The Hindu : New Delhi News : Real victory for students

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Real victory for students

NOT EVERYONE may see them as important tools to bring about a change in the university scene or for that matter national scene, but students' unions have played an important role in voicing the concerns and problems of the country's young.

And even as the student community of Aligarh Muslim University gears up for its first brush with elections after a five-year-long break, Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi seems all set to follow suit by setting the tone for elections possibly by the end of this year. A big victory for students, specially considering the long struggle that they have had to wage to ensure that they are given the democratic right to choose their own representatives, both campuses seem to have left the unpleasant memories of the past behind them. Although there continues to be a bit of opposition in Jamia against the elections, students are optimistic of a positive ending.

While the AMU student community managed to get the new code of conduct modified after a weeklong hunger strike, the scene at Jamia is still at the discussion stage. Incidentally, Jamia Millia Islamia's Vice-Chancellor, Mushirul Hasan, met some student representatives this past Monday to discuss the issue.

Although no student outfit is allowed to openly support or put up its panel in the AMU students' elections as per the new rule, organisations say they will try to find a way out. Both the AMU and Jamia elections have in the past seen independent candidates winning, with organisations that have made their mark in other universities not quite getting involved in the student politics of these universities. But politics apart, students say it is the very fact of renewal of elections that will be the real celebration point this year, irrespective of who wins the race finally.

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HAVING GIVEN the students of Delhi University "free" lessons on the freedom of expression, Films for Freedom, a voluntary organisation, is now shifting focus to Jamia Millia Islamia in an attempt to "engage civil society in issues of freedom of expression, right to information and censorship''. Inaugurated at Jamia Millia Islamia University on Wednesday, the three-day festival will include panel discussions and film screenings as well.

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THE EXTERNAL Linkages Cell of the premier management institute, XLRI Jamshedpur, is organising the third edition of Xpress, an event aimed at undergraduate students, from September 25 to 30. In line with the recent technological trends, Xpress is this year being launched on an online format, with registrations open at www.xlri.ac.in/xpress.

Spread over six days, the event will have three rounds, with the first leg being all about quizzes, crosswords and puzzles, the second testing basic business awareness, reasoning techniques and creativity.

The last round will throw open an interactive and challenging business situation which the contestants would have to tackle. Real life situations would be simulated to get the contestants thinking. Each team will be allowed three members, with more than one team being allowed from each college. For more details, students can mail to exlink@xlri.ac.in or call Tanay Mishra at 098353 65500 or Pradeep Ramarathnam at 09835370627.

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TO PROMOTE sharing of the latest research work in the latest technology and tools emerging in communications and computing, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, and the Institution of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) are now coming together to host an International Conference and Exposition on Communications and Computing at Kanpur early next year.

A bi-annual knowledge forum, the conference will offer a collective learning experience to all participants on subjects such as fifth generation computing, grid computing, fourth generation mobile and cellular communication and e-governance.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. S.G. Dhande, Director of IIT Kanpur, observed: "The availability of an academically strong base and huge technological incubation resources makes it imperative that a concerted effort be made to share, discuss and co-learn the path breaking research work that can be put on fast track development and implementation for greater good of the society.''

Apart from seminars, workshops and conferences, a key highlight of the event would also be recognition of individuals and organisations that have greatly contributed in their chosen fields with the institution of "Grey Cell Award''.

Lakshmi B. Ghosh

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