Project Pehchaan is one such small attempt of the members of the SIFE team of Miranda House to improve the lives of underprivileged women. The project aims at providing training and honing the skills of three women in a manner which would enable them to utilise these skills in exploiting employment opportunities.

Mother Teresa said that “we can do no great things, but only small things with great love.”

The main goal to be achieved by the project is to provide a sustainable source of income to the women in question, which will not only last in the long run but will also continue to grow into a more developed and efficient source of income. Project Pehchaan, thus, aims to provide economic independence and social upliftment to the women. SIFE helps them make use of their skills by providing them a platform, exposure and a market for the goods and items produced by them.

Currently under progress, the project aims to channelise the skills of three women, which they have already learnt through training in tailoring provided to them at Arya Samaj Mandir in Malka Gunj area of North Campus, New Delhi.

Funds required for the project were raised by a Fundraiser organised by the team of SIFE Miranda House, held on 17th February, 2012.

The project is still in its nascent stage and will be taking its full shape in the next couple of months. We hope to make Project Pehchaan as successful and as affective as possible and to improve the lives of the women in a permanent, long-lasting way.

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Management Education in India is predominately a derivative of western management thought and practice. Occasionally, management schools draw some inferences from Indian epics, shastras and practices. It may be worthwhile to notice that management itself as a discipline has evolved from fundamental disciplines of philosophy, psychology, economics, accounting, computer science, mathematics, statistics and industrial engineering.

In 21^st Century India has witnessed a sea change in its educational system. Process of liberalisation, privatization, and globalization has not only replaced traditional approach with a more efficient professional approach; but also introduced new age courses in accordance with industry demand which have more economic value in today’s time. Management education is one among those which got a new dimension with this changing time. Initially Marketing, Finance and Human Resource Management were considered as functional area of management, but now management education covers much more functional area like Operations, Information Technology, International Business, Supply Chain Management, Retail, B2B Marketing, Corporate Governance and much more to add to the list.

India has witnessed a continuing growth in this sphere of education because of the rising demand of trained management graduates. Management education has become one of the most sought after education today as a result of this; private sector has entered in Indian management scenario and invested an immense amount for this which ultimately resulted in the mushrooming of the B-Schools. Management programme seems to be so attractive and fascinating to the youth that there is a flood of institutions and colleges offering it with their distinctive features, thus adding an icing to the cake. However, every institution in the country is not providing the quality education which is a very big concern for the future to come. There was a time when such a professional programme was to be chosen after a well mediated study and research, but today at times one can find students enrolling without a proper knowledge or required awareness. These students need a proper counselling and guidance which can give them some real good insights and tell them about the nuances of the field.

Management Education in India is not very old, after the establishment of the IITs, there was dire need for similar establishments in the field of management education. Thus came into existence Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), followed soon after by one in Kolkata (IIMC). Starting with the establishment of 4 Indian Institutes of Management Calcutta (1961), Ahmedabad (1962),Bangalore(1973),Lucknow(1984), now management education is being offered as full time/part time MBA programmes by some leading universities in the country as well as Non-University Autonomous Institutions. Recently and particularly during the last 5-7 years the country has witnessed a tremendous growth in the founding of management institutions most of them in private sector offering management programs in different functional areas of management. Concurrently, there is a mushrooming of B-schools in the country of which approximately about 2000 are certified by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), leading to issues of quality.

The Structure of education as a whole in Indiais divided into two major divisions which is University System and Non-University System (Autonomous Institution) which are further divided as under:

University System

• Central Universities
• State Universities
• Colleges affiliated to the universities
• Private Universities

 Non University Autonomous Institutions

• Institutions of national importance
• AICTED Approved Autonomous Institutions

At the top are the reputed Institutes of national importance institutes like IIMs and some university departments such as FMS which have maintained the high quality in their teaching, research and consultancy in management education. The second rung institutes are those started by industrial houses, private institutes and state level educational institutes, which offer quality management education at par with these reputed institutes. These come under the category of “Non University Autonomous Institutions”. The third level management Institutes inIndia are the University departments and other Open Universities which are providing management education through correspondence, distance and part-time modes.

In Indiaall educational institutes, those providing management education are certified by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). These courses come in variety of packages and price tags, suiting to the different needs and pockets of the aspiring individuals. The fee structure of the management programs inIndia varies from programs-to-programs and institute-to-institute ranging from approximately Rs. 1.10 lakhs to Rs. 15 lakhs for two years. Full time two year courses from the most reputed institutions are usually expensive and ranges from Rs. 6 lakhs to Rs. 15 lakhs for two years, approximately. Usually, the 2 year management programs can be taken up after successful completion of graduate studies in any discipline. Graduates with a minimum of 45 percent to 50 percent marks are eligible to apply for admission to management programs in different B-Schools in country. Aspirants have to go through a selection process which includes entrance / admission tests, followed by group discussion and the personal interview of candidates, declared successful in the written test. The aim of the test is to evaluate, under stress, a candidate’s general verbal, mathematical and analytical abilities. The management entrance test inIndia calls for superior command over the English language, quantitative skills and definitely a sharp mind.

The reason for such an escalating demand for management education is because of the numerous reasons whereas some major reasons are as follows:

• India and the Indians have undergone a paradigm shift like, a complete change in the shopping behaviour and consumption patterns of the consumers. Today the consumer is not going in the market just to purchase the product rather to experience the delight of shopping.
• There have been fundamental and irreversible changes in the economy, government policies, outlook of business & industry, and moreover in the mindset of the Indians in general.
• Indian companies are no longer afraid of Multinational Companies. They have become globally competitive and many of them have become MNCs themselves.
• Fatalism and contentment of the Indian mindset have given way to optimism and ambition.
• Introvert and defensive approach have been replaced by outward-looking and confident attitude.
• In place of denial and sacrifice, the Indian value system has started recognizing seeking of satisfaction and happiness.
• The Indian culture, which looked down upon wealth as a sin and believed in simple living and high thinking, has started recognizing prosperity and success as acceptable and necessary goals.
• Indian management graduates no longer queue up for safe government jobs. They prefer and enjoy the challenges and risks of becoming entrepreneurs and global players in the emerging private sectors.

Therefore, it can be said that definitely Management Programme is a road much taken but have to be taken cautiously and consciously.

Reference:

• Management Education in India:  Trends, Issues and Implications by Sanjeev Kumar and M. K. Dash Research Journal of International Studies - Issue 18 (January, 2011).
• Khanzode V. V., Recent Trends in Commerce and Management Education, Sterling Publishers Provate Ltd., New Delhi, 2006.
• Sharma, Yogendra, Fundamental Aspects of Educational Technology, Kanishka Publications,New Delhi, 2008
• Various issues of University News – A weekly journal of higher education, Association of Indian Universities,New Delhi.

Prof. (Dr.) Ashish Chandra - The Author is a Professor of Marketing in Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi.

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A 9 year old girl a I know has a tuition teacher who comes every day who teach her English and Maths, sound that sound any great to you? Does that make any sense? To me it does not but it is true. Very simply because the mother does not want her daughter to get any position lesser than the 1^st.

Every nook and corner there is a coaching centre or a tuition centre, whatever name you call it, they are all the same. My sister works in of the best ones in India and I hear her stories every day. Hers is a very expensive institute but still everyday more and more students take admissions. I suddenly thought there just happened an outburst of students. Haha

From a 9 year old girl to people appearing for GMAT and GRE everybody takes tuitions and there are infinite coaching centres in every block of the city. I wonder if that many students are. From the lesser charging ones to the expensive ones there are coaching centres you can’t even count.

Some say class 9^th mathematics is unmanageable and 10^th and 12^th are boards, so we cannot put things on stake. “My friend has joined ABC tuition centre and I can’t let him have more marks than me. I have to join one fast.”, says a student (an A+ grader precisely) . To clarify, I am no saint while writing this article as I too am a part of the same bandwagon , I did take tuitions while I was both in school and college. But all I mean to say is how this trend gave birth to this new industry in India, a new and very booming industry.

A tuition teacher with about 30 students in a batch and 5 batches a day (Rs 2000 a student fess a month) earns way more than an MNC executive. Don’t some of you plan a new career for yourselves? What about starting your new coaching centre? Hilarious isn’t that? Yes and all that has not been done by any external forces but we, we have done that. It’s we, the students and the mothers who have created and nurtured the “coaching centres” industry.  Several home tutors even charge 1000 Rs an hour and we are ready to pay as much (I paid the same 5 years or so back for an hour of Sanskrit class) . Don’t we have teachers in school? Haven’t the students started missing school because they know they have tuitions to support?

I actually don’t know why and for whom am I writing this piece because neither  am I offending anyone nor defending but yes, I have to say study wherever it is possible. Do not just miss classes because you know you have a tuition teacher. And after reading this if anyone is considering a career change, You know where to head. TUITION CENTRES

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Delhi University is special. It is a small world in the heart of Delhi
and this little world has its own fads, lingo and hotspots that are ‘just too
cool.’

There are many iconic places in Delhi University and one such place is
the Virgin Tree in Hindu College. Yes, the name is Virgin tree but this is no
indecent proposition. It Stands between the main college building and the field
in Hindu College. It is the most famous landmark of the college has been a witness
to a lot that has happened during the ragging season and on the Valentine’s
Day.

The VT is an integral part of the Hindu tradition. It is in fact the nerve centre of the college. But now with authorities becoming stricter, some of the old charm is beginning to fade. The Virgin tree is at its best charm on
Valentines day. The puja of the Dam Dam mai is done on it on this day and all
the boys and girls of the college take part. You might take a laugh at this
point but campus students are always excited about it. The puja has prasad
distribution also followed to it. And the distribution is never as easy and as
simple one as in the mandirs. I am sure students from campus would talk more
about it. It is just not a superstition but a college memory and something special
about campus.

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As one looks at the flawless and non-stop coverage of  Anna  Hazare’s fight against corruption, very few of us look at the reporter’s who stand in rain, heat and any extreme weather conditions to give us non-stop news about the event.

It’s a well-known phrase that a journalist is the fourth estate of a democracy. So to live up to that image and be the watchdog of the society, one has to work extremely hard, have a nose for news and be the first the break it.

The job is not quite well-paying. The initial pay is quite less, compared to an MBA or any other degree course.  It’s only after a period of time, which you have spent in an organization that they are willing to pay you well.

Talking about freshers who want to join this course here are the details. Since journalists are required to be well-versed with all topics, each semester includes a set of four different subjects. The course was revised in the year 2010 and subjects like Communication theory, Political Science, Introduction to Journalism and History Of Mass Communication are a part of the first semester while Economics , Reporting And Editing For Print , Media And Cultural Studies and Online journalism are a part of the second semester. Each paper consists of ten questions out of which you have to attempt five as there is a choice between two questions. The internals are for 25 marks.

The course includes 6 semesters in three years and focuses more on the practical experience and general awareness of a student rather than his “mugging up ability”. For example, a subject in the 2^nd semester called “Reporting and Editing For Print” has a section called How to frame interviews and prepare for them. As expected, instead of asking us the Do’s and Don’ts while framing interviews, we were asked to give a list of five questions we would ask Mrs. Sheila Dixit, Mr. P. Chidambaram or Anusha Rizvi (director of Peepli Live).

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Every  year as more than a lakh of students pass out after giving their boards, they feel like a big burden has been released and they are free and tension free. But the real test begins right after this stage, and that is choosing their own career option, freely.

Often people ask that if one is a science or commerce or arts stream students. And then they start hatching plans, indulging in wild guessing games to know that child’s career in future. Science has ALWAYS meant either doctor or an engineer.

If you aspire to become neither, it’s a crime, a big CRIME. After all, why else were you sent to this stream? All around you when you see a high number of IIT-ians and students qualifying for various prestigious universities, there’s a sense of guilt, a shame that you feel inside.

Passion tapers off. What remains is just half-hearted approach to your life. Many students begin to show suicidal tendencies. They are emotionally handicapped, feeling alone and lost because of lack of anyone to confide in.

Another very general perception is that the subject of Arts is only for those who don’t want to do anything concrete in life and while away their time. People from this field are dubbed as strugglers and losers, who know a lot but can’t really earn anything in life.

And that’s what measures the amount of success one achieves in his life. No one understands that some amount of struggle is a part and parcel of every job’s start. It’s only when we progress in our job, achieve some stability that our employers are willing to pay us more.

The times have changed a lot. In times when a perfect 100 % helps one get a seat in a prestigious college, you really have to slog it out, literally spend every drop of your sweat and blood and fight for that one seat in your favorite university.

Also the people are willing to pay huge sums of money to seek admission in a college. Private institutes are sprawling up in every nook and corner of the city and it all depends on the amount you are willing to shell out for that course that makes all the difference.

Competition is something we can’t get ourselves rid off. There’ some cooperation, help and sensible advice from elders that will help us achieve what we want in life.

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As I say the word ragging, images of police patrolling vans outside colleges and posters and banners against ragging cloud my mind. Ragging, that at one point of time used to be synonymous with a fun and masti, ice-breaking session between seniors and juniors, has now become the most feared and dreaded word in the world!

Times have changed so much that the once easy going and mastiful college life has come under the scanner. Being in second year, we too approached our juniors for simple intro, by giving their names and tell us a little about themselves. Most of them did it quite happily, but some argued with us, saying this was against the rules and regulations and they would go and complain to the college authorities.

I won’t blame anyone because I know who’s fault it is. When a bunch of engineering students threw their junior from the terrace, when a father shed tears on losing his only son and struggled to fight against the late and slow process of judicial activities in our country, he must have regretted on getting his child in college, wishing he had been there to save him.

No parent today wants their children to miss out on the fun of college life. Ask them, they too ragged and did the “atthani-chawwani” dance by shaking and moving their waists on the directions of their seniors. It was fun, exciting and is still etched in their memories.

But who would have thought, that one day we would have to witness such a sorry state of affairs of student suicide after their first day at college and would have to face mental and physical trauma for years to come.

Let’s try being normal like before. Let’s go back to our roots and do things the old way. Let’s just start being humans and giving that fuchha humane treatment.

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It would be your first day in college. You OBVIOUSLY want to look your best, be the first to make a stylish first impression in the eyes of your seniors and classmates as well while making heads turn by posing a great sense of style. But sometimes, it’s not that easy to look good and that too without burning a hole in your pocket. High alert for all the ladies; check out the following options and explore the best variety of stuff for all occasions.

1. Sarojini Nagar: Located in South Delhi, the shop here are popular among college goers for the export line shops. Checked shirts, tunics, tops and various types of stylish dresses are available at pocket friendly prices.
2. Janpath: Located in the heart of the city, Central Delhi, the place is thronged by city locals as well as foreigners for its availability of high street fashion at dirt cheap prices. Don’t be surprised when you spot a top or dress that you saw in a big branded store.
3. Lajpat Nagar: A great shopping destination for all the ethnic cloth lovers, this one is a hotspot for buying stitched and unstitched suits and kurtis. You can pick up salwars and pyjamis in your favoruite colour and mix and match them with a kurti of your choice.
4. Paharganj: A heaven for all those of you who have a hippie style of dressing, you can buy a wide variety of junk jewellery   without burning a hole in your pocket. This one is also a great place to find great deal of bargains in books.

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Entering into college life is a significant transition in a student’s life.But, it is not always as pleasant and serene as it is thought out to be.So, here is a help book for every fucchha.Do go through it and better still, take a printout so that its handy as a ready reckoner!!

Here we get, set and sail.

• Never flirt with your seniors.You may have studied in a school studded with miniature replicas of Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai, but college life, especially if you’re in an engineering college is not going to be as colorful.So, keep your taste buds in check and even if you don’t spot a bombshell in your class, never try hit on your senior, it’s a bad idea!
• Never say no to your seniors. Even if you feel reprimanded by them or sense that they are bullying you, saying no to a work of your seniors is the cardinal sin for a fresher.
• Don’t make the mistake of attending all the lectures just because you’re still in the ‘school’ hangover.All geeks are requested to cooperate in mass bunks as the professors keep on changing every semester but the classmates would be the same for four years.
• Never miss the freshers’ nite or the gala organized.It is the best and the most happening way to make yourself known and vindicate your presence in the college.It  not only proliferates your self confidence but also helps in making new friends.
• Do not think of new ways to propose to the girl of your dreams.Just do it.If you miss the chance, you’ll soon see her strolling hand in hand with a bigger loser than yourself in a few days.In testosterone- charged campuses, this is a common sight as girls,(read good looking girls) are a rarity.
• Don’t keep on joining all the clubs and societies of your college blindly.Its baffling to see boys and girls joining 15 clubs and another 24 societies and in the end failing to contribute in even one.Its not cool at all to behave like a multifaceted jerk in a college.
• Highlight this one: Never get under the skin of your grumpy lab assistant.Lab assistants are a gateway to get good, infact great marks inyour files and viva.
• If you’re late for a lecture by more than half an hour, never ask for permission from the teacher to enter the class.Just sneak through in as tactfully as possible making a face so innocent that could make even Adolf Hitler have sympathy with you.
• Do not tell the truth to your parents about your results.If you help any help editing a pdf or .exe file, just contact the undersigned.
• Don’t forget to memorize the above points.Even if you can’t memorize your course books(their thickness equals to 4 Oxford dictionaries), do make it a point to remember all the points.These 10 commandments can make your college life much smoother and sorted out.Ignore these at your own peril!

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To know how to paint is like knowing the secret of the Ali Baba’s cave. You have the key to the most amazing and beautiful thing in the entire world! Today most of us pursue careers that would reap huge monetary benefits (read as high salary) in the future. We no longer think of creativity and originality.

Painting is more like a figment of one’s imagination. It’s the painter’s vision who wants his audience to see the world through his eyes. What many people would find lame and brainless is extremely creative and exciting for some!

There are a lot of professional courses are available today that can help one hone their painting skills. Although painting comes quite naturally to some, as they say practice makes one perfect.

Sadly enough, painting is NOT a career option anymore. We look at it as an extra-curricular activity, or as something done to pass time or even worse; people perceive painting to be a subject chosen by those students who are quite weak academically!

Veteran artist M.F.Hussain, who passed away recently, was a renowned name in the field of art. His paintings were timeless beauties; they had a world of their own. The legendry artist who came under the scanner for his bold and blatant statement that he struck which each of his paintings.

Clearly enough, an artist has the absolute freedom to do so and hence he must express his views clearly and. But he should not do so by hurting someone’s sentiments.

So, all you budding artists out there don’t let your dreams and aspirations collapse so easily. Even if you study a different subject and love color and brush then do not hesitate. Continue pursuing your dreams side by side. Don’t give up on it completely.

In fact for all those who have a have a knack for painting and a love for colours, it is how you see in life. Do not care about what others see, if you love it, do it. Pursue painting as a full time career and do something that you love. There are many colleges and institutes that offer this course. A Bachelors in Fine Arts is what you need to pursue if you want to learn painting in a professional manner.

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