BU News

By Disha Kapoor The Learning Resource Centre and CEREBRUM organized an exclusive motivational talk session for the inauguration of Aalekh 2K24 on March 20th at Bennett University . The session featured distinguished guest speakers Ms. Radhika Kawlra Singh, an Olympic mind coach, and Ms. Mimansa Singh Tanwar, a leading clinical psychologist. They aimed to address the growing concerns surrounding stress and anxiety , and to empower individuals with effective strategies for managing these mental health challenges. The guests urged the attendees not to dismiss their mental well-being and just like there is physical aid, an individual should also get psychological or mental aid whenever needed. The speakers emphasized the importance of raising awareness about mental health and highlighted the significance of caring for our minds as diligently as we care for our bodies. “Just because you post about mental health doesn’t mean you are spreading awareness, the reality is that 75% people don’t seek psychological aid because of lack of awareness or resources, so we really need to understand our role in society and do our part,” leading clinical psychologist, Ms Mimansa Singh Tanwar, said. The speaker sheds light on how social media is affecting our mental health and impacting our relationships with individuals. They talked about how relationships always require efforts and rather than just constantly judging and trying to look for the perfect love, people should do self-reflection and move away from social media for a bit and just think about their strengths and weaknesses to gain insights about themselves to maintain proper relationships in life. “Question your inner instincts and don’t be afraid to ask questions in a relationship because the only thing that will set you free is the truth in a relationship,” Olympic mind coach Radhika Kalra Singh, said. The session involved multiple questions by the host and the guest speakers answered all of them with the factual knowledge they had, they talked a lot about how one can manage stress and anxiety. They also emphasised the fact that individuals should not use words like depression or anxiety lightly as they are well-researched serious problems that people face. “The session was very insightful and interesting especially for us as our generation is more vocal about such issues, we can make a difference and help create a sensitive and mindful environment wherein people feel safe and comfortable in getting help or talking about their problems,” Mridvika Prashar, currently pursuing bachelor's in journalism and mass comm., said. The event concluded with a Q&A session, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers and gain further insights into specific concerns related to stress and anxiety management. The attendees were left with a sense of optimism and a commitment to implementing positive changes in their lives. The organisers expressed their gratitude to the guests by providing them with a token of appreciation. Overall, the motivational talk served as a beacon of hope and empowerment, highlighting the importance of mental health and proactively managing stress and anxiety to lead a happier and healthier life.

Bennett University's annual literary extravaganza, "Aalekh: A Carnival of Books," witnessed an enlightening session on exploring corporate narratives featuring three distinguished authors, Rajnish Tomar, Ujwal Kalra, and Jitendra Girdhar. The event was moderated by Dr. Om Prakash Dwivedi, the esteemed Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, who facilitated a captivating discussion on the complexity of storytelling within the corporate world.

The first day of Aalekh 2k24 featured Sahitya Akademi winner Mridula Garg and motivational speaker, best known for his book "You Can Win," Shiv Khera, as the chief guests. The two delivered powerful talks and shared motivating stories from their early lives that changed their outlooks and careers. ​​Mridula Garg has written over 30 books in Hindi, including novels, short story collections, plays, and essays. Khera, apart from being an author, is also a well-known activist.

The second edition of the annual literary festival, Aalekh 2k24, kicked off with great enthusiasm and excitement at the Learning Resource Centre, in collaboration with the official Literary and Debating club of Bennett University, Cerebrum. This year's event promised to be even more inspiring and engaging than before, with a distinguished figure gracing the occasion as the chief guest - none other than Mr. Shiv Khera, an eminent author and renowned motivational speaker.

Bennett University's Official Debating and Literary Club, in collaboration with the Learning Resource Centre, set the stage for a captivating literary event, the second instalment of Aalekh 2k24 (2024). The event unfolded today with much anticipation and excitement, drawing a diverse crowd eager to delve into the world of literature.

By Aliza Ashraff Anime fans gathered at Bennett University during the third day of Uphoria, 17 th March, to participate in the ' Weeb Quiz '. The event attracted a diverse group of students interested in testing their understanding of anime and manga . The quiz was organized by the anime club of the university who curated questions to cater to both casual viewers and dedicated fans. The registration amount for the quiz was INR 149. The Anime Club members and the student council volunteers made sure that the whole event ran smoothly. The quiz featured challenging questions covering various aspects of anime and comics, from iconic characters and storylines to industry trivia. Formed teams of two to three members and participated in a friendly competition, showcasing their familiarity with different anime genres and cultural references. Anoushka Saxena, a first-year BAJMC student stated, "I am not someone who follows anime or is an anime fan, but there's so much that I got to learn from the quiz that now I feel intrigued to watch anime series and movies." Rounds included guessing the image, rapid-fire, and audio-based questions. The top-performing group from round two was considered as the winners. A few of the judging criteria stated that any misconduct during the quiz would result in the group's immediate disqualification, hence any kind of excuses was not accepted, participants would not be given any additional time and if more than one group gave the correct answer, the group with the shortest time was taken into consideration. The winner of the first prize was awarded a cash prize of three thousand rupees along with a participation certificate. As the Weeb Quiz concluded, participants reflected on the challenges and opportunities for improvement, each leaving with a sense of determination and a deeper connection to the anime community. Uphoria 2024 at Bennett University resonated with a spirit of growth and shared passion among all who took part.

By Anoushka Saxena Bennett University ’s annual cultural fest, Uphoria’24 kickstarted with students from different colleges appearing for a wide range of competitions. The university’s official western dance club, VERVE, organized three different dance competition s, Groove Wars, the western group dance competition, followed by the street dance battle, Freestyle Frenzy and a solo western dance competition, Beat Blitz on the last day of the fest, that is, the 17 th of January. Groove wars, an inter college group dance competition saw a huge number of dance groups from several colleges showcasing extraordinary vigor and passion through their group dynamics. “All the teams have put in tremendous efforts into bringing about the best on stage. One of my favorite performances till now has to be that of Ramjas College. While it is too early to make an assumption about the winning team, what is certain is the fact that the audience is going to be left spellbound by the performances lined up in store for them, said Ishan Jain, one of the members of the Verve organizing committee. The freestyle street dance off, Freestyle Frenzy was an amalgamation of both rhythm and creativity. The performers’ expressions, knowledge of beat, stage appearance and crowd response summed up the judging criteria for this street dance battle. “I loved how the stage automatically lit up with the dancers’ energy. I was pleasantly surprised by the scale at which the competition was organized. Moreover, seeing everybody dance, I also felt inspired to pursue dancing again.” Said a BA-JMC 1 st year student, Radhika Gupta, when asked about her take on the performances. The prize pool for Groove Wars stood at INR 45,000 rupees. While it was INR 10,000 and INR 16,000 rupees for Beat Blitz and Freestyle Frenzy respectively. The last dance competition for the day, Beat Blitz, allowed the participants to bring forth their story to the fore by taking the center stage, embracing diverse Western dance styles. The solo dance performances were infused with a vast range of emotions and got the audience tapping their feet and grooving with the performers alongside. “I feel so happy judging such talented, budding dancers today and looking at how enthusiastic each performance is, it is becoming difficult for us to choose one person to be the winner for the day. Uphoria, as a fest itself is a treat for those visiting the university for the first time. As far as picking up the winners is concerned, we are still confused and wondering which team out of other energetic teams to handover the trophy to.” Said Mr Ankit Kumar, who was judging the group and solo dance competition. While the declaration of winners is still awaited, the three competitions have certainly managed to give a push to young dancers to upskill and better their craft.

By Vanisha Rajesh Singh Greater Noida : The final day of Uphoria 2024 , Bennett University 's annual cultural festival, was a whirlwind of enthusiasm as students participated in a diverse range of events. From electrifying dance battles to thought-provoking slam poetry , day three provided a fitting finale to the three-day extravaganza. The day kicked off with a high-energy dance battle called Freestyle Frenzy. The tension was thick as participants, each with their own distinct style, took to the floor to showcase their impressive skills. The crowd roared with approval as the dancers executed intricate choreography and footwork, leaving everyone eager to see who would emerge victorious. Next up on the Uphoria stage was Groove Wars, the power-packed western group dance competition. Teams swooned the audience with their tightly synchronized routines set to pulsating music. Each group displayed exceptional coordination and creativity, making the judges' decision a difficult one. The energy in the venue remained high as the dancers battled it out for the coveted title of best dance crew. Bardic Battle, the slam poetry competition, offered a platform for students to express themselves through powerful words. Poems tackled a variety of themes, from personal identity and social issues to love and loss. The heartfelt performances resonated with the audience, flickering thoughtful conversations and introspection. Aakrosh , the nukkad natak competition, featured student-written and performed street plays that brought a powerful social commentary to the Uphoria stage. Teams tackled pressing social issues and contemporary concerns relevant to young adults. Renowned Indian actor and theatre artist Naseer Abdullah presided as the judge. After witnessing the raw passion and talent on display, Abdullah commended the students, stating, "Their dedication to theatre and their ability to use this platform to raise awareness is truly commendable." Cerebrum's parliamentary debate provided a welcome change of pace. Eloquent arguments and well-researched counterpoints made for a stimulating competition. The day's events culminated with Beat Blitz, the solo western dance competition. Solo dancers took the stage with confidence, impressing the crowd their individual styles and technique. Each performance was unique and energetic, keeping the audience engaged until the very end. The undisputed highlight of the evening was the performance by popular artist Shaan . No stranger to the Indian music scene, Shaan's career stretches back decades, with chart-topping hits like Mai Hoon Don and Chand Sifarish . His setlist was a perfect blend of nostalgia and contemporary hits, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy. The crowd erupted in cheers as he performed his most beloved songs, singing along word-for-word and dancing with unbridled enthusiasm. The concert concluded on a high note, leaving the audience wanting more and solidifying Uphoria 2024 as a truly unforgettable event. (The writer is a semester IV student of B.A. Journalism and Mass Communications programme)

Bennett's University's much awaited annual cultural fest Uphoria has started off with a bang and is filled with fun competitions and amazing opportunities for all university goers. As all of Bennett's clubs and committees geared up to host their events at the three day cultural extravaganza the university's media club- Isac wasn't far behind.

The finale of Bennett University's Uphoria 2024 cultural festival featured a highly anticipated performance by renowned Indian playback singer Shaan. With students eagerly lining up an hour before the show, Shaan's dynamic stage presence and captivating vocals enthralled the audience. Performing a mix of Bollywood hits and soulful melodies, Shaan left a lasting impression, concluding Uphoria 2024 on a high note filled with unforgettable memories and electrifying energy.

Uphoria 2024's second day at Bennett University's annual fest was filled with diverse cultural events showcasing the talent and enthusiasm of students from across Delhi NCR. The highlight of the day was the Mr. and Ms. Uphoria talent show, where participants demonstrated their skills and knowledge in various areas. The musical drama "Masle-e-Mohabbat" captivated the audience with its blend of classical and modern elements, humor, and engaging storytelling. Other events like Fitoor and Rockmania displayed the talents of participants from universities across the NCR region. The day concluded with a vibrant Band Baaja DJ Night, keeping the energy high as the festivities moved into the third day.

The three-day annual cultural fest Uphoria left the audience spellbound with some phenomenal events on day one, ranging from dance performances to mini mela. Day one of the fest concluded with an anticipating performance by the ‘Nalayak’ band, after an enchanting prom night. The night started with a dance performance by Verve, the western dance club of college, on popular songs like Pyaar ki kahani suno, Ankhiyan Gulab, This Town, and many more. The night ended with some rock music by the nalayak band performing with a high spirit.

By Aditi Shrivastava Uphoria Day 2 witnessed amazing events by various clubs, which created an exuberant environment at Bennett University . One such event was Impromptu Frames hosted by ISAC, the photography club of the college, in which 15 participants competed to showcase the best frames. To contribute to the theme of uphoria, “Band Baja Baraat”, the topic given to all the participants was Reflections of Bennett, to capture all the happy faces, and ongoing events that showcased the vibrant campus. “I was a former secretary of ISAC in 2019 and I never got a chance to participate in such events, it was always organizing it for others, and now as I have graduated and working, I feel that this is the right time I should go back to my college and participate in this competition to relieve my memories”, Vartika Madan, a participant , said. All the participants were given 45 minutes to capture the moments and submit their best work, on the other hand, another event Pixel Perfect, hosted by the club saw a failure as only one participant showed up for the graphic designing competition. “I expected amazing participation from both events but people did not show up in pixel perfect, however, it got covered by impromptu frames where participants have submitted some good work and now, we are sorting and searching for the winner among those 15 people”, Samrddhi Singh, Secretary of ISAC club, said.

By Prithvi Abhay Shankaregowda Bennett University ’s art club Silhouette organised a canvas painting competition on D2 of the University’s three-day cultural fest Uphoria . Students from various universities and colleges of Delhi NCR participated in the competition. Silhoutte had also put up the Mandala Art competition on Day 1 which was a success. The canvas painting competition was another highlight. “There is no theme for the competition because I feel that art is best made when it is one’s original expression. Canvas painting can be a beautiful landscape or a person, it can be anything the artist wants it to be,” BTech second-year student and creative head of Silhouette Harshit Agarwal said. The results will be announced on Day 3 of the fest and the winner of the competition will be rewarded a cash prize of Rs. 5000. The participants created art in different genres ranging from abstract to modern art. “I am painting an abstract portrait of Lord Shiva. It is inspired from the Trimurti statue of the Elephanta Caves. This is my second year with the Uphoria Art competition and it has been amazing,” a participant from Noida International University Divya Deveshvidya said. (The writer is BAJMC's Semester II student.)

By Medhansh Das Panache , the esteemed Fashion Society of Bennett University , added a dazzling touch to Uphoria 2024 by hosting a glamorous Talent Show on its second day. This spectacular event aimed to crown the deserving winners as Mr and Ms Uphoria , showcasing the university's finest talent and style. The event, aptly named "Mr and Ms Uphoria," unfolded in three captivating stages, each brimming with excitement and anticipation. The first stage set the runway ablaze with the Ramp Walk , where contestants flaunted their poise, confidence, and unique sense of fashion. The audience was enthralled as the participants sashayed down the catwalk, exuding charm and charisma. Transitioning seamlessly to the second stage, Talents and Hobby Displays, contestants dazzled the audience with their diverse array of talents and passions. From mesmerizing musical performances to captivating dance routines, and awe-inspiring art displays, each participant left a lasting impression, showcasing their creativity and skill. The final stage of the event, the Question and Answer round, brought forth moments of intellect and eloquence as contestants faced the scrutiny of the judges. With thought-provoking questions, the contestants eloquently articulated their thoughts, demonstrating not only their outer beauty but also their inner depth and wisdom. Throughout the event, the atmosphere was electric, with cheers and applause resonating in the air as participants showcased their talents and vied for the coveted titles of Mr. and Ms. Uphoria. “It was quite exhilarating to be up on the stage but once I was in the groove, I felt a lot confident” said Kavya Sindhi, a participant. The event not only celebrated the spirit of Uphoria but also served as a platform for students to showcase their creativity, passion, and individuality. It was an evening to remember, filled with glamour, talent, and moments of sheer brilliance, truly embodying the essence of Uphoria. (The writer is a BAJMC Semester IV student)

At the inauguration of TSOM's Going Beyond Spectrum initiative, guest speaker Vineet K.K.N 'Panchhi' discussed the theme "Heroes or Villains," emphasizing the importance of action over bystandership. The session, attended by Mass Communication and Film students, explored concepts of morality and heroism. Panchhi showcased Jai Hind Project's short films, offering internships for students to join the cause. The initiative aims to highlight unsung heroes across India. The interactive session concluded with students presenting memorabilia to Panchhi, promising more insightful sessions in the future.

By Rishi Bhushan In order to foster a culture of holistic growth and leadership, the Times School of Media (TSOM) proudly announced the inauguration of "The Going Beyond Spectrum ," a pioneering series for aptitude and character building. Spearheaded by the TSOM Placement Board , this series aims to transcend conventional academic boundaries and delve into the realms of personal and professional development. The inaugural session of The Going Beyond Spectrum, scheduled for Thursday, March 14, 2024, promises an enriching discourse under the theme " Heroes or Villains ." The guest speaker, Vineet KKN Panchhi, is all set to captivate audiences with his insights into the conundrum of heroism in contemporary society. Panchhi, an exemplar of empathetic leadership, brings a wealth of experience from his diverse professional journey. Vineet's trajectory is marked by his unwavering commitment to positive change. Central to his mission is 'The Jai Hind Project ,' a pioneering initiative aimed at spotlighting the narratives of unsung heroes who champion social causes across India. Through this platform, Panchhi endeavours to amplify the voices of those addressing the nation's most pressing issues, thereby inspiring a ripple effect of social responsibility and action. His philosophy of ‘the opposite of a hero is not a villain; it's a bystander’ is the ethos that underscores the transformative potential of collective action and the urgency for individuals to transcend their self-interest and engage meaningfully with societal challenges. ‘The Going Beyond Series’ is another initiative of the Placement Board which launched the ‘Alumni Coach Series’ and ‘ CEO Masterclasses ’ to enhance the skills of TSOM students and make them industry-ready. (The writer is a BAJMC Semester IV student)

A session on “Visual Storytelling: Learnings and Challenges” was conducted on March 7, 2024, by the Times School of Media Placement Committee as part of their alumni series. The speaker was Ms. Reeti Agarwal, who studied journalism and mass communication at Bennett University from 2017 to 2020. She shared her experiences and struggles as a working professional and guided mass communication and journalism students.

By Kamakshi Deshmukh In a significant stride towards fostering internationalisation and providing students with a global outlook, Bennett University 's Times School of Media ( TSOM ) organised a joint webinar series titled "Exploring Futures Series’24: Interdisciplinary Perspective on Global Issues." Partnering with the Higher School of Economics ( HSE ) in St Petersburg, Russia, the webinar brought together experts from various fields to discuss key issues with interdisciplinary perspectives. The webinar, held under the theme "Interdisciplinary Perspective on Global Issues,” featured distinguished speakers, including Alexander Efimkin from the Press Office at the State Heritage Museum, Russia; Mikhail Tyurkin , Academic Supervisor at HSE, St. Petersburg , Russia, and Nalin Mehta , Managing Director of Money Control . Nalin Mehta emphasized the evolving landscape of the media industry, stressing the importance of striking a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical learning. He highlighted the dynamic nature of media business models, calling for a higher proportion of practical exposure in education to align with industry needs. Alexander Efimkin underscored the vital connection between journalism and its societal impact. “It is important to shape the outlook and assess the outlook, fostering collaboration between industry and academia is essential for shaping students' outlook and preparing them for real-world challenges,” TSOM Dean Sanjeev Ratna Singh said. The discussion brought attention to the enduring significance of fundamental skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and effective writing, even in the face of evolving technologies. Speakers emphasized the role of media in politics, emphasizing its enduring influence. Harmony between theory and practice was deemed necessary, with a consensus that while technology evolves, foundational skills remain paramount. The idea of a universal media guide, extending beyond politics to encompass various spheres of life, was a recurring theme. The speakers concurred that educational institutions should have a diverse faculty, including both pure academicians and industry experts, to provide students with a well-rounded perspective. The universal applicability of media guidance across diverse domains, including politics, art, and culture, was a key takeaway from the webinar. This collaborative initiative by TSOM, Bennett University, and HSE, St. Petersburg, Russia, not only provided students with diverse viewpoints but also emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge in navigating the complexities of the globalized world. [The writer is a Semester IV BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme.]

By Aryamaan Jit Singh Bawa Bennett University recently played host to Aditya Bhasin , a prominent figure associated with mainstream cinema. Bhasin, who has been involved in directing since his college days, is known for his unwavering commitment to his unique cinematic vision. Dr. Gauri D Chakroborty , Bhasin’s professor during his university days, organised an exclusive screening of " Pata Lapata ," a film that earned the prestigious Best Film award at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie is a testament to Bhasin's dedication to his craft and his ability to bring compelling stories to the big screen. The event was managed and organised by Cineposium, Times School of Media ’s film society. A key collaborator in the making of "Pata Lapata" is Parth Saini , the music composer of the film. Saini, along with Bhasin, has been associated with Underdog Motion Pictures , creating a range of short films before venturing into music videos. The duo's creative journey also includes a non-fiction talk show titled " Behind the Bar .” "Pata Lapata" stands out with its narrative focusing on four central characters navigating through different bastis and life situations. It is a unique docudrama for its addition of elements of satire and its portrayal of the ground reality of slum dwellers. The film offers a uniue perspective of the characters through a unique use of narration and character representation, it also presents a poignant portrayal of human connections with a powerful messages. As a viewer of the film myself, this quote from one of the characters touched me immensely paired with the swelling score by Saini " Insaan ki siraf insaan sunta hai sir, aur insaan ko siraf insaan hee help karta hai " (People only listen to people, and only people can help people). The making of the film was an extensive process, involving four days of shooting, two months of in-depth research, six months of editing, and an additional two months for finalization. Notably, there was a deliberate one-month gap after filming, allowing the team to reflect on their experiences, look at their footage with fresh minds and refine the final product. What adds a humanitarian touch to "Pata Lapata" is its association with the Lakshyam NGO. The film addresses social issues and provides a platform for meaningful storytelling, aligning with the NGO's mission to make a positive impact on society. Bhasin's exclusive screening of "Pata Lapata" at Bennett University not only showcased the brilliance of the film but also offered a glimpse into the director's commitment to his unique sense of cinema and storytelling. The event provided a platform for the audience to appreciate the collaborative efforts of a dedicated team in bringing impactful narratives to the forefront. (The writer is a Semester IV student of BA Journalism and Mass Communication program)

'Opinionated,' a pre-Aalekh event, offered a platform where voices were amplified, ideas were exchanged, and the power of opinion took center stage. Organized by Cerebrum at Bennett University on February 27, 2024, is an extempore oration event designed to celebrate the power of opinion and its impact on shaping the world we live in today.

In moving with the times of Artificial Intelligence, the Times School of Media (TSOM) at Bennett University came together with Russia’s Innopolis University to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would officiate the launch of a collaborative international AI-driven research lab at TSOM.The MoU and the promise of innovative advancements and knowledge exchange between the two institutions was facilitated by the Dean – Times School of Media Dr. Sanjeev Ratna Singh alongside Assistant Professor Dr. Saurabh Sharma.

The delegates from the University of Innopolis, Russia interacted with students of Times School of Media in a session about the applications of Artificial Intelligence Research on Monday, February 26, 2024. In the session, Iskander Bariev, the head of Advanced Engineering School, Innopolis University highlighted the joint research opportunities for both the universities in the AI domain and talked about practical applications of AI in various fields implemented at the Innopolis University

OP Jindal university secures Sportikon Cricket gold in a heart-pounding super over, triumphing over Manipal university's fierce challenge. The intense battle ended with identical scores, setting the stage for a thrilling and unforgettable climax. Anuj Kumar's leadership and Vansh Tiwari's MVP performance marked the team's resilience in clinching victory, while Manipal's captain, Chaitanya Singh, looks ahead to future gold aspirations. A cricketing spectacle etched in memory, this finale showcased skill, determination, and the spirit of competition.

Sportikon Day 3 witnessed fierce chess battles as universities displayed strategic prowess in 4v4 matches. OP Jindal claimed victory, with Amity securing second and Bennett as the second runner-up. The tournament showcased thrilling encounters, including Amity's dominant quarter-final, OP Jindal's tiebreaker triumph, and Bennett's strong third-place finish. Captains expressed satisfaction, with OP Jindal's Nihshank Upadhyay noting the team's exceptional performance. Udlakshaya Raina, OP Jindal's winning table, highlighted the team effort. The event highlighted chess's rising prominence in university sports.

The commencement of Squash on day two of Sportikon grabbed the attention of students at Bennett University. There was intense competition in the Men's Singles Squash match, however, the number of participating teams was only four although they managed to put off a great game. The game started with a powerful match between Amity University and Op Jindal, where Jindal started by creating dominance on Amity

Day 2 at Sportikon 2024, hosted by Bennett University, saw university teams clashing on the courts, striving for victory to get into the upcoming quarter finals. In the opening match, Ashoka University displayed dominance against Shiv Nadar University, securing a comprehensive victory with a 6-0 win in singles and a 6-1 sweep in doubles. Vaibhav Jain and Arya Shah from Ashoka showcased impressive shot-making, with Jain expressing satisfaction in his triumph.

By Aryamaan Jit Singh Bawa In a pioneering initiative among media schools across Asia, the Times School of Media , Bennett University , will launch an international Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) Research Lab on February 26, 2024. This will be in collaboration with the reputed Innopolis University (IU) of Russia. A delegation of high-ranking scientists and professors will visit the Bennett University campus on February 26 to sign a memorandum of understanding, interact with students and talk about AI-related start-ups. The lab will focus on collaborative research projects, interdisciplinary research papers, and Faculty-led initiatives, including webinars and conferences. This research lab will be situated in N Block ((NLA 314), the university’s academic block. It will present the BU family a valuable opportunity for all departments to explore new research areas and learn about the latest technologies in AI and their applications across diverse fields. The IU specialises in computer science , information technology and robotics. Established in 2012, it aims to foster innovation and technological advancement in these fields. In less than a decade, the university, which stands 13th among the IT universities in Russia and is 21st on the Forbes rankings of Russian universities, has successfully commercialised several products which include driverless cars, trucks, surveillance drones, pharma products and material design projects. Nobel Laureate in Physics Professor Sir Konstantin Kostya’ Novoselov is part of their research team. The AI lab, too, boasts of an impressive leadership profile which includes the likes of Dr Ramil Kuleev , Director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence at IU whose expertise lies in developing innovative AI solutions, with a focus on leveraging R&D outcomes for business benefits. As a project manager and team leader, Kuleev brings extensive technical knowledge, holding a PhD in Mathematics and Computer Science. His skills include machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing. Besides him, Prof Iskander Bariev, Deputy Director and head of the Advanced Engineering School of IU will lend his weight to the project with his expertise in condensed matter physics. For BU, officiating Vice-Chancellor Ajith Abraham, a prolific researcher in Artificial Intelligence domain with over 1,400 research publications to his credit, will add muscle to the venture and ground it in sincere research projects. Last but not the least, brightening up the AI research halo of the lab will be TSOM’s Dean Dr Sanjeev Ratna Singh, one of India’s leading digital broadcast leaders with over 23 years’ experience as a journalist, Editor and multimedia content producer in Digital, TV and Print who is now powering media academics with his rich experience as an industry expert. (The writer is a Semester IV student of BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme)

Day two of Sportikon witnessed a thrilling quarter finals with 5 cricket matches, showcasing outstanding performances and nail-biting moments. Between Manipal University and Bennett University, Manipal chose to bat after winning the toss and went on to win by 35 runs. Manay Kataria's exceptional performance earned him the MVP title.

By Radhika Gupta The cast of upcoming Netflix series Maamla Legal Hai visited Bennett University on Friday. Ravi Kishen , the popular actor known for his contribution to Bollywood , Telugu and Bhojpuri cinema with a portfolio of 700 films, and also the BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, enthralled the students with his engaging and inspirational talk. “The key is to come join the Indian film industry and start working. It is a huge industry where a lot of work is happening and we are even building a film city here in UP itself. India makes the largest number of films worldwide which is almost 1000 films a year,” Kishen said, addressing the aspiring actors at Bennett. Actors Ravi Kishen and Nidhi Bisht at BU The trailer of his upcoming Maamla Legal Hai which is a courtroom comedy releasing on March 1, 2024 on Netflix, was played at the event to general applause and laughter. Speaking about the series, the actor said, “through the show, you will get to understand the lives of legal advisors, their fight for survival, ambitions and ways they earn money. Each episode covers true cases from district court,” he added. Kishen also shared his struggles in getting a break in Bollywood, managing politics and acting simultaneously and his dedication towards helping the people of his Lok Sabha constituency Gorakhpur. The event was organised by BU's Times School of Media. Popular social media influencer and actor Nidhi Bisht is also a part of the upcoming series cast and attended the event. "Since school, I knew somewhere deep down that I wanted to act. However, it took some time for me to follow that inner voice and convince my parents that this was the right choice. Doing acting gigs, theatre shows in colleges like IIT Delhi helped boost my confidence in my acting abilities,” she said. Rahul Pandey, the young director of the series, was present too and shared with the students, his journey thus far. “Till now I have written and directed seven-eight Indian TV shows and my first web series was ‘Nirmal Pathak ki Ghar Wapsi’ that launched on Sony LIV. Shooting Maamla Legal Hai with great actors like Ravi sir was indeed an amazing experience,” he said. The auditorium was jampacked with students and Faculty who asked questions and learnt from the experience of the talented ensemble.

On Day One of Bennett University's Sportikon 2024, the badminton courts took centre stage, teeming with intense competition. Hosted by the dedicated Sports Committee, this event marked a crucial juncture in the university's sporting legacy. Building on the triumph of Sportikon 2023, this edition brought more participants into the arena, promising a day of matches that highlighted sporting expertise and tactical finesse.

By Medhansh Das The first cricket match of Sportikon Day 1 saw Sharda University clash with Amity Law School , with Sharda winning the toss and opting to field first. The first innings saw a total of 113 runs being made with the loss of 5 wickets. Wickets were falling in almost every alternate over with the exception of Pratyush Thakur of Amity Law School, cementing himself and scoring a total of 56 runs not out. Nawaz Ali from Sharda University was the highest wicket taker with 3 wickets in the first innings. “My target was to play all 15 overs, and although the pitch gave was a good challenge, I was succesfull in doing that” said Pratyush Thakur. In the second innings, only four players reached double digit runs with Satyam Yadav scoring 42 runs, the highest from Sharda’s batting order. The second match of the day took place between Bennett University and Ashoka University , with Ashoka winning the toss and opting to bat first. Scoring a total of 103 runs in a 12 over match, the batsmen of Ashoka University had a steady start, with Vatsal Kumar scoring 22 runs, the highest for Ashoka. But to their dismay the partnership of Ashish Mishra and Aryan Pratap of Bennett University scoring 50 and 22 respectively disrupted Ashoka’s flow making them lose the match with a score of 105 with a loss of just 2 wickets and 2 balls to spare.”Has been a while since personally I have scored this many runs, gratefully the target wasn’t that much and we had a good start. All in all it was a team effort” said Ashish Mishra. (The writer is a Semester IV student of the BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme.)

By PRANAVI AMBATI The much-anticipated SPORTIKON 2024 , Bennett University ’s annual inter-university sports festival , commenced with fervour as 1,259 athletes from 51 universities gathered to celebrate athleticism. The inaugural ceremony , held at the P-Block of the Bennett campus, witnessed the competitive spirit that defines collegiate sports . Officiating the inaugural ceremony were Bennett University Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Ajith Abraham, the Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sudhanshu Varma, Sports Officers Dr. Arun Kumar and Mr. Vineet Nehra, and the Deans of the constituent schools at Bennett University. As is customary in Indian culture, the ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp followed by the Ganesh Vandana , with the Bharatnatyam performance paying obeisance to Lord Ganesha. Bennett University Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Ajith Abraham lighting the lamp at the inaugural ceremony of SPORTIKON 2024, joined on stage by the Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sudhanshu Varma (centre), and Sports Officers Dr. Arun Kumar (left) and Mr. Vineet Nehra (right). Photo Courtesy: Maansi Sreejith. In his opening remarks, Bennett University Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Ajith Abraham emphasized the importance of collegiate sporting events. "Sporting events help make one more stronger and resilient in life to face the real world," he said. “This is a golden opportunity for our students to learn from other universities and colleges, gaining knowledge not otherwise taught in the classrooms,” he added, fostering an environment of mutual respect and camaraderie. At the ceremony, the audience was also treated to a mesmerizing cultural extravaganza as students from Bennett University put up a dazzling performance that raised the spirits of all participants. Adding to the energy in the hall was a rousing performance by Rivaaz, the cultural dance club at Bennett University. Photo Courtesy: Maansi Sreejith. In an expression of gratitude to all visiting colleges, Bennett University Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sudhanshu Varma delivered the Vote of Thanks at the inaugural ceremony. He commended the dedication of Sports Officers Dr. Arun Kumar and Mr. Vineet Nehra in ensuring that the 2nd Edition of the annual sports festival saw light of the day on 22nd February, 2024. In acknowledging the importance of rules and the spirit of sportsmanship , Bennett University Sports Committee Secretary Ms. Kamakshi Singh administered the oath. She was joined by the Captains, Vice-Captains, and players present in the auditorium. Thus culminated the Inaugural Ceremony of SPORTIKON 2024. (The writer is a Semester IV student of the BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme.)

In the qualifying matches of cricket, students from Bhagwan Parshuram Institute of Technology (BPIT) faced off against Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Management (MAIMS) in the first match, while Hindu College clashed with OP Jindal Global University in the second match, marking the inaugural day of Sportikon 2.0. In the first encounter, BPIT won the toss and chose to bat, setting a target of 113 for MAIMS

By Sanya Bhattacharjee “The first things we checked once we got into this room were, the placement of the fire extinguisher and the main exit,” said the two representatives of Momentum India , Jeremiah Hamid and Richard Fernandez when they came for a Health and Safety Workshop at Bennett University . On the 20th and 21st of February, the students of The Times School of Media had the ideal opportunity to indulge in a two-day Workshop/Masterclass by Momentum India, a consulting and services firm on how to maintain Safety and Security at Film sets/ shoots. Momentum India is an industry leader in occupational health, safety, security, and sustainability planning, operations, and consulting. Day 1 began with Prof. Gauri Chakraborty introducing the students to the two representatives of Momentum, Richard and Jeremiah who have had experience in the industry for more than twenty years. The workshop aimed at making aspiring film producers, directors, and actors aware of how the importance of safety, security, and health should be prioritized at the very beginning stage of the creation of a film. To make the topic even more interesting and easy to grasp, they asked the students to create groups of 8 people where the students will be asked to come up with mitigations in a few ‘What Would You Do’ situations/ For Eg: what would you do if there’s a smoke in the cinema hall, if a person gets fits or seizures, if a crew member gets bitten by a snake, how to use a fire extinguisher’, etc. These group activities made the students indulge in intense brainstorming, and group consensus as well as getting to learn a new aspect as each person contributed to the discussion. The presentations were followed by some basic theoretical knowledge provided by the facilitators and covered the following facets: What is the difference between a hazard and a risk, What is Location Recce and when is it supposed to be carried out, Risk Assessment, Root Cause Analysis of any incident that has happened to avoid any future haphazard, Legal aspects of Film Production . The first day ended with Richard and Jeremiah sharing some on-set incidents and haphazard that took place and how they handled them. These were case studies that they made the students study to give them a more practical way of exactly understanding how things should be tackled when they go wrong. Day 2 started with an energetic hands-on exercise where the students were given a script of the Oscar-winning Hollywood film, ‘12 Years a Slave’ where they were asked to come up with all the problems or restrictions the makers or the crew might face while the scenes are being shot, be it the location, the weather, the terrain, etc. The risks associated with various departments, stunt safety, and understanding the probable stunts or action sequences from the script were the topics that they indulged in depth. The brainstorming session was carried out in the same manner as the previous day, where there was a case study taken under consideration and the location was the famous place in Delhi, Jama Masjid. An entire discussion was carried out to make sure we got the concepts right. There were graded assignments throughout the workshop and it ended with a short online multiple-choice question quiz and a group presentation.“As a film student, other than location, lighting, art direction, and props being under consideration, we often forget to take health and safety into consideration.Through this workshop, we understood the importance of health and safety measures on a film set which are necessary, and how easy and Non-negotiable they are," says a second-year BAFTW student, Shivi Ghakher.“The only thing we hoped to accomplish after this workshop was to bring a sense of responsibility in you all and to spread the message that safety, security, and health are not rocket science, it’s just being alert about your surroundings.” Richard and Jeremiah ended their workshop by revealing that they had worked with multiple high-profile companies and firms like Netflix and Amazon Prime while working on high-grossing movies and OTT shows.

Garnier one of the leading beauty brands in India had set-up a booth in Bennett University where they mixed beauty with science and art. The booth was set up near D5 stage and students had the opportunity to check various things there. Various stalls were set up in the booth like a green science lab where some Garnier volunteers explained about the science behind their skincare products through fun scientific experiments as well a hair colour zone where girls could get their hair coloured using different Garnier dyes for free. One such stall was set-up specially for trying and testing of skincare products like face cleaners and serums both for men and women.

By Anmol Singh Sethi The annual sports fest of Bennett University, Sportikon , is all set games and fun from February 22, 2024 and will go on till the February 25, 2024 most of it on the campus. There will be college-level teams from all over the nation participating in 14 sports competitions in cricket , football , basketball , badminton, volleyball, pickleball, chess and many others for a prize pool of a whopping Rs 7 lakh. The winning teams in cricket, football and basketball will get a cash prize of Rs 41000. Sporticon has grown over the years as more than just a sporting event. Apart from the opening and closing ceremony, there will also be a DJ and concert night, not to mention a bonfire for the students to enjoy their evenings. The visiting teams will be accommodated on the campus for the four-day event. Meanwhile, competing BU teams in various sports are going through the gears and have been putting in a serious shift to win their respective trophies. The university’s cricket team will be sending in their B team for this competition as their A team have been out to compete in the All-India University games which kickstarted on February 20. “We will be sending our B team to Sporticon this year, they are a very capable lot and we have high expectations from them,” BU’s cricket team coach Vikrant Mehla said. The skipper, Mohit Raj Singh, said that his B team has been playing well and both the teams will stay in contact and root for each other to win their respective tournaments. Bennett’s football team has also been going through rigorous sessions to prepare themselves for the challenges they’ll be facing in Sportikon. “There have been a lot of practice sessions and we have been playing matches every Saturday and Sunday,” Football team vice-captain Parv said. “We are very well prepared and our mindset is for the No 1 position,” he added. Sportikon 2024 will be a great opportunity for the students of Bennett University to showcase their sporting abilities and bring the trophies back to where they belong.

By Mohak Kapoor Knowledge, fun and laughter were brought splashed Cerebrum ’s event “How I Met Your Trivia: A Legendary Quiz” conducted on February 15, 2024. The event was one of the multiple events planned to be conducted under the pre-Aalekh event umbrella by Cerebrum and The Learning Resource Centre of Bennett University. The quizmasters were Yashovardhan Sharma and Zeel Umesh Bhagat, the quizzing head and member of the quiz department of Cerebrum, respectively. It consisted of questions and challenges posed on classic sitcoms like “How I Met Your Mother, The Office, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Modern Family , Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Big Bang Theory .” The trivia kicked off with a general online round, where more than 90 students participated. It consisted of a mix of 20 questions from the shows which had to be answered in less than 20 seconds. A total of 10 participants proceeded to the next round. The second round was a picture-based round after which only six participants secured their seats in the final round. The finale was a buzzer round where the person who was the fastest won it all. The trivia went down to the wire and witnessed a tie-breaker question to decide a draw between the first and second positions. Anwita Bhati, Sanskar Sharma and Divyaansh Jain secured the 1st,2nd and 3rd positions, respectively.

Bennett University ’s Student Council has officially revealed Uphoria ’24. The university is now set to host its annual fest on 15, 16 and 17th March 2024. In the grand reveal that took place on 16th February 2024, the council announced the theme of the fest to be “Band Baja Baraat.” The announcement was also done with the theme in mind. The student council and the club leaders dressed as “baraatis,” the wedding entourage. There also was a dhol procession throughout the college. “We have put in so much effort to make this finally happen. We held our hopes high and now they are finally taking shape. For some it's their first and for some their last fest. We wish to ensure that we provide an amazing experience,” said Aryan Jindal, President of the Student Council, while discussing how there is so much more to come, and this is only a glimpse into the coming days. The celebration of the announcement was enhanced by a great number of firecrackers and coloured smoke bombs. Students gathered in large numbers to see the event unfold. The announcement saw the unravelling of the banners with the dates of the fest written in bold letters. The students were enthralled by the news and seemed to already make plans. “I cannot believe that the fest is finally around the corner. I am just so excited because the fest is always fun. If the reveal is so majestic, I don’t even know how much better the final fest would. It is just going to be three days of joy and entertainment,” said Yashna Gupta BAJMC 2nd Year. The students now eagerly wait for the performers list to be released very soon. The news came after more than a year’s wait after the fest was postponed from its standard time in October.

By Prithvi Abhay Shankaregowda In a guest lecture session of Introduction to Advertising, held on February 16, 2024, with industry expert Muniza Tariq , students of Times School of Media gain insights into the role of AI in the future of advertising. After a brief overview of the history of advertising and vintage ads, Muniza emphasized how advertising has come a long way, “We just saw some vintage ads, can you imagine them being used in today’s time? A lot of them would be considered controversial. So, as the times have changed, advertising has evolved accordingly." She went on to compare advertisements of some well-known brands like Apple and McDonald's, pointing out the change in content over the years. After working for over 14 years in Advertising with brands like Hyundai, Make My Trip and Sony, she shared that content is everything and that the new generations have the upper hand because their whole lives revolve around creating and consuming content.Muniza talked about how an Ad Agency works, the behind-the-scenes inputs like market research and the future, “What’s next in Advertising? I know AI is playing a huge role, especially for the people who want to go for the creative side of advertising,” she added. The session took an interactive turn with the students pitching in their thoughts about the role of AI in creativity. Various points of view emerged about AI needing humans to give them appropriate prompts and AI’s ability to self-learn. When the ‘lack of human emotion’ element in AI-generated Ads was being discussed, an interesting theory surfaced, “What we think is a good ad which connects to us emotionally is slowly fading away. The new kinds of ads created using AI will change our perspective of how an ad should be and soon the AI ads are all we’re going to know,” said Anirudh Kuchibhotla, student of first-year BAJMC. To conclude the AI discussion, Muniza shared that “The human brain is a muscle and we need to keep using it for it not to die. AI can be used for boring things like product descriptions that will go in a booklet nobody’s going to read. But the feeling that you get when you come up with a catchy line, the joy of that is something else,” she added. She elaborated on how the AI market is predicted to become saturated and the demand for original human work will rise. As an author, she could really encourage the students not to lose their creative sparks and hold on to the joy of creating art, “You need to be mindful of how much you use AI. Let it do the tedious work but keep that kick of creating something new for yourself,” she said. The students' curiosity about the advertising industry was satisfied by this wonderful session, “I have started looking up to Muniza ma’am after this session. I had been interested in going into Advertising but was doubtful about the same, this session was really enlightening. The way ma’am spoke about the reality of the industry, how it works, it was amazing,” said Anoushka Saxena, a student of first year BAJMC.

The masterclass was titled ‘A Lesson for Performers Exploring Self in Space’ for the students of Bennett University to help bring out one’s innate performer on stage. It was organized in association with Acumen at Bennett University. Professor Hank Stratton, the Director of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and Professor Andrew Belser, Dean of Hixson Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, University of Nebraska held an acting masterclass and a portfolio presentation with the students of the Times School of Media.

By Medhansh Das The National Service Scheme ( NSS ) of Bennett University hosted a candle march “Ek Deepak Shaheedo ke Naam” (A lamp in the name of martyrs ) to honour the heroes, who sacrificed their lives in the 2019 Pulwama attack . The march started from the main gate with students lighting up their candles amid chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, with two students leading the march bearing the Indian flag till the flagpole, where the march ended with the national anthem. The march commenced with a moment of silence, allowing everyone to reflect on the gravity of the incident. The first candle was lit, and the gentle flames spread, illuminating the faces of those present. Slowly, the procession moved through the campus, guided only by the soft glow of countless candles. Students setting up the candles in remembrance of the martyrs of Pulwama . Photo by Vaayun Sachdeva “The march was conducted in such a well-disciplined manner, that it created a very serene and emotional environment,” said Amitosh Tripathi, a third-year law student and a participant in the march. Passersby joined the march spontaneously, drawn by the powerful emotion that enveloped the event. The unity of purpose transcended all differences, creating a strong sense of solidarity among the participants. The silent march continued through the university grounds, attracting onlookers from dormitory windows and academic buildings. The solemnity of the event resonated with everyone, transcending differences and bringing together the diverse community that comprised Bennett University. The candle march at Bennett University became more than just a remembrance; it became a testament to the resilience and unity of the community in the face of tragedy. As the candles were extinguished one by one, the embers of remembrance continued to glow in the hearts of those who had come together to honour the heroes of Pulwama. (The writer is a Semester 4 student of the BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme.)

By Pranavi Ambati Bennett University 's School of Computer Science and Engineering Technology is abuzz with orientations, meetings and events as the Bennett Undergraduate Research Society (BURS) is working to put together their annual flagship event ResCon 3.0 for the academic year 2023-2024. While the dates for the Research Conclave are yet to be announced, the BURS Core Team is on its toes to foster intrigue among students of the undergraduate programme. Helming the team are second-year CSE students Ayush Yadav and Atishya Pradhan as the club’s president and vice-president, respectively. Despite both belonging to the School of Computer Science and Engineering Technology, the club in itself is all-inclusive. It caters to students of all undergraduate programmes, irrespective of the discipline-specific school they formally belong to. “BURS is more than just a society; it is a nurturing environment,” Yadav said, addressing the club’s functioning. “One does not need to be an established researcher to be a part of the BURS. Anyone with even an ounce of curiosity to know about the world around us and willing to expand his/her learning is welcome to be part of this society,” he added. How then does BURS captivate the students who perceive it to merely be a society that convenes to discuss research methods and publish papers? “We organise multiple events throughout our tenure, all of which are intended to build anticipation up to the annual Research Conclave that takes place in April,” Pradhan explained. “We started off with our orientation programme christened ‘In The Loop’, that targets freshers and introduces them to the opportunities that lie with this club,” she added. It was ‘Jigyasa’, however, that proved to be the research society’s most popular event on campus, and one which was truly inter-disciplinary. Featuring a Faculty panel comprising professors from all academic disciplines, the event saw an open dialogue between students and academicians. Faculty panel sheds light on the vast world of research, aiding students navigate the complexities of an scholarly undertaking at the interdisciplinary event 'Jigyasa' . Elaborating on the event, Pradhan said, “The Faculty panel facilitated all doubts that the students possessed about the world of research, ranging from the need for exhaustive study, to what methodologies to follow. Through this event, we brought students a step closer to investing their time in research, which serves the objective of our society.” As two months remain until ResCon 3.0, the BURS leaders said they were looking to draw more attention towards their work and the avenues for young scholars through the club’s offerings. (The writer is a Semester 4 student of the BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme.)

By PRANAVI AMBATI Greater Noida : Prof. A. Michael Spence, the 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences for his study on market asymmetry, graced Bennett University and engaged in an informative panel discussion that left students in awe of his distinguished work. This occurred a day after his appearance as a guest at the ET Now Global Business Summit in New Delhi. Canadian Economist Rohinton P. Medhora, Chairman of the New York-based non-profit Think Tank ‘Institute for New Economic Thinking’ (INET), and its President, Prof. Rob Johnson, were also part of the panel, sharing their economic perspectives and views. The session was moderated by Ajaya Sharma, Senior Editor-Markets at ET Now. Bennett University Chancellor and The Times Group MD Mr. Vineet Jain, Times Group Board of Director Ms. Revati Jain, and INET’s South Asia Director of Strategic Planning Sunanda Nair-Bidkar too were in attendance, having facilitated this prestigious event for the young scholars at Bennett University whose interests lie in trade, finance and the new economic order. Bennett University Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Ajith Abraham started the event with a welcome address, announcing the line-up of speakers and their admirable accomplishments. He invited Prof. Spence to address the attendees, which comprised students, faculty, and deans across the various schools at Bennett University. “India’s rapid development will very likely thwart any eastward expansion of the new economic order that began to shift from Europe to the East due to developments in nations such as Taiwan,” said Prof. Spence, addressing India’s emergence as the digital economy with the best fintech architecture. Prof. Spence addressing the audience at Bennett University, The Times Group on the new economic order and the opportunities with emergent technology. Photo Courtesy: Kamakshi Jagdish Deshmukh. “The only speed breaker to this IMF projected growth rate of 7% would be economic shocks in the form of another pandemic or adverse climate change, which will disrupt the supply chain,” he added, stressing the need for diversification of the logistics network. The real challenge, thereby, according to Prof. Spence, lies in taking advantage of opportunities by developing appropriate countermeasures. PANEL ADDRESSES INFLATION , NEW TECHNOLOGY AND REGULATION Elaborating on the need for supply chain diversification, Prof. Spence contrasted the restraints faced by markets across industries after the pandemic. “For the longest time, economies across the globe were deflationary. Post-pandemic, people’s recognition of needs was enhanced, and we thus find ourselves in inflationary economies faced with supply constraints,” he explained. Panel comprising (from left to right) Moderator Ajaya Sharma, Prof. Rob Johnson, Prof. Rohinton Medhora and Prof. A Michael Spence. Photo Courtesy: Kamakshi Jagdish Deshmukh. Here, INET Chairman Prof. Medhora stressed the avenue of opportunities given the rise of new technology such as Generative AI. “Today, the source of wealth is locked in intangible properties. Small and Medium enterprises can accelerate their growth by foraying into this market, wherein the variable costs are low.” He also highlighted the role of the government as the only entity capable of levelling the playing field, given the limits of self-regulation. The panel also addressed questions posed by members of the audience. In one such response, Prof. Rob Johnson discussed the Office on Migration and commented on how India is seen by the emerging markets in Africa as the exporter of vision, given its growth over the last decade. POIGNANT TAKEAWAYS During the exchange, in addition to sharing economic insights, the panel also shared some poignant thoughts. “Humility is a must since you know you can never be too certain,” elucidated Prof. Spence. Equally resounding was Prof. Rob’s message to the audience, which stemmed from belonging to a family of physicians. His quip, “Diagnosis precedes remedy,” earned the audience’s cheer. (The writer is a Semester 4 student of the BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme.)

By Vanisha Rajesh Singh In a stimulating panel discussion that brought together eminent economic minds, Nobel Laureate Professor A. Michael Spence , Professor Rohinton Medhora , Chairman of the Institute for New Economic Thinking ( INET ), and Professor Rob Johnson , President of INET, engaged in a dialogue with Ajaya Sharma, Senior Editor and Finance Specialist at ET Now . This insightful conversation went deep into the core of economic change, the shifts brought about by the pandemic and uncovering the potential of India’s path to economic growth. The conversation opened with Sharma's probing questions to Spence about the ongoing economic turbulence. Spence, in his response, talked about the essence of economic change, framing it as a natural and turbulent process. He shed light on risks and their diversification, particularly in developing countries. "Due to the pandemic, we've experienced inflationary pressures and a rapid surge in interest rates, which happened because of supply disruptions," he said. Sharma, leading the discussion, questioned Spence about the possibility of financial markets reverting to pre-pandemic conditions. Spence's response was firm, "No, we are not returning to the pre-pandemic norm; that would be irrational. The post-pandemic world brings with it higher real interest rates, increased capital costs, and an economic landscape distinct from what we've known for the past four decades." Turning the lens toward technology and AI, Spence highlighted, "We are witnessing a rapid evolution of powerful tools. For example, Chat GPT achieved remarkable success, attracting 100 million users in just two months." Expressing concern, he added, " Generative AI is a powerful tool based on how quickly it changes its domains. Automation bias poses a threat too, which is terrifying. We need policies to prevent AI misuse while ensuring broad and responsible access for all." Sharma then shifted the focus to the intersection of AI and media, questioning Spence about the imperative for increased regulation. “We need more regulation to close information gaps and tackle misinformation today. It is important to balance information flow in this AI-driven world,” stressed Spence. As the discussion continued, Professor Medhora offered interesting insights into the governance dynamics and technological disruption. Shedding light on the shift towards ‘intangible’ assets, he talked about potential difficulties small Indian businesses could encounter in terms of technology. He emphasized how crucial the government is in guiding the way forward, and that there needs to be policies to maintain trustworthy information. In his words, "Government intervention is important for guiding us towards excellence, safeguarding information purity, and preventing the spread of false news." Expanding on governance, Medhora said, "Most countries are grappling with the challenge of governing in a world where wealth resides in intangibles. Training the current generation to adapt and control this environment is of utmost importance." Professor Johnson further enriched the discussion, exploring India's distinctive economic growth models and its Aatmanirbhar concept. He commended India's technological sophistication, envisioning its potential contribution to the rapid growth of the African continent. Johnson eloquently remarked, "We must redefine what 'we' means, many countries overlook this aspect. India stands out as a visionary, possessing clarity in these areas." Towards the end of the discussion, as the panel probed into India's sustainable growth prospect, Spence radiated optimism, stating, "There's no reason why India can't sustain growth. With its youthful demographic and unparalleled potential, India is experiencing remarkable expansion at an extraordinary pace."

Bennett University on Sunday celebrated 'Promise Day' of Valentine's Week with two events organized by Zenart, the yoga club, and Pulse, the event management club, alongside Cerebrum, the literary and debating society. Bennett University on Sunday celebrated 'Promise Day' of Valentine's Week with two events organized by Zenart, the yoga club, and Pulse, the event management club, alongside Cerebrum, the literary and debating society.

B y Medhansh Das Bennett University had the privilege of hosting Prof Sankar K Pal for an intuitive and immersive hybrid seminar on " Granular Data Mining in Video Analytics : Shallow to Deep Learning”. Sankar, a recipient of the Padma Shri award in Science and Engineering for 2013, as also the proud recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in 1990, the most coveted award in multidisciplinary science in India, is a leading figure in the field of data science and machine learning in the country. Currently, he is the president of the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata. The seminar, which was conducted in hybrid mode, drew participation from Faculty members and students of the engineering school. Some students occupied seats in the auditorium, while others connected and heard the words of wisdom from Prof Sankar through live streaming on YouTube. One question that raised the most concern was the involvement of Artificial Intelligence (AI). “AI has been influencing and changing the almost every industry for the past couple of years and I am definitely a little concerned about the future and where AI takes, but, in my opinion, the work labour that humans produce is something which cannot be replicated,” Sankar said. Sankar also talked about the latest developments and trends in the field of data mining and video analytics, resulting in a very fruitful session. (The writer is a Semester IV BAJMC student)

By Aditi Shrivastava The Sports Committee of Bennett University organised a two-day inter-house tennis tournament , Rage of Racquets, on the 8th and 9th of February. The tournament, which featured both singles and doubles matches, saw the four houses - Might Boltz, Heroic Hearts, Super Spades, and Keen Kickerz - competing to clinch the victory. “Although tennis isn’t a popular sport among the students of our college, through the inter-house tournament we attempted to encourage people to watch or even pick up the racquets. Altogether we received 30 entries, which is a step in the positive direction,” said Mohammed Almaz Ahmed, Tennis Team captain. As the four-day annual sports festival, Sportikon, is around the corner, students are preparing themselves to put up a tough fight against rival colleges that will soon visit the campus. (Anshula Lal member of the tennis team playing enthusiastically. Photo courtesy: Pranavi Ambati) “This tournament in some way allows us to prepare ourselves for the Sportikon. As I’ll be part of the BU line-up for Tennis, I want to discover what it is that I need to focus on,” said Ishaan Goel, a member of the Tennis team. Compared to the registrations for boys, the girls’ matches saw only five entries. Sports Committee Secretary Kamakshi Singh commented, “For various reasons, girls who were active in sports during their high school stage quit it after joining college. Although I may not understand why, I am always on the lookout to motivate them to continue playing or trying out a new sport.” Although there was immense participation from Heroic Hearts, students were waiting for the results and wanted their favorite house to win. This tournament not just only uplifted the spirits of the athletes but showcased how every student is enthusiastic to support their houses.

By Mohak Kapoor Bennett University’s Official Debating and Literary Club Cerebrum emerged victorious at Delhi University’s Miranda House “Suvakta MUN” held on 27th and 28th January, 2024. A total of eight students from different courses participated in the contingency that represented Bennett University. The participants were delegated to various communities across the competition including the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Environmental Assembly, the Human Rights Commission, and the International Press . The delegate’s role was to deliberate on various agendas across committees and draft resolutions on the final day. The International Press participants were handed different tasks in the field of reporting and photography. “We are delighted with their accomplishments and look forward to bringing many more laurels and accolades. We offer our warmest congratulations to the achievers” expressed the student council in a heartwarming mail. “I am proud to see my members win. It is a great moment for the club,” said Pranavi Ambati, Cerebrum’s Secretary. Model United Nations or MUN is a simulation of the real-world UN where thousands of students from schools and universities participate every year. It consists of debates, discussions and problem-solving. It helps them learn skills, such as diplomacy and international relations .

Times Group's technology expert Dhiraj Dhingra explained the working of the CMS Denmark system to Times School of Media's Editorial Board students. Through his two-hour workshop, students learnt the backend of website management