Hindu College, Delhi
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Damdami Mai/ ‘virgin tree’
Misogynistic?
‘Virgin tree’ in Hindu College dubbed misogynist, February 14, 2018: The Times of India
For years now, Delhi University’s Hindu College has celebrated Valentine’s Day by choosing a Bollywood actress, called Damdami Mai, every year and pray to her in front of a ‘virgin tree’. The students believe that praying to pictures of the actress would help them find love and lose their virginity. However, many organisations have criticised the practice, calling it misogynistic.
The union members said that for the first time a male celebrity will also be part of the 20-year-old tradition, for “equality”. Posters of actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Ranveer Singh would be put up on the tree this year, along with water-filled condoms and balloons.
“Since we now have a girl’s hostel in our campus, we took their choice into consideration,” Sajeev, vice-president of hostel union said. Hindu College alumni, filmmaker Nalin Rajan has been invited as a special guest for the event.
Women’s collective Pinjra Tod has also questioned the celebration in a statement. “It is just another trope which objectifies women. Practices like these contribute to rape culture.”
However, the female college students claim they have no concerns over the criticism. “This is part of our tradition,” said a student.
Coming down heavily on the ‘virgin tree’ celebrations, DCW chief Swati Jaihind said that she was unaware about the ritual until a few students explained it to her. “Posting pictures of women in this manner should be stopped as it is demeaning”. She added, “Action will be taken against those indulging in these practices.”
2019: tradition altered
‘Sexist’ tradition at Hindu College altered after outrage, February 13, 2019: The Times of India
Facing backlash and protests from women students over their ‘virgin tree puja’, Hindu College’s hostel association has decided to worship a celebrity couple this year. The ritual, called sexist and misogynist by several groups including Pinjra Tod, involves the boys’ hostel conducting a puja of a female figure called Damdami Mai on Valentine’s Day on the virgin tree.
Last year, following protests, the college saw the puja of bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as ‘love guru’. Every year, the students pray to a ‘virgin tree’ and hang condoms on its branches, claiming it brings ‘good luck’ to the students, who fall in love lose their virginity soon after participating.
Several women students, identifying as the ‘progressive front’, had raised objections to the tradition, protesting the objectification of women. This prompted a meeting of students with members of the hostel association and student union on Monday.
“We raised our concerns about the event, but boys’ hostel residents turned hostile,” said third year English honours student, Yogita Suresh. Facing the prospect of a protest, the hostel decided to conduct the puja of a famous couple this year, she said.
“The chosen couple will be revealed on February 14. We will put their picture on the virgin tree,” said a student of the college who wished to remain anonymous.
Student collective Pinjra Tod point out that the practice is regressive and has called for a protest against it.
Initiatives
Research Centre in private partnership
Nov 4, 2022: The Times of India
New Delhi : Delhi University’s Hindu College inaugurated a multidisciplinary research centre as an example of public-private partnership. The Rs 10-lakh five-floor centre has been funded by a private company.
“The centre houses more than 20 labs for science, humanities, social science, and financial sectors and includes specialised multimedia and industry-academia collaboration labs. Science research labs are well equipped with sophisticated instruments, and more equipment are underway. The facilities seek to initiate and further innovation and research in various areas such as material science, environmental science, green chemistry to make meaningful contribution to realworld problems and catering to the society at large,” principal Anju Srivastava said.
For now, the facility will be mostly for the students and faculty of Hindu College, Srivastava added. “If anybody from another college wants to collaborate and use our facility, we are open to it. Under the centre, we have also started research-oriented courses. With ti-me, it will also open up avenues for employment, internships and major research. ”
The facility has designated research spaces across disciplines such as the centre for gender studies, social and ethnographic research lab, centre for policy research, cell culture research lab, polymer research lab, cuttingedge multimedia studio and language lab. Two research fellowships were also launched — the BM Bhatia research fellowship of Rs 30 lakh and the NV Thadani fellowship of Rs 60 lakh.
DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh said, “The focus of young minds should be onmore than just the publication of research papers. The aim should be to create commercially sustainable products. We should create for ourselves, our country and humanity.
Patience, passion and the capacity to digest failures are the prime qualities that can lead one to success. ”
To enhance faculty exchange from in and out of the country, the centre has furnished guest rooms and additional sitting spaces. A 250-capacity auditorium has been developed for academic purposes.
“The facility is more likely to help students across the university,” said college chairman TCA Rangachari.
Storms in the teacup
2023: annual festival case
May 11, 2023: The Times of India
New Delhi : Students of Hindu College alleged over 30 of them have been suspended for two months and a fine of Rs 10,000 has been imposed on each of them, reports Shinjini Ghosh. According to them, notices sent out by the administration on May 8 cited two reasons: some have been allegedly penalised for holding aprotest demanding the annual college fest shouldn’t be curtailed and others hauled up over alleged irregularities by the fest’s organising committee. The “repetition of such misconduct” may lead to rustication, the notice added. The principal did not respond to TOI’s queries.
2014
India's no. 8 in Arts
CITY: New Delhi
The college boasts of an accomplished faculty of about 120 members, and more than 2,000 students. The college is also proud of its efficient and very supportive non-academic staff. It offers a number of courses in the Sciences, Humanities and the Social Science streams.
PARAMETER-WISE RANKING
Reputation: 7
Academic Input: 7
Student Care: 7
Infrastructure: 7
Placement: 7
Perceptual Rank: 7
Factual Rank: 15
