is a senior citizen so I gave him an excuse

deaf, mute and blind. What is the meaning of police? Are

because he might not be knowing much about Geography

you there to safe innocent people or to kill us? We don’t

or he might be uneducated. But when I said uneducated

feel safe when we see a police. Why? Again my question

a question arise again in my mind what is the meaning of

is why? Are we not human being? Why this people don’t

uneducated. Does uneducated people didn’t know their

want to help the people of North east India. Many people

parents or any place or did they are confined in a cell? If

were killed but there is no justice for the victims. Are the

I asked any place of India except Northeast to that senior

people of Northeast just mere wild Animal? We come

citizen then he might be knowing. Again one day some

from a place which is mainly hilly areas. People thinks

local guys which seems to be educated came to me and

that hill means lots of wild animals. No, you can’t think

asked where you are from? I said, I am from Manipur.

that. Ok if you think that we are wild animals than we

OMG he got sudden shock it seems that he discover a new

can also assume that you too are wild animals because

Country. He told me to show my currency. I got surprise

we all are same human being. You might be hearing or

on hearing that but instead of arguing with him I show

reading lots of news. Even the wild animals protect girl

Rs.50 Notes. He said that it’s Indian money. Then I ex-

child being beaten up by man. Don’t you have your moth-

plain him that I am Indian. He told me to proof. So to

proof it I saw my passport. At that moment I thought to

not like an animals. I will fight against you if you are rac-

approach police but I couldn’t do so. I really feel scare as I

ist with me. What do you feel when you hard the news of

was alone there. But in my opinion he knows Manipur but

Indian people discriminating in Australia. I know that you

he is discriminating me because of my race, looks, colour

really feel sad on that matter but think about my people we

etc. Not only in Bangalore in every part of India. I went to

are discriminated in our own country. We are coming here

many places of India but the same things happened every

to study not to be raped or molest by you. You try to raped

where. Everyday there are a lots of cases on discrimination

or molest them because you can’t think normally like hu-

of Northeast people in different part of India. There is no

man beings. So we compare such kind of people with wild

sense of humour in there heart. They think that they can

animals. Till now there is not justice for the victims. The

do whatever they like. And even they are doing what they

Indian government are not aware of our people. Why is it

like to us. Now its the right time to think for our future to

so? 99.9% of Northeast people are discriminated everyday.

safeguard our own brother and sister. We should now have

We are fate up of Nepali Chinese or which tribes are you.

the courage to speak up against them. If we don’t speak up

What is your tribal language? Are we all tribes? Are we not

or stand up against them they will do whatever they like to

human beings? So this is the right time to change our mind

us. No one can change the attitude of other people. You can’t

for a better society tomorrow. Everyone should understand

change my food habit my culture etc. Today I am speaking

that one day we are all going to die. No one can’t escape

up against you because our Indian constitution has given

from dead. We Indian become only Indian when we are out

the right to speech. One should no that for every action

of India. Lets try to be Indian always. We all are the sons and

there will be a reaction. I am a human and you too are hu-

daughter of one mother. Love me I will love you, respect me

man. As a human beings we should try to stay like a human

I will respect you.

CHAOS Robin Maisnam Integrated Politics and International studies(1 Year)

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The eve of the freedom day Core was like in a doomsday, Which is to be sway To the deep feels of lay. Want a revival to sky, To the new heavenly peace, Not to a creepy sigh Rather to be in eternal space. That shiny day with memories Inside the chilling of artificial, Weeping deep in to my veins Pretended like cheered with the external. The dark was no more a fiend, But scepticism was too high Because the past made core dead Even in every sigh.

An open letter to 63rd National award jury Shimjith Lal Integrated History(1 Year)

Sir,

I write this letter to you to register my strong protest against the National Film Awards committee,

headed by you. To be very frank, an appreciator of good films doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to expect anything from a jury chairman like you.

According to the Directorate of Film Festivals that organizes the awards, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The awards aim at en-

couraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance contributing to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different regions of the country in cinematic form,

thereby also promoting unity and integrity of the nation. The awards also aim at encouraging the study and appreciation of cinema as an art form and dissemination of information and critical appreciation of this art form through publication of books, articles, reviews etc.” What kind of message do your jury give to the film industry by giving best film award to Bahubali: the beginning? Is that because it project a Raja who can save everyone from suffering like so called “Rama rajya” or is it because it promote the definition of a black and wild enemy to the kingdom, as a continuation to the usual brahminical and anti-dalit mentality that prevail in the film world? Baahubali is more magic than cinema and does not fit at all into the aim of the National Awards that clearly states that the awards will be for “contributing to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different regions of the country in cinematic form, thereby also promoting unity and integrity of the nation.” Let me quote Tanul Thakur for instance. “Both Baahubali and Bajirao Mastani – not the greatest of movies even among their Hindi peers during the year – are fictional valorisations of a certain kind of Indian cultural imagery and mythology. Is this some kind of signal?” Yes we see it as signal from the right wing hindutva forces in the country who tell us what kind of films they encourage. The very title of best film for wholesome entertainment is satisfying the same criteria. ‘Bhajrangi’ points to hindu god Hanuman and ‘Bhaijan’ is a common word among minorities. In the film a Hindu man is trying desperately to restore a Muslim girl back to her family across the Indian border in Pakistan and is sensationalized further by making the little girl a deafmute that keeps her communal identity a convenient secret for a considerable part of the film. This is clearer with the introduction of a new award for the Best Sanskrit film this year. The award went to Priyamanasam, directed by Vinod Mankara. This film has been panned by critics who watched it as the opening film in the Indian Panorama last year as one of the most shoddily made films with very badly spoken Sanskrit dialogue to have made it to the IFFI. Yet, it bagged an award, Why and how? Finally here comes a new introduction in awards, ‘Most film friendly state’, Gujarat? You would have already seen the aggressive protests against many films from the state. ‘Parzania’ a film based on Gujarat riots was not allowed to be shown there in 2007. Don’t you really remember the protest of sangha parivar against Aamir Khan’s film like Fanaa and PK following discussions on ‘Indian culture’ and his affiliation to Narmada Bachao Andolan. What I want to know from this jury is that whether you really want to promote the aesthetic, technical excellence and social relevance contributing to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different regions of the country in cinematic form? Or do you just want to distribute them among those who -you think-won’t return the awards as many of our eminent writers did? I don’t expect a reply from a jury who are appointed by a government which day by day reveals its fascist face clearly. In nazi Germany, minister of propaganda, Goebbels once called famous film director Fritz Lang to inform him that his film, based on autocracy in Germany has been banned. The minister also offered him a position of head in ‘German Film Studio’. That night itself he flew to France and he continued his artistic film works against fascism. You can do whatever it takes to silence the oppositions from the world of films, but it is never going to be silent. Yours sincerely, Shimjith Lal 1st year integrated MA Dept of history

BUILDING BLOCKS Swethal Ramchandran II MA English

Passing by the window pane A gust of wind lashed by There lay vibrant colours of Red, yellow, blue and green Scattered on the floor. “Why does this happen always? I had stacked them so well” Cried the little one. Is not your foundation block Strong enough? Questioned he. “Foundation? How do I make it strong?” Struck straight and deep into his heart “Foundation? How do I make it strong?” Was it ever firm? Did not gusts of wind bring it down? Like stacked blocks that lay shattered Eventually an introspection.. Amongst the facets of life, Who, What adjudges The FOUNDATION OF LIFE...?!!!

A powerful weapon Harikrishnan I MCom

Adhaar is a 12 digit unique identification number issued

rejection. It also raises the question of the urgency to pass

by the central government agency, Unique Identification

such a key legislation which will have a huge impact on the

Authority of India (UIDAI). It was formed in January

lives of people in India.” says P. Arun, in Youth Ki Awaaz.

2009, just before the Loksabha election, under UPA-I.

The editorial of Economic and Political Weekly, 12 March

But UPA did not pass the Aadhaar bill in parliament and

2016 says: “The decision is faulty not only by the spirit

present NDA government brought the bill as money bill

of the Constitution, it is even so by the letter of the law.

in loksabha to trespass Rajyasabha (since money bill do

Article 110(2), which shall form the basis for the speak-

not require sanction of Rajyasabha) On 11 March 2016,

er arriving at a decision on whether a bill is a money bill

the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other

or not, was clearly overlooked by the current Speaker Su-

Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016). “A bill to pro-

mitra Mahajan. To paraphrase, the provision holds that

vide for, as a good governance, efficient, transparent, and

a bill shall not be deemed to be a money bill by reason

targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and services, the

only that it provides for augmenting revenue collection or

expenditure for which is incurred from the Consolidat-

disbursal of money or services. This, incidentally, is the

ed Fund of India, to individuals residing in India through

argument raised by the government too, that Aadhaar will

assigning of unique identity numbers to such individuals

save money. But, the Aadhaar project has implications for

and for matters connected therewith or incidental there-

the rights of citizens, including the right to privacy since

to”, it says.

the UID project, even according to its votaries, addresses

The 12 digit number stores the basic demographic as well

concerns of national security.”

as biometric data of every Indian residents. It includes the

UPA and NDA have the same liberalised economic policy

portrait image of the person, his/her ten finger prints and

which cut down the subsidies through Public Distribution

both iris scans. This is stored in a centralised database,

System and increases the incentives for the corporates.

which will be accessed by the government at any time. “It

UPA had the idea to use Aadhaar to link to LPG subsi-

shows that idea behind the introduction of such a bill is to

dy, initially and expand to all governmental schemes. But

rectify the maladies of bad governance and to streamline

many times various courts told government that Aadhaar

the service delivery system in India. But the question that

is not cumpolsory to get benifits. The 2013 interim order

arises is why this bill was introduced as a money bill. Pos-

of the Supreme Court of India says that “no person should

sibly because the NDA government lacks the majority in

suffer for not getting Aadhaar” as it is voluntary and not

Rajya Sabha and with this it could bypass deliberation and

mandatory. In another interim order on 11 August 2015,

the Supreme Court of India ruled that “UIDAI/Aadhaar will

every house in Delhi and storing them at a central police sta-

not be used for any other purposes except PDS, kerosene

tion. The chances of getting a central database compromised

and LPG distribution system” and made it clear that even for

depend on the nature of information stored in it. For the

availing these facilities Aadhaar card will not be mandatory.

sake of security one can’t create a honey pot to be attacked

(DNA Inda)

by many. The internet is secure because it doesn’t have a cen-

“Will the UIDAI use its renewed mandate to boldly accel-

tral database. The other difference is that faking biometrics

erate its plan for inclusion of the ID-less, while at the same

is much easier than faking smart cards.” he added.

time addressing the “security concerns” of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs? Will pro-poor

The Aadhaar, in future can be made mandatory for anything including travel tickets, examinations,

NGOs break their self-imposed silence to

internet cafes, getting certificates etc and

support the various Aadhaar-based ini-

thereby the Big Brother can watch us at any

tiatives to better manage our welfare

moment. The biometric data like iris scan

services, despite the naysayers in their

can be used to identify the persons who

ranks?” Asks Raju Rajagopal and de-

participate in protest! In short, you will

mands “renewed dialogue between

not have any privacy and your each

the UIDAI and civil society on how

step will be followed by the state.

they can work together to meet Aadhaar’s

pro-poor

In 2015, HL Dattu bench said the

mission,

purely voluntary nature of the use

while at the same time address-

of Aadhaar card to access public

ing the legitimate concerns re-

service will continue till the court

garding data privacy”.

takes a final decision on whether

But by passing the Aadhaar bill,

the Aadhaar scheme is an inva-

government will overcome all the

sion on the right to privacy of the

court verdicts and make Aadhaar

citizen. Still the court has not taken

mandatory. Gradually, the Direct

a decision on this. Till 1970s court

Benifit Scheme will stop working.

had the opinion that Right to Privacy

We pay the full amount in the shop

is not fundemantal. Later several ver-

and wait for the credit in bank account.

dicts changed the opinions. In this partic-

What will you do if the money does not reach your account? Will you go to court? Or you

ular case, court has not given any statement. keep

So passing money bill at this moment is nothing but con-

mum?Issue of privacy.

tempt of court.

“Aadhaar makes the citizen transparent to the state but

“It is strange that the government took diametrically oppo-

makes the state completely opaque and unaccountable to its

site stands in two cases related to privacy in the Supreme

citizens.Aadhaar makes the citizen transparent to the state

Court. When some activists demanded that the UIDAI be

but makes the state completely opaque and unaccountable

scrapped, the government argued before the court that there

to its citizens” says Sunil Abraham, executive director of

was no Constitutional right to privacy. When the police

Bengaluru based-research organisation The Centre for In-

asked for the biometric records from the UIDAI, the same

ternet & Society. (Business Standard)

government argued there was a right to privacy and that it

“In this case biometrics should be used only to link the in-

couldn’t divulge the details to the police.”

dividual to the smart card. Biometric information should be

Now the only hope is Supreme Court Constitution Bench. If

stored on smart cards and under no circumstances should

the bench declare the Aadhaar is an intrusion into the right

there be a central repository of biometrics at one place.

to privacy, it will be scrapped. Else, the fascist state will get

Maintaining a central database is akin to getting the keys of

a powerful weapon.

courtesy- www.thewire.com

Do INDIA need a NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY? Aravind M A ResearchScholar, Dept of Green Energy Technology

India based neutrino observatory construction is pro-

Is there any radiation coming out?

gressing day by day. INO is located Theni district in Tam-

Will it harm agriculture, trees?

il Nadu. It is a particle physics research project to study

Answer is absolutely ‘no’. There is no dangerous radiation,

about atmospheric neutrinos in a 1300 meters deep cave

no harming, and no danger to agricultural products. How

under this INO peak at Theni.

can it be cent percentage sure? Because solar neutrino flux

There are many speculations and people have doubts about

reaching earth is about 65 billion neutrinos per square

INO and it’s functioning. For example,

centimetre per second and if it is dangerous, then earth’s

Will the experiment cause any change in civil life?

vegetation would never been formed.

Once Albert Einstein said “Science without religion is

But, there are problems like expected number of neutrinos

lame, religion without science is blind”. Even without tak-

not were found. Researches are going on and its properties

ing word by word meaning of this statement, one thing is

and behaviours are still not completely understood. Neu-

sure that proper knowledge can only get rid of these ques-

trinos carry information from all over the universe. They

tions we ask.

can penetrate any walls. They are everywhere and it is

‘INO’ is a neutrino observatory. Neutrino is an elemen-

important studying them. Here comes the importance of

tary particle like electron and proton. Three types of neu-

INO at Theni. Theni project is notable that it is anticipat-

trinos are known. They are tau neutrino, muon neutrino,

ed to provide a precise measurement of neutrino mixing

and electron neutrino. There are strong evidences that no

parameters. The project is a multi-institute collaboration

other types of neutrinos exist.

and one of the biggest experimental particle physics proj-

Neutrinos are fundamental particles that were formed in

ect undertaken in India.

the early universe before the formation of atoms. They are

Fist proposed site for INO was at Singara. Due to environ-

everywhere. They are produced in nuclear stars like sun.

mental problems it was changed to Theni. Now, we know

Even man made nuclear reactors can produce neutrino.

that environmental concerns are out of question and still

Neutrino do not interact to electromagnetic forces. Due

understanding science itself is in wrong path in India or

to very low mass they don’t interact to gravitation also. So

being diverted for many reasons.

it is very hard studying them. That is why we need ‘INO’.

This is why ‘Science Awareness’ is important in India. It is

In 1931, Wolfgang Pauli first predicted neutrinos. In 1959

far behind in the way to understand ‘Scientific Temper’. It

Clyde Cowan and Fred Reins finally found a particle. All

is very important to understand the nature and to sustain

neutrino observatories are deep inside caves. Because,

within.

nothing other can go so deep inside earth.

Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to hu-

Liquid chlorine target water is kept deep underground so

manity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.

that neutrino react with them and show an interaction.

-Louis Pasteur

Home and hostel.. Because I stay in a hostel about 500km away from home,

home is the most favourite part of travelling for me. No

I think about home a lot. That is probably not the case

matter how adventurous the journey was or how capti-

with a person who stays in and around the territory they

vating the place I visited had been, the best part of trav-

perceive as home. They hardly need to think of home

elling has always been the feeling I get when I reach the

because they are already there. I would say they are

proximity of home. I have often wondered what defines

lucky people. I am a person who has lived away from

home, both for myself and for others. Palakkad is home

home many, many times. Yet I have never been able to

for me. A lot of people have asked me why. I have lived

overcome homesickness.

in cities which are way ahead in urbanisation and the

So it should not surprise you when I say that going

subsequent conveniences. Yet home has been and will

always be this place.

ably go on and on about the place and seemingly trivial

One reason why I love Palakkad is my love for the place

locations that always give me a high.

in itself. I love Palakkad at night when the oppressive heat

The other reason why I love this place is because of the

seems to have been a hoax and the breeze a comforting

people. It was here that I finally belonged. I found friends

cloak. I have been lucky enough to have gone out on long

who meant to me more than friends ever could. I found

drives at night when the town starts closing down. I love

people who were truly mine. Summing it up, this is the

the lights that have not yet become malicious gleams

place where my family is. The kind of family that Dom

as in Bangalore or some other city. I love the bridge on

talks about in the Fast and Furious series- it is the only

the way Malampuzha. It may not have the architectural

kind that matters. This is where I was allowed to recog-

brilliance of many other bridges I have crossed. Yet it is

nise permanence. This is where I learned about forgiving

breathtaking in its own way. Trust me, it is a sight to be-

and forgetting. And it is here that I want to build my life.

hold when you stand on it and gaze at the Western Ghats

Within the proximity of the people who make home for

hugging white fluffy clouds. Drive a little beyond the

me because I am comforted in the knowledge that they

town limits towards either Kozhinjampara or Kodum-

are always within my reach. Words cannot describe what

bu and you will be greeted by small hamlets, I should

these wonderful people mean to me.

say, still largely dependent on agriculture and fulfilling

I understand that nothing is permanent. For example

Palakkad’s title as the “rice bowl” of Kerala. There you

consider the tales my dad narrates of his childhood

can find long stretches of paddy fields. And according

which are based on particular spatial markers of a dif-

to the season these stretches change colour. They may-

ferent older Palakkad. Now I am building up my own

be a refreshing green or a pale brown with intermittent

stories in the same place but with very different spatial

specks which are the coconut trees swaying in the wind.

markers. Places change their hues and people change ac-

Then there is the Ring Road behind the Malampuzha

cording to situations. Yet changes can be accepted when

Dam. The gardens maintained by KTDC are meant for

the subject of the change is truly and surely yours. Much

the tourists, the people who come to visit. But the road

like a parent who watches the changes in their child with

behind it is meant for those who have an inside relation

mixed feelings- their love never diminishes regardless of

with Palakkad. And I am sure I don’t need to explain fur-

the changes. And that is exactly how I know I can live

ther to those who have gone down that road. I can prob-

with the changes. This is home because it is mine.

Whenever I am feeling low I look around me and I know There’s a place that will stay within me Wherever I may choose to go I will always recall the city Know every street and shore... This is home truly, where I know I must be Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows This is home surely, as my senses tell me This is where I won’t be alone, for this is where I know it’s home. ( Excerpt from Lyrics by Dick Lee titled Home)

Importance of foreign languages in the global era Stephen A nurag p IMA,Politics and International Studies

The Old Testament story of ‘the tower of Babel’ is gen-

of Social Sciences and International Affairs but also

erally considered as the advent of globalisation. Glo-

other streams. Multilingualism has become more than

balisation is making local cultures global and global

just ‘important’. Knowing a foreign language other

cultures local. Here, culture includes language, tra-

than your native language has evolved to be extreme-

ditions, customs, norms and values, habits and most

ly beneficial. Whether viewed from the financial or

importantly communication. It plays a vital role in the

social aspect, being able to communicate in a foreign

cultural context of humans. Language, an important

language helps to make ‘real’ connection with people

part of communication plays a defining role in the

and provides a better understanding of your language.

society. Without sound and efficient language skills

Apart from that it also improves one’s communication

one cannot survive in the modern world. From an In-

skills and vocabulary which is demanded the most by

ter-Governmental organization like United Nations to

majority of the leading organizations.

the local associations, language skills play a vital role in not only communication and understanding but

Another reason why one should learn a foreign lan-

also in research and advocacy.

guage is that the knowledge of a foreign language en-

In today’s competitive world, getting a job is a hard

hances your cognitive and analytical abilities. Learning

task and persons with high academic and extra-aca-

a foreign language is tough and involves a lot of mental

demic qualifications are given utmost preference and

exercise. On the individual level, it improves person-

if one has to be in the preferred list one best option

ality and increases your sense of self worth. The need

could be ‘knowing a foreign language’. Learning a Eu-

of language faculties has increased due to the growing

ropean language would benefit not only the students

interest in students to learn foreign languages. People

associated with social services need to work with di-

therefore, I seriously suggest readers to take up a for-

verse groups from several countries. Ability to speak

eign language not just in terms of economy but culture.

in a foreign language enables them to communicate

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two lan-

and serve people better.

guages open every door along the way.”‒ Frank Smith

The next important decision is to choose a foreign

Why should one learn a Foreign Language?

language. Majority of the European languages have

To increase global understanding,

a great demand and are said to be loveable. French,

To improve employment potential,

Spanish, German, Italian and also Arabic are usual-

To increase native language ability,

ly considered to be easy to learn. Many coaching in-

To sharpen cognitive and life skills,

stitutes have rooted up in the country offering wide

To appreciate international literature, music, and film,

range of coaching classes.

To make travel more feasible and enjoyable,

Today’s world is a global village. Not just a profession-

To expand study abroad options,

al degree helps a person to get employment but also

To increase understanding of oneself and one’s own cul-

communication skills. Speaking plays a key role in

ture,

communication skills. The four vital parts of a social

To make lifelong friends and,

system are Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing

To help society promote peace.

and to fulfill these, one should communicate through

Whether you learn a language for a specific reason or

a proper channel which is understood by many and

out of interest, learning a foreign language will lead to

that is ‘Language’.

long term success. It will open up new avenues before

Opting French as my second language in my 11th

you. The more language you know, the better you can

standard has completely changed my life. It brought

express yourself.

me many opportunities and took me to the extent

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single

that I represent a city in an international conference,

step.” – Lao Tzu

Her work is never done Amala Tessa Johney Ist Msc electronic media

Thoughts rising up Fastening and unfastening wings Colors blooming in the nooks of mind Unfinished poems, unwritten stories Dreams; Open eyed, half dreamed, undreamed An artist cuts ladyfinger in the kitchen Red mixes with green But she goes on dreaming The pirate looks out to the sea An orange sun sinks bliss in the dark, under the covers Whistles of pressure cooker Burning vessels, smoke Her man shouts her name and swears Her work is never done in time.

CRY TO ME, OH! DEAR Reshma Anna Thomas II integrated MSc Physics.

Cry to me, Oh! Dear

Hopelessly you were lying

Your voice crumbled

Like a flower to fold

Your plea we couldn’t hear

Each time they ripped your flesh,

The crowd mumbled.

They stabbed my soul.

I saw you, crawling

Ghosts, they are, laughing in lush

Under the tiger’s paws

Around you, the devilish demons growl

Painfully struggling

Brimming with grace and courage

To escape the jackal’s claws

Shattered, yet beautiful you were

In your eyes, the final pleading

Till the last breath fought their savage

Answered by a stare, so cold

Poor girl, the world bows you, Oh! Dear.

Net nuetrality Chandan Babu Kuchipudi I M.Tech Computer Science

like BSNL,BEAM and Telco’s like Airtel , Vodafone with Equal Speed To Read and Download Content under Their Data Plan ,No matter whatever the Website it is . i .e user can select content allover Internet By Their Choice Without Any Restriction from ISP. In India , Social Networking Gaint Facebook Joined with Reliance for Internet.Org (Later changed its name as FreeBasics) and Popular Telco Airtel Introduces Airtel Zero to give Free Access of Basic Sites to their Users saying That to decrease the Digital Divide. With The Name of Free Access ,These Corporates Limiting The Content Selection Choice and Freedom of User. From FreeBasics We can access services like faceMost renouned term recent days in media and network-

book , Messenger,Wikipedia , AccuWeather etc. Beyond

ing sites NET NEUTRALITY . though some people

that, to access Information in other sites , they need to

think it as an act against hike of data plans by telco’s like

pay per website Based on The Changes Decided By Inter-

Airtel in india and against paid services of social sites like

net Providers and FreeBasics. So how does it matter for a

facebook and even some haven’t considered it because

common Person ? For an entrepreneur to open a startup

they never had interruption in their day to day life with

, This Non-NetNeutrality Environment will become big

this except reading and hearing in news.

threat. The Top 20 sites who can afford money to join

Imagine you went to a Public Library for Lending

with Internet.Org can only be displayed to normal us-

a Book but Unfortunately Told By the Librarian that you

ers. To reach audience , Startup websites or applications

are not eligible to take the book even though it is Open

will be forced to register in Internet.org endup by paying

Library Because the People Who took Charge to Main-

huge amount of money for it. Otherwise there is chance

tain it kept Premium Membership.

of limiting the speed of Non registered sites By ISP.

Here, The Open Library is Built for the People and the

Universal Connectivity is Necessary But It can never be

Intension of the Founders was to Give Free and Equal

Achieved by giving access to some basic sites through

Access to Every Book for Readers Who Can Physically

which Corpotates hide their revenue model. Net Neu-

enter into It. But it Was Exploited By The Temporary

trality can only lead towards rich and poor division i.e.

Maintainers as the decision making is in their hands.

more you pay more sites you can access which clearly

depicts the capitalist strategy implementation in digital

Motive of Net Neutrality is to give Fair access to

Everyone who can connect to internet by means of ISP’s

world too.

Survival Strategies Prerona Dutta ll M.Sc. Mathematics

Often times our minds soar high

There are days when allâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not well

Riding on lofty thoughts,

The world laughs behind our backs;

We set out to tame the eddying seas

We stumble at every pebble on the way,

And survive the desert droughts.

With each step the ground beneath cracks.

We scale the peaks and bridge the gorges,

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret therapy for the soul

And glide alongside hawks,

Stricken by cares and chores

Forests shelter us many a night

For there lies in every being

As we star-gaze, sprawling on rocks.

Its own survival stores.

Though many a times as strings are pulled,

The sanguine orb in its lifelong quest

Shipwrecked dreams gather dust;

Nears an end each day,

Yet again we dare to rise

But self-immolating in purging flames

And away the shackles are cast.

Rises again to light the way.

Towards a better democratic country Magazine Committee.

The Supreme Court has strike down the draconian

istry preffessor and his friend Subrata Sengupta was

provision 66 A from the IT Act 2000 calling it un-

arrested by the Kolkata police for posting cartoons

constitutional since the section violated the funda-

against Cheif Minister Mamata Banerjee and the

mental right to freedom of expression, under article

then railway minister Mukul Roy. On March of this

19(1) (a) of Constitution on a PIL filed by a 21 year

year, Kolkata HC ordered the government to pay ru-

old law student, Shreya Singal.

pees 25000 each as the legal aid in addition to the ru-

The IT Act was amended in 2008 and included 66

pees 50000 ordered by Human Rights Commission.

A which allows the government to punish anyone

The Kanpoor based cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, known

with three year imprisonment (and/or with fine) for

for his cartoons during India Against Curruption

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sending offensive messages through communica-

campaign, was arrested by the Mumbai police on a

tion serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It was widely misused so far to supress

complaint alleging that he had put up banners mock-

the criticism on governments and politicians as

ing the Indian Constitution on 9 September 2012.

well. Activists and a section of politicians welcomed

Sedition(124 A) and 66 A were charged together.

the 123 page judgement of the Bench of Justices J.

PTI Chairman Markandey Katju slammed the arrest

Chelameswar and Rohinton F. Nariman.

comparing the policce to the Nazi Criminals obeying

Lets go through few infamous incidents of 66 A in

only the orders of Hitler.

the recent years.

In an interesting case from Pondicherry, Ravi Srini-

Ambikesh Mahapatra, Jadavpur University chem-

vasan, a businessman was arrested for posting com-

ments against Karti Chidambaram, son of the then Fi-

bandh for the funeral of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thacker-

nance Minister P Chidambaram.

ay. While Shaheen posted her question on facebook,

Air India cabin crew members Mayank Sharma and

Renu ‘liked’ it. They were cherged with 295 A and 66 A.

KVJ Rao spent nearly 12 days in jail for allegedly post-

The legal and political fight is incomplete. The peti-

ing ‘indecent jokes’ about Prime Minister and other

tion had also contained the plea to strike off Section

politicians on May 2012.

69 A wich allows government to intercept and decrypt

Salman Mohammed, a research scholar, was arrested

private communications and Section 79 which bur-

in Trivandrum for ‘disrespecting’ national anthem in

dens Google and other service providers not to host

a theatre and posting ‘abusive comments’ later in face-

‘defamatory, blasphemoeus, obscene’ contents. A na-

book. He spent nearly one month in jail for charges of

tional party itself (CPI-M) had called for scrapping the

sedition along with 66 A.

sedition law 124 A very recently. Unlawful Activities

In October 2012, three youngsters from Kishtwar dis-

(Prevention) Act, Section 295 A( blasphemy), Armed

trict was arrested for posting blasphemious (IPC 295

Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), Section 377 of

A) video in facebook. They spent 40 days in jail. Threr

IPC (criminalising homosexuality), 375 (decriminalis-

was no proof with the government that they uploaded

ing marital rape) are the other major draconian laws in

the video.

the Indian system.

Shaheen Dhada and Renu Srinivasan from Palghar,

This magazine stand with the people who are charged

Maharashtra were arrested for a comment on the

with these acts.

In Pursuit of Dawn Shreya Bera l MA english

When dusk seems like the early morn, You fight your assumptions. When it’s clearer ,you know which side you belong. The free verse or geometry; The charcoal and insanity; Choked sound may be the voice of age; The variables of your aching feet; Sleep on a torturous bed. The rebels in your mourning speech, Heart ache mixed in your coffee beans, His ties, watches and band- aid collection, Happy dog house in this brindled mansion, Sober death in a pool of wine, Drunken in the bathtub, thrice. The cliches that smoothen your backbone; All come to light when the dusk gone. You see feet pacing fast, With no sound, no feel, no touch; You are in a sack of hole-y rug You’re marriage off with a slight shrug And pat on the back from the cardinal.. Clichés wheel backwards; Dusk is myth again, in the face of dawn.

WHO FARTS AND WHO CARES! MEDHA P R l MA Mass Communication

By casual perception, I have seen that guys have a tendency to

assault.

respond differently to the sound of a fart. It appears that men

The discussion boiled down to women’s bodies once again be-

will probably ignore or laugh though ladies will probably show

ing controlled by society and women being told what to do.

disgust towards farts. This is a common and repeating theme

Steph Guthrie, a feminist advocate and community organizer

going through these differences is that woman’s discharge is

proposed an online campaign to handle this misogyny that

more obscured, emotionally and physically suppressed than

“keeps women down and trapped in their own bodies. I just

men’s. The contradiction of feminity and discharge is wonder-

find it horrific that the patriarchy has been controlling wom-

fully portrayed in Jonathan Swift’s poem ‘The woman’s chang-

en’s flatulence this whole time and we have just realised this

ing area’, in which a suitor sneaks into his better half ’s room

now, it is time for the feminist worldwide to re-educate women

just to discover confirmation of her filthy corporeality, in-

on how they are being discriminated”.

cluding sweat-soaked pieces of clothing, beslimed towels and

However, these campaigns dint help to break the stereotyp-

encrusted brushes. After finding her chamber-pot he sneaks

ical point of view of the society in any manner. So in short,

away in horror ‘Oh! Celia, Celia, Celia shits!’ The same theme

research on farting has for the most part been dismissed by

is expressed by an American undergraduate ‘women are sup-

the psychological literature. There is some confirmation to rec-

posed to be non- poopers’ (Weinberg & Williams, 2005, p.

ommend that women who fart are judged more unpleasantly

327). apart from our illuminated modern states of mind of

than men who fart. In fact, this would change a lot when the

gender equality, farting women are still judged everywhere ex-

situation changes, based on who is farting, and who is finding

tremely as corrupted than men.

the farting. one study found that the gender differences are re-

Ashleigh Ingle a feminist and a rebel contended that in light

lated with the purity and lack of purity. lack of purity is more

of patriarchal gender standards women were not permitted to

connected to the activities like pooping and farting. farting

discharge gas openly as a result of men’s expectations of wom-

with noise reminds the uncontrollability over these so called

en to be perfect, pure and feminine. Besides, she argued that

private matters. purity will always be connected with women.

if a lady was to flatulate in the presence of a man and the man

so socially and culturally it is believed as female farts will be

reacted by flatulating louder than the lady, then that would be

more harmful than male farts.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This nationalism will disintegrate the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Prof. Prabhat Patnaik Proffessor of Emeritus, JNU

We are forced into thinking about nationalism because, as

different, I would be arguing, from the trajectory of na-

you know, the hinduthuva forces are using nationalism as

tionalism of India. It is an important point because I think

amines of supressing political dissent. This we have had an

a lot of European left and of course the Indian right does

experience in JNU. And our students like Kanhaiya, Umar

not see this point. You see in Europe, when you look at

Khalid and Anirbanhad got bail, which is a wonderful

the post Westphalian nationalism there may at least three

thing.

features of technically important. Firstly, it always locat-

To start with let me make my general position clear. I

ed an enemy within. In southern European countries,

wrote a piece in The Hindu at the end of last month (Feb-

where Roman Catholicism was predominant, the enemy

ruary) in which I discussed this notion of nationalism

within were the protestants. In northern Europe countries

and I also gave a talk to JNU students on March 9th. The

where Protestants were predominant, the enemy within

idea of nationalism, nation all these concepts became cur-

was Catholics. Everywhere in every European countries, a

rent in Europe, in the 17th century after the Westphalian

country within were the Jews. So everywhere this was the

Peace Treaties. In Europe there was a hundred years war

notion of nationalism that was not an inclusive notion. It

and there was a thirty years war, later they came to an end

was fundamentally an exclusionary notion of nationalism,

with a set of peace treaties which was signed in Westphalia

in which the nation as it was visualised always an excluded

and after that nation states came into begin. And there-

apart of the population. The second feature of the Euro-

fore the concept of a nation is got something that called

pean nationalism it that it was invariably associated with

currency from that period onwards. But the trajectory of

the imperialism. Within a very short period of almost a

nationalism of nation states in Europe was fundamentally

few weeks of Westphalian peace treaties, Oliver Cromwell

has already attacked Ireland and taken over, which was the

gressive opinion has actually tried to get rid of the legacy

first colony in the world. The English acquired the con-

of nationalism. And as a result in a lot of western litera-

trol over land. Subsequently even when European nations

ture, including western Marxist literature, all nationalism

maintained peace among themselves in Europe, they were

is defined as bad, because they think of nationalism as just

engaged in fighting bitter wars in all over the world includ-

a homogeneous category, which it is not. And it is not

ing country like India, or America, etc. So it was funda-

because when you look all over the third world, the con-

mentally imperialistic, it was fundamentally an aggressive,

cept of a nation develops in the course of an anti-colonial

aggrandising nationalism. And that was the basics of Eu-

struggle. Amir Khusrow wrote about the idea of India in

ropean nationalism. The third very important feature of

13th century. But fundamentally the concept of an India

European nationalism is that it put the nation above the

emerges in the course of the anti-colonial struggle. This

people. Look at Adam Smith’s book is called “An Inqui-

nationalism which then becomes grown up, which gets

ry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”.

grown up by the anti-colonial struggle, has features which

It is concerned with nations. How does a nation become

is completely opposite to the European nationalism which

wealthier? But throughout that book there is no suggestion

I call an aggrandising nationalism. The first feature, since

that the nation become wealthier would make the people

we are fighting colonialism, it has to be an inclusive con-

better off. The fact that the nation had to become wealthier

cept of nationalism and you can’t have an enemy within.

was taken as an axiom.

Because after all you are fighting an enemy outside who

As a matter fact, a very well-known writer Rudolf Hilfer-

is immensely powerful. So the whole idea is to unite ev-

ding who was the first to analyse the finance capital said,

erybody. Likewise you actually have to have be common

‘the ideology of the finance capital is a glorification of the

course with others fighting colonialism. And consequently

nation’. And that glorification of the nation was carried to

out of make common cause wish list with the Burmese,

in Germany to the maximum possible level. And of course

with the Chinese, and so on. So this is the nationalism that

it is one that justifies the war and fascism, the absolute

at the same time has an element of internationalism in it.

height of that kind of nationalism. Now is not surprising

Because after you are making common cause with anti-co-

that in the post second world war period in Europe, in the

lonial struggles elsewhere. The third very important fea-

name of nationalism, two world wars had been fought. It

ture of this nationalism is it did not apotheosis the nation.

is not surprising, that progressive opinion in in Europe in

It did not put the nation above the people. In fact Gand-

the post second world war period moved away from the

hi’s phrase to my mind captures in very well. He said the

concept of nationalism. They saw that nationalism as was

idea – the objective of free India must be to wipe the tears

practiced and defined was underlying, was used to justi-

away from the eyes of every Indian. In other words, you

fy the wars, and that’s why you had the formation of this

are actually putting the people at the centre of this theme

whole transnational, trans-European kind of formation

and the nation is not something standing outside of the

like European union etc. Even though European union is

people. But the nation is nothing else the people uniting to

dominated by German finance capital, none the less the

constitute a nation. Uniting on the basis of a certain com-

entire progressive opinion in Europe supports Europe-

mon agenda. It’s the nation comes into being on the basics

an Union. And this has its own consequences which we

of a social contract. Now this social contract is something

need go into. For instance in Greece, left wing govern-

which in different countries and course of anti-colonial

ment came into power, voted in order to defeat posterity

struggle that appear in different forms. In South Africa it

measures. But on the other hand posterity measures were

was the freedom charter. Similarly in India in 1931, there

insisted by the German banks, and this government fell

was the Karachi Congress resolution which was actually

in line because it said that any movement out of Europe

set out what free India is going to look like. An free India

would be a reactionary movement. You know that, Euro-

was going to look like one where there was universal ei-

pean unity is a progressive concept, you know, because it

ther franchise where the state had no religion, where you

goes beyond nationalism. So Europe in many ways pro-

had complete equality before law for everybody, you had

a minimum standard of material living for everybody, you

ocratic nationalism on the basics of which modern India

had a free and compulsory primary education, you have no

is founded and the other is the aggrandising nationalism –

capital punishment- that you know, abolition of death pen-

kind of bourgeois nationalism – of the kind that existed in

alty was one of the things dreamt up in 1931 in India- etc.

Europe is extremely important. Because the kind of nation-

(And of course when anyone opposes Afzal Guru’s execu-

alism, that anti-colonial struggle in India was built around

tion, today, and he is branded ‘Anti-national ‘).

was completely sui generis, anything of this kind have never

While the formation of this nation was in the basics of a

existed before. And its actually very difficult thing to realise.

social contract that actually promises the abolition of death

Why is it difficult to realise? Because you find that immedi-

penalty. But, you see, the significance of the inclusive dem-

ately there will be two different kinds of social forces against

ocratic egalitarian nationalism lies in the fact that it actu-

it. One kind of social forces that could be against it is of

ally united people, I mean, in a society in which you have

course the kind of torch bearers of the traditional society.

millennia of institutionalised inequality, caste oppression,

Those who believe in caste, those who believe in gender dis-

gender oppression (etc.). In such society to actually unite

crimination they would all be extremely upset by this notion

everybody on the basics of the common agenda and to give

of an inclusive nationalism, the Brahmin landlords of my

everybody a position of equality as citizens was really a re-

village. So obviously there will be one social force consisting

markably achievement. I remember I was small when the

all the reactionary elements of the whole society or those

1952 election took place on the basics of universal adult

who actually have completely imbibe the reactionary feature

franchise and I remember the kind of anger that the Brah-

of the whole society, they would be oppose to it. And in my

min landlords in my village had, that the Dalit had a vote

view, Hindutva do it precisely.

which had actually exactly the same weight as their vote. I

The other social force that could be opposite to it is of course

mean that was really an unthinkable proposition, we take it

neo-liberal capitalism. Because capitalism itself, you can

for granted these days but on the other hand it really con-

imagine, if it is an egalitarian nationalism, then it’s a mood

stituted, really a revolution the like of which India had nev-

point, that the capitalism is fundamentally inequalising. Be-

er seen for centuries. So that was a nationalism which was

cause you find that for instance a Dalit boy doesn’t have the

essentially based, as I said, of an inclusive egalitarian dem-

same opportunity as, let’s say, an upper caste boy has. Be-

ocratic nationalism and it was the nationalism which was

cause the upper caste boy has access to education, has access

people become themselves into a nation on the basics of a

to income to be able to afford education and so on, which

certain social contract.

the Dalit boy doesn’t have. So you have the inequalising ten-

Now the question arises how we know the contract is going

dencies of capitalism anyway acting in a way that frustrates

to be fulfilled. Lenin hade a very interesting idea on this and

the project of this inclusive nationalism.

that idea was that different parts of an entity should be al-

So the point is that entire vote naturally also be opposed to

lowed to secede. Because if they are allowed to secede then

the notion of an inclusive nationalism because that would

those we who constitute the dominant forces in it could

then frustrate the project of neo-liberalism capitalism. So

make sure that they do not treat the others unfairly. Because

you have opposition coming from both these sources, and

if they did they would secede. So the unity of the nation

is not very surprising that these oppositions combines in

would break. So but then in India as you know, the constitu-

order to project an alternative notion of nationalism. And

tion never provided the right to secede. It is very important

that alternative notion of nationalism is essentially a me-

that in such a contractual nationalism, the grievances of any

ta-physical notion- in the sense – it is not people becoming

region, the grievances of any social group need to be ad-

the nation, but it is the nation which exists independent of

dressed, need to be talked about, need to be articulated so

the people. It’s a meta-physical notion of the nationalism,

that the nation can hold together and so that the contract

which is not only opposed to the egalitarian inclusive notion

can hold together.

of nationalism, I mean, Bharat Mata Ki Jai. The point is the

The distinction between the two different kinds of nation-

Bharat Mata which has been to be praised independent of

alism one is what I would call an egalitarian inclusive dem-

the conditions of the life of people, independent of anything

else. Nobody actually uses that nationalism as an argument

ta-physical nationalism towards a Hindu Rastra, which

for saying lets wipe away the tears from eyes of every Indian.

basically is a way of a privileging. Hindu Rastra is not a

They use that nationalism in order to refurbish a pre-exist-

theocratic state it is actually a fascist state. Because, it is not

ing metaphysical idea like Bharat Mata. But if you see this

a theocratic state in the sense that Hinduism as a religion it-

metaphysical nationalism firstly therefore is based on the

self is quite different from Semitic religions. Romila Thapar

deception. What is happening now is that in the minds of

has talked about the fact recently people use to refer the

the people, nationalism has a certain legitimacy derived

Hindu group of religions. This Shaivism, Vaishnavism and

from the anti-colonial struggle. It is a phenomenal reality, it

all kinds of that, doesn’t have a book, doesn’t have a church

is a real phenomenon. But that is being exploited to substi-

and consequently it very different So when you are saying

tute for that nationalism from the quite different. It’s a kind

Hindu Rastra you are not actually privileging a religion, you

of deception in which one particular notion of aggrandis-

are privileging in fact a particular set of people who define

ing nationalism is being substitute for something else and

what Hindu is, and it is their Rastra. And consequently it is

is claiming the legitimacy which existed for something else

essentially a very invocation for a fascist state. So what you

for itself. It’s so obvious, when you look at any statement,

are having now is this dangerous idea of propagating this

for instance, Arun Jeitly said to Rahul Gandhi that, ‘listen

nationalism – this meta-physical aggrandising nationalism,

you are being anti-national while your mother and your

a project in which both corporate capital of the one hand

grandfather were nationalist’. The moment you say that you

and the Hinduthuva forces of the other hand have a cer-

are being anti-national were you’re your mother and grand-

tain common western interest. Because all of it is really been

father were nationalists, you are actually defining, giving a

counter posed to the inclusive nationalism on the anti-co-

uniform meaning to the term nationalism and obliterating

lonial period but on the other hand claiming legitimacy by

these differences. And this obliteration is deception one.

precisely because of the legitimacy of the inclusive nation-

But then there is a deception two. Once you give national-

alism of the colonial period. I think once this happens it

ism a meta-physical character which has no kind of coun-

actually has very dangerous implications. One very obvious

terpart in terms of peoples living, how and what should be

implication is that thought gets destroyed. When you ask

done about the people’s condition of life and so on. That

questions different people would have different answers

meta-physic has to be defined by somebody and RSS takes

to those questions to start with. Over a period of time, no

upon itself the right to define the meta-physics. Tomorrow

doubt with evidence, with experience some answers get ac-

you take beef, you will become anti-national, if a women

cepted others don’t. I mean these days nobody, or not, many

doesn’t observe Karva Chauth (fasting)– become anti-na-

believe in the flat earth theory. But on the other hand it is

tional. This meta-physical notion of nationalism introduce

perfectly possible at any given moment of time there has to

an elasticity of the concept, they are almost anything that

be a multiplicity of answers to every

you can be put in as the nation, and therefore it becomes easy to go from that kind of me-

questions and thus the symptom of thinking society. Marx has a very beautiful phrase in Capital, in which he says that ‘bees can construct structures that can put many architect to shame. But the difference

between

the bees and the worst

archi-

tect is that the architect creates the structure in the mind

before creating in reality but not the beesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. So if you are

ing meta-physical nationalism is actually anti-national in

thinking in terms of going beyond the status quo you must

the sense, but it actually it provides intellectual hegemony

have a conception of a society that exist beyond the sta-

to imperialism. And if it provides intellectual hegemony to

tus quo. The other thing is that this destruction of thought

imperialism, intellectual hegemony is the prerequisite of

which takes the concrete form of destruction of the most

other forms of hegemony. And therefore effectively or actu-

excellent institutions we are built up in the country like

ally making that nation in the making which anti-colonial

JNU, HCU, FTII Jadavpur University, fine arts faculty of

struggle was trying to do, you are actually subverting that

MS University, Baroda, which has such a glory of tradition.

project. Once you try to impose this kind of thing which

If there is no JNU, or similar other institutions, then there

is essentially has to be authoritarian, which essentially has

is no place where, lets say, no economics or sociology or

to fascist, it has to attack minority religion, it has to attack

anthropology or whatever or history can be developed. In which

women, it has to attack Dalits. You just look at the charge against Rohit, who committed suicide, in University

case what you learn as

of Hyderabad. Charge against him is that he was

economics is im-

casteist. Why was he casteist? Because he was op-

ported from Amer-

posing caste oppression. So if you oppose cast op-

ican text books, in

pression you are a casteist, and if you are a casteist

which what you

you are anti-national. So let you know, in the name

learn as sociology

of that, you are actually supressing all movements

is imported from

for equality, movement for change and so on. Sub-

text books, you

ordinating minorities, religions, subordinating Dal-

become a para-

its, and the so called lower caste and subordinating

sitical. In other

women and so on. If that happens then it became

words this kind

very difficult for third world society to survive. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

of aggressive, ag-

not forget the unity of India. Moderninity of India

grandis-

has been a product of this inclusive nationalism. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only way that the unity can be preserved. If you substitute it by another form of nationalism, in which there is no room for dissent, which is essentially as I said the aggrandising metaphysical exclusionary nationalism in which minorities are the other who needs to be supressed, the only logical consequence of that would be a splitup of the nation. It would be, that India would join the rank of the failed states, the third world is littered with examples of the failed states. Our own Hinduthuva is backed by corporate finance are now trained to impose a notion of nationalism, with which it will be very difficult to hold the country together. Therefore fighting it is, to my mind, absolutely essential.

Bit o’ Humour Goes a Long Way But You’re on Your Own Leimichon Sophia KAS II MA Mass Communication

A particular joke in a Reader’s Digest issue some years ago once made my day. It also made my entire week. There was this very hardworking farmer whose family was approached by the devil himself and was promised half the land of the entire village and incessant wealth for the generations to come. Josh gave a long profound thought and finally managed these four words, “So what’s the catch?” My generation is in its share of turmoil. The array of answers to unending queries about life and its morality or philosophy is but a generous way to get to the bigger picture. The sad part is not knowing its (the picture’s) extent. What novelty does a mosque or a temple give us every time we go? I do not think there is so much to argue in saying even the Church might be confused where to step next. Well I can be sure of just one thing- humankind has lived so long we have begun to lose our originality. Like the missionary who lived among the natives preaching for almost a decade and finally succeeded in convincing the chief. Chief: “So you tell me I have lived my life befitting my people but if I don’t believe in this Jesus fellow, do you say he is going to throw me into hell?” Missionary: “Oh God! No. Why would He do that?” Chief: “Then what was all that about Jesus?” Who is to tell what is wrong or what is white. Now do not ask me how it is done or where one is to begin. It’s time we restore extending our hands for our fellow neighbours. Cynicism is nothing but a tool. There is goodness in everybody. I’ll assure you there is goodness in life. You just have to believe in time and wait for it to take its course. Meanwhile, thou shalt waste it wisely because you’re on your own.

Dumb dolls never build a civilization Sourabh Pawar II MA Mass Communication There’s a famous quote by an English author Evelyn Be-

especially in a hyper-erogenous society like India, it is

atrice Hall, oft quoted, oft repeated: “I disapprove of what

important that the basic rights to think, dissent and ex-

you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.

press be preserved and rather be encouraged to flourish.

The quote is ubiquitous in every argument on freedom

Any democratic society thrives on differing and some-

of expression that has engulfed India post the JNU deba-

times conflicting views. People’s clashing with authorities

cle. But the very reason it is quoted so often is the precise

is not always a bad sign. It means that the spirit of de-

manner in which it sums up the essence of democracy,

mocracy is alive and kicking in that country. The uni-di-

and India is a democratic, albeit in constant struggle

rectional way of thinking and seeing things is dangerous.

within itself to remain so. Public memory is seemingly short and while some jin-

Think the US of 1970s, during the era of Vietnam war

goists argue that people need to be reminded to “love”

when the collusion between the US media, administra-

their country and whipped into doing so, similar allega-

tion and armed forces led to widespread destruction and

tions can also be leveled against the decriers. That they

human rights violation in Vietnam. Whose rights were

forget that India is a democracy and people have right to

the US armed forces protecting? Certainly not of those

dissent, debate and express their views and sentiments.

on whose name they had waged such havoc on another

The conscience of a nation is not the assertion of a few

nation. However, the worst part of Vietnam War wasn’t

influential people. In order to safeguard everyone’s rights,

the incredible number of killings, on both sides. Neither

was it the vast waste of resources. The most talked

ticle 124) still exist and are actively used by the state to suppress

about aspect of the war was the perceived and in fact

the voices of people in the largest democracy of the world is a

projected notion that the American people stood be-

shame. We need to address that concern at the earliest.

hind their forces in the war. People back home were not

Famous American Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Ju-

shown the actual face of the ugly war that was talking

nior once said “Our day begin to end the day we become silent

place in the jungles of Vietnam. A general ‘conscience’

about the things that matter.” No matter what the cost, the hu-

of wholehearted ‘support’ was drawn on the part of the

man right of freedom of expression should never be tampered

US public. Everything changed when the truth came

with. Kept in check? Yes. Assaulted? No! Gagged men are as

out and the American people rose up against their

good as dolls and dolls never made a great civilization. Men

government and armed forces for their assault on Viet-

with brains and conscience do.

nam. That is democracy. If no one speaks against the wrongdoings and everyone thinks the same thing, who will be responsible for the predicament the nation will be in within few years? In 1933, the famous ‘King and Country debate’ took place at the Oxford University in England where it was decided that the students of Oxford University would not fight for Britain. The students were ridiculed but never persecuted and worse, tried in legal cases. There’s a reason why the first amendment in the US constitution advocates one’s freedom of expression. The framer of the Indian constitution and the champion of Dalit rights in India Dr. BR Ambedkar had realized the importance of seeing citizens as humans with certain rights than treating them as a bunch of passive conformists who’d yield at the slightest of government pressures. The idea of modern India is built on the liberal ideas like the idea of freedom of expression. Our forefathers fought, lost their lives and made sacrifices not just for the vague idea of independence but for their vision of ever evolving, tolerant state that’d accept every unit of its heterogeneous demography with equal affection and shared ownership of their right to call their motherland their home and love it the way they want it and express their love toward her with the expression of their choosing. And hence, article 19 of the Indian constitution is the holy grail of democracy in India, the very backbone. That archaic and draconian rules like sedition laws (ar-

Caste is not a myth Nidhin Nath K A I MA Mass Communication

It is an ironical fact that when India boasts of being glob-

response to the rape and murder of a dalit girl in hary-

ally advancing in the field of science and technology, there

ana,the infamous khap panchayat ruled that had the girl

stilss exists in the nation,the scars of caste prejudice. hon-

been married off at an earlier age,then she would have had

our killings have now become a common affair in northern

o face such punishment!. How incongruous and irrational

parts of India. the intensity of such happenings have been

they speak! Similar incidents keep happening in the coun-

on the rise recently. The efforts of great socile reformers

try and much of it goes unnoticed. one out of 5 honour

like Raja ram mohan roy seems to stand futile.

killings in the world takes place in India. Acoording to the

it is cyrstal clear that casteist forces controls the demopg-

U.Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s study, nearly 1000 cases of honour killings are report-

raphy of the biggestdemocracy of the world. a shameful

ed in Indai. many thousands of such cases go unnoticed or

affair, it is. The recent agitations carried out by the Patel

unreported. The states like TamilNadu has proved itself to

community in Gujrat is yet another example of how deeply

be places where the govt itself is run on the lines of caste.

ingrained the cate system is in the functioning of the gov-

Hence political parties flouting the name of dravida parties

ernment.

come and go off in power. no political party ever emerged

Toeing the line set by the legal system of the nation,and

in d name of dalits or minorities. Tamilnadu has earned

by creating rules of their own,the khap panchayats have

itself the name for recording the highest number of honour

become the hallmark of caste in states like Haryana. In

killings.

From the murder of Ilavarasan for marrying

uniting castes under the umbrella of hindusim had

Divya, an uppercaste,to the murder of Sanker, a 23

termed dalits as dogs. Such an indecent comment

year old student from Tiruppur and the murder of

was made an unioin minister.

50 other people stand testimony to this dark re-

Even though the attrocities against dalits and mi-

ality.

norities still continue, the protest against such in-

Unofficial statements prove that in the last 2

cidents are barely visible in the mainstream.

years,1971 people lost their lives,pertaining to

India,to you I speak my “mann ki baat”,”my mind

murder in the name of honour killings.

speaks to you”-I find it extremely hard to call my-

How could a civilised society accept a man who

self a proud Indian,for I don’t find anything worth

shamelessly claims in front of the court that he had

the pride. How could I take take pride when the

done nothing wrong by killing his own daughter

nation is torn apart on the lines of caste? And

to uphold the honour of his caste? How could he

when the nation is run by those who do not con-

call himself a father?

sider dalits as humans but rather the cow as god

The increasing number of honour killingd in

and the dalit a filthy cur? Dear India I wonder what

tamilnadu is a strong indicator of the rise of khap

remedy would work to cure your face charred by

panchayats in the state. The fanatics who speak of

the caste prejudice?

A struggle for a space Ajila P R I MA Mass Communication

Panmai theater group Chennai, is a representative of

to be sex workers or beggars. There are some celebrated

those who never treated as human beings just because

Trans gender activists. But they are minority. Majority of

they are Trans genders. They are dreaming about a day of

them are leading a miserable life.

which their family and society accept them. They are in

a struggle to fulfill their dream. As a part of this protest,

sector and employment sector. That can make their life

they made a drama named coloures of Trans 2.0. Through

somewhat better. They didn’t think that screening of the

this drama Panmai theater slaps the mainstream society.

drama coloures of Trans will make change in the attitude

They define gender through their experience.

of the society in a day. But definitely changes will happen

in the future. After watching the drama we can find new

They are asking for a chance. The society is not

They ask for reservation in the educational

ready to give a chance. They also love theater. But just be-

definitions of gender.

cause of they are Trans genders the mainstream society

As they said, I won’t ask the gender of a new born baby

draws a border. And not letting them to cross it. They

any more.

didn’t get education. They didn’t get job. They are forced

“What a bad question is that!”

KALEIDOSCOPE: YOU-ME-WE Vishnu Priya R Y 4thIntg. MA Sociology

Preoccupation within a self result to act in a de-

sight and hear the unheard, there you prove to be

manding situation. And then, while we realize the

another ideal scholar aspired by the federal institutes

hindrance of acting, it would be high time to start

of exploitation. Do exercise your right to dissent, to

everything anew. Rather than an overall beginning

express, to act and to decide your needs. Creating a

why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we trace the earlier roots to tackle it? It

campus culture to deconstruct the stereotypical so-

is not for a revolutionary change, but for the least

cial view and to regenerate an inclusive humanitar-

changes that should happen to avoid a morbid situa-

ian ideas is a pillar stone of the whole nation. Chas-

tion in the resourceful entity.

ing something which is not near future by leaving

Richness of the green most expressed in the yellow showers during summer, the chill-

the present would make the future miserable. Light of education will be fruitful only if it

ness of winter and the rainbow feath-

becomes a street light rather than table

ers, and a lot more have groomed the

lamb.

academy even more alluring. It is

Blend of satire and explicit statement

pacific overtly for a visitor and most

would be the right way of expression

of the scholar folks. And it remains

though it would perplex a plain

the regrettable bit of the story,

reader. This would appear as a

that scholars being in the state

stuffed box about to burst. Yes!

of ignorance. Intention is not

The degree of conveyance of

to let this apply to the whole

thought is uncertain. But the

scene but the majority lies in

lasting glimpses of helpless faces

the extra entertainment zone of

confronted by the horrendous ad-

egocentrism.

ministration boosts to react within

Ignorance or evasion? You can-

the cage. You cannot be insensi-

not have another chance of ex-

tive because you gain no benefits

emption from the reality. What are you waiting for? Things should get on your own

by reacting or feel that your concerns are beyond that. You are drived by wrong de-

nerves to act upon, speak out? Venting out the storm

sires then, the desires which do not see the miseries

inside will stretch another set of researches for this

or helplessness of fellowbeings. Do not get offend-

apoliticism!! This pours out from the fear of label-

ed if you really bother about it. But it is great fall of

ling of belonging to an inactive scholar community;

not having an intellectual contestation of ideology

fear of not utilizing the essence of education gained

within this platform as later you will lose chance to

and fear of pain generated from the tolerance of in-

revive anything. Take a stand, otherwise it is near-

justice.

ly not possible to introspect and lead the rest to the

If central attitude is not oriented towards the social

right direction.

commitments, then you fail to run the society and

Awaiting the days we together can sing, dance the

have no voice in its operation until and unless you

art of freedom, the real one which liberates the mind

DO. If you cannot see what happens beyond your

from ego!

Perception Jaisal E.K II Year M.A. Year Integrated) – Political Science It is always the perception of man, That says what he cannot and what he can. If you see life as a hell and a heaven afterlife, You are nothing more, but an empty juice can. I’m the one perceiving heaven and hell, And life is my water for which I dig my well. I dream and I work, though pulled back, I work, And at the end, to the world, my dreams are what I sell He wins, he who works for his dream, And ‘life is a hell’, he who screams, Loses his heaven as he lives on. Enjoy life, dears, before it melts as cream. March ahead soldier, victory is yours, It will be counted, your minutes and hours. Pull down the veils of flaws and oppression, All that tomorrow, your victory covers.

The Gap

Athira G PhD scholar, Dept of English

Turning the sea into ink Turning the blue vast sky into paper You created classics. But I, I filled my pen with blood And wrote on the skin peeled. In your writing shone Pearls and corals, Swam golden fishes, Floated white clouds. You sent me The black clouds Dead fishes And the residue.. But they got rotten From your mind itself And became enriched When it reached me. Friend, Have you ever thought That one day, Somebody would come Claiming the patent Of your blue sky and vast ocean? And what would be your state then? But, My blood and skin Though not noble Are mine alone Till the end.

Waiting for a Miracle Meryl Abraham I M.A. French Waiting for that miracle That’ll make it all seem meaningful Wonderin’ why that star’s so high And why life’s stopped its lullabies Can seem so long a train ride Into the deepest, darkest night Scenes of pain and misery, flashes of regret Brush past me as I look on out Don’t let me taste their bitter wineWinds of change slap my face As I try to keep up in vain. The stares and murmurs, (just) like I recall Can still undo my all, my all They hit a chord in my heart, dark. A searing painful truth in balck On my heart I lay my hands And try to still my beating heart But, memories-those lurking guests Fog up the window and give no rest (they) show me each still And each time the train stands still Oh, yes, I’m waiting for a miracle To make this journey lyrical This boundless waiting seems a losing battle Yet, hopeless death is a far worse battle Last stop’s called ‘Great Desert’ (of mine) When tears won’t flow, though for tears I pine

Hungrily-they’re stuck down inside. I’m alive outside, but feel dead inside And I’m so near to choke, leaving me breathless as I approach Port of Remission! I try to descend But, what’s this? The port only sends Me off, far, miles away And I’m told to hold onBut it’s hard to hold on When the light in the tunnel Is like the bright dawn that never fell And the sun takes too long a while To rise with it’s healing smile These far, far away things Have they not faster wings? To lift me up-far away bound The train doing loops and rounds I know the end’s close, but, my waiting doesn’t close It’s so hard to hold on when it’s not in my sight And the wheels seem never to carry me right The future uncertain, the signs so vague My choices remain questions & the signals get dim It’s so hard to hold on When the ride goes right on So, but, I keep waiting for that miracle And all this (must) (seems) to be more bearable Wonderin’ how stars stay so bright When we’re light years away from their hearts’ eye.

S Vinod Kumar, 4th Year Intg. MA Political Science

How we are here

its mistakes. For instance, astronomers in the ancient days believed the Geo-centric model of Universe, which that The curious onset

depicts the Earth as the centre of the universe with all the

Curiosity is one trait which keeps the human race going.

planets, the Moon and the Sun rotating around it. The reli-

The early human society was curious about everything

gious contentions also found this theory to be compatible

around them. The curiosity of human towards the night

with their belief. Polish astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus,

sky resulted in the unearthing of tremendous knowledge.

was not convinced with the geo-centric model of the uni-

The observations on the influence of heavenly bodies from

verse and in 1543 he proposed an alternate model called

terrestrial perspective like the phenomena of day and

“helio-centric model”, which places the Sun rather than

night; tidal changes, seasonal changes etc. played an im-

the Earth at the center of the universe, based on geometric

portant role in the day to day activities as well as in econ-

derivations and empirical observations. Later this theory

omy of the early societies. The planets helped the farm-

was proved flaw. Certainly, we can’t simply underestimate

ers tell the seasons, the constellations and stars helped

the importance of the role played by the Helio-centric the-

the navigating sailors in determining the directions. The

ory. Copernicus actually helped the then society to shape

philosophers started theorizing this relation and propose

their rational world view. And supposedly this should

their own interpretation on them as philosophies. In the

have been the first theory which challenged the age old

beginning, philosophy and science were entwined in same

views of human on Universe. Religion believed that the

school and all people who conduct natural enquiry were

earth and everything in the universe was created by the

called philosophers.

super- natural being for the benefit of human-being and

The study of celestial bodies and the observation of heav-

sternly believed that everything in the universe has to go

enly objects were initially got prominence from Rome. The

round the Earth

astrologers of the Roman kingdom adopted these celestial

Galileo was the first person who used telescopes for as-

objects to calculate the calenderical seasons. But, gradual-

tronomical observations, in 17th century. His curiosity

ly however, people started believing that there was a cor-

in observing the heavenly bodies with his self-made fine

related influence of these celestial objects on the eventual

telescopes resulted in the discovery of many celestial ob-

changes in the individual’s day to day life, which resulted

jects including the moons of the Jupiter. Eventually his

in the emergence of a new belief system - Astrology”. Side

discovery of the moons of the Jupiter and its orbit around

by side another school of philosophy emerged, called “As-

the planet demolished the very idea of geo-centric theory

tronomy”, which uses more rational methods of exploring

by proving that not every object in the universe revolve

and interpreting the Universe. Even astronomy is not ex-

around the Earth. Galileo was acquitted for his deliberate

empted from committing mistakes but, unlike astrology, it

contentions on supporting the Copernican Helio-centric

showed its scientific temperament by correcting

theory.

The classical era

structures subsequently replaced the predecessor model of atomic structure successively. Earlier day’s scientist assumed

In 18th century Isaac Newton was attracted towards astron-

that there was a substance in every material called ‘Caloric’,

omy and disproved the dogma that ‘Human are not granted

which flow from hotter object to colder object. Presumably

to know the mysteries of the heavenly bodies’ by disclosing

now we use caloric as the term associated with energy. It

that the very laws governing the motions of the terrestri-

was in the later years physicist found that heat is nothing

al objects governs the heavenly bodies too. As an influent

but the random vibration of the constituents of matter and

of Galileo, Newton explained the motion of the heavenly

disproved the existence of the caloric. Similarly, physicists

objects like sun, moon, comets etc. more comprehensively

in the early days believed that there should be a medium

with the help of his laws of motion and theory of gravita-

for light to move across. Just alike the water waves, sound

tion. According to the Universal theory of Gravitation every

waves, etc. light too requires a medium for propagation.

mass in the universe attracts every single other mass in the

So they assumed that there exist a medium called ‘Ether’

universe by a force called Gravitational Force. According to

which is filled throughout the space which transfers the

him, the space and the time were two separate entities and

light energy. Later, this conception was proved wrong by

play an inert role in these interactions. We still use his laws

the famous Michelson–Morley experiment. Technological

of motion and theory of gravitation to predict the motion

advancements like detection of atom, electrons and other

of every object say cricket ball, rockets, asteroid etc. In spite

sub-atomic particles and the invention of powerful tele-

of the religious opposition to his arguments, Newton’s laws

scopes, microscopes, electric motors, combustion engines,

were tested and validated by several experiments empirical-

etcetera, etcetera were also made possible by the mankind

ly. And the Newtonian conception of gravity becomes the

in the Newton’s paradigm.

foundation of the whole physics for next 200 years.

One of the beauties of Newtonian physics is that we can

After Newton, many cornerstone principles of physics (sci-

accurately measure and predict every actions of any parti-

ence in general) were established. But the Newtonian con-

cle in the universe. Unlike theology, the Newtonian phys-

cept provided base for the unification many unconnected

ics works in the same way for everyone in the universe. In

phenomena that were later known to be the manifestation of

other words, whether we believe in gravitational force or

the same fundamental principle. Along the line of Newton,

not, the laws of motion and gravity are same for everyone.

who unified the laws of motion of terrestrial objects with

For instance, anyone can accurately predict trajectory of a

that of the celestial objects; Michael Faraday unified electric-

thrown ball using Newtonian physics, if we know the initial

ity and magnetism which for a long period were considered

position and velocity given of it. This advancements in phys-

as distinct domains. Later, this unification was extended to

ics reinforced the concept of scientific determinism, an idea

the unification of electricity, magnetism and optics by James

which argues that, “if we could measure the position and

Clerk Maxwell with a set of equations. The laws of thermo-

momentum of every object (and particles) in the universe

dynamics and electrodynamics were also well established.

at a given instant, it is possible to predict the position and

In due course, many traditionally believed scientific con-

momentum of any object in the Universe at any instance in

cepts were proved wrong. Different models of atomic

the past or future.

Thereby, the concept of scientific determinism precisely

to the discovery of ‘photo-electric effect’ and fetched him

asserts that the state (position and velocity of every parti-

noble prize. The discovery of particle nature of light waves

cle) of the universe at one instance determines the future

made de Broglie to doubt whether particles acts only as

of the Universe (not by any spiritual forces).

particle and in 1924 he discovered the wave nature of the particles. Later the Quantum theories were strengthened

We cannot know the future because we cannot know the present

by the modern physicists like Erwin Schrodinger, Werner

During 20th century many scientist found that the scien-

Heisenberg concludes that the electro-magnetic waves

tific determinism could not be achieved as the Newtonian

behaves like a particle and waves inversely acts like a

Classical physics was unable to explain some of the phe-

particle, however the position and velocity of the parti-

nomena, for instance, the emission of different colours of

cle cannot be measured simultaneously. That is, since

light from an object at various stages of heating. Accord-

we use light (with certain quanta) to observe a particle,

ing to the classical laws of thermodynamics, any object

the light itself will try to excite and disturb the present

will emits radiation of all energies at a given temperature.

state of the particle. Thereby we could only measure one

If that is true then every object should emit all colours

quantity only by disturbing the other quantity. Later, in

of light at any temperature, but in actual condition it is

1925 Schrodinger formulated an equation to predict the

not so, rather the objects emit different colours at different

wave function of a quantum particle i.e. the probability

temperature. Max Planck gives a solution to understand

of finding the position and velocity of a quantum particle.

the phenomena by considering the energies to be in dis-

The fundamental difference between the Newtonian me-

creet rather than continuous. Planck was the first to real-

chanics and quantum mechanics is, in quantum mechan-

ize the quantum nature of energy in 1900 to explain the

ics scientific determinism is possible, i.e. the future of a

phenomena of radiation and similar other unexplained

particle is completely determined by its present position

phenomenon like stability of atom. So emergence of quan-

and velocity, but in quantum world the nature of observ-

tum mechanics was considerably different from the New-

able quantity is different from the classical one. The quan-

tonian physics. According to quantum mechanics light

tities whose relationships quantum mechanics explores

energy is quantized i.e. it comes in lump; not in an arbiter

are probabilities. Even Heisenberg’s principle leads to

value. If the energy of the substance is not sufficient to

uncertainty, we can certainly predict one combination of

produce a particular frequency of light quanta, then that

position and velocity with the help of Schrodinger’s wave

frequency of light cannot be emitted from the substance.

function i.e. if we have the wave function of a particle for

That is the reason why most substance does not emit vis-

any one instance, we can easily predict the wave function

ible light in the room temperature, otherwise it could be

of the particle for any other instance.

Heisenberg, Max Born, Pauli Dirac, etc.

said that the object doesn’t possess the required energy to emit the visible light, but still they might be emitting a

The malleable space and time

lower energy light like infrared. At the higher temperature

Einstein’s paradigm of gravity, which was reproved exper-

the substance gains the required energy to emit red light,

imentally by recent detection of gravitational waves has

then yellow etc. This understanding on the tiny particles

paved a new pathway towards the study of cosmology.

led to discovery of their other significant properties. One

Though Newton explained how gravity works, he failed to

of the most significant findings of quantum mechanics

explain what the gravity is? Einstein gave us a brand new

is the dual nature of the light. That is the electromagnet-

view on the gravity and the space and time, which explain

ic waves behave like a particle also. This nature was first

many phenomena which Newtonian physics couldn’t ex-

hypothesized by none other than the rebellious German

plain.

physicist, Albert Einstein. He argues that light travels as

Einstein published his most important papers decades

‘energy quanta’ and this energy could be observed or gen-

ago the development of quantum theory in the year 1905

erated only as lump packets. These explanations led him

which revolutionaries our understanding of universe.

In his paper entitled “On a heuristic point of view con-

If we consider the time-space continuum as a stretched

cerning the generation and conversion of light”, Ein-

rubber sheet, the malleable time-space will bend or

stein gave hint for the development of Quantum theo-

wrap around the mass if we keep it on the space. Now if

ry. In his another paper titled “On the electrodynamics

a heavy mass moves around the time-space continuum,

of moving bodies”, Einstein gives us a brand new view

it will create a ripple in the time-space continuum. And

on gravity, space and time. After the publication of this

Einstein called those ripples as the ‘Gravitational Waves’.

paper the whole contention of physics was altered with

But recently, in the centenary year of GTR, the Laser In-

Special Theory of Relativity (STR). According to STR the

terferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)

space and time are no more absolute, and it varies with

has detected the gravitational waves, which has become

the different frame of reference. To be more precise, the

the first direct evidence for the gravitational waves. The

length of an object is shortened and the time is dilated

beauty of this discovery is that it has taken the astronomy

if we observe from another moving frame of reference.

to the next level of evolution. Initially, as we know, all the

In other words, moving clocks run slower, moving ob-

astronomical observations were made only through the

jects are shorter and the maximum speed to which any

visible light, as a result of advancement of science and

particle can accelerate is finite with the velocity of light

technology the astronomers now a days have equipped

in vacuum. And another major outcome of STR is the

themselves to explores the space through other parts of

most renowned formula E=mc2, i.e. the STR suggests

electromagnetic spectrum like radio waves, UV rays etc.

that the two physical quantities mass and energy, which

But the detection of gravitational waves enabled the as-

were identified differently, are actually equivalent to one

tronomers and cosmologies to infer about the celestial

another.

objects through a non-electromagnetic source.

In 1915, Einstein published an improved version of the paper entitled “The Formal Foundation of the General

The dissent of Dogmas

Theory of Relativity”, referred as GTR (General Theory

With all the recent innovation of science we are now

of Relativity). GTR says, that time and space continuum

in a position to atleast predicate certain answers to un-

bends around the mass proportional to their magni-

answered questions and mysteries of the universe. We

tude and this bent geometry determines how the objects

almost reached a position to answer the big questions

should move. And the time space fabrication adjusts its

like “what is the origin of universe?”, “where universe is

dimensions in order to keep the velocity of the light con-

going” and “Is there any end to the universe and when

stant universal.

will it end?” Still we are not complete yet. Still scientists

Einstein’s model of universe copes-up with almost all the

are working to unify the Relativity with the Quantum

observed physical phenomenon. The relativistic physics

Mechanics to explore the beginning of the earth and the

was able to explain many phenomena which were not

region near the center of a black hole. Even Einstein has

explained by Newtonian physics like results of Michel-

spent his last days in unification of quantum mechanics

son-Morley experiment. The theory also predicts num-

with relativity. So, though the philosophical explanation

ber of new phenomena like gravitational waves, gravita-

of the Universe and its development is not complete, the

tional lens (the bending of light near the massive objects

studies pertinent to it is in advance to realise that there

like stars), black hole, etc. Though we are not advanced

is always more than one answer for any question and it

enough to apply the theories of relativity in our every day

is actually the trait of dissent which moved the human

applications, they have become the underpin concept of

knowledge to next new level. Throughout the history of

modern science particularly in cosmology.

science or any philosophy there is always an antagonistic

A few months after the publication of GTR, Einstein

concept which dissent the dogmas to enable the man-

published another paper in which he discussed the exis-

kind to make maximum precise statement for describing

tence of gravitational waves. The gravitational waves can

the universe or society. So the spirit of science is always

be easily visualized using the famous analogy of ‘rubber

questioning the answers rather than answering the ques-

sheet’ used to explain Einstein’s model of space and time.

tion.

The Unforgotten Journey Kumar Shaurav 4th year M.Sc Integrated Economics China which seems to be a big strong country is actually a combination of different nationalities and one among them is the Tibet which was completely occupied by Chinese under Moa Zedong in the year 1959. Tibet was under the independent government till 1951 and in October 1951, the Tibetan government was forced to accept the Seventeen Point Agreement under the Chinese pressure but it was only until the 1959 during the Tibetan uprising, the Tibetan government was completely thrown out and forced HH The Dalai Lama to flee into exile and after which the Government of Tibet was dissolved and completely taken over by the Chinese government. His Holiness the Dalai Lama every year under this his Foundation of Universal Responsibility organizes a programme called GURUKUL to keep his commitment to speak out about their struggle for justice by educating university students about the Tibetan cause and their struggle for freedom from the oppressed Chinese Regime. The program invite students from all over the world to engage young minds about the Tibetan cause so that maximum can be given out as it is this young mind who will carry out His Holiness vision of universal peace and harmony and one who has to keep the Tibetan cause and its struggle alive. I was lucky enough to be part of 21st Gurukul programme in Dhramashala which educated me not only about the cause for which Tibetans are fighting for but also seeking into my inner self through Buddhist philosophy.

It was 21 days program and was basically divided into two

Most of us who never met him may have pre-conceived no-

stages, the first week was just meeting different people going

tion that he may be calm, quiet and a serious person but his

to various organization and small introductory talk about

character was totally contrary to what I thought.

their organization and the second stage consisted of two

The Dharamshala is not only place where His holiness the

weeks schedule where we had talk series by various eminent

Dalai Lama is being housed but is also a center for the Ti-

speaker covering wide range of aspect about the Tibet and

betan government in exile also known as Central Tibetan

it struggle.

Administration (CTA). The Tibetan quest for freedom and

The program not only educate us with different aspect to

democracy can be explicitly exhibited from here. Even as an

Tibetan struggle and their quest for freedom but helps to

exile community they have conducting an election for Si-

explore about our inner self through meditation and mind

kyong (PM) every Five years and even elect members which

science classes. It realizes us that things which we take it

form part of their Parliament in exile.

granted may be so essential for a community living under

The Tibetan quest to preserve their culture and art form led

the exile. It enriched me with not only about Tibetan cul-

to opening up of various institution like Norbulingka In-

ture and tradition, their cause but also to Tibetan Buddhism

stitute and Tibetan institute of performing Arts. Here they

which His holiness always claims was once the legacy of

work on preserving the Tibetans painting style as well as

India. The programme even make us aware about the lost

various art forms which under the Chinese occupied Tibet

Indian philosophy and philosophical tradition which is now

is in danger as Chinese have full control over it and is barred

being practiced by the Tibetans and have kept our acclaimed

from exercising those things.

works on alive through incorporating it in their culture and

Stay in Dharmashala was not only limited to that but we

traditions.

were made to visit various NGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working on various issues

The best parts of our Dhramashala stay was our face to face

which exile community faces and way to tackle them and

meeting with His holiness the Dalai Lama. Interaction with

most importantly stay in nunneries and monasteries with

him never felt like we are speaking with a highly revered

nuns and monks respectively and trying Tibetan cuisines

person but it felt he was someone we know him personally.

was altogether a very different experience.

Students of Pondicherry University elected a democratic progressive Council for the 2015-2016 year with a thumping majority in the elections held on 27-11-2016. Anjali Ganga was won unopposed for the post of Vice President. President: Langeswaran A, Dept of Tamil Vice Preident: Anjali Ganga, Dept of Political Science Vice President: Rashiq, Dept of Commerce Secretary: Jishnu EN, Dept of E-Media and Mass Communication Joint Secretary: Theyventhiran, Dept of Computer Science Excecutive Committee: Dhrubajyoti Regon, Dept of Social Work Medha Ramesh, Dept of History Vinod Kumar, Dept of Political Science Tamizhkalaiarasi, Dept of English Pediredla Sri Harsha, Dept of Computer Science Medha Surendranadh, Dept of Chemistry The Students Council has always stood with the student community, based on the merit of the demands. It took forward the the 45 demands, which earlier the Pondicherry University Students Movement had took up and discussed in the Students Concerns Committee meeting, chaired by Prof. Prabhakar Raya, School of Management. Though we do not claim that all the demands are fullfilled, we strongly believe that the council could bring positive changes in the campus through its countinuos effort. We submit this working report infront of students.

First meeting The first meeting of the Council was held on 03-12-2015 and decided the following: To meet both Chief Wardens of hostels and discuss the issue of damage of hostel building especially due to the rain. To ask the administration to write to the Telangana government regarding the scholarship. EC member Harsha had brought the issue that Pondicherry University is not mentioned in the list of educational institutions of Telangala Govt and they could not claim the scholarship from their state. To conduct a protest against scrapping of non-NET scholarship on December 15th. Later the protest was cancelled due to some other reasons.

Oath Taking The oath taking ceremony of newly elected council members was held on 1st December 2015, at EC hal, Dr. Ambedkar building. Vice Chancellor (i/c) Prof. Anisa B. Khan administered oath of office. Chief Electoral Officer Prof. Devi Prasad, Dean Students Welfare Prof. Chellaperumal, Assistant Dean, Students Welfare Dr. Rajeswari Seshadri, faculties, non-teaching staffs and students attended the function.

Inauguration Students Council inauguration was inaugurated on 17th December, 2015. The then Registrar (i/c) Dr. J Sampath presided the function. Hon. Vice Chancellor (i/c) Prof. Anisa B Khan inaugurated the program and Council Secretary Jishnu EN presented the agenda of the students council. It was for the first time in the history of Pondicherry University, an elected students body presenting the written agenda infront of the students. Nearly 600 students attended the function. Council had arranged a dinner after the function. A team of 15 people, hired from outside performed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thappattaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; after the official inaugural session.

Flood Relief As Tamilnadu and Puducherry hit by the worst flood the states ever faced, students of Pondicherry University extended their helping hand to the affected people. Students sacrificed their one day lunch, collected cash, cloths and medicine and distributed in Cuddalore and rural villages of Puducherry. A group of nearly ten students lead by the Council members Langeswaran, Jishnu, Anjali, Vinod and Tamizhkalaiarasi along with Tamizh Vanan, Vipin Das, Jazila, Jyothish K, Arya, Aleena went to the places with relief materials. Many other individuals and groups rose to the situation and involved in relief activities from the University. We congradulate all the efforts of student community in that critical situation.

Bus for NET examination Council wrote to the administration to arrange bus service for the science and social science students for the NET examination. Authority did not provide bus for science students as the exam is in Chennai. Council expressed its disagreement to them. Though inittially admin denied the permission for bus service for social science NET exam too, since the University is no longer the nodal agency, due to the countinous pressure from the Council, they provided it.

Rohit Vemula protest Council organised a protest gathering on the next day of the suicide of a Dalit research scholar, Rohit Vemula in HCU. In a countinuation, we organied a candle light march in which more than 300 students gathered.

Representative meetings A meeting of school representatives was held, for the first time in the history of Students Council of Pondicherry University. In the meeting, organised in the Dept of Tamil, around 40 elected representatives of various departments came and discussed their departmental issues and taken to the administration.

Integrated students meeting. A seperate meeting for the representatives and other students of Integrated courses was held on 19th February, 2016 in DDE lawn. More than 50 students attended and discussed various issues including the stipend for the Social Science integrated courses and exit option. Meeting analysed the present status of both stipend and exit option and decided the further actions. As of now, both the demands are agreed by the University and some paper works are remaining for the same. The work of council members Medha Ramesh, Vinod Kumar and Abhibhav, Dept of Mathematics, Mohan Sundar, Dept of Physics, Vishnu Priya, Jaisal, Anu Pradeep and other students from the School of Social Science are appreciable.

Opening of Annex hall The library annex hall was opened due to the countinous pressure from the students council, with temperory furniture arrangements. Effort taken by Chief Librarian and civil wing is appreciable. We thank the special interest took by the Chief Librarian Dr. Samyuktha and the administration to get it done.

Cauvery hostel issue The insensible circular put by warden of Cauvery hostel made the hostelers to sit on road and protest. Council members lead by

Anjali Ganga, Medha Ramesh and Medha Surendranadh addressed the students and solved the issue amicably. The circular was withdrwan the next day and warden was removed. Chief Warden of girls hostel gave written statement to Council members that there is no curfew for girls in the night time in the campus. The system of writing names in the register while going out of the hostel and entering is scrapped due to the demand of council. And the grills to the terrace will no longer be closed. It is a historical act in the history of gender equality movements in our campus.

Protest against insecurity Two girls were molsted in different incidents by un-identified persons came in bike near the girls hostel premises. Council immediately called for a protest march from Mother Teresa mess to Gate 2 at 9.30 pm. More than 500 students rallied and demanded high security in the gates during night time. Vice Chancellor (i/c) Prof. Anisa B Khan visited the spot at 11.30 and adressed the students and assured to beef up the security and strong action on the incident. Later on March 5, the security was changed. For few days they checked ID cards and later dropped. They blame the students that they never carry ID cards. Council explained the illogical activities of security guards to the administration.

Hunger strike In a first, the Council organised a protest for the student demands. From 22nd February onwads, Council members and other students went on indefinite chain hunger strike for various demands including 25% reservation for Puducherry students in all departments (It already exist in 19 departments), immediate opnening of library annex hall, exit option and stipend for integrated students, enhanced security in hostels, proper implementation of SC-ST welfare schemes etc. We called for a class boycott on 23rd February and organised a rally to the administration building. Vice Chancellor (i/c), Registrar (i/c) and Finance Officer adressed the students and assured action on the demands. As a result of the protest, administration sat with council members in the EC hall, Dr. Ambedkar building and discussed the issues on 24th February. Library timing was extended upto 12 am. Council could convince the administration regarding the senseless curfew in girls hostel roads in the night time. Now the road near the shopping complex is not blocked and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;gender gateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is not closed. Committee decided to install 5 tea vending machines in mess premises and to open a night tea shop in Shopping Complex, of which, paper works are progressing. Since the MHRD approval is needed for extending 25% reservation, committee decided to follow it up the letters sent to the ministry so far. Convinced by the assurance of administration, hungre strike was called off. Vice Chancellor (i/c) gave juice to the protesting students. On the day 1, Langeswaran, Council president, Medha Ramesh, EC member, ...... sat for hunger strike. Later Anjali Ganga, Council Vice President, Tamizhkalaiarasi, EC member, Anu Pradeep ....... joined them.

Bus boards Council gave representation to the administration regarding installing bus timing boards inside the campus. Three boards with details of buses of commuters and 13 boards with timing of buses inside the campus were isntalled in all bus stops. Council member Rashiq has worked day-night to get the things done. His effort need special mention.

Magazine Council decided to print a literary magazine comprising the talents of students for the first time in the history of Pondicherry Uni

versity. A commitee was formed wih Vice Chancellro as mentor and Welfare Dean as the Chief Editor. Anjali Ganga was elected as the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Editor and a 10 member magazine committee was constituted.

Cricket kit for specially abled students As Council wrote to the Chief Warden, Boys Hostel, Prof. Sudalai Muthu, administration provided special cricket kit for the specially abled students residing in hostel. We use this oppurtunity to thank Prof. Sudalai Muthu.

Examination centres replaced Council represented various times to bring back the removed entrance examination centres of previous years. It was raised during the PUSM protest in August 2015. The administration responded positively towards the demand and enacted it in the entrance for the academic year 2016-17.

Proper implementation of SC-ST schemes Council has demanded for proper implementation of SC-ST welfare schemes and change in the reservation policy. SC-ST students are suffering from paying the fees altogether during admission though UGC has made it clear that thei fees can be collected from the scholarship amount, later. The administration has agreed to implement this from the next academic year. Council has also gave representation to implement the welfare schemes properly.

Other representations. Apart from this, this Council has given various representations including several policy changes for a better democratic campus. The reservation in PhD is not followed properly in the campus. SC-ST/OBC reservations are only followed in the departments having more than 6 intake. Council has demanded for ........ in reservation with retrospective effect. Council gave a draft of constitution for the students body and suggested Presidential election in the upcoming years. We have demanded the administration to strictly follow Lyndoh committee recommendations in the elections especially the timing of election. Council suggested the administration to deregulate the Facebook and YouTube as it do not make any sense in this technological era. As we know, YouTube is one of the main source of information. So regulating such sites denies the access to information.

We do not claim that we have done many things. But considering the very short time span we got to work in the office of students council, we strongly believe that the council was not at all a failure. At this moment, we thank our seniors who fought to turn the campus more democratic even facing physical and legal threats. We worked on the base they had setted. They fight has be to taken forward by the upcoming councils.

Lal salam. Jai Bhim Jishnu EN Secretary PUSC