The Christmas Brunch

The notice on Christmas Eve quite simply said that on Christmas morning there would be a brunch at 11 am. While this was taken by many as an invitation to sleep in on the merry holiday, the foresighted ones descended near the cesspool en mass to check whether the rumours of apple pie and maple syrup were true.

They were met with a veritable feast! There was dark coffee with a dash of hazelnut sauce – which in the generous spirit of the day, you could fill your cup to the brim with; also apple juice sparkling in little plastic cups (notice of course that this was an ‘and’ option which meant you could have both!) There were pancakes drizzled in maple syrup and honey, bread topped with cheese and veggies; risotto, which left some of the GB stumped (sample: yeh chawal aise kyo banaya hai? Why have they made the rice like this?). For the non-vegetarians there was Firecracker Lamb and Sheperd’s Pie, while the vegetarians had Au Gratin and Rose Potatoes with Onions and Barbeque Sauce. Last but not the least – there was plum cake with a chunk of vanilla ice cream topped with strawberry syrup and grounded cashew nuts.

No surprises therefore as to the fact that Christmas morning saw endless lines, with even localites who’d gone back home for the holiday rushing back to college just for the meal. What made the food seem even more amazing was the fact that it was served outside, near the cesspool. The benches, the steps, the edge of the cess pool were soon all filled with chattering laughing students, relaxing in the wintry sunshine as they ate the grub. Even the resident lecturers ate the meal near the cesspool, making the brunch seem like a large-scale college picnic.


What more can one want? The food was good, the company amazing and last but not the least - it felt like a Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve Celebrations in NUJS

The Christmas mood which had set in since the Juno-X’mas Night came to a climax on Christmas Eve when NUJS celebrated the festival in its own special way. The Boys’ Mess which was the venue for the celebrations was bedecked with Christmas decorations – a result of the effort put in by some of the First and Second years who had worked all through the afternoon. Though the forty-five minute power cut just an hour before the starting time of the event gave everyone a scare, they didn’t let any of it dampen their Christmas spirit and the mess looked like it had never looked before.

The event, which was organised jointly by the Cultural Committee and the Mess Committee, and emceed by Abhisar Bairagi began at around seven. There were ten carols sung by the choir consisting of excited First years and Second years, with Joseph and Rahul Varghese on the guitar and synthesiser respectively. Starting with ‘Joy to the World’, the choir then sang ‘O come all ye faithful’, ‘Angels we have heard on high’ ,’Silent night’, ‘Away in a manger’, ‘Rudolph the red nosed reindeer’, ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’, ‘O Holy Night’ (duet by Zothanpui and Udit), ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’. Many of the General Body had made an effort to attend the programme by squeezing time out of their pre-planned arrangements for the evening and they responded with boundless enthusiasm to the programme. They sang, they swayed, they aaawwwed when ‘Rudolph the red nosed reindeer’ came on the stage and they clapped and laughed along, when Santa did his little gig.

There have been significant changes in the way NUJS celebrated Christmas this year- it was bigger, merrier and also yummier! Here’s hoping that these changes are here to stay in the way of a tradition in the years to come. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!


- Sakshi Agarwal (First Year)

A Gym at Last!

Having been in the pipeline for as long as we can remember, the NUJS gym was inaugurated by Prof. M.P. Singh on 22nd December 2008 amidst much fanfare. Students, faculty and administrative staff can now use the facilities of the gym for a nominal payment of Rs. 100 per month. Indeed, the gym, located near the side entrance to the academic block, saw a steady inflow of footfalls all through the evening. The administrative staff in particular made a beeline for the weights. Several members of the faculty also tried their hand at some of the apparatus. The gym boasts of a treadmill, two cycles, a bench press, two exercise balls, a multi-station and other paraphernalia.

Juno-Christmas Night

Christmas came early to NUJS with the much-awaited first-of-its kind Juno-Christmas Night, billed as “an open-air acoustic sing-along concert under the stars,” featuring songs from the Juno OST and popular Christmas carols.

All afternoon, the campus was abuzz with activity and Christmas spirit as students from all years scurried about preparing for the event. Five o’ clock saw a large and enthusiastic crowd gathered in a semi-circle in the open space in front of the Boys’ Hostel: laughing, chattering, excited people in red and white, sporting Santa caps and clutching sing-along handouts with printed lyrics. The golden baubles from the campus lights added to the Christmassy air. The announcement of the Second Year results caused a minor delay, but the cloud of results had to drift away at the sight of so much merry-making.

Of the two emcees, Kavita was the epitome of the Christmas elf, spreading good cheer; Sroyon, the image of Father Christmas as a fifteen year old. The programme started off with them telling us why the programme had been organised that Friday evening: firstly, because many of us wouldn’t be there in college on Christmas Eve; secondly, to encourage people to donate their old clothes to charity; thirdly, to raise funds for buying iodized salt to be distributed to dwellers of nearby slums.

The first half of the programme comprised songs from Juno and some random songs chosen because they “fit in with the mood of the evening.” The all-acoustic ‘band’ was led by Appu and Joseph, with six or seven others joining in the chorus for some of the songs. The audience joined in with handclaps on the more peppy numbers such as Tree Hugger and Loose Lips. Joseph and Appu’s adorable duet on Anyone Else but You was especially well received, if the number of “aaawwww”s was any indication. Some of the songs carried dedications: Puff the Magic Dragon was dedicated by Appu to the Barbies and G.I. Joes lying forgotten in all our toy cupboards, and Ripzong dedicated Travelling Soldier to those who lost their lives in the line of duty in the Mumbai attacks last month. Just before we all broke for tea, Sroyon incurred Appu’s wrath by inciting the audience to request her to perform What’s Up by the Four Non-Blondes: “I’ve requested it like a hundred times but if you all beg her she might just oblige.” But oblige she did, and though she faltered slightly with the lyrics, she was as usual, note-perfect.

The tea tasted wonderful in the wintry evening, and was served for a change in kulhars instead of cups. Afterwards we all reassembled for the second half. We were greeted by a choir dressed in red and white that sang Christmas carols and was joined lustily by the all and sundry. Beginning with the sweet and calming Silent Night, they moved on to O Come All Ye Faithful. Voices reached a united crescendo on Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Joy to the World and Feliz Navidad officially ended the Juno-Christmas Night. But before the guitars and amps were packed up, another request came from everybody. How could one have a Christmas Night and not sing Jingle Bells?

It is true that Joy to the World started on the third take, Sroyon in his eagerness introduced Piazza, New York Catcher one song early and whistled off-key on Tire Swing, and the chorus was not always perfectly coordinated, but the enthusiasm of both performers and audience made up for the minor mishaps, and no one really minded. The evening ended with songs and smiles on everyone’s lips.

Protest Theatre/Film Fest

The Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Studies, Open Space and Cinephiles Anonymous hosted a theatre and film festival on 17th and 18th December 2008.

The festival kicked off with a powerful performance by Mr. Parnab Mukherjee. Parnab, one of the leading alternative theatre directors of the country, enthralled the audience with his three solo plays. The evening started off with a touching rendition of Mahasveta Devi’s “Breast Giver”. This emotional short story explores the conflicts faced by a young Adivasi women and also serves as a powerful metaphor for the exploitation of the underprivileged. Using simple everyday items such as tape, a churidar and a towel, Parnab’s one-man performance was an interesting example of a ‘Third Theatre’ production. The second play was about a woman who becomes the ‘object’ of a photographer’s project, only to face the dreadful consequences which follow. The last play describes a man’s thoughts just before he is about to commit suicide. The sharp and often provocative script set the tone for an intellectually simulating and culturally satisfying evening.

The movies to be screened included the “Brandon Teena Story” on which the movie “Boys Don’t Cry” was based, “Work in Progress” about the World Social Forum in Mumbai and a collection of short films on AIDS.

November Issue of Writer’s Block Hits the Stands

The eagerly awaited November Issue of Writer’s Block, the (approximately) monthly NUJS rag, was released by the MagCom on 12th December 2008 (we did say it was eagerly awaited). The issue set a new record for page count and carried an unusually high number of entries by the General Body. Of particular note was Taking Stock, an article on the changing teacher-student relationship in NUJS. The article was authored by Goutham Shivshankar of the Class of 2009. Another popular new feature was Writer’s Blog—a selection of posts by Noojie bloggers featuring, among other topics, sneezing, child labour, mondegreens, insomnia, spies, bots, and Thomas Hardy.

Of course, the Issue also contained the regular features that people have come to associate with Writer’s Block. The MagCom Restaurant Review—titled Tea or Coffee—focused on Dolly’s Tea Shop and India Coffee House. The SportsCom was chosen as the MagCom 'Society of the Month', and the 'Know Thy Family' pages featured profiles of the campus security guards.

As usual, the issue attracted wild praise, a moderate dose of controversy, and furnished under-the-desk and over-the-pot entertainment during the week that followed.

First General Body Meeting of the Winter Semester

A recent poll conducted by the MagCom found that 82.17% of the NUJS students have attended a GB meeting at one point or another. And why shouldn’t they? GB Meetings offer a chance to know, to gripe and to shout. Mix in a liberal dose of legal jargon and some everyday college controversies and you have close to two hours’ worth of entertainment that would give the latest Yash Raj a run for its money.

The first general body meeting of the Winter Semester was a surprisingly sedate one, with a modest turn out. Two amendments to the NUJS Constitution were made, one that confirmed the division between the Magazine Committee and the Juridical Review and the other relating to a Society’s power to show-cause GB members. Other maters of grave importance included the impact of the recession on the impending fests Invicta and Outlawed, and proposed changes in the Examination Rules and the Academic Calendar. Of particular note was the fact that all of the topics on the Agenda were covered, a feat rarely achieved.

Candle Light Vigil

On 1st December, a candle light vigil was organised around the “Pillar of Justice” at the main entrance to the University campus. The idea for the event originated from the faculty. The Vice-Chancellor lit the first candle to mark the commencement of the vigil. A large section of the student body participated in the event, and over five hundred candles were lit. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives. As part of a pan-Indian movement envisioned as a mark of solidarity, the students also wore white clothes.

A faculty member was heard to remark that this low-key and sincere event marked a welcome change from many that seem to be arranged by various organisations for the benefit of the press alone. The President of the Student Juridical Association also took this opportunity to announce an open forum for discussion that would be held on 2nd December inside the campus.

NUJS Football League

As if the Inter-batch Football Tournament and Five-a-Side Football were not enough, the NUJS Football League has been added to the NUJS sporting calendar. Each of the four teams in the League has one or more ‘owners’—interested members of the student body and alumni. They were allotted a certain amount of ‘money’ which they could use to ‘buy’ players who signed up for the league. At a gripping auction held on 14th November, human beings were bought and sold like cattle.

Given the mode of team-formation, neither batch pride nor regional pride is at stake. Still the event has proved popular, proving that people here will get excited about anything. And why not? The matches have produced skilful football, on-field skirmishes, rumours of match-fixing, goalkeeping blunders and all the other ingredients of a truly interesting tournament.

The first half of the league, comprising six matches, has been played so far, and the transfer window has been opened with the Czars leading the table. Football fans are eagerly awaiting the second half of the season, which is to commence in the last week of December.

Basketball Diaries

Under the enthusiastic guidance of Convener of the Year, the Sports Com held the first ever NUJS Inter Batch Basketball Tournament. Spread over two weekends, this tournament saw enthusiastic participation from students. The finals saw the Class of 2011 defeat the Class of 2010 ie the 3rd years belted the 4th years. Leading scorer Siddhart Rao aka Maamaa was spotted by a leading city sports club and is now the first NUJS Student to officially play in the city’s basketball Leagues. The initiative deserves to be congratulated and we hope that the Sports Com continues to hoop it up.

Blood Donation Camp at NUJS

Over 110 NUJS students overcame their fears of needles, blood loss and pro-activeness to donate blood on 30th November 2008 at the Blood Donation Camp organised in NUJS, by the non-profit organisation LUCY. The Boys' Hostel Rec Room was turned into a mini-ward and the place was abuzz with donors, volunteers and LUCY officials.

As there were NFL matches that day and a lot of the players were worried whether donating blood would affect their game, special arrangements were made for players by which they could donate early on in the day; several of them, like Bunty Da (in the picture) were therefore the first to donate.

There was no dearth of volunteers scurrying around all over the place, playing multifarious roles. Some took up the role of cajoling and coaxing nervous students into donating blood, while others fussed over the donors, much to latter's enjoyment.

Just like last year (this being the 2nd Blood Donation Camp in NUJS), several hopeful donors had to return dissapointed, because of medical reasons. Many of them being teased, that it looked like they needed some blood themselves.

Several faculty members, mess workers and other staff also came forward to donate blood and some of the organizers of the camp felt that there would have been even more wider participation if the camp had been held on a week day.

Though there was some misinformation revolving around the magic number of 25, with one donor being told that it was the time it took for blood regeneration, while another nervous donor being told (much to her horror) that it was the time period for which her blood would be drained, the camp for most parts got over without any glitches.

At the end of the camp, apart from the wacky caps and stickers, each donor got the following sms:"

Thank you for the gift of blood you have donated for the welfare of society. Your single contribution will save three lives. You're a real life hero."

Because of the high quotient of modesty running in their veins (pun intended), several donors were heard trying to disassociate themselves from such an image stating firmly that they did it for the food.

Miscellaneous Sporting Activities in November

The chess tournament, which in previous years was an individual open event, was held in the Davis Cup, inter-batch format this year. VD, JNU and Pranab Pegu emerged as the knights in shining armour for the Fifth Years. Playing the Sicilian defence with the black pieces and a variation of the Latvian gambit with the white, they sailed through to the finals, where they overcame the Third Year team 3-0 with 3 checkmates.

Also, in one of the most hotly contested events of the NUJS sporting calendar, the girls’ Throwball Tournament came to an end with the Fourth Years emerging as the winners. The finals saw them pull off an upset victory over the Third Years who have a number of University Team players on their rolls.

Le’Gala Windfall

A highly enthusiastic contingent from NUJS, largely consisting of First Years, noisily descended upon NLS, Bangalore in mid-November to participate in Le’Gala. They got molested by eunuchs, trapped in a lift, and lost a contingent member to a leg injury, but they came through it all to win prizes in painting, sketching, clay modelling and street play.

The overjoyed contingent returned started for ‘home’ on the 24th with sweet memories, but not before being witness to the most awaited event of the whole fest: the Rock Show, better known as Strawberry Fields.

NUJS Hostel Safari

On 18th November 2008, more than 50 NUJS girls made their way through the corridors of the Boys’ Hostel for the first ever NUJS Hostel Safari, an event organised by the MagCom. Armed with cameras, loads of courage and hankies to cover their noses, they bravely walked where few (if any) sane women have ever gone before.

To enrich the Safari experience, the MagCom provided them with guide booklets that contained floor-by-floor maps and highlighted the places of interest. Among these were the rooms widely recognised as the messiest and dirtiest in hostel, and also some which were so elaborately and painstakingly ‘done up’ that the girls themselves were left wondering if they should ask the occupants for a few tips on interior décor. Another prominent place of interest was the corridor where the ‘Pink Lady’, the resident ghost of the Boys’ Hostel, first made her appearance. The adventurers ended their tour at the terrace where some nutters (read MagCom members) put garlands around their necks and “served” them Pepsi.

For a few hours, the NUJS Boys’ Hostel was converted into a monument of interest and viewed through the eyes of an outsider. For a few hours, the Hostel felt like a different kind of circus.

Gym murmurs surface again

NUJS shall soon boast of its own gym. Of course we have heard this approximately every other month for the last three years, but now the rumours are going stronger than ever. The SJA Prez tells us that things look more promising this time. About time too, because there is really no other way to sustain the liquid diets currently in vogue with the student body and also ensure that tummies do not burst through the buttons.

Under the proposed plan, Room 006 shall the gym instead of the reception, as was the case under an earlier (abandoned) plan. Two mechanical treadmills have been procured, the best that could be expected given the available funds. The weights are to be housed elsewhere. The tentative deadline for the gym was November 10 but at the time of posting, there seems to be no sign of any activity along this front. As of now, the only exercise we are getting is by keeping our fingers crossed. Keep watching this space for more.

Amazing Race

The first ever Amazing Race (NUJS Chapter) was organised last year by the Law and Contemporary Affairs Society (LCAS) and featured among other activities – walking around the rim of the cesspool, two at a time, three legged. This time of course Amazing Race 2008 was bigger, weirder and for a lack of a better word, even more amazing!

Throwing plastic packets of water from the fourth floor, jumping around in gunny bags and eating exotic cuisine with some daab: these were just some of the things the participants of the Amazing Race 2008 were forced er…expected to do. The challenges were tougher; the tasks crazier – for example while Round Five involved Christmas caps and shaving form, Round Six involved the use of Rickshaws bedecked with multi-coloured heart-shaped balloons.

The race ended with Siddharth Sinha, Kamaljeet Singh and Pranav Mittal (a team comprising of Third Years) being declared the winners. With the continuing success of this year’s Amazing Race, the clamouring for an Amazing Race 2009 has already started.

Quantum of Solace

Last semester, the newly constituted SJA wooed the General Body with a screening of Rock On. The special screening at Adlabs, Sector V met with an enthusiastic response with the tickets being declared sold out early on. This semester however the SJA organised screening of the latest James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace at INOX, City Centre on 9th November 2008, was received with considerably less enthusiasm by the General Body. Perhaps it was because that the average Noojie still prefers a Pierce Brosnan to Daniel Craig as the debonair agent James Bond, or the fact that a certain Second Year student had already treated most of her class to an earlier screening of the movie. The verdict seems rather unanimous for both the movie as well as the screening – we preferred the earlier one.

The End of an Era

While the general quality of the Hostel food has improved substantially, there have been several complaints that the biryani is just not the same as it used to be. The Mess Comm, never shy of introducing menu overhauls, has therefore removed the iconic biryani from the Sunday menu. Instead they are serving Pulao with Chicken Kassa for the non veggies and some form of vegetables for the veggies. It seems that the day is fast approaching when only the old fogies will remember Sundays like they used to be: half-day classes and biryani for dinner.

Tata Sky

The SJA and Hostel Welfare Committee decided to bring in some extra cheer for the residents of the hostels of NUJS during the festive season by getting TATA SKY connections for both hostels. The idea was that the students could catch the latest sporting action; enjoy a better viewing experience with the vast number of channels on offer and the superior picture quality. Unfortunately, residents spent the diwali holidays with no television because the trial period of the TATA SKY had expired and the local cable connection had also been terminated.

The mandarins returned from their extended holidays to find that though the new connection was up and running, the university administration, in its usual display of fiscal prudence and concern for student welfare, had subscribed to the TATA SKY “super saver” pack, meaning that all the sports channels as well as most of the movie channels can be viewed only by subscribing to them. However, students have been assured of immediate action in this regard. After all, Liverpool still has a chance of winning the Premier League!