UOH Dispatch Vol.8 | Issue8 | Pages8

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UOH DISPATCH A LAB PUBLICATION OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD

Volume 8, Issue 8, Pages 8.

SEPTEMBER 2014, FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

PRESIDENT EXHORTS STUDENTS

THUMBNAIL Iron Lady zindabad A solidarity march was organized by the Students’ Union in collaboration with Women’s Worlds Congress members in support of Irom Sharmila- the Iron Lady of Manipur. The march took place in the light of the Manipur sessions court judgment to release Irom Sharmila.

Free eye check-up The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, School of Medical Sciences is offering free eye check-up for the university students every Friday from 2 pm to 5 pm.

This student initiative venture is extended as a service and is supported by Course Co-ordinator Dr. Rishi Bhardwaj and Faculty Supervisors Sunny Manava and Kiran Challa.

Samskrtotsava The Department of Sanskrit Studies organised ‘Samskrtotsava’ on August 14. PV. Kannan, Professor of Mathematics and former Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad and Prof.

Sripada Subrahmanyam, Director, Andhra Pradesh Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Hyderabad, spoke on ‘Modern Mathematics in Samskrita’ and ‘Significance of Sanskrit Shastras’, respectively.

Fellowship woes Research scholars of the University of Hyderabad staged a protest in the campus on July 31. They demanded a hike in the fellowship (with effect from April 2014) offered by the university. Around 100 students from various departments participated in the protest.

The Kaal that was The Department of Hindi organised a talk on ‘Bhakti Kaal Ka Udbhav Aur Vikas’

by Chauthi Ram Yadav, a renowned critic and orator from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

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SUNDAY CLIMBERS IN ACTION

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Gender in the changing world

THEATRE GOES DIGITAL

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Waste warriors

Call for action to curb violence against women Harika Vankadara “We wanted to see what was wrong with the world…and a lot is wrong with the world,” said Angela Miles while delivering a speech at the Women’s Worlds Congress (WWC) 2014 at DST Auditorium, University of Hyderabad.

The Congress is a multi-disciplinary approach to discussing women’s issues. The first WWC was held at Haifa University, Israel, in December 1981. Since then, WWC has taken place every three years in different parts of the world. WWC 2014, hosted at the university, was headed by Prof.

Rekha Pande and Dr. V. Sita.

The theme for this year was ‘Gender in a Changing World’.

The congress kicked off on August 17 with an inaugural lecture

by India’s Missile Woman Dr. Tessy Thomas. She spoke of the need to encourage women empowerment through education.

Over the course of next three days, 1,000 participants from 58 countries mulled over and dis-

Jodie Underhill cussed 620 research papers on a wide range of gender-related issues. On August 21and 22, six films were screened and dis-

“1,000 participants from 58 countries mulled over and discussed 620 research papers on gender-related issues” cussed.

The WWC had a tight schedule with an average of eight panel discussions taking place simultaneously. Gender and Management, Gender and Law, Gender and Culture, Globaliation, Politics and Policy were some of the broad categories into which papers were submitted.

Over the course of the event, the universality of violence against women and discrimination in social, political and economic spaces became clear. Giving their feedback, participants stressed the need for greater action to curb violence against women.

Prof. Shanta Sinha from the Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad said that such a conference was made possible by the fight for liberty and empowerment by previous generations. “We owe it to the future generations to take the fight forward,” she said.

She also spoke of the need to deter boys from developing into “masculine” men. She urged all to do their bit for the cause of a gender-neutral world.

Call for equality and quality in education Priyanka Manikandan India has the largest youth population in the world; around 67 percent of the total population is below the age of 35. It would be a great advantage if the youngsters are able to break the circumstantial differences of caste, religion and make space to build a new world, says Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Founder and President of Lok Satta Party.

On the occasion of International Youth Day fiesta ‘Yuvotsaah’ held at DST auditorium of the University of Hyderabad (UOH) on August 11, Dr. Narayan delivered the inaugural speech on ‘Is the education in India preparing its youth for their future?’ He said that a strong education system is the cornerstone of any country’s growth and prosperity.

Focussing on the pitiable condition of the country’s education system, he said the country is far away in its educational development when compared to China

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan

“Education is the gift of communication and real wealth is in the brain power.” and other countries. The global competition has risen to such a level that all the other countries are actively combating the threat of economic and educational challenges posed at the international level.Only quality education can free India from the clutches of poverty and backwardness, he said. While emphasising on quality education, he said, “Education

is the gift of communication and real wealth is in the brain power.”

Criticizing the primary education system in the country Dr. Narayan said, “India’s education system has not achieved strong learning outcomes for reasons that are as diverse and nuanced as the country itself.” In conclusion, he called upon youth to “wake up and step up”.

Prof. Sachidananda Mohanty from the Department of English, UoH said that the time has come for the youth of India to participate in the state affairs actively and this is possible only by developing critical thinking among them. Prof. Hari Babu, Pro-Vice Chancellor of UoH and the Guest of Honour Sonykutty George, Officer in-charge UNICEF, Hyderabad participated in the programme.‘Y-uvotsaah’ was jointly organised by UoH and a city based organisation ‘Surajya Movement’.

Harika Vankadara When Jodie Underhill packed her bags to visit India in 2008, little did she know that she would be staying there to take up the country’s waste management struggle as her own and would set up an NGO, working with those Indians who remain unseen and forgotten by their country people.

As she travelled across the country, she was struck by the insane amounts of waste dumped on streets, over the edges of otherwise scenic hills, along the banks of “holy” water bodies, parks and just about every place set foot on by humans. And out of this appalled state came ‘Waste Warriors’(WW).

Ms. Jodie, the founder of the Mountain Cleaners came to Hyderabad so that WW could partner as waste managers with the Airtel marathon. Ajay Kumar Koli, known in the campus for his initiatives like Green Gops and plantation drives, roped in Jodie to deliver a talk at the campus. She said that the attitude of students is influenced by that of those at the top . The issue of waste management is often sidelined to prioritise other issues, and this means that the average citizen too deprioritises waste management.

In the discussion that ensued, students pointed out that the campus is yet to put in place a waste management system. Prof. Mohanty spoke about the indifference barrier that exists among students.

He described his efforts to initiate and sustain clean up habits by strategically installing dust bins, and inviting participation in plantation drives. He revealed that only two categories of students showed up for such efforts – young students pursuing their bachelors, and students from marginalised groups who are closer to nature.

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UOH DISPATCH

CAMPULSE

SEPTEMBER, 2014

‘Challenge corruption’

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Tackling transport conundrum

Harika Vankadara K. Divya “The institutes of higher learning are the cradles of future administrators and policy makers. The seeds of progressive thinking have to be sown and nurtured here. Core civilization values – love for motherland, performance of duty, compassion for all, tolerance for pluralism, respect for women, honesty in life, self-restraint in conduct, responsibility in action and discipline have to be inculcated in these institutions.

A democracy cannot function without informed participants,” said Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, on 5 August 2014, in a video conference with Vice Chancellors, faculty and students of central universities, IITs and NITs across the country. The conference was conducted by National Knowledge Network and National Informatics Centre. The President, speaking on “Democracy and Governance”, said that the institutes of higher learning are home to future leaders who will direct the growth of India.

He said though the policies that exist were stellar, the im-

Pranab Mukherjee proper execution of those policies remained a concern. He spoke of the seepage of corruption in the administration of the country and called upon the youth to challenge this corruption.

He appealed for the avoidance of intolerance and acrimony in public discourse. Decentralization of power through enabling financial autonomy and administrative ability of Panchayats is another crucial reform needed, said the President.

Reform in this third tier of governance is necessary for sharing real power with people at the grass root level, he added.

Campus buses serve as lifelines for students and employees travelling from one end of the campus to the other. The buses cater to 1,000 people every day but their condition is in the doldrums.

“Most buses running in the university are very old. They have well crossed the 15-year mark, the cap placed by the government on vehicles of education institutions.

Also, some buses are in bad shape,” says a transport worker.

Approximately 10-12 vehicles have not been disposed of for over a decade.

While there is a restriction on purchasing new buses, the government allows replacement of old ones. Although a new bus has been added to the fleet recently, sources in the university say that many more buses are required.

Lack of buses leads to overcrowding especially during lunch time. While the maximum capacity of mini buses as prescribed by the Regional Transport Office is 16 (including the driver), buses sometimes carry about 25-30

Artists paint their way to Salar Jung Museum Priyanka Manikandan

proached me after seeing my works,” says Sujeesh. A total of 80 works with diverse themes were showcased under the lead title “How strong the breeze, how precious the flight.”

That frame showed a man standing with crossed arms looking into nothingness. “The God of Shunya”as it has been titled,was attracting lot of viewers. The creator of this painting, Sujeesh Onchery (Masters in Fine ArtsPainting) is all excited about being part of the 21-day exhibition at Salar Jung, which began on 27th July.

MFA students from the Department of Fine Arts showcased their works at the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. “Having an audience was an exciting factor of the exhibition. People from India and abroad are visiting the museum. I felt happy when a lot of people ap-

A total of 80 works with diverse themes were showcased.

PC: Anoop Daniel

Most of these works represent the sensitivity of the artists towards disturbances caused to our physical and cultural environments. “The exhibition contains enough to disturb those who look at art with traditional notions. The attempts are daring enough.

Works like Pushpavati and God of

Shunya stand out” says Mrudula Bhavani, a student of Comparative Literature.

The show was inaugurated by acclaimed artist Padma Vibushan Prof. K. G. Subramanyan. A solo show of Prof. Subramanyan’s new works coincided with the exhibition. “It was a fruitful collaboration, we are hoping to transfer it into the future,” says faculty member Prof.

Kirtana Thankachan.

Unlike other exhibition venues, museum space creates a great opportunity for young artists to enhance their creative ideas.

Responses and encouragements these artists received from the public can act as a catalyst in their career.

Works of Dhiraj Pednekar and Rajesh Lakkoju (left to right) displayed

PC: Ashutosh Prasad

Buses parked at the garage near F Hostel students during peak hours.

“There is a lot of rush in the buses during mornings and lunch hours. The number of buses has gone up compared to last year, but needs are still not met. Bus and class timings often clash for students, leaving them helpless,” says Prashant Bagde, a student of M.Phil, Political Science.

“We are aware of the various transport-related problems in the university. We have been monitoring the situation regularly. We re-

cently increased the number of sorties from 39 to 48 to ease the rush. The old buses could not be disposed of earlier due to technical problems. We have now decided to sell them as scrap,” said Mr. Ganapati, Senior Assistant, Transport Department, University of Hyderabad.

Purchasing new buses still remains a problem due to financial crunch and lack of support from University Grants Commission and government.

A gymnasium in need of work out Harika Vankadara Four rooms and a corridor tucked away in a corner of the Health Centre have been playing host to the Ladies Gym since March 2012. Little known to the student body of the university, the gym wears a deserted look most times, with dilapidated walls and narrow spaces adding to a glum setup.

The initiative to set up a ladies gym was taken up by the Centre for Women Studies, using women welfare grants. It was started for female employees and the spouses of male employees, in accordance with UGC’s Basic Facilities for Women scheme.

According to certified instructor Jagdish, about 30 people use the gym every month, a number that fluctuates according to the working condition of the equipment.As the gym area is not covered, rats bite into equipment wires time and again rendering the gym useless. There is also the danger of snakes and other small animals sneaking into the gym area as the walls are not properly fenced.

After its launch, the ladies gym saw poor response. When students asked for permission to use the resources, the committee in charge agreed that the gym should be

opened to students instead of allowing the equipment to remain unused.

The management of the gym is now taken care of by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rajasree Malpath.

She has been pushing for improving the facility since its launch.

A proposal to construct a separate hall alongside the health centre has been put forward and approved by the Vice Chancellor (VC) in April 2014. He has granted 2,000 sq. yards for the construction of the gym.

Floor plan and design have also been proposed by engineers and approved by the VC. This demand for a proper ladies gym has been left on the backburner by the University of Hyderabad Engineering Department. Reminders sent by Dr. Malpath, the latest in June 2014, did not receive any response from the Engineering Department.

She points out that a maintenance deal must be struck with the supplier of the equipment annually, so that regular maintenance (oiling and repairs) is conducted.

Dr. Malpath expresses hope that due attention is paid to the condition of the ladies gym so that its objective of facilitating women health and welfare can be reached.

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UOH DISPATCH

CAMPULSE 3

SEPTEMBER, 2014

Social Media: Newcomer to classroom!

It has become an integral part of classroom interaction K Divya The presence of social media is felt in all aspects of life these days. It is no longer a space just for interacting with friends but it has proved to be a space where meaningful contacts can be built and career opportunities can be explored. It has also made its way right in to the sphere of education.

For most students at the University of Hyderabad, social media has become an integral part of classroom interaction.

Facebook pages, Whatsapp and Google groups have made communication within the classroom easier, fun and enriching. “We exchange notes, share information about assignments, take up

discussions and express opinions on our Facebook page,” said Asmita Mitra, a student of M.A English.

Besides sharing of information on subject related work, these pages and groups have opened up as a platform for generating meaningful discussion among the students. An array of topics is discussed on the page such as international affairs, politics and sports adds Asmita. Often these platforms help save certain information so that students can get back to it whenever needed.

Students at most of the departments use social media extensively for interactions. “We have organised a Young Economist School (YES) which handles a variety of activities. For coordinating

Stray dog menace grows

the activities of this group we have a Facebook page,” said Meenakshi Priyadarshini, a student of M.A Economics. Besides this, certain specialised pages for the Placement cell and internships also exist in many departments.

Rupali Mohanti, an M.Tech student said: “We do not have a Facebook page or a Whatsapp group for our class. This is primarily because our class consists of only six students and we are able to interact easily even without these platforms.”

While students appreciate the role of social media in making interactions easier, there is still some debate on its effectiveness over face to face communication.

Midnight hunger pangs Harika Vankadara

Keerthi Kiran The rising population of stray dogs in the University of Hyderabad campus has become a matter of concern for the students. The lackadaisical attitude of university administration has added to the woes of the students. The problem persists because the vaccination and sterilization programme is not being carried out effectively.

It would be pertinent to mention that there was a dog menace in the campus in the recent past where a mad dog had bitten about 30 students on campus. A manhunt was carried out for the mad dogs and it was discovered that five other dogs had been bitten by one dog. This became a matter of serious concern in the campus vicinity.

The infected students were given immediate medical attention. However, it was revealed

that the campus Health Centre does not have vaccination for rabies in bulk. According to Rajashree Malpath, Chief Medical Officer, “The Health Centre cannot keep vaccination for rabies in bulk amount because it is too expensive. However, we do ensure that whenever any emergency occurs, we provide the students with immediate vaccination.” The Animal Birth Control measures (ABC) come under the jurisdiction of the Greater Hydabad Municipal Corporation. The rising population has also increased the risk of rabies and other such communicable diseases.

As per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s Act 2001, the urban development department is responsible for sterilization programme. However, the law seems to have become a dead law as the ABC programme is not being carried out effectively.

A bandi (stall) with a gas stove and a frying pan constitute a humble set-up that soothes at least a hundred growling stomachs every night in the campus. Open up to 3am, C Canteen is the only place within the campus that provides food for those burning the midnight oil. One overhears a wide range of conversations, from what the world should be doing about the Gaza violence to why it’s imperative for heroes to have a retirement age. Sometimes, students bring along their instruments and play music for themselves, and for anyone who cares to listen.

“There is a dearth of options for students who stay awake late into the night” C-canteen is open from 10 pm. Variety of omelets, sweet buns and tea are available. Outside the campus, there are four commercial food joints that operate into wee hours, but they do illegally, without permissions from authorities. Silver Bawarchi and Mughal Bawarchi in Lingampally are open till 11.30 pm. 20 restaurants are enlisted

by FoodAsura, an online portal that serves as a database of restaurants with home delivery services, and all of them are boarded “closed” by 10.30 pm. Though the official closing time of the messes in hotels is 9 pm, most times food is exhausted much earlier, leaving students in the lurch. There is a dearth of options for students who stay awake late into the night, and pangs of hunger are commonplace, resulting in the stocking up of bread and other packaged edibles in hostel rooms. There needs to be some source of nourishment in place in the campus.

Quiz competition EVENT: Goethe-Zentrum and Alliance Francaise is organising a university level quiz competition on “War, Peace and Memories” between (1914-2014) DATE: September 17, 2014.

VENUE: School of Social Sciences

Researcher at Work EVENT: Centre for Comparative Literature is organising Researchers at Work conference on “Literatuere and Culture; Expanding Horizons :New Paradigms of Knowledge Production”.

DATE: September 1012, 2014 VENUE:School of Humanities

Street play EVENT: A street play based on ‘The Soni Sori’ incident will be performed by the student’s group and supported

by Centre for Women’s Studies.

DATE: September 8, 2014.

VENUE:Shopping Complex (North) at 5.30 pm and South Campus junction at 9 pm.

Call for wild life pics The University of Hyderabad invites students, faculty and staff to send high resolution photographs of the wildlife in the campus along with a brief description.

The best pictures selected will be published in the University Calendar, 2015.You can mail uohcalendar2015@uohy d.ac.in till September 15, 2014. Kindly note that the pictures must be clear (without blurring) and must be of high resolution (at least 10-15MB)

The era of hyper mobility and agility Avnish Kumar The Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences organised an Industry Interface lecture where Prashant Gupta, the Director of Strategy, Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise Division, was the guest speaker. He played a key role in developing the infrastructure for its cloud computing technology

called Azure where users can manage massive data using this open platform.

Dr. Niyaz Ahmed, Head of the Department gave an introductory speech on cloud computing and its importance for students of Life Sciences. He also stated that observations could be tapped using technology. Mr. Gupta who graduated with MS degree from the University of Florida, MBA from

Kellogg School of Management is also Lt. Governor gold medal recipient from the College of Engineering, University of Delhi. The presentation covered the idea of tomorrow’s connected world, technologies that one should be aware of and its opportunities in India. The talk even mentioned how 90s and post 2000 was the era of mobile and mobile publishing. This is the era of hyper mo-

bility and agility where the notion of productivity has gone up. He envisioned a great future in ecosystems of connected devices.

Questions were raised on saving and analysing data. Due to a change in economics, there is a data explosion and new set of questions are emerging. He cited its uses in social and web analytics, live data feeds and advanced analytics. According to him,

“Learning machine algorithms could be used to predict the outcome.”

He concluded his speech by highlighting the opportunities for 400 million people in the rising income group as the country has a large pool of technology talent.

“We have the opportunity to create 2500 successful startups in the next decade and contribute $100 billion to India,” he added.

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U O H DISPATCH

T

insight

SEPTEMBER, 2014

Radiating divergence

A mini India

he University of Hyderabad (UoH) located in the city of Hyderabad in Telangana, grew 40 years old in 2014. Spread across 2,300 acres, the university has 12 schools of study within which there are several departments, centers, and programmes. Ranked 5th among all central universities of India by India Today magazine, UoH saw an intake of 2000 (approximately) students every year. The University reflects a mini India with hundreds of students enrolling from different parts of the country. This year 632 students are from the northern region, 1,183 students are from the south and more than 85 students are from the north-east. The university once again broke the assumed notion that the North-East students are not given equal opportunities in the admission process.

Whether it is bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the north-south divide does not seem to affect the atmosphere in the university.

Much of bookish knowledge about different states, their traditions, culture, food habits and languages are partial in a way, for it remains inscribed on physical pages. However, the first hand experience of exploring India can be sensed from such a platform. Along with a culturally rich atmosphere, academic pursuits, learning, sharing, exploring can be stimulated by biodiversity, water bodies and natural rocks in the university. This kind of diversity is needed even in the state universities as they to be more state-centric.

Academic institutions should not be confined with demographics like nationality, religion and ethnicity. The diversity not just brings students together but also enhance their personality. With its motto, Sa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye (Knowledge is that which Liberates), the University of Hyderabad inculcates quality education and widens the perspective of students.

I

Prof. B. Ananthakrishnan

n the current higher education context in India, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication holds a unique position because of its four departments, which are diverse. Dance and Theatre Departments involve body based practices, Department of Communication involves media studies, print, television and radio while the Fine Arts Department is based on the material.

Despite these different materialities and body manifestations, there is something in common like the conceptual aspects of media, art and cultural practices that work in different arenas based on the fundamental principle of each department. Here many concepts, theories,

T

o get a quick break from monotonous movie scenes, nail-biting cricket matches and unrealistically dramatic Hindi soaps, advertisements serve the best form of diversion. Advertisements are normally 30 seconds of creativity intended to reach people for promotional reasons. For once, let us overlook the flipside of commercials and consider their positive impacts. We hear people getting annoyed with advertisements, but when used rightly, they are capable of changing mindsets and ushering in change.

Promotional ads with public in-

Convergence of four diverse cultural expressions is unique about SN School.

Moreover, this is a guiding model to all the universities in the country. In many places, arts is seen as a creative domain rather than a social conduct. The dissemination and the extension activities of communication department at grassroot level in Indian villages and abroad for theoretical and action based studies in the field of Community Media is highly appreciable in the global context.

The productions in theatre have an outreach on the campus and outside through its outreach unit. Hovering local theatre activists, enhancing their livelihood through the extensive project has never happened in the history of Independent India.

The school’s interventions are further extending the academic domain to the stake holders of each subject with diverse objectives which makes its activities more meaningful.

histories and aesthetics overlaps across all discipline. Such a school is rare in the field of higher education.

Theoretical orientation and interventions of the faculties in the national and international level are significant. For instance, events like IAMCR, an International Conference co-hosted by Department of Communication, display of Fine Arts students’ work in a public domain like Salarjung Museum, exchange programmes of Department of Theatre Arts between

Convergence of four diverse cultural expressions is unique about SN School U.K and India, adds to the profile of SN School unlike the other universities’ departments in the country. Dance Department also holds important position as it equally addresses the conceptual and theoretical aspects of dance in global context and concentrates on two major dance forms - Kucchipudi and Bharatnatyam.

(Prof. B. Ananthakrishnan is a Professor, Department of Theatre Arts and Dean, SN School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad.)

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH “What the world would be like if gender did not segregate populace? What then would determine household chores and childcare roles?”

- Judith Lorber (Professor Emerita of Sociology and Women’s Studies at the City University of New York) “Women must be the change they want to see in the World” -Dr. Tessy Thomas ( The first Missile Lady of India)

Commercial’s changing trend

Nidhi Gupta

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terest messages are not new to audiences. Campaigns like Tata Tea “Jaago re” which raise awareness on various issues like casting vote, 49% women’s voting reservation, position of women in society, traffic rules and so on, have set the trend. However, the initiative ‘Touch the Pickle’ by Whisper has once again brought the phenomena into lime-light.

“Women need not treat periods as a forbidden subject.”

The campaign is about busting taboos commonly associated with menstruation in India. Catchy and witty slogans like, “Whisper it loud” and “Touch the pickle” have been quite successful, if not in moving the audiences to action but in raising their awareness.

Celebrities like Parineeti Chopra, Shraddha Kapoor and Mandira Bedi feel proud to be associated

with the Whisper Campaign and share a common view “Women need not treat periods as a forbidden subject.”

Women have been very receptive to the idea. On being asked, many girls said, “It is a very creative approach to break the social restrictions forced on women during their menstruation cycle. Instead of spreading awareness, people are generally blind-folded with superstitions in the name of health concerns.”

The benefits of such commercials cannot be overlooked. They can help a brand come across as socially responsible and mature, creating a lasting impression on the mind of the consumer. It helps them prove that they are beyond selling their products to consumers.

(Nidhi Gupta is a student at the Department of Communication, SN School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad)

CARTOONSCAPE

by R Praveen Varma

UOH DISPATCH

THE TEAM EDITORS : Nidhi Gupta, Basha P COPY EDITORS: Saumya Painuli, Sanjana K K EDITORIAL TEAM: Nidhi Gupta, Basha P, Saumya Painuli, Sanjana K K, Joyel K. Pious, Meghna Neogi, Aalekhya Tadepalli, Venkatesh Mamidi PHOTOGRAPHERS: Ashutosh Prasad, Priyanka Manikandan, Aalekhya T REPORTING TEAM: Harika Vankadara, K. Divya, Anupama Evani, Priyanka Manikandan, Keerthi Kiran, Rajesh Dupta, Ashutosh Prasad, Avnish Kumar

Printed and published by the Head of the Department, Dept. of Communication, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad. We appreciate participation from all departments.

Mail us at dispatchuoh@gmail.com

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UOH DISPATCH

REFLECTIONS 5

SEPTEMBER, 2014

Bol community bol!

Scrap mythical morality

Recently Bol Hyderabad 90.4 fm celebrated its third anniversary

O

Kanchan K.Malik

n 15 August 2014,Bol Hyderabad 90.4 FM, the community radio station of the University

of Hyderabad (UoH) celebrated its third anniversary of going on air. As a community radio station situated on a university campus where some pioneering work on community radio (CR) in India has been, and continues to be carried out, the journey of Bol sends out mixed signals with respect to its success and practices vis-à-vis some of the core principles that define the sector.

Over this period, Bol has developed a wide variety of interesting programmes with innovative content ideas, appealing taglines and catchy titles such as Sheher ke Mashoor Adde, Caught in Passing, Poetry Mohalla, Woh Kal is Pal, Airing Books, Katha Corner and Ulti-Evenings etc.The format followed is one of discussions and information interspersed with en-

tertainment. The programmes are produced in English, Hindi, Telugu and Urdu. Bol Hyderabad 90.4 FM has a broadcast radius of 15 kilometres and caters not solely to the university students but also to the diverse community within and outside the UoH campus.

However, the programme production process in Bol has remained limited to and in the hands of a few motivated students and faculty within the Department of Communication (where it is housed) and extends at best to their contacts and acquaintances.

While the mandate of the station is to follow an open door policy and bring in more and more people from all walks of life, the inclusivity quotient of Bol has not

been very high and there is a want for diversity of voices and talent in its programmes.

The raison d’être of a community radio is to enable the people residing within its coverage area to engage in media activity. Such a robust culture of community engagement and participation is still conspicuous by its absence in Bol. One cannot overlook the efforts that are on by Bol to propel the participation of the larger university fraternity and the community through open houses, capacity building workshops and programmes such as Community Connect and the more recent Quiz shows. But, the fact remains, that a lot more needs to be done to make Bol a radio ‘of’ the community and ‘by’ the community and not just ‘for’ the community.

(Dr. Kanchan K. Malik is an Associate Professor at the Department of Communication, SN School of Arts and Communication,University of Hyderabad and a Faculty Fellow at the UNESCO Chair on Community Media)

O

ne important thought that comes up while trying to define the barriers in Dheeraj Paleri an academic space is morality.Our educational framework does not speak about a fixed campus morality.

During a time when moral policing is budding up as a threat in every social space, it is important to keep the academic atmosphere safe from the myths about morality. As per the hostel guide book, girls and boys should not enter each other’s hostel. Rules should be built on reason than on some mythical cultural values. In a campus where students from diverse cultures are studying, no imposition can be made on a mono-cultural perception. Interestingly, the research scholars’ hostel for men is open for women while entry of men inside research scholars’ hostel for women is prohibited. It is very clear that this exception is made on an age and gender based ‘maturity’ concept which is not even imposed by the government after the age of 18. It

is funny that we are mature enough to elect our political representatives but not our moral concerns. Last year, the university tried to restrict ladies from entering in/out of hostels after 12 in midnight. Ultimately all these gender based restrictions come from a patriarchal mentality.

There is no gender wise restriction in foreign students’ hostel. This is another classic example of our administration’s misconception on culture. Academic space like English and Foreign Languages University has not yet enacted these kinds of restrictions.

Thus, for a campus which claims to be one of the most progressive academic spaces in the country, this illogical morality is a black mark. It is high time for the academic community to raise voice against it. After all, a university is a reflection of the society of tomorrow. Let it be a better place where new ideas pump up without barriers.

(Dheeraj Paleri is a student of MA Comparative Literature at the Centre for Comparative Literature, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad)

Campus politics Speak out, not shoot out U

Telangana Rashtra Samithi government or about the Bharatiya Janata Party headed by Narendra Modi. The documentaries are also an important form of political protest tool with several protest Aalekhya Tadepalli screenings happening in and around the campus. The rallies ties of life. and marches happening around Along with the dose of independthe campus are very opinionated ence that comes with living in the with a definite show of solidarity hostels, students are also exposed towards one side.

When the Gaza to a variety of issues, some apolitmarch happened, the poster ical but mostly political. clearly read as The politi“Stop the Zionist cal awareness It need not all be serious cleansing of the levels of the Palestinians’ , campus are at a political debates; there show solidarity high octave seems to be a lot of space for Gaza” . level. Every even for political satires But it need issue be it innot all be serious ternational, naamong different parties of political debates; tional or local the university there seems to be gets its due ata lot of space tention in the even for political campus vicinisatires among different parties of ties. The recent general elections the university.

Catchy and sarturned the campus grounds into a donic titles like “Now let us not hot debate field with constant discall a spear a spade” are often cussions and arguments about the seen.

Funny satires taking a dig at manifestos of different parties. the political parties using parodies Take a walk around the campus and you will notice almost every and funny memes are quite popuwall is filled with posters that are lar around the campus. The camcalling for a march to show soli- pus definitely is an active mixture darity for Gaza or film screening of serious political discussions about the Narmada Bachao An- creating an awareness among studolan or a rally remembering dents with a dash of humour.

Kandhamal Carnage. Even the (Aalekhya Tadepalli is a student of MA mainstream politics find their Communication (Print Journalism and place on the campus walls in the New Media) at the Department of Comform of Kinder Garden to Postmunication, SN School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad) Graduation education by the niversity campus is considered to be a place where one starts to learn the nitty-grit-

“

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Flaming in social media discussions

I Joyel K Pious

t’s a battle of words without any rules of engagement.

Eventhough there is no bloodshed, the

war fought by users of online media is no less ferocious. Flaming is a new term in the ever increasing vocabulary of global netizens. It is a synonym for an argument happening online that becomes abusive or ridiculous, where the discussion takes precedence over the objective merits of the conflicting sides.

These arguments often start with very trivial posts or comments in Facebook or Twitter and take the form of a virtual war.

Faster than any biological virus, these posts spread across the cyber space attracting likes, dislikes and comments. Unlike any other medium of communication, online space has given people more freedom from the constraints of free speech and has created a platform to discuss whatever they like. But it comes with riders.

Most of the people who actively participate in online discus-

sions are not public speakers. In the real world they may make long conversations only with people they are familiar with. In online world a discussion started on a healthy note can suddenly turn in to a fight with people hurling abuses at each other. This happens often when people discuss reli-

gion, nationalism and conflicts.

Like a chain reaction people from unknown corners would jump into the conversation as if they have the ultimate freedom to talk anything and the original commentator would lose control over the discussion. Often the whole discussion can be stopped only by deleting the original post. There is also a gender aspect to this. It has been observed that women, who comment on certain sensitive top-

ics, face more foul language than men who comment on the same topic. It is an irony that the initial topic of discussion would sink in the waves of other topics that may not need any public discussion at all. From the topic of nationalism the subject would come down to the topic of anatomy of the commentator. From human rights violations the discussions would come down to the topic of superiority of one religion over the other, fuelling further fights.

Even the reviews and comments on newly released movies attract wraths from fans of the actors. Because of the fear of viral responses, a lot of people prefer to stay silent on important issues. This is one of the most important negative effects of flaming. Also government and security agencies justify restrictions on free speech by showing flaming as an excuse.

Being cautious while commenting and posting in online space can act as a simple step in controlling unnecessary battles.

(Joyel K Pious is a student of MA Communication (Print Journalism and New Media) at the Department of Communication, SN School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad)

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UOH DISPATCH

SEPTEMBER, 2014

Doors of perception...

PhotoPhilia

Campus hostel rooms are not just a place to live for the students, they are also a means of expression. Take a glimpse at these doors through the lens of Priyanka and Ashutosh

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K R E E DA

SEPTEMBER, 2014

Need of reservation in sports Sports Quota will ensure a more diverse student community Priyanka Manikandan University of Hyderabad (UoH) is known for the bright minds that pass out every year. However, one does not hear about students drawing attention for their achievements in sports. Infrastructure-wise, UoH is not behind any other university.

Yet, it has not been able to attract many athletes due to its ‘No Sports Quota Policy’, said Dr. K.V Rajasekhar, Assistant Director of Physical Education, UoH. The stereotypical notions of ‘sports as a diversion’ and the belief that sportspersons have no academic future are still a hurdle.

These notions reflect in the uni-

versity’s attitude towards sports.

University Grants Commission (UGC) recommends 10 per cent seats in first year of the Undergraduate course and Honors course reserved for sportspersons who have represented the state or nation in the national or international level sports events.

“All major universities have good athletes as they encourage physical education. We should have at least one dedicated seat in each class for sportspersons”, added Dr. Rajasekhar.

The UGC does not mandate ‘Sports Quota’, making it a mere recommendation that may or may not be implemented. The university gives minimum weightage for

sports achievements in the integrated courses. Greater the participation, greater will be a positive influence on the peers, Dr. Rajasekhar opined.

Reservation for students with a flair for sports ought to be encouraged in the university to establish it as an institution that offers a well rounded student life.

Sport is a practice, a lifestyle and a discipline. Academia alone does not develop personality.

There should be a right balance between academics and sports for one’s overall development. Sports is an essential part of student life.

There is an urgent need to implement ‘Sports Quota’ and help athletes get admission in university.

Debabrot Borgohain, known as the ‘Strong Man’ of Tezpur University, is a Ph.D. scholar in Nanoscience and Technology, University of Hyderabad (UoH). Besides studying, he has been practising daily to participate in the All India Meet of power lifting. He was a silver medal winner in district level power lifting competition in Assam Here is a sneak peek into Debabrot’s preparation for the upcoming All India Meet.

What is your motivation for power lifting?

When I was doing my Bachelors, I used to frequently go to the gym and that is when I saw my seniors who represented Tezpur Central University, practicing hard. That was my introduction to

K. Divya been very flexible keeping in mind my hectic practicing schedules. That way I am very lucky.

Debabrot Borgohain the world of power lifting. The Tezpur University gym trainer helped me to overcome the challenges.

How supportive has the university been?

The University has been very supportive of my endeavours. I have had time to practice well too. My faculty members have

When the ball is in your court

The Tennis Court at North Campus

The burly man of Tezpur Ashutosh Prasad

7

Is the university well-equipped for power lifting?

The facilities are good enough at the university when compared to others. However, there is a need to upgrade the gym. Most importantly, a dedicated coach to encourage students is necessary.

Last year during the annual sports meet, the university organised a program for power lifting but this year the Sports Committee is unable to conduct it.

What are your future plans?

I want to continue playing till my body supports me. I have been busy off late practising hard for the upcoming All India Meet scheduled for December. Hopefully I will do my best.

For all those who happen to pass the Sports complex in the north campus during evenings, the pulsating activity at the recently renovated tennis court is sure to draw their attention. Trained players and amateurs frequent the court every evening to practice . A dedicated coaching facility is available for both the categories of players who train for one hour each every day.

“I am a private coach and I have recently started training students here at the university. I coach for two hours from 4:30 to 6:30 pm every day. Students from Kendriya Vidyalaya, children of professors, university students .etc come to play here,” says Aslam, the tennis coach at the university.

The previous clay court was recently renovated and a syntheticcourt stands in its place now.

Constructed at an approximate

cost of 25 lakhs, the court is said to be of excellent quality and on par with other professional courts. “The court is exceptionally good and well finished. Also, the location of the court is very apt as it allows one to practice without any distraction,” adds Aslam.

Previously, the university also provided students with rackets and balls. However, the reckless attitude of students who often misplaced sport equipments, sometimes carelessly dumping them in the court itself, prompted authorities to stop the facility.

“There have been many instances when I was retorted by students for telling them to respect the facility,” says Aslam.

There is a need for all to appreciate the facility at the university.

Students need to own up and take equal responsibility in taking care of the court.

Campus Trekking Club makes most of the weather Priyanka Manikandan The ‘Sunday Climbers’ as the trekking club calls themselves, began the adventures of the year with a trekking spree on 21 August 2014. The promotional trekking involved 50 trekkers and climbers from the campus climbing 10 rock formations in two days, including the Library Back Rock, Horizon Cliff and Buffalo Lake Cliff.

Sunday Climbers are a group of trekkers in the campus. Entering into third year of its adventures this December, the group has climbed all major rock formations and cliffs in the university.

The Sunday Climbers was born

On the rocks

as a university based group in December in the year 2011 inspired by the society ‘Save the Rocks’ and the Greater Hyderabad Adventure Club. The founders of the Club previously trekked with trekkers outside the campus and strongly felt the need for a campus trekking club.

“Our campus has beautiful rock formations ideal for trekking and exploring those formations is an experience. Our intention behind forming the group was to explore scenic beauty of the campus. Climbing is a kind of alternative sport too,” said Abhijith Debnath, a research student of Cognitive Science and co-founder of the group in the university.

“Our Facebook group has 120 members and that is the only promotion we do to keep the members updated about the upcoming activities of the club. Information is passed through the Facebook page as well as through members,” he said.Chandrakant, a student, who has been trekking for sometime seems to be excited about trekking with the group in the university. “I came to know about the group from one of my seniors and it felt good knowing about the group. It is refreshing getting closer to nature and I love adventure”, says the thrilled trekker. With a varied topography, the University of Hyderabad attracts adventurers across the city.

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Potpourri

SEPTEMBER, 2014

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Theatre goes digital with Douglas O’Connell Exploring interdiscipnary approaches to technology and theatre K. Divya

Douglas O’Connell is an American born; London based director, video designer and lecturer. He got bitten by the “theatre bug” during his growing years in New York, a time when he would try to see as much theatre as possible.

While studying Communication at the Seton Hall University, he took great interest in theatre activities and ultimately dropped out of college to pursue his passion. He worked in production design in Off Broadway and regional theatre throughout New York and Chicago. Later, he finished his degree at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Now, he is a Post Graduate lecturer in Digital Theatre at the University of the Arts London at Wimbledon.

Douglas takes keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches to video and theatre and is exploring how technology can be used in

Cur tai n Cal l The Shadow of Samarra is reminiscent of the fact that our fate is inevitable. The theme of the play is adapted from the the Arabic fable retold by Somerset Maugham. A combination of elements of art installation, theatrical tradition and technology, the play was performed at five different locations at UoH. The audience were driven to the world of Samara. The narrative traverses the audience to a surreal world. . theatre. He sees theatre as a com-

communication tool and recognises how Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites have become a part of our everyday language. His work tries to implement this language in theatre. He was present at the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad (UoH) recently as a part of the UKIERI (UK India Education and Research Initiative) project. Douglas tried to combine art installation, theatrical tradition and technology to create a non-linear performance. Projecting video onto a bus and using art installations to bring out a different way of storytelling, were among the

Flipkarting: New-gen shopping Priyanka Manikandan As the e-shopping sites changes the definition of shopping experience at a global level, online shopping is going viral among the university students. From vegetable and grocery to furnishing, the shopping has completely become a virtual experience.

What makes online shopping a choice of the campus?

It’s not timeconsuming, saves you from a tiring journey and shared auto charges to Inorbit mall or to Koti. A laptop or a mobile app can help with shopping during free time, day or night. Add to it the comfort of quick door delivery. And then comes the best part ‘the big discounts’ ‘festival offer’ and ‘promos’.

Flipkart is the favourite site of the campus community, the efficiency in delivery and the availability of cheaper price makes it a better choice for stationary, electronics, lifestyle and books. ecommerce portal like Jabong

and Myntra which focuses on fashion and casual lifestyle are the leading apparel distributors in the university. Amazon is also one of the top preferences of the young shoppers. The increasing list reflects the increasing choice of the students to go for shopping

the E-way.

“I can sit on my couch and shop an entire street without even sweating. Convenience is one thing which I love in online shopping and Myntra is my favourite site” says Varun Mohan, a student of MA Political Science The university receives an average of 150 to 200 deliveries a day from different online shops.

And the e-grocery market ‘Big

Of reigning beliefs and double standards

Basket’ is a regular visitor of the university supplying salt to vegetables.

“The university has more number of deliveries when compared to TCS and IIIT. We usually have 40 to 60 deliveries on an average per day,” says Baburam a delivery person of the ‘Delhivery couriers’, which mostly distributes consignment from online shops of which 90 per cent is from Flipkart. Myntra deliver on an average 25 to 30 and Jabong has 15-20 deliveries a day.

As the eshopping trend spreads the idea of virtual shopping, addiction is also a serious issue to be discussed.

Just like social media use the online site, visiting these sites has also become a habit among students. If the word ‘%OFF’ triggers the shopper in you and you buy things that are not necessary and just because you get it for a reduced price, BE ALERT! Your Debit card is on fire and you are caught by Virtual Shopaholism.

Saumya Painuli

P

rachi Trivedi and Ruhi Singh embark upon a journey to find an identity for themselves in the city of dreams, Mumbai. On the face of it, they share nothing in common but both remain trapped in a patriarchal society.

Ruhi is a Miss India pageant aspirant and Prachi is an inheritor of a belief system which thinks that aggressive Hindutva can set India on the path to progress.

‘The World Before Her’ beautifully captures the vibrant yet antagonized sections of Indian society. Directed by Nisha Pahuja, the documentary depicts two schools of thought, the fundamentalists and the modernists.

The Canadian documentary makes a polarizing effect on the viewer’s mind.

The documentary sheds light on different perceptions pertaining to women. Beauty contest focuses on bodily aspects whereas Durga Shakti Vahini empowers women only to subjugate them

later. In a way, none of the groups liberate women from patriarchal shackles. The contestants of Miss India pageant consider themselves a part of the modern society. However, they give in to the demands of their male counterparts. They unwantedly show off their legs for the beauty contest.

A distorted idea of Hinduism as religion is depicted in the film. Prachi, her father and the Durga Shakti Vahini camp members have their own understanding of Hinduism. Run by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) group, the members of camp uphold slogans like “If you ask for milk and rice, we will give you pudding. But if you ask Kashmir, we will slit your throats”.

The filmmaker captured the propaganda in a straight forward manner so there is no complexity involved. The film, however, does not provide a solution. The two different worlds are equally repulsive. Hence, the film leaves the audience with an open-ended conclusion.

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prominent features of his shows at UoH. From his experience here, he has come to appreciate how ideas could be made out of nothing. “While commodity pushes practice in the West, ideas lead practice in India, which is the right relation,” says Douglas.

However, he regrets that theatre, in general, is no longer very effective as it has turned into an entertainment industry and has not much to do with communication.

He wishes it to function as a communication tool and hopes that people do not see theatre as a static art form and actively question its nature and not think of it in just a specific way.