How I Made It: Mohammad Ismat

By Sonali Acharjee

Mohammad Ismat


You don't need tuition. Hard work and focus is enough, says Mohammad Ismat, CBSE, 12th Board, All-India Topper, 2012.

How it all began...

I come from the Thoubal district in Manipur and am the youngest of seven children. My father, Moulana Bashirur-Rahman is a primary school teacher. During my childhood he tried very hard to provide me a good education. But his monthly income rarely exceeded more than Rs.2000. That was obviously not enough to sustain the whole family and fund my education at private schools as well.

I initially studied at a local English medium government school till class six when I switched to a Kendriya Vidhyalaya. Again in class eighth I moved to Sainik School in Imphal where I scored 94.2 per cent in my class 10th exams.

I really wanted to move to a good school after this but money was a problem. That is when the director of Zenith Academy in Imphal stepped in. He was kind enough to accept me in the school and mentor me at a minimal fee. The intellecutal exposure, constant support and good friends I found at Zenith played a huge part in my success today.

Overcome challenges
I believe nothing is impossible. It does not matter how difficult a scenario is, with faith, dedication and hard work one can overcome all odds. My life as a young student was never easy. Financial difficulties was just one problem. My village also had erratic power supply. When I was studying for my board exams there were days when we got power for only two to three hours. I was forced to studying under streetlights. Problems were aplenty but I never gave up.

What kept me going were my three sources of inspiration - Prophet Mohammed, former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Albert Einstein. Whenever I felt low, I looked to them and how they lived their lives and found encouragement.

Sharp focus
I did not take private tuition nor was my family able to afford expensive reference books. Instead I gained knowledge from library books and whatever I was taught inside the classroom. I think that, by itself, is enough for someone to do well in their exams.

I feel the real key to my sucess was my ability to concentrate. I might have studied eight hours a day during my revision but prior to that I put in only four to five hours a day of pure concentrated effort. I would shut myself away from the rest of the world and loose myself in my books. I focused hard to understand every line I was reading and. That helped me retain a lot of what I studied. Concentrated studies for minimum hours a day can reap more benefits than hours and hours of work where your mind is distracted.

Another tip I can offer students is to never remain in doubt. If you don’t understand something, always ask for clarifications instead. If you are clear with all your concepts then the last few months of revision will be easier and serve more as a kind of reinforcement. This is something I have followed throughout, even when I studied in public schools where teachers did not always like to answer questions.

Think healthy
I am an early riser and always believe in starting my day with maximum energy. I don’t think you need to be on strict diets and exercise regimes to be healthy. I have never followed any, only eaten simple meals that my mother cooked at home, yet I have enjoyed relatively good stamina.

I think my health stems from peace and purity of mind. I keep my thoughts positive and happy. Good mental health does lead to good physical health.

Enjoy Success
When I scored 99 per cent in my Class 12 exams, I happily soaked up every second of it. I think one should enjoy happiness and sucess. At the same time remain grateful to God and those who have always stood by you.

Tips for success

• Work hard: There is no easy way out. Hard work is par for the course and always pays off.

• Concentrate: A few hours of focused study can reap far more benefits than several hours of distracted work.

• Fight for your dreams: Dream big and keep long term goals.Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself of these dreams.Tell yourself that your dreams are worth fighting a few battles for.

• Be happy: Keep your mind free of negative thoughts and always try to be happy.

Northeast Students Make A Beeline For Admissions at Delhi University

Phalneilhing Kipgen is from Manipur and has applied for political science honours in different Delhi University colleges. She aims to become a civil servant. She had some reservations about studying far away from home but her friends and family advised her to opt for Delhi.

Most students from the Northeast prefer subjects like Political Science, Botany, English and Mathematics. Various northeastern student organizations are helping the applicants in filling up forms, choosing colleges, finding accommodation and completing other basic formalities.

They also help them connect with the other community members already residing in the national capital.

AIEEE 2012: How To Apply Online

As the last date to apply for AIEEE comes closer, you need not fret if you are unable to go to the designated centre for submission of forms etc. You can do that online.

The All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) is an all-India common entrance examination for admission to engineering and architecture or planning programmes at the undergraduate level.

The last date to apply is December 31, 2011.

One can apply through AIEEE website http://aieee.nic.in.

Here are the steps you need to follow to apply online:
1. Check your eligibility criteria.

2. Check the fee schedule and prepare a Demand Draft in favour of Secretary, CBSE, payable at Delhi/New Delhi. In case of Credit/Debit Card, keep your card ready for making online payment.

3. Fill in all the particulars as per requirement in the online application Form.

4. Submit Fee details and take printout of confirmation page.

5. Complete the confirmation page i.e. paste two photographs, signature(s), thumb impression, address and attestation from the principal of the school/gazetted officer. Send confirmation page to AIEEE unit by speed/registered post only.

Northeast Law University Enrolls First Batch Of Students

Guwahati, Sep 1 : The first batch of students got enrolled in the first National Law University of the northeast in Guwahati on Tuesday.

The administration and students are hopeful that the new addition to the law universities will open up a new avenue for professional law studies in the northeast and provide scope for students of law to avail a high-quality infrastructure to compete with the best law schools any where on the globe.

Speaking to TOI on Tuesday, vice-chancellor of the National Law University, Assam, Gurjit Singh expressed his willingness to work for taking professionalism in law education to new heights in the northeastern region and especially Assam.

The classes for five-year integrated BA LLB course for the first batch would start on September 1 at the university with 25 per cent seats reserved for students of Assam.

"Undoubtedly, the law university which is the 13{+t} {+h} organization in India, would be able to cater to the needs of law students of the northeast. The Assam government and the University Grants Commission will fund various development projects to be taken up in the coming days. Funds will also be provided from the Annual Central Assistance", Singh added.

He said the world class library and the Centre of excellence is equipped with extensive study on international humanitarian law, comparative law, and consumer protection law, human rights etc.

"We would urge UGC to provide infrastructure to set up an academic staff college for training law faculties. The LLM and PhD programme will also commence from next academic session", he added.

The vice-chancellor said a memorandum of understanding will be signed with foreign universities and government-run national law schools so that students can be sent to other leading law institutes as part of exchange programmes.

Officer on special duty Virendra Mittal said an attempt is being made to shift the National Law University, Assam to permanent campus at Amingaon in North Guwahati. "The total expenditure of the project in North Guwahati is about Rs 350 crores. We have already got 21 acres allotted and more land allotment process of another 26 acres would be completed by November. Order has been made for an online law library at the university," Mittal added.

Dinesh Rajpurohit, who have come all the way from Rajasthan to get enrolled in the law university says the high quality of education in the National Law Universities have brought him to Guwahati.

"To become a successful lawyer is what in my mind today. The National Law Universities are the best", he said.

Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Madan B Lokur is the Chancellor of National Law University of Assam.

University Launches New Degree Courses to Empower Northeast India Leaders

By Shiji James

MSW Students with the dignitaries on the first day

Guwahati, Aug 25 : In an effort to offer higher education in socially relevant studies accessible in northeast India the Assam Don Bosco University launched 3 new Masters level courses as well as a post graduate diploma course. The new courses introduced this year include Master of Social Work (MSW), M. Tech. in Electronics and Communication (Opto-electronics and Optical Communication) and M. Tech. in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence).

Post Graduate Diploma in Child Rights and Development (PGDCRD) is another DBU new sector of specialized Human Rights studies introduced in the region.

The new courses were formally launched at the DBU Campus at Azara, near Guwahati airport, 23 August 2011, marking the commencement of fourth academic year.

``The focus on Master of Social Work is to train leaders in social responsibility who will impact their society for the better and bring about professional management of NGOs (non-governmental organizations),`` said DBU Vice-Chancellor Dr Stephen Mavely.

The four-semester postgraduate programme in Social Work leading to the degree of Master of Social Work (MSW) has an innovative blend of theory, fieldwork and research. It provides students with a variety of skills to enable them to be active social workers in the field themselves, to set up and manage social work organizations of their own, or to find employment with various national and international agencies.

In pursuance of these goals, great emphasis is placed on exposing the students to the philosophy and methodology of social work, its sociological and psychological underpinnings, and practical experience in scientific research in this field.

Instead, the aim of M Tech Programme Dr Mavely said, ``is for in-service teachers to create a well-prepared pool of staff for the professional colleges.``

The University has M. Tech. Programmes in three disciplines - Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering & Communications Engineering, and Computer Science Engineering. The specific areas of specialization - Optoelectronics and Optical Communication, and Artificial Intelligence - are areas where cutting edge technology meets the demands of industry.

These programmes seek to address the acute shortage of qualified professionals in these areas of engineering in North-East India by providing an opportunity to aspiring candidates to ground themselves in their disciplines of choice with specialized knowledge, hands-on projects and an introduction to research methodology.

Convenient class timings have been scheduled to enable lecturers and working professionals to use this opportunity to enhance their qualification and skills.

The PG Diploma Programme, Dr Mavely explained, ``will prepare professionals in the area of Child welfare, Child protection, Child legislation, and NGO Management.``

The PG Diploma Programme in `Child Rights and Development` brings children`s rights to life as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the context of development using innovative research, education and capacity building that draws on the strengths of children, their families, communities and culture. It aims to enhance the capacity of individuals, organizations, and governments, to effectively use the existing legal provisions, insights from developmental psychology and the findings of contemporary research to transform systems and create peace and dignity for children and our world - moving child rights from rhetoric to reality.

This Programme, spread over two semesters (1 year), deals with topics of vital interest to Social Workers, NGOs, Lawyers, Human Rights Advocates, members of Religious Orders and Dioceses. The course will concentrate on a wide spectrum of child related issues and topics such as Child Rights, Child Psychology, Child Counseling, Child Care Services, Child Protection Issues, Child-related Legislation, and NGO Formation.

There are seven online degree programs started earlier this year. They include Executive MBA (18 Months), MBA in Technology Management (2 years), MBA in Entrepreneurship (2 years), MBA with Specialization (2 years), MS (Information Technology) (2 years), Bachelor of Business Administration (3 years), and Bachelor of Computer Application (3 years).

 

source: donboscoindia.com

Asian School of Business Announces Scholarships For Rural Northeast Students

Thiruvanthapuram, Aug 11 : The Asian School of Business (ASB), a leading B-school in India, is proactively encouraging admission of North East students with rural background for its flagship post-graduate programme. Accordingly, in collaboration with the charitable George M Thomas Foundation, ASB will be offering scholarships of up to 50 per cent on the full-term fee for one student from each of the Seven Sisters.

The new programme will groom MBA students who can meet the rising requirement of specially-trained managers for the burgeoning rural market, which is expected to triple in the next 15 years.
ASB Director Prof. S Rajeev, a 25-year IT veteran who had mentored Indian and Silicon Valley start-ups, is driving the thrust to develop Management Graduates who can drive the marketing thrust of Indian and multinational companies eyeing  the booming rural market. The next wave of growth in India is likely to be driven by rural India.

"Every year, thousands of graduate students travel from the North Eastern states to different parts of the country --- Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata etc. --- to pursue post graduate courses. This unique offer provided by ASB gives the students of these seven states to pursue their business administration course in the beautiful state of Kerala," said Prof. Rajeev.

He also added that students from the North East will find Kerala to be their second home taking into consideration that the weather and greenery which these students feel at their native states will be quite similar in a place like Kerala.

According to Mckinsey, the rural consumption market is likely to triple by 2020 to reach $600 billion from the current level of $190 billion. This is driven both by the increasing income levels and the shifting consumption patterns, hence providing a plethora of opportunities.

He said ASB is proactively encouraging admission of North Eastern students with rural background along with others for their flagship post-graduate programme.

"Students with such rural upbringing in the North Eastern states are better positioned to feel the pulse of the rural consumer. Our training will make them effective marketers who can relate to the rural ambience and this emerging economic segment more effectively," he said.

For students who are determined to make it big in rural marketing, ASB is offering scholarships and is facilitating bank loans to achieve their career goals, he added.

A unique programme that ASB is promoting, besides offer of free laptops, is a 50 per cent scholarship to one student each from North East Indian states who has completed his/her schooling in rural schools. Two students will be offered 25 per cent scholarship and ten students 10 per cent in a bid to discover and nurture rural talent.

These scholarships are being offered by George M Thomas Foundation. Mr. George M Thomas is the President of Trivandrum International School, Kerala's first international school incorporating Indian and British curriculum and courses. Mr. George M Thomas, an Oman based businessman is the Patron of ASB.

ASB, whose full-fledged eco-friendly residential campus designed by a well-known Singapore architectural firm, has state-of-the-art class-rooms, seminar halls and Wi-Fi facilities is located near the IT hub of Techno Park in Thiruvananthapuram.

The new courses that Prof. Rajeev is developing at the ASB cover areas such as rural marketing, innovation and entrepreneurship, which are considered pioneering initiatives in MBA programmes that are revamped to meet actual industry requirements.

Prof Rajeev is bringing to ASB his considerable teaching and industry consulting experience from IIMs in   Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Kozhikode, where he has taught strategy and innovation.

He holds a BTech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, an MS in Computer Science from Syracuse University and MBA from Stanford Business School.

His technology and marketing background with Sun Microsystems, Siemens and Bell Labs has been leveraged to promote several entrepreneurial start-ups firms, both in Silicon Valley and in India.

He has been active in venture capital (VC) industry, advising several VC firms on their investments.

Relax MBBS Eligibility For Northeast Tribal Students

Agartala, Aug 8 :The Tripura government and opposition parties have urged the central government and the Medical Council of India (MCI) to further relax eligibility criteria for admission to medical colleges for Northeast's tribal students.

"Both the center and the MCI are yet to communicate their decisions on more cut-off marks relaxations for the tribal and the Scheduled Castes (SC) community students seeking admission to MBBS courses," Tripura's Health and Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty told reporters Sunday.

He said the relaxation will facilitate backward community students to obtain professional education.

Besides Chakraborty, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and opposition Congress leader Ratan Lal Nath have written separate letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and MCI chairman K.K. Talwar on the issue.

According to the MCI guidelines, a general category MBBS aspirant will have to secure at least 50 percent marks in both Class 12 and entrance examinations. The cut-off for students of tribal and SC communities is 40 percent.

Various political parties and tribal organizations have been agitating for the past one month in Tripura on the issue.

Some individuals and organisations have also filed cases in the Gauhati High Court, seeking directives for further relaxation of cut-off marks.

Tribals constitute over 27 percent of the northeast India's total population of 45.58 million (2011 Census).

IIM Shillong Takes Bamboo Step To Protect Environment

ANDREW W. LYNGDOH

Waste bins made of indigenous contraptions placed at various locations on the IIM campus.

Shillong, Jul 21 : The khoh , a coarse, closed-weave basket used by the Khasis for carrying goods to the market, is also now being popularly utilised as a waste bin. The latest to promote the use of this indigenous item made of bamboo is the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.

Normally, the khoh, a cone-shaped basket which is carried on the back by a head-strap, is used for carrying goods, while in villages which are inaccessible by road communication, it is also utilised for carrying the sick and the elderly.

The rim of the khoh is a circle, and the sides taper down sharply along a straight line to form a point at the base.

With an aim to create world class management professionals who are aware about their responsibilities towards the environment and society, members of the ECoBiZ Club, IIM Shillong, have come up with an initiative by placing bamboo-made waste bins or khoh at various places on the campus.

There is a three-fold objective behind procuring these “bins”. First, it will address the problems of waste disposal on the IIM campus. Secondly, unlike plastic containers, these would be environment- friendly.

In addition, these bins will promote the cultivation and usage of bamboo which is found in large quantities in the Northeast.

Currently 10 bins have been placed on campus and there are plans to increase this number based on feasibility and requirement.

The bins have been designed by the members of the ECoBiZ Club using indigenous contraptions and have been manufactured by the Meghalaya Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation.

Speaking to The Telegraph, club coordinator Subhankar Padhi said the reason behind the initiative was the lack of waste bins on the campus.

“When we came to the campus, we noticed that there were very few waste bins. The few that were there were basically made of plastic which is not at all eco-friendly. We, therefore, decided to embark on the initiative by placing the eco-friendly bins,” Padhi said.

Pointing out that vegetable and kitchen wastes were a serious problem on the campus, Padhi said awareness would be created to ensure that students do not waste food.

“As there are millions who go hungry to bed, we would like to make the people on campus aware about the need to stop wasting food,” Padhi added.

Moreover, the club intends to have an in-campus compost pit to manage bio-degradable waste. “Instead of waiting for the municipal authorities to clean up the mess, we are thinking of developing a compost pit wherein all bio-degradable wastes would be dumped,” he informed.

Stating that there is a shortage of water for non-drinking purpose, Padhi informed that the club would start initiating rainwater harvesting programmes.

“While Shillong receives a huge quantity of rainfall, we lack water for non-drinking purposes. Hence, the club would harvest rainfall by the use of eco-friendly products like bamboo instead of plastic materials,” Padhi said.

The club is also engaged in other social activities like blood donation and granting help to institutions working for the welfare of the aged and visually impaired children.

Manipur Students Caught With Fake Certificates

More Fake Certificates Tumble Out
Sinlung Says: Northeast Students Organizations in Delhi: Hundreds of Scheduled Tribe (ST) seats in Delhi University have been taken up using fake certificates. It will be very difficult to find out who did what. But a lot of genuine ST students will miss out on seats.

Northeast Students leaders in Delhi...Do Something.

Manipur Tribal Student leaders please be aware that a lot of Manipur Tribe certificates are being used by Manipur non-tribals.

 

New Delhi, Jul 10 : More cases of students furnishing fake certificates during the admission process are coming to the fore.

While Hindu college has written to the dean of students' welfare, Delhi University, informing it about a student's attempt to secure admission in BSc (H) statistics by furnishing a fake OBC certificate, Satyawati College has said two ST students used fake marksheets for admission.

The dean, DSW, issued a circular to all colleges about the Hindu incident and asked them to check if the same candidate, the daughter of a senior PSU official, tried for admission or got admitted in their colleges.

Satyawati College wrote to the university, saying the admission of the two students from Manipur should be cancelled.

"Two students from Manipur took admission under ST category. After admission, while we were cross-checking, we found they have failed in their last qualifying exams and their marksheets submitted during the admission are fake," said a member of its admission committee.

Last Resort To Get Delhi University Tag

Distance learning — a last resort for Delhi students!

New Delhi: At a time when Delhi University (DU) colleges have put up high cut-offs for admission, its School of Open Learning (SOL) that offers distance learning courses is swamped with applications - emerging as a ray of hope for students who do not meet the high criteria of the colleges.

SOL, which receives over 300,000 applications annually, offers courses in humanities and commerce streams through distance learning programmes. "Students who find it difficult to clear the cut-offs of DU and still want the university's tag are coming for the courses here," SOL assistant registrar S.K. Lamba told IANS.

"Some students these days want to learn and earn at the same time; so they join SOL," he added. Many of the students joining SOL are able to pursue a vocational course as well as a course of their choice through distance learning.

"I am from a government school, and got 50 percent in Class 12 boards, which means no DU college. Finally, I have applied to SOL for a B.A. course," said Fatima Hashmi, an applicant at SOL.

The USP of the distance learning school is that students do not have to attend classes compulsorily which take place only on weekends.

Students who have taken up professional courses like chartered accountancy come for distance learning courses as they don't have to attend classes at SOL and are thus able to devote time to both.

"I want to appear for the chartered accountancy test in December. If I get through it, I won't have time to attend classes at two places simultaneously," said Swati Vij, an applicant. "SOL will give me a degree and I will also have the DU tag," she added.

The School offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses in arts and commerce subjects. Printed course material is distributed to the students and the fees is, like all DU colleges, very low.

"People who want to shuttle between work and studies find this the place to be in," said Yogesh Chopra, who applied for a master's degree in Political Science and works as a reporter with a news channel.

Parents of students are also supportive of their wards taking up these courses.

"My daughter wanted to take up a job while pursuing her post-graduate studies. So she wanted a correspondence course and I thought this was the best option for her," said Harvinder Singh, father of Nimrit Kaur who applied for a master's degree in Sanskrit.

Age is no bar at SOL. The institution gets many applications from people who left studies long ago.

Deepa Sareen, a home-maker from west Delhi's Rajouri Garden, has joined SOL. "Due to family pressures, I discontinued my studies after graduation. Now that I am settled and my children are in secondary school, I have time and can take up M.A. Sanskrit course."

The institution had 900 students when it started in 1962. The number reached several hundreds of thousands last year.

"The huge number of candidates is because of the fact that there are not enough number of seats and colleges in the country that can accommodate the growing number of students," Lamba pointed out.

SOL follows the policy of granting admission to all applicants if they have scored the minimum marks - which is 40 percent.

Delhi University was established in 1962. It has 16 faculties, 86 academic departments, 77 colleges and five other recognised institutes spread all over the city.

The DU Mountain Has Always Been A Difficult Climb

Rashmi Bansal, the author of the bestsellers Stay Hungry Stay Foolish and Connect the Dots, writes on youth, careers and entrepreneurship. Her new book I Have a Dream on social entrepreneurs has just been released. She writes this special column for Rediff.com

Climb every mountain

"Just a week back, I was holding on to a near-vertical ice face with a pick, weighed down by 25 kilos of supplies, with two other guys tied to me with a rope, completely dependent on me. And I think that was easier."

Easier than getting admission to Delhi University.

That statement by Arjun Vajpeyi, the youngest Indian to climb Mount Everest, is echoed by thousands of students vying for a few hundred seats in the 'most wanted' colleges of our capital city.

The DU mountain has always been a difficult climb, But this year it has gained Everest-like proportions, with the prestigious Shriram College of Commerce (SRCC) declaring a cut-off of 100 per cent.

Making the prospect of securing a seat icy and bleak, even for 'toppers'.

The trouble is there aren't too many other mountains to set one's sights on.

Unlike the mighty Himalayas, the college landscape in India consists of a few majestic summits and a large number of minor elevations. The climate on these academic molehills is neither pleasant nor invigorating.

It's like being in Lonavla during the height of summer when your friends are holidaying in Europe.

The cold hard fact is that the list of 'top colleges' in Delhi -- and most other cities across India -- remains practically unchanged in the last fifty years. The colleges students vie for were established during the British era, or shortly after Independence.

This is not at all surprising, because a good college builds its reputation slowly.

It can easily take fifty, or even a hundred years. That is why commercially driven colleges cannot and do not prosper easily. The businessman looks for short-term gain, breakeven point and bottom line.

For that reason alone, new colleges are not coming up in the traditional areas of Arts, Science and Commerce.

Returns from engineering and management are far more attractive.

Even the government is focused on 'professional' education, and more so on existing brands like IITs and IIMs.

That leaves the 'degree' college market stThe agnant and under-capacity. God help the 'average' guy when the 98% er is anxious and unsure, about his kismat...

Making the best of it

Some are calling this the 'Rajnikant' effect in admissions but sadly this is only a cruel joke.

All your dreams are shattered, your spirits low. You resign yourself to joining some 'shady' college. Right now, quite honestly, it feels like the end of the civilised world.

I know because that's how I felt in July 1988. After a year in the US, where my father was working with NASA, I came back to India and wanted to join St Xavier's college, Mumbai.

They said, "Sorry, you've come late. Admissions are closed..."

"There are other good colleges," said my mom, and off we went prospecting.

The gloomy corridors of Elphinstone college depressed me; Jai Hind looked like a place where 'what you wear' mattered too much. Sydenham offered only commerce. Where else could one go!

Try Sophia College, someone suggested. I wasn't keen, but what choice did I have? We made the trip, from Navy Nagar to Peddar Road. And guess what, the moment I walked into that cool marble corridor, I felt a sense of peace. The sun came out from the clouds.

We met the Vice Principal, a kindly lady whose sari pallu never quite learnt to stay in place. She did not labour too long over my odd foreign marksheet. Or scold me for applying late.

"Okay, you are admitted. Welcome to Sophia!"

And there I was. Not getting into Xavier's -- in hindsight -- was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was jolted out of my sheltered existence.

Those three years at Sophia changed me, in ways I could not have imagined. I learnt to travel, make new friends and take up positions of leadership.

The less-than-perfect college I was forced to join gave me a far bigger canvas - to discover myself and what I was capable of.

But it did not happen on day one...

The Lotus Effect

I am back in school!" I thought to myself.

Sophia College didn't have a uniform but the way the girls spoke, the way the professors taught -- it didn't feel like college. No one asked questions; everyone just took notes.

The large majority of girls were from conservative families -- both Hindu and Muslim.

Some of the Muslims came to college in burqa -- for their convenience there was even a stand where they could hang the burqas during college hours.

After spending a year in an American high school, all this was a cultural shock. To think I had once dreamt of attending an Ivy League college, and now I was stuck in a convent, administered by nuns.

Well, soon enough I discovered there was a silver lining at Sophia. It had plenty of extra-curriculars in the form of clubs.

Immediately I set about joining as many as I could - International Relations Club, Film Club, Bhartiya Sanskriti Parishad.

My personal favourite was SPRAG -- the Sophia Press and Radio Action Group.

The second thing I quickly realised is most of the clubs were dead. 90 per cent of the girls had no interest in extra-curriculars and didn't want to stay back till 2 pm (when college officially ended and club activities began).

So if you came forward, you quickly got to do things. To become one of the core group, to do what your heart desired.

Over the course of three years I represented my college in dozens of inter-quiz competitions. Even at outstation fests like Oasis (BITS Pilani) and Mardi Gras (IIT Madras).

My big challenge -- every year -- was finding one more girl interested in quizzing. Since most competitions require a partner!

In my third year, I became editor of the college magazine. And secretary of SPRAG (the media club).

Every month I produced an 8-sheet Xerox offset newsletter called 'Snippet' which was sold for Rs 2 per copy.

The issue which carried a debate on whether Sophia should remain a 'girls-only' college created a bit of a stir.

As did my idea of a 'black band' day to protest against the Mandal Commission.

The Principal -- crusty old Sr L Rodrigues -- said to me in so many words, "If you want to do this kind of thing, find some other college."

Point taken and protest halted... There is a limit to 'democracy' inside a college with pink walls!

Lemon vs Lemonade

At Sophia -- because of the combination of subjects offered I had to take English Literature along with Economics and Statistics.

I enjoyed it so much that at the end of the second year I almost changed my major. Although in the end I stuck with Economics, I know those two years of Keats and Yeats were a wonderful exposure. That shaped my thinking and writing in years to come.

To sum up, when life gives you a lemon, you gotta learn to make lemonade.

What's more, something that appears to be a lemon from afar may actually be a semi-sweet orange, when you take a closer look.

A college where 'things don't happen' is a place waiting for someone to come along and 'make things happen'.

Revive existing activities, or start new ones. Set up a chapter of NEN (National Entrepreneurship Network) or Rotaract; become part of a larger movement.

In every college where 'teachers don't take interest' there is at least one teacher, waiting for an interested student. Be that student. Take whatever subject you are studying seriously, go deep into it like a diver looking for that elusive pearl.

College is like a mental gym. The subjects you study are like equipment. You might prefer treadmill but only get a chance to use barbells -- either way you will see the benefit.

English literature or economics -- neither is going to be of 'use' in practical life. But if you study a subject with passion and understanding, you will develop a critical faculty.

The ability to think, to look at a situation from all angles, to assimilate ideas. And come up with your own.

The Last Word

If you still need convincing, do pick up a book called Adapt by Tim Harford (of The Undercover Economist fame).

It's a dazzling and convincing argument on why success always starts with failure.

Harford believes that 'trial and error' is the most effective way to solve problems. And that flexibility and experimentation are the qualities you will need the most in an increasingly complex world.

Be that person who tries harder, and is never afraid to make a mistake. Treat your life like one grand experiment. For, results come in the most unexpected ways.

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin because he never kept his laboratory clean. Who knows what you might discover, in the contaminated petri dish of life.

If you believe in yourself, 100%.

Rashmi Bansal, the author of the bestsellers Stay Hungry Stay Foolish and Connect the Dots, writes on youth, careers and entrepreneurship. Her new book I Have a Dream on social entrepreneurs has just been released. You can reach her at mail@rashmibansal.in

Confused Parents, Clueless Students Look For Help

By Vijetha S.N
Delhi University admission procedure takes its toll

Finding their way: Admission seekers at a Delhi University college on Monday.

New Delhi, Jun 21 : The Vishwavidyalaya station of the Delhi Metro railway is noisy and crowded -- crammed with clueless students headed in all directions. The air is filled with different dialects and laughter mingles with loud shouts. The admission procedure has taken its toll among Delhi's young and it's now time to make an inventory of things to look forward to once college begins.

However, outstation students have other issues to plough through before they can blend in with life at the University. Students from small towns find it especially tough dealing with issues that crop up as soon as they come for admission. Many of them are accompanied by parents and siblings but still find navigating through the many colleges and filling up endless forms complicated.

Deeksha from Haryana, accompanied by her father and brother, has been sent back twice for not filling out the application form correctly. “I still don't understand what to fill in many of the slots but feel silly asking them again and again,” she says. Someone has told them bad things about the hostel and they are too timid to find out from the authorities if it is so.

In contrast, Amy and her sister from Manipur have managed to find their way and complete the admission formalities in time.

The general advice from senior outstation students is to remain alert at all times and unhesitatingly ask for help in case of getting lost. The North Campus can be overwhelming for anyone new to the city.

Recounting her experiences when she first landed here from Meerut, Smiti, a former student of Miranda House, says: “For the uninitiated, it is always better to be on your guard. Everyone from the rickshawallah to the guy selling fruit on the pavement will try to fleece you if they know you are an outsider.”

Battling loneliness and dealing with a “different” roommate can also be challenging, as students from different parts of the country and aboard with varying cultures and upbringing are forced to live in the same space.

“I had a roommate who would take the TV remote and obviously I couldn't fight for it like I would with my brother back home,” says Madhu from Pune.

Another student from Jharkhand remembers being teased mercilessly for calling everyone ‘maam'.
Smiti's experiences have led her along with a few friends to form “DU Jugaad”, a website that lists information to help you wade through the confusing North Campus, from finding accommodation to helping you locate a nearby gym or beauty parlour.

“My parents left me in Meerut and came here to look for my accommodation. They were totally confused and did not find anything for a week. Luckily I managed to get a seat in the college hostel. I see the same story repeating itself this year with confused parents and irritable students trying to make sense of everything” she says, adding, “Delhi does not have the reputation of being a friendly city and we want worried parents and outstation students to feel that they have a friend in us.”

IIM Shillong Goes Local To Groom Youth From Northeast

Guwahati, Jun 18 : The newest Indian Institute of Management in the country, IIM Shillong, has gone local. In 2009, the coveted B-school in the eastern Himalayas had started the Centre for Development of the North Eastern Region (CEDNER ), to pilot ambitious projects that would spearhead development in the region.

Now, a part of that, it has taken up the task of organising training programmes for managers, executives and defence personnel who live and work here, besides providing consultancy for local firms. The centre is involved in organising both short and long-term programmes that would benefit local communities.

CEDNER, was formerly known as the Accelerated Learning Centre (ALC), was set up a year after IIM Shillong itself came into existence .

There are now plans to have this institute branch out to parts of Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland . Ashoke K Dutta, director of IIM Shillong, says setting up of the centre provides the 'strategic intervention' the region required, and that the institute itself would not operate merely like an island of excellence.

"We were very clear that we needed to do something about the hopes and aspirations of the local people," he says.

"Otherwise, what are they to do with an IIM?"

Full Marks For CBSE’s Theory Of No Marks

By Vidya Iyengar

There is a surge in interest among parents and students for the new evaluation system that the CBSE has introduced in Class 10

When the results were out on the last day of May this year, something that used to be predominant was simply missing on the campuses of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools -- suspense and allied tension.

That could, primarily, be the reason behind the sudden rush for seats in CBSE schools. Ask Manjula Raman, the principal of Army Public School, Bangalore. "Yes, there is an increase in interest and the number of enquiries that we get. Many are changing boards to take up CBSE, especially, in the past two years."

Earlier, choosing between the CBSE and ICSE used to be a task for parents. There used to be debates about that. But the introduction of the continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE) in CBSE schools has spared the parents of that headache.

This year, the CBSE made the Std X board exam optional for students. Students who did not wish to appear for the board exam could opt for CCE conducted by the school. The CCE grades students based on their performance throughout the year and a final exam conducted by the school. No marks, just grades, so less of stress.

Across India, 67% of the 11 lakh Std X CBSE students opted not to take up the board exams. With most students opting for CCE, the passing percentage was unusually high. The schools and students had a fair idea of what grade they would get. Besides, there were no failures as the students with a grade below D (less than 33 marks in any one or all subjects) have been considered as eligible for improvement of performance. With options like these, it has become easier to pass the Std X exam under the CBSE syllabus.

"Taking up CBSE could be worthwhile for more than one reason. Not only does the grading system bring stress levels down, the educational system provides an all-round development," Raman said, citing 15 cases where students abandoned international syllabi for CBSE. "Our curriculum is new and evolving. Of course, it's challenging too when compared to the syllabi followed by other boards," she went on to add.

Malaika G Naidu, who just completed her Class 10 under the new evaluation system, agrees. "It's more challenging and interesting now. You have many activities here like conducting research, which I found fascinating. It discourages students from rote learning, since it's not about marks here. You don't memorise things for marks, you learn things with passion and interest. Learning has also become easier and effortless, thanks to the semester system that has been introduced."

As the new evaluation system becomes a talking point, parents, who are concerned about the high levels of stress among their wards due to the kind of educational system in the country, are looking at CBSE as a like-enough solution.

"I came to know about this new system of no marks through media reports that were published when the results were out. I am really tempted to change my child's school. I want the other boards too to follow the grade system and abolish marks altogether. ICSE should be the next to follow it," said Soumita Mishra, mother of two school-going children.

Mishra is not the only parent who thinks so. Babu V Naidu has admitted both his two sons in CBSE schools and calls it a wise decision.

"Introduction of the grading system is really a good thing. Besides, the curriculum is far more holistic and there is emphasis on other activities as well, besides academics," Naidu said. Another parent Anuradha Menon said: "I am mulling over getting my children admitted to schools affiliated to the CBSE. But I'll wait for a year to do that since this new system of grading has just been introduced. After a year, if I am convinced, I will change their boards."

The flipside

With the grading system coming into play, selection has become tough for the school authorities. "We are finding it hard to eliminate students as these grades are posing a challenge. This time, there are so many applicants for the Science stream in Class 11. How to choose? Though the board has laid down the selection criteria, it's quite complicated. According to it, almost 90% of the students are eligible," said MK Krishnamoorthy, principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya (Air Force Station), Yelahanka.

"At our school, we have four sections in Class 11 (three for Science and one for Humanities), with 40 being the capacity for students per class. The demand for the Science stream is so high. While we can offer only 120 seats for Science in toto (that's for students from all boards), there are over 220 students from the CBSE who want to pursue Science. And, as per the grades, all 220 are eligible," he rued.

"Even if we increase the capacity, we can't accommodate them. There is also a limit to the number of students per class," Krishnamoorthy added. Hence, many schools are conducting an aptitude test for entry into Class 11, since selection based on grades is not a viable way. "We have our own entrance test, since we can't go by the grades to select students for +2," said Manju Sharma, principal of DPS South, Bangalore.

"We assess the students' skills based on the parameters that we have fixed, since the grades aren't specific," said M Srinivasan, principal of Gear Innovative School.
But that is what the Union human resources development (HRD) ministry and its minister Kapil Sibal -- who brought out this reform -- want: to reduce that competition based on marks.

CBSE pass percentage has gone up, says Kapil Sibal

New Delhi: Lauding the objectives achieved by CBSE schools under Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) scheme, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today said the pass percentage has not only increased but there has been a qualitative improvement in assessment.

He also unveiled the CCE certificate awarded to students from this year, which not only shows the grades secured but also mirrors overall development of a student.

Sibal said pass percentage in class X this year went up to 96.90 per cent, even as majority of students (67 per cent) opted for school based examination.

He said the notion that more marks are being awarded in practicals has been put to rest under the scheme "as marks in practicals have reduced from 92 per cent to 73 per cent".

Sibal said 38,377 students got top-most grades in all five subjects as compared to 11,055 last year.

Source: PTI

How About Studying Abroad... For Free!

By Apoorva Tadepalli

Most European varsities are government-funded and offer courses for international students charging little or nothing. Some of them even pay you for taking up higher education there, reports Apoorva Tadepalli

Studying abroad is enticing, all right. But the crunch is that along with the big names like Cambridge and Harvard come premium fee tags, especially when your purse is not two-tonne heavy. Is there a way out? Yes, not one but many!

Just look beyond the UK in Europe, you may find many a varsity -- with big names too -- that are ready to take you in for tuition fees that range between a little and nothing.

One of the biggest differences between higher education in the UK and in the rest of Europe is that in countries like Germany, Finland and Sweden, the universities are publicly-funded. These universities offer high standards of education and are becoming increasingly popular.

It's free in Finland

In Finland, higher education is fully funded by the government, and many courses like design, environmental science and architecture, which are popular among international students, are taught in English. However, there are over 100 other courses that are open to international students.

Local and international students are provided with free university tuition for under-graduation as well as for post-graduation. Some masters programmes even pay students to conduct their masters thesis and do research, especially for courses like Computer Applications. Students who pursue their Masters and conduct research get paid up to 50 euros a month.

If a student's research is in connection with a particular industry, they fetch more funds because the industries' funding is heftier than that of the universities.
What more, Finland is gaining popularity among Indian students.

For a chemical engineering master's course, the number of students who got enrolled from India tripled this year. One of the major reasons for this is the convenience of living in Finland.

The total cost incurred by students averages around 800 euros a month, especially when the universities often arrange for accommodation for students through student unions. Lodging is also relatively inexpensive. Student apartments are less expensive than private apartments and can be easily arranged for on www.soa.fi.

Study and work in Sweden

Sweden is another country where a significant portion of the universities are public and tuition fees are low.

Till date, international and national students have received almost free education, paying only around 30 euros per term. This amount gives students a student card that is necessary to write exams at the university, and also use public transport and shop with discounts. However, this structure may change for non-European students.

Though individual universities do not offer scholarships, the Swedish Institute, which is a collective body regulating education in Sweden, does. Hence, international students, who are not given free tuition, may apply for these scholarships. They can also get jobs in the city, because non-citizens do not need a special permit to work.

The other costs that students have to incur average around 750 euros a month, particularly because student dorms are rented out at a lower price than private dorms.
Germany is also emerging as a favourite international study destination.

Like Finland, Sweden and Germany, there are several other European countries that have institutions that offer high-quality education and rank high in the QS World Rankings. The governments in these countries support education to a great extent, whereas in the US, most institutions are private and in the UK, scholarships and financial aid are rare.

Why European countries, apart from the UK, are not so popular among students is because of the assumption that language would be a problem. Besides, they don't want a degree from an obscure name. But, now, students are realising that these are non-issues and, above all, money matters.

Copyright restricted. Under license from www.3dsyndication.com

Poor Show By Northeast Students in JEE

Guwahati, May 26 : The results of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE-2011) for admissions to various courses in the 15 IITs, IT-BHU and ISM Dhanbad which were declared on May 25 has revealed the poor performance of students from this region.

Under Guwahati Zone, 76 candidates qualified out of the 6,928 who had registered in Assam. From the rest of the North East 1,668 had registered of which only two candidates qualified. By contrast 499 candidates from Bihar qualified in the highly competitive test.

A total of 4,68,240 candidates appeared in JEE-2011 which was conducted by seven of the IITs on April 10. Among those, 13,602 candidates were declared qualified to seek admission for 9,618 seats in the 15 IITs at Bhubaneswar, Bombay, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Mandi, Patna, Rajasthan, Ropar, Roorkee and IT-BHU Varanasi and ISM Dhanbad.

Immadi Prudhvi Tej, who appeared in JEE from IIT Madras zone, topped this year's all India list of successful candidates.

This year 1,08,647 girls appeared for JEE-2011 out of which 1,491 qualified.

According to an official statement from IIT Guwahati, The counselling website will be open to the candidates from May 25. This year candidates are expected to fill their choice of courses and pay the registration fee on-line and are not required to report in person at the institutes for counselling.

However, candidates belonging to Physically Disabled (PD) sub-category will have to report in person to the counselling institutes for a check up before a Medical Board, which is already displayed in the JEE website. For the convenience of such candidates, for the first time, Medical Boards have been constituted at IIT Kanpur and at IIT Kharagpur along with IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati and IIT Madras.

The web release of the first seat allotment will be made on June 21. The second seat allotment will be released on July 6.

It may be mentioned that the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) and Indian Maritime University (formerly DG Shipping) will admit candidates based on JEE-2011 merit and extended merit lists.

ICSE and ISC 2011 Results Declared

The results for the Indian School Certificate (ISC) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) examinations for Class XII and Class X, have been declared.

Students can log on to www.cisce.org to access the results online, or check the following websites for their scores:

cisce.indiaresults.com
cisce.ndtv.com
cisce.examresults.net
cisce.myschool.in.com

TO GET YOUR ISC RESULT 2011 ON SMS

In the Message box, enter your index number in the following way:

1. If your index number is B/8531/009 then type: ISC B8531009
2. Now send the message to 56263 get your result.

TO GET YOUR ICSE RESULT 2011 ON SMS

In the Message box, enter your index number in the following way:

1. If your index number is T/4331/009 then type: ICSE T4331009
2. Now send the message to 56263 get your result.

Last year, the ICSE pass percentage was 99.94, and ISC was 99.47.

The pass percentage of girls in ICSE examination was 99.97, and that of boys was 99.91.

In the ISC examination, the pass percentage was 99.78 and 99.16 respectively.

The state presently has 123 ICSE and 18 ISC schools.

The ICSE exams this year were conducted between February 28 and March 26, while the ISC exams started on February 14 and ended on March 31.

Indian Govt Says NO To State Quotas in New IIITs

A human resource development ministry appointed committee has rejected a key demand from different states to have domicile based reservation in the 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) to be rolled out from next year. 

T V Mohandas Pai, who heads the expert committee to recommend criteria for selection of industry partners as well as proposals from states to set up 20 IIITs in public-private partnership mode, has not favoured the system of having state quota or giving preferential treatment to the state students in admissions to the top institutes. 

During a workshop convened by the HRD ministry last month, Pai clarified that the system followed by National Institutes of Technology — of setting aside 50% of seats for state students — would not be followed in the case of the new IIITs. 

Some states have made a vehement pitch for local quota, saying they were contributing more than half the amount to set up these institutes in the form of land. The minutes of the meeting — accessed by The TOI — shows Pai clarifying that the scheme, in its present form, did not provide for such an arrangement (of having state quota). 

Each of the new IIITs are being set up with capital cost contribution of Rs 120 crore in the ratio of 50:35:15 by the Centre, state and industry respectively. In addition, state governments should offer 50-100 acres of contiguous land for free, and identify industry partners. 

The proposed IIITs, which will be set up in phases over a nine-year period starting 2011, will admit students through a national-level entrance test, like the All-India Engineering Entrance Exam. The existing IIITs, like the ones in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar , will mentor the new ones. 

IIITs, which will be declared institutes of national importance, will be specialising in application of IT skills in one or more domain areas relevant to the state where they will come up. 

The draft outline of the Pai committee to select industry partners shows that the participating companies should be at least five-year-old and should make a minimum contribution of Rs 2 crore. 

The industry partners will allow employees to go on a sabbatical to teach at the institutes, and students from these institutes would also be allowed to intern or collaborate in research. The intellectual property will jointly be held by the company as well as the institute.

What Student Loans Entail And How Do You Get One?

While school and college fees are relatively low, it is not the case with higher studies, especially when it is pursued abroad. Hence banks and financial institutions provide educational loans to fund studies.

These are special purpose loans that help the students cover the cost of pursuing a higher degree or some specialized courses. They are also referred to as Student loans.

How do you become eligible for Educational Loans?

Anyone seeking an educational loan from any bank of India has to have fulfilled the following three basic criteria:

• The person who is seeking the student loan has to be a citizen of India.
• The person should have got admission into a professional or technical course after giving an entrance test (or the selection process).
• He/she should have secured admission into a University in India or institution overseas.

Other qualifying criteria for Educational Loans

Anyone who does not fulfill these criteria but is between the age of 16 and 30 can still qualify for an educational loan from various banks in India.

But there are many factors that determine the amount of loan offered. Someone pursuing a professional course like management, engineering or medicine will qualify for higher loan amounts than someone who wants to do a B.A. or an M.A. this is mainly because of the higher chance of getting an employment and also the higher cost of education for the professional courses.

Also, if you are planning on doing a course abroad then you will get a higher loan amount than someone applying in Indian universities. Banks are willing to give around Rs 15 lakhs for those applying abroad while those applying in India get up to Rs 7.5 lakhs.

The other factor that determines the amount of the loan is the security that is given for the loan.

Every student loan of a huge denomination is a loan that is secured. So the student who is availing of the loan must provide some security, in most cases provided by a guarantor who might be a parent or a guardian of the student.

The Government of India after consultation with the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Bankers Association came up with a comprehensive educational loan scheme. According to this scheme, a student can take a loan ranging to 7.5 lakhs in India and up to 15 lakhs for studies overseas.

This is not a stable amount for banks in India. State Bank of India is now offering loans up to Rs 20 lakhs while recently Indian Bank has increased their limit to Rs 15 lakhs for courses in India and up to Rs 25 lakhs for courses abroad.

The information listed above is subject to change with time and hence students are requested to check again from the banks for up-to-date information. The repayment of the loan is either one year after the course period or 6 months after getting a job, whichever is earlier.

Loan Amount	Canara Bank	SBI Bank	Axis Bank	Bank of Baroda	Union Bank
	Interest Rate p.a	Interest Rate p.a	Interest Rate p.a	Interest Rate p.a	Interest Rate p.a
For loans up to Rs.4L	12.50%	12.00%	15.75%	11.50%	13.25%
Above Rs.4L and up to Rs.7.50L	13.50%	13. 50%	16.75%	13.50%	13.75%
Above Rs.7.50L	11.50%	12.50%	14.75%	11.50%	13.00%

(*Concessions are given to girl students. It varies from bank to bank)

What are the documents required to avail an Educational loan?

The following documents need to be in place before applying for an educational loan:

• Mark sheets of the last qualifying examination for school and graduate studies in India.
• Proof of admission to the course for which the loan is being applied.
• Scheduling of expenses for the course.
• Copies of letter confirming the scholarship.
• If applicable, copies of foreign exchange permit needs to be attached as well.
• Two passport size photographs.
• Bank statement for the last six months of the borrower.
• Income tax assessment order. This should not be more than two years old.
• Brief statements of assets and liabilities of the borrower.
• If you do not have an account in the bank where you are applying for the loan, you will be required to establish your identity and give proof of residence.

What is the Interest rate charged for Student/education loan?

Interest rate for student loans varies from one bank to another. Each bank is competing with the other in order to reach to as many students as possible. There are several banks and financial companies that provide students with such loans at attractive rates.

Some of them include Bank of India, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda etc. Standard interest rates for getting student loans in India are 12 to 14% p.a. Another provision that banks provide you with is a choice between fixed and floating interest rates. One such example is SBI.

Income Tax benefits for Educational Loans

The Government promotes student education by providing them various benefits. Under Section 80(e) of the Indian Income Tax Act, a person can claim the interest paid towards the education loan as tax deduction.

Few conditions apply for the same though. The tax deduction can only be availed by the individual on whose name the loan has been taken.

This benefit can be claimed up to 8 years after the repayment has started. And the last condition is that it can only be claimed if the loan is taken for a full-time graduation or post graduation course.

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