Edition 58

Orientation’22
08
Aarambh’22
10
CAT Diaries
22
Interview: Mr. Vinod Dham
30
Things Nerds Should Do at a Concert
38
For most of us, life can perhaps be best described as a series of days coalescing together and enveloping us in a
cocoon of monotony. This state of suspended animation is simply one of the many sacrifices that society demands
of us to place on the altar of stability. What then, makes the prospect of living bearable enough for all of us to tote
the weary load and move forward? Perhaps it has something to do with those rare occasions which enliven the dull
canvases of our lives with vibrant splashes of colour and make life, despite its many upheavals, worth living. It is
hardly a surprise then, that for all of us, no matter where we come from, the idea of celebration is deeply ingrained
in our psyche; from eagerly waiting for our birthdays as children to rejoicing on receiving our first job offers, the
enthusiasm that greets the occasional detour from our humdrum existences remains constant, regardless of age
and circumstance.
Considering the vitality the act of celebration brings into our lives, it is surprising that many of us intentionally create
barriers in the way of our happiness by choosing to ignore the many moments of contentment that life often gifts
us, in favour of those occasions that society deems worthy of being celebrated. When was the last time any of us
rejoiced on seeing the blue skies and abundant flowers that are nature’s bequest to us? Or looked back with great
fondness at an average day spent in the company of friends? Perhaps our wilful blindness to these small gifts stems
from our ill-advised attraction to the glitter of exoticism over the comfort of the familiar. Even the occasions we
do manage to celebrate are often marred by our tendency to seek discontent during the happiest of times; after
a certain age, birthdays are incomplete without ruing our advancing ages and no achievements are celebrated
without nervously looking over our shoulders at those whose accomplishments tower over ours.
It is not difficult to imagine how much easier things would be if we, for once, could view our lives through the oftderided
pair of rose-tinted glasses; the world may scoff at our naiveté but there is something singularly beautiful
about viewing life not as a conquest but as a celebration. And what better time to implement this philosophy than
the season of new beginnings, spring? This fest season, as we let ourselves be swept up by the wave of euphoria
enveloping the campus, let us not forget to pay special attention to the priceless moments of joy and friendship that
are a hallmark of the college experience. It will make the memories all the more sweeter.
Ananya Kapoor
Kapil Sharma

FROM THE DESK OF
Welcoming the year 2023 with a great deal of ardour, I would like to step back and reflect
on how far we, as the DTU family, have come in the past year. We entered 2022 with a
wave of uncertainty, with the third wave of the pandemic rolling out, and unexpectedly,
the month of February paved our way through to a year full of exuberance. Delhi
Technological University continues to carry forward its legacy through the year, being
ranked the 10th Best Engineering College (Overall) & 9th Best Government Engineering
College in India as per Best Colleges 2022 rankings by Open Media Network Pvt. Ltd.
Keeping the country’s mark on the world map with our excellent research output and
holistic curriculum, we have been ranked 601-800 in the Times Higher Education World
University Rankings 2023.
This semester, we inaugurated the long-awaited Raj Soin Hall, which was marked by
the esteemed presence of the entrepreneur and our beloved alumnus, Mr Raj Soin
himself. A grand welcome was given to the batch of 2026 as they made their way
into the halls of DTU. The orientation was a four-day fiesta marked by the zeal of yet
another generation of talented, scholastically and holistically brilliant minds that are
ready to take on global challenges. It was greeted by renowned professionals from
academia and the industry. The newly inaugurated hall, with a capacity of over 5000,
was also graced by the presence of several alumni as the Homecoming Alumni meet
took us all down memory lane. The Diwali Fest on campus saw a rich profusion of pomp
and show and was accompanied by cultural performances by many a talented student.
The success of these events and many others held within the alluring bounds of DTU is
purely attributed to the determined community of faculty, students, and staff. I would
like to congratulate every member of this family for their concerted efforts and how
they have successfully laid the path for another triumphant year for the institution. In
the coming year, we look forward to exciting accomplishments as we continue to lead
the way as a pioneer of technological education.
Since its inception, DTU Times has been an integral part of the community and has
been successful in publishing editions that continue to captivate its readers into the
world of DTU through its boundless charisma. I heartily congratulate the entire team of
DTU Times for their sincere efforts and dedication.
Prof. Jai Prakash Saini
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 3

THE
BULLETIN
Webinar on National Innovation Day
Department of Biotechnology, DTU organised a
webinar on National Innovation Day in October, 2022.
The webinar focused on “The Era of Indian Startup”.
Guest speakers included Dr. Vipin Kumar, Director,
National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad, Gujrat
and Prof. Abha Rishi, CEO, Atal Incubation Centre-
BIMTECH, Noida.
Problem Solving and Ideation Workshop
Department of Design, DTU organised a workshop
on Problem Solving and Ideation in November, 2022
for third-year students of B.Des. and B.Tech. and firstyear
students of M.Des. Mr. Vipin Yadav, Senior Lead
UX Design and Researcher, Nagarro, Gurugram was the
expert who enlightened the event. Dr. Ravindra Singh,
Asst. Prof., Dept. of Design, DTU was the Coordinator,
and Ms. Taruna Singh, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Design, DTU
and Mr. Neeraj Rathee, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Design, DTU
served as the co-coordinators.
Choose France Tour
The Embassy of France organised a seminar at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Delhi in November, 2022
about higher education opportunities in France for all
pre-final and final-year students.
Two-Week Faculty Development Program
The Department of Electrical Engineering, DTU
organised a two-week “Faculty Development
Program” under AICTE Training and Learning
Academy (ATAL) on “Electric Vehicle Technology:
Challenges and Infrastructure” in December, 2022.
Prof. Madhusudhan Singh, Registrar, DTU, served
as the coordinator along with the co-coordinator,
Dr. Mayank Kumar. The program was conducted
for Assistant & Associate Professors, Ph.D. and Post-
Graduate students, and focused on key aspects
of Electric Vehicle (EV) challenges such as Power
converters, Battery Management Systems (BMS), and
motor controllers.
National Education Day Webinar
The Human Resource Development Centre, DTU
organised a webinar in celebration of National
Education Day in November, 2022. Prof. Sathans
Suhag, Dean(Academic) and Professor, Electrical
Engineering, NIT Kurukshetra, and Prof. B.S. Pabla,
Dean(Academic), Professor, Mechanical Engineering,
NITTTR Chandigarh were the speakers. The webinar
discussed key insights and initiatives on National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Prof. Jai Prakash Saini,
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, DTU served as the chief patron
and Prof. Madhusudhan Singh, Registrar, DTU was the
patron.
Workshop on IPR Awareness
The Human Resource Development Centre, DTU
organised an online workshop on “IPR Awareness” in
November, 2022. Shri Arpit Joshi, Examiner of Patents
and Designs, National IP Awareness Mission Officer,
Patent Office, DPIIT Ministry of Commerce & Industry,
New Delhi, was the keynote speaker. Prof. Jai Prakash
Saini, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, DTU, served as the chief
patron, and Prof. Madhusudhan Singh, Registrar, DTU,
was the patron. E-certificates were provided to all
participants by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry,
New Delhi.
My Story: Motivational Session by Successful
Innovators
Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
DTU in collaboration with IIC-DTU organised a webinar
on My Story: Motivational Session by Successful
Innovators in November 2022. Prof. Jai Prakash Saini,
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, DTU served as the patron. Dr.
Vinod Kumar, HoD, Dept. of Computer Science and
Engineering was the organiser, and Dr. Rajeev Kumar,
Asst. Professor, Dept. of Computer Science and
Engineering served as the coordinator. Prof. David Megias,
Director, Internet Interdisciplinary Institute, Universitat
Oberta de Catalunya, Spain, and Mr. Shyam Sundar
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 4

Policetti, Co-founder, Kreativ Enerzie were the speakers
at the event.
Inter/Intra Institutional IDEA Competition
Department of Electronics and Communication, DTU
in collaboration with IIC-DTU and DTU-IIF conducted
an Inter/Intra Institutional IDEA Competition in
November 2022. Prof. Jai Prakash Saini, Hon’ble Vice
Chancellor, DTU served as the chief patron, and Prof. O.P.
Verma, HoD, Dept. of Electronics and Communication
Engineering, DTU was the patron. Dr. Sachin Taran,
Asst. Professor, Dept. of Electronics and Communication
Engineering, DTU and Dr. Anukul Pandey, Asst. Professor,
Dept. of Electronics and Communication Engineering,
DTU were the coordinators for the event. The ideas
were first submitted on Google form by participants
which were then shortlisted for a final presentation
offline. Cash prizes were given to the three best ideas.
India- Australia Academic Interaction on Water
Management Practices
An interactive and insightful lecture by Dr. Harpreet
Singh Kandra was organised by the Department
of Environmental Engineering in December, 2022
to understand the water management practices in
India and Australia. The session started with a formal
welcome of the guests by Prof. A.K. Haritash, HoD,
Dept. of Environmental Engineering. Presentations
and demonstrations were given by Dr. Harpreet, Dr.
Rajeev Kumar Mishra, Asst. Professor and expert in air
pollution, and Ms. Sonam Taneja, in their respective
fields of expertise. Dr. Harpreet Singh Kandra and his
students from Federation University, Australia, paid a
visit to different laboratories of the department. Nearly
40 members attended the session, including faculty
members, foreign students, Ph. D. scholars, along
with M. Tech and B. Tech students of the Environment
Department, DTU.
National Pollution Control Day Seminar
The Department of Environmental Engineering,
DTU organised a seminar to celebrate the “National
Pollution Control Day” in December, 2022 at Pragyan
Hall, Administration Building. Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Chief
Scientist, Transport Planning and Environmental Division,
and Professor, ACSIR-CRRI (Faculty of Engineering and
Sciences) and Dr. Shiv Pratap Raghuvanshi, Scientist,
National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti
graced the seminar with their wise words. Prof. Jai
Prakash Saini, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, DTU served
as the chief patron and Prof. Madhusudhan Singh,
Registrar, DTU was the patron. The grand success of
the seminar was also attributed to the presence of
Prof. Anil Haritash, HoD, the Dept. of Environmental
Engineering, DTU and Dr. Geeta Singh, Professor, Dept.
of Environmental Engineering, DTU.
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 5

DST-STUTI Training Program
The Department of Applied Physics, DTU, under the
esteemed guidance of Prof. Jai Prakash Saini, Hon’ble
Vice Chancellor, DTU, and Prof. Madhusudhan Singh,
Registrar, DTU, in collaboration with the Department
of Science and Technology, Government of India,
represented by Dr. Pratishtha Pandey, Head (Research
& Development) Infrastructure, DST and Jamia Hamdard,
Delhi, Project Management Unit - DST, headed by
Prof. Mohammad Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor, Jamia
Hamdard, organised a Training Program on “Synthesis
Methods and Characterisations of Materials and
Biomolecules” in November, 2022 at Pragyan Hall,
DTU. The week-long program saw an enthused
mass of attendees deeply interested in innovations in
environmental engineering.
Women’s Health & Hygiene Awareness Program
Department of Environmental Engineering, DTU in
collaboration with the Equal Opportunity Cell(EOC),
DTU organised an awareness program on “Women’s
Health and Hygiene” in November, 2022. The program
focused on the benefit of female students, faculty
members, and staff of the University. Dr. Nidhi Gha,
Gynecologist and a renowned medical professional was
the guest speaker who graced the occasion.
TEDxDTU
TEDxDTU hosted the annual TEDx event in October,
2022 in the B.R. auditorium, DTU. The event, which
was conducted after a gap of 3 years, had the theme
“Tat Tvam Asi” which translates to “Thou Art That.”
This Sanskrit expression, often quoted in Hinduism,
manifests as the relationship between the individual
and the Absolute. The speaker lineup comprised Mr.
Ravi Teja, CEO and Chairman of Robosoft Technologies &
official member of Forbes Technology Council, Mr. Ankur
Warikoo, Entrepreneur, YouTuber, content creator, investor,
CEO of Groupon India, Mr. Vipul Dhankher AKA VILEN
Songwriter, & Music Director, Mr. Kaushal Raj Chauhan,
Social Entrepreneur and Founder of Lotus Petal
Foundation, Mr. Yashodhar Gulati, Founder and CEO
of digital media news platform –The Tatva, Ms. Charvi
Jain, Psychologist and Mental health advocate. The
conference was well-received, with the speakers
discussing their perspectives on life. Warikoo spoke
about his journey and how he became an entrepreneur
and an author. He quoted, “Make sure all your choices
that you make in life come from a point of awareness and
not ignorance.” Vilen moved the audience by discussing
how he came out of his mental trauma and realised
himself as an artist. Ravi Teja expressed the importance
of the real meaning of one’s life. Charvi discussed the
myriad ways to achieve a sound and healthy state of
mind and advocated for mental health. The event was
a celebration of ideas, as influential speakers from
diverse backgrounds presented their TED Talks to
inspire the audience.

Inauguration of the Raj Soin Hall and the Diamond,
Golden, and Silver Jubilee Homecoming Meet 2022
The success of a university can be measured by
the benevolence and contribution of its alumni.
It is by their generosity that the university
leaps forward in terms of development while
setting the bar high for generations to come.
An edifice that stands adorning the campus of
DTU, the Raj Soin Hall was inaugurated during
the Diamond, Golden, and Silver Jubilee
Homecoming Meet on October 28, 2022.
Raj Soin Hall, a multipurpose facility located
near the Department of Design, could only be
brought into existence because of the kind
contributions of Dr. Raj Soin, CEO, Soin LLC,
distinguished alumnus of the Class of 1969,
who served as the Guest of Honour at the
inauguration ceremony of the Raj Soin Hall
and Homecoming Meet 2022. The day was
also graced by the presence of Prof. Yogesh
Singh, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of
Delhi, Mr. Vinod Dham, ‘Father of the Pentium
Chip’ and distinguished alumnus (class of 1971),
and Mr. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chairman and
CEO, PayTM, distinguished alumnus (class of
1998). The august ceremony began with the
lighting of the lamp and a floral welcome of
the guests. The other honourable dignitaries
present were Dr. Muktesh Chander, President,
DCE-DTU Alumni Association, and Shri Karnal
Singh, IPS, Former Chief of Enforcement
Directorate. This was followed by a welcome
address by Prof. Rajesh Rohilla, Dean,
Alumni Affairs, DTU. The guests celebrating
their Jubilees addressed the audience with
memorable speeches replete with anecdotes
from their college days, making the ceremony
all the more memorable as an air of nostalgia
enveloped the occasion. The Guest of Honour,
Mr. Vinod Dham, revisited his days at DCE and
recounted fond memories. All the guests were
honoured with tokens of appreciation by Prof.
Jai Prakash Saini, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor,
DTU, during the felicitation ceremony. As a
concluding gesture, the Diamond, Golden,
and Silver Jubilee Homecoming Meet 2022
publication was presented to the esteemed
guests as a memoir of alumni journeys
throughout the years.
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 7

ORIENTATION’22
The Orientation Cum Induction Program for the
new entrants joining DTU in 2022 was conducted
over a span of four days from November 7 to
November 11, 2022 at the newly established Raj
Soin Hall. After two years of virtual programmes,
the university finally came out of the shadow of
the pandemic and conducted the Orientation in
offline mode. The event was attended by enthused
freshers and their overjoyed parents.
The event started off with a wave of ardour as
Prof. Rajeshwari Pandey, Dean Academics
(UG), DTU, delivered a welcome address to the
audience. Enlightening addresses delivered by
Prof. J.P. Saini, Vice Chancellor, DTU, and Prof.
Madhusudan Singh, Registrar, DTU, further
captivated the audience through their sheer detail
and energy. What followed was the screening of
a documentary on DTU, which meant to convey,
in a nutshell, the long way that DTU has come
since its inception. The session proceeded as
the Guest of Honour, Shri Karnal Singh, Former
Chief of Enforcement Directorate, and the Chief
Guest, Prof. D. S. Chauhan, Former Professor, IIT,
BHU, addressed the students and shared their
invaluable lessons on this prestigious occasion.
Following this, DTU Times, the Official Newsletter
of DTU, was released, which was well received by
the audience. The ceremony was concluded by a
Vote of Thanks by Prof. Priya Mahajan, Associate
Dean Academics (UG), DTU. A session on “Your
Wings - Your Career” was presented by Dr.
Rajeev Mehajan, Scientist ‘G’ & Advisor, SERB. This
was followed by a campus tour to familiarise the
freshmen with the lanes of DTU.
Day 2 saw the gracious presence of Sh. Neeraj
Vasandani, Superintending Engineer, Central
Public Works Department, Prof. Manas K Mandal,
Visiting Professor at IIT Kharagpur, Dr. Gaurav
Gupta, MD, Psychiatry from PGIMER, Chandigarh,
and Sh. Sanjay Upreti, IRAS, 1990 Batch, Financial
Advisor, Border Security Force (BSF). The eager
crowd of students were also addressed by Prof.
Pravir Kumar, Dean, International Affairs, DTU,
Prof. Pragati Kumar, Dean, Industrial Research
Development, DTU, Prof. S. Indu, Dean Student
Welfare, DTU, and Prof. Rajesh Rohilla, Head, T&P
Department, DTU.
Day 3 began on a high note as Prof. Rajiv
Chaudhary, Dean Discipline, DTU, and Prof.
Dinesh Kumar Vishwakarma, Chief Warden, DTU,
addressed the audience through their gracious
words. Various speakers, including distinguished
DTU alumni shared their experience of being a part
of this extraordinary institution including Sh. Vinit
Tyagi, Alumnus, Class of 1995, Sh. Alok Bansal,
Alumnus, Class of 1992, Sh. Indranil Chowdhary,
MD, Telecom Services, and Sh. Darpan Jain, IAS
and Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce,
followed by HG. Amogh Lila Das, esteemed cofaculty
at IIM Ahmedabad, who gave an inspiring
session on Distraction Management. An address
by Sh. Ranjan Mukherjee, Commissioner for
PwD, Govt. of NCT of Delhi informed the students
about various welfare schemes devised by
the government. The event was concluded by
a thought-provoking motivational talk by Sh.
Virendra Kalra, Senior Manager, Canara Bank,
followed by Meditation & Health centred session
by Dr. Rahul Mehrotra, Director & Head, Non-
Invasive Cardiology, Max Super Speciality Hospital,
New Delhi.
Day 4 further acquainted students with the
diverse range of activities taking place here at
DTU. The dawn of the program was marked by a
seminar on Cyber Security by Sh. Dinesh Kumar
Yadav, Additional Superintendent of Police.
Shortly after, Prof. Priya Mahajan, Associate Dean,
Academics (UG), delivered an articulate address.
The diversity and acceptance at DTU was further
showcased by a Technical Talk by Sh. Prateek
Kishore, Director, TBRL, a session on “Your Dost”,
DTU’s initiative to promote better mental health,
and a Startup Session by Prof. Girish Kumar, CEO,
DTU-IIF. The orientation program concluded with
a group picture clicked at the iconic OAT.
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 8

Believing in magical beginnings, Cultural Council, DTU organised “Aarambh’22” to extend a warm welcome
to the freshers of the batch of 2022 on December 16 and December 17, 2022. The two days were filled with a
plethora of exciting events along with themed outfits including Cosplay for day one and Western Formals for
the second day. A point system was also implemented for different games, which would eventually decide the
‘Batch of the Year’.
Day one started off with an afternoon packed with mini-games such as Saanp Seedhi, Tug of War, Dialogue
Baazi, and Squid Game. Everyone revelled in the fest as the day unfolded a series of incredulous events. The
groovy beats of Ndee Kundu and Amanraj Gill coupled with thrilling performances by the various college
societies captivated every soul in the room. An electrifying performance by Fotty Seven capped off an amazing
day.
Day two began with many creative games like Meme making (an Online competition), Sidemen Tinder, Paper
Folding Dance, Treasure Hunt, and Lazer tag. This was followed by society performances and the much-awaited
annual contest, “Mr. and Ms. Freshers”. As the setting sun greeted the night sky, the OAT was jam-packed for
a mesmerising performance by the indie-pop band “Dream Note”. The two-day extravaganza was successfully
concluded with a heartfelt performance by Raghav Chaitanya.

FACULTY NEWS &
ACHIEVEMENTS
Awards, Honours & Conferences
Prof. S. Indu, Dean, Student Welfare
• Member, Selection Committee, Inter-University
Accelerator Centre
• Organiser, 16 th IEEE International Conference on Service
Operations and Logistics
Prof. Pravir Kumar, Dean, International Affairs
• Presenter, ‘Computational Analysis of Natural
Compounds as Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-5 Inhibitors
for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease’, IEEE Global
Conference on Computing, Power and Communication
Technologies, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
• Speaker, ‘Ubiquitin proteasome system and various PTMs
in neuronal disorders’, Synergistic Training program
Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure
Program, Department of Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard
• Speaker, ‘Consequences of altered level of cell cycle
proteins in post mitotic divided neurons and muscles’,
International Brain Research Organisation and Asia
Pacific Regional Committee School on ‘Understanding
Pathophysiology of Pain and Cognition using Animal
Experiments’, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
• Speaker, ‘Progression and drugs treatment for the reversal
of neurodegenerative disorders: Synthesis Methods
and Characterizations of Materials and Biomolecules’,
Synergistic Training program Utilizing the Scientific and
Technological Infrastructure Program, Department of
Applied Physics, Delhi Technological University
• Speaker, ‘Glimpses of Cell Culture Work: Standard
Operating Procedures and Limitations’, Synergistic
Training program Utilizing the Scientific and
Technological Infrastructure Program, Department of
Toxicology, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT, Vellore
Prof. Aditya Kaushik, Dept. of Applied Mathematics
• Attendee, ‘Faculty Development Programme on
Vocational Education’, National Education Policy
Prof. Bharat Bhushan, Dept. of Electrical Engineering
• Awardee, National Lifetime Achievement Award 2022,
Avishkar Foundation, Solapur
Prof. Jai Gopal Sharma, Dept. of Biotechnology
• Participant, ‘Orientation of teachers on the newly
developed textbook of Biotechnology for higher
secondary stage’, Department of Education in Science and
Mathematics, National Institute of Education, National
Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi
• Distinguished Lecturer, ‘Sustainable Development Goals:
A Tough Road Ahead’, University Grants Commission -
Human Resource Development Centre, Jodhpur
Prof. Seema Singh, Dept. of Humanities
• Speaker, ‘No COP OUT’, Pan India Campaign for
Children Rights, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• Panellist, ‘Gender Perspectives on Achieving SDG-5’,
World Federation of Engineering Organisations
• Country Lead, ‘Gender Barrier Perceptions in Science &
Engineering’, Association of Korean Woman Scientists &
Engineers, International Network of Women Engineers
and Scientists
• Presenter, ‘Asia Pacific Nation Network 2022 Meeting’,
International Women in Science, Engineering, and
Technology Conference, Penang, Malaysia
Dr. Shilpa Pal, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Civil Engineering
• Expert Speaker, ‘Damage detection using SHM’, 2 nd
International Conference on Construction Engineering,
Damascus, Syria
Dr. Virender Ranga, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Information
Technology
• Declared amongst the World’s Top 2% Scientists, Stanford
University, California, United States of America
• Attendee, 10 th International Conference on Advancements
in Engineering and Technology’, Bhai Gurdas Institute of
Engineering & Technology, Sangrur, Punjab
Dr. Dhirendra Kumar, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Applied
Mathematics
• Session Chair, ‘Congress on Smart Computing
Technologies’, South Asian University Center for Research
and Innovative Learning, New Delhi
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 12

• Attendee, ‘Emerging Research Trends in Computational
Intelligence Techniques to address Challenges in
Biomedical Data and Imaging’, IEEE CIS Summer School,
National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh
• Attendee, ‘Cyber Security: Managing Risk in the
Information Age’, Information Security Education and
Awareness-II Sponsored Short Term Course, Dr. B. R.
Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar,
Punjab
Dr. Geeta Singh, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Environmental
Engineering
• Co-ordinator, ‘National Pollution Control Day’,
Department of Environmental Engineering, Delhi
Technological University
• Co-ordinator, ‘Women’s Health & Hygiene’, Department
of Environmental Engineering, Equal Opportunity Cell,
Delhi Technological University
Ms. Indu Singh, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Computer Science
and Engineering
• Reviewer, Computers in Biology and Medicine
• Reviewer, Computers and Electrical Engineering
Mr. M. Ganesh, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Electronics and
Communication Engineering
• ‘A novel V-shaped slotted single, dual band frequency
reconfigurable antenna for C band / 5G applications’,
IEEE Silchar Subsection Conference, National Institute
of Technology, Silchar, Assam
Dr. Manjeet Kumar, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Electronics and
Communication Engineering
• ‘Hardware Requirements of Different Wavelet Filter
Bank Architectures for ECG Signal Denoising’,
IEEE International Conference on Interdisciplinary
Approaches in Technology and Management for Social
Innovation, Atal Bihari Vajpayee-Indian Institute of
Information Technology and Management, Gwalior
• ‘Underwater Image Restoration Using White Balance
and Retinex Algorithm’, IEEE International Conference
on Interdisciplinary Approaches in Technology
and Management for Social Innovation, Atal Bihari
Vajpayee-Indian Institute of Information Technology and
Management, Gwalior
• ‘Single DXCCTA Based Charge Controlled Floating
Incremental/Decremental Memristor Emulator’, 8th
International Conference on Signal Processing and
Communication, Department of Electronics and
Communication Engineering, Jaypee Institute of
Information Technology, Noida
• ‘A Grounded Flux Controlled Incremental/Decremental
Memristor Emulator’, 5th International Conference on
Multimedia, Signal Processing and Communication
Technologies, Department of Electronics Engineering,
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
• ‘Fourier Analysis based Respiration Rate Estimation
Using Courrputed Photoplethysmogram Signal’, 5th
International Conference on Multimedia, Signal
Processing and Communication Technologies,
Department of Electronics Engineering, Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh
Dr. Prashant Giridhar Shambharkar, Asst. Prof., Dept. of
Computer Science and Engineering
• Organiser, International Seminar to take global initiative
towards Enhancing Research and Collaboration in Data
Science and Artificial Intelligence
Publications
Prof. S. Indu, Dean, Student Welfare
• ‘Pedestrian Intention Prediction for Autonomous
Vehicles: A Comprehensive Survey’, Neurocomputing
• ‘Augmentation in performance and security of WSNs for
IoT applications using feature selection and classification
techniques’, Alexandria Engineering Journal
• ‘Distributed Network of Adaptive and Self-Reconfigurable
Active Vision Systems’, Symmetry
Prof. Pravir Kumar, Dean, International Affairs
• ‘Artificial intelligence and machine learning in precision
medicine: A paradigm shift in big data analysis’, Progress
in Molecular Biology and Translational Science
• ‘Cross talk mechanism of disturbed sleep patterns in
neurological and psychological disorders’, Neuroscience
and Biobehavioral Reviews
• ‘Quantum Dots: the Cutting-Edge Nanotheranostics in
Brain Cancer Management’, Journal of Controlled Release
• ‘Deciphering the molecular mechanism and crosstalk
between Parkinson’s disease and breast cancer
through multi-omics and drug repurposing approach’,
Neuropeptides
Prof. Ram Singh, Associate Dean, Student Welfare
• ‘Synthesis and Anti-cancer applications of Benzimidazole
derivatives–Recent Studies,’ Anti-Cancer Agents in
Medicinal Chemistry
• ‘Hydroxychloroquine: Chemistry and Medicinal
Applications’, HeteroCycles
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 13

Prof. Aditya Kaushik, Dept. of Applied Mathematics
• ‘A uniformly convergent defect correction method for
parabolic singular perturbation problems with a large
delay’, Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computing
• ‘A higher-order hybrid spline difference method on
adaptive mesh for solving singularly perturbed parabolic
reaction–diffusion problems with robin-boundary
conditions’, Numerical Methods for Partial Differential
Equations
Prof. Bharat Bhushan, Dept. of Electrical Engineering
• ‘Chaotic State of Matter Search with elite opposition
based learning: A new hybrid metaheuristic algorithm’,
Optimal Control Applications and Methods
• ‘Reinforcement Learning-Based Model-Free Controller
for Feedback Stabilization of Robotic Systems’, IEEE
Transactions on Neural Network and Learning Systems
Prof. Jai Gopal Sharma, Dept. of Biotechnology
• ‘Biodegradation of micro sized nylon 6, 6 using
Brevibacillus brevis, a soil isolate for cleaner ecosystem’,
Journal of Cleaner Production
Dr. Shilpa Pal, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Civil Engineering
• ‘Finite Element Analysis and Parametric Study of
Concrete Beams Under Impact Loading’, Lecture Notes
in Civil Engineering, 3 rd International Conference on
Structural Engineering and Construction Management
• ‘Analysis of Blended Concrete Cubes under Impact
loading using ANSYS’, IOP Conference Series: Earth and
Environmental Science, 2 nd International Conference on
Sustainable Energy, Environment and Green Technologies
• ‘Investigation on Geopolymer Concrete Reinforced with
Steel and Hybrid Fibre’, Lecture Notes in Mechanical
Engineering, Advances in Manufacturing Technology and
Management
Dr. Virender Ranga, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Information
Technology
• ‘IQR-based Approach for DDoS Detection and Mitigation
in SDN’, Defence Technology
• ‘An intellectual intrusion detection system using Hybrid
Hunger Games Search and Remora Optimization
Algorithm for IoT wireless networks’, Knowledge-Based
Systems
Mr. Anurag Goel, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Computer Science
and Engineering
• ‘Market-free characterisation of full-length
transcriptomes of single live circulating tumour cells’,
Genome Research
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 14
Dr. Dhirendra Kumar, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Applied
Mathematics
• ‘A noise robust kernel fuzzy clustering based on picture
fuzzy sets and KL divergence measure for MRI image
segmentation’, Journal of Applied Intelligence
Dr. Geeta Singh, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Environmental
Engineering
• ‘Development of Water Management Strategies for an
urban river reach: A case study of the river Yamuna,
Delhi, India’, Arabian Journal of Geosciences
Ms. Indu Singh, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Computer Science
and Engineering
• ‘Ensemble of Hybrid CNN Models for Brain Tumor
Classification’, 2 nd IEEE International Conference on
Intelligent Technologies
• ‘Intrusion Detection System for Databases: A Hybrid
Metaheuristic Clustering and Closed Sequential Pattern
Mining Approach’, 8th IEEE International Conference on
Advanced Computing and Communication Systems
Dr. Manjeet Kumar, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Electronics and
Communication Engineering
• ‘DCT Interpolation Based Design of Two-Dimensional
FIR Fractional Order Digital Differentiator’,
Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing
• ‘STSR: Spectro-Temporal Super-Resolution Analysis
of a Reference Signal Less Photoplethysmogram for
Heart Rate Estimation During Physical Activity’, IEEE
Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement
• ‘Multilevel Classification and Detection of Cardiac
Arrhythmias with High-Resolution Superlet Transform
and Deep Convolution Neural Network’, IEEE
Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement
• ‘A Novel Approach for Real-Time ECG Signal Denoising
Using Fourier Decomposition Method’, Research on
Biomedical Engineering
• ‘High Performance and Power Efficient Electrocardiogram
Detectors’, Energy Systems in Electrical Engineering
• ‘Green Electronics for Future Communication Systems’,
Green Communication Technologies for Future Networks:
Energy-Efficient Perspectives
Dr. Mukhtiyar Singh, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Applied Physics
• ‘Tuning of Thermoelectric performance of CrSe2 material
using dimension engineering’, Journal of Physics and
Chemistry of Solids
• ‘Carrier concentration mediated enhancement in
thermoelectric performance of various polymorphs of
hafnium oxide: a plausible material for high temperature
thermoelectric energy harvesting application’, Journal of
Physics D: Applied Physics

SOCIETY NEWS
BioSoc leaps forward
Biosoc conducted an industrial visit to
Milkyway Mushroom Spawn (Tronica city)
in September 2022 to witness the incredible
mushroom spawn seeds on display and learn
from the top-notch laboratories.
BioSoc also organised an offline talk session on
Translational Bioinformatics by Dr. Sandeep
Kumar Dhanda, a bioinformatics research
scientist at St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital with over a decade of experience
in the field. The event’s main aim was to
highlight bioinformatics’ importance and
career prospects by gaining insights into daily
applications.
NSS revisits the roots
BioSoc
NSS DTU organised a rural camp, Parangat
2022, in Achrol village in the Jaipur district of
Rajasthan in December 2022 for its volunteers
to understand the various aspects of rural
life. The volunteers interacted with the board
members of Vatsalya NGO. They appreciated
the routine followed by residents on the
campus and involved themselves in a myriad
of development activities such as painting,
landscaping, nukkad-natak, visits to local
schools, team meal preparation, etc. Even
Vatsalya members enjoyed themselves while
guiding the young volunteers. The journey
concluded with memories of bonding.
Pratibimb exhibits excellence
The film’s wing of the society made a short
film on the theme of Corruption Free India
in collaboration with the Indian Renewable
Energy Development Agency, which was
screened for Vigilance Awareness Week 2022.
Within the same collaboration, the street wing
of the society performed a play at the DTU
Diwali Mela. The street wing also performed for
Extension and Outreach Development of DTU
at Badhwala village for Vigilance Awareness
Week 2022.
The street wing secured 3rd position in the
Street Play Prelim Competition organised by
IIT Kharagpur. The film’s wing secured 2nd
position with their film, ‘SH_T’, in the Short
Filmmaking Competition at Waves organised
by BITS Goa. Aryan Moon from the stage wing
secured a position in the top 3 in the Monologue
Prelim of IIT Kharagpur. Umesha Kanojia of
the stage wing also secured a place in the top
3 in the Stand-Up Act Prelim of IIT Kharagpur.
The stage wing also performed its play at the
esteemed Create Theatre Festival.
Pratibimb
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 15

Rotaract Club of DTU Regency
celebrates Diwali
The Rotaract Club of DTU Regency organised
its flagship fundraiser event, Diwali Mela, to
celebrate the festival of lights. They collaborated
with several NGOs and helped them sell their
products by setting up free stalls. They also
provided free coupons to 90 underprivileged
students to enjoy the Mela. With several
competitions, food and game booths and
cultural performances, the event was successful
and saw a footfall of 25000+ students from over
50+ colleges. The funds raised through the
sales were donated to CanSupport. The event’s
highlight was sky-lantern lighting at the end of
the evening. University professors and officials
graced the occasion from IREDA. The club also
provisioned for letterhead exchanges between
the other visiting clubs.
Sahitya bags a bunch
Sahitya, the Literary and Debating Society
participated in the Malaysia United Asian
Debating Championship 2022. A team
comprising Ashutosh Bahuguna, Pranjal
Singla and V. Sayiram were the Partial Double
Octa-Finalists and Sudiksha Aggarwal chaired
Partial Double Octa-Finals.
V. Sayiram participated at Premchand
Memorial Debate 2022 in a cross team and was
the Semi-Finalist at the tournament. Shashwat
Dash and Vansh Chadha were the 4th and 2nd
best judges respectively at the Open Grand
Finals of the tournament.
At Trivium XIII 2022, Angad Singh Chawla
and Vansh Chadha went in a cross team. They
were declared the Open Champions at the
tournament with Angad and Vansh being the
3rd and 2nd best speakers respectively at the
tournament.
The team comprising Pratham Dikshit and
Vansh Chadha were declared the champions
and the team comprising Angad Singh Chawla
and Shashwat Dash were declared runners-up
at Stephen’s ProAm Debate 2022.
Himan Nayak judged the Open Grand Finals
and was declared as the Best Judge at SRCC
Pre-ABP 2022.
Team Defianz Racing - DTUSDC
races ahead
Team Defianz Racing conducted the Formula
Bharat Roadshow in November within DTU,
which students attended across the Delhi NCR
circuit with extraordinary vigour and passion.
The participants had an opportunity to network
with members from other formula student
teams and with volunteer staff, such as reviewers
and judges from Formula Bharat itself. There
were also several insightful and interactive
sessions on the rulebook clarifications, business
plan events, and a design event held at the
competition.
Team Defianz Racing
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 16

IN OTHER NEWS
» DEPTH participated in the Annual Sports Conclave, winning 130 medals
amongst various undergraduate to faculty level winners.
» Indian Game Theory Society organised a slew of Stratathons at Ramanujan
College, Shri Venkateshwara College, and Hindu College in November 2022.
» The Girls’ Basketball Team participated and won the bronze medal at Udghosh
2022, the annual sports fest of IIT Kanpur.
» Madhurima bagged the 1st position in Avalanche, the solo singing competition
of University College of Medical Sciences.
» The team of Kunal Dugar, Nishtha Jain and Ishi Thakur from DTU Consulting
Group secured 2nd position in Ideathon organised by Bennett University.
» UAS-DTU organised the event AUVSI-SUAS 2022. The team also won 3rd prize in
the technical design category amongst 75 international teams.
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 17

STUDENT NEWS
RESEARCH PAPERS PUBLISHED &
CONFERENCES ATTENDED
Harsh Pipil, Ph.D., ENE, 4 th Year
Shivani Yadav, Ph.D., ENE, 4 th Year
Sonam Taneja, Ph.D., ENE, 3 rd Year
‘Soil–Water Interactions and Arsenic
Enrichment in Groundwater’,
Hydrogeochemistry of Aquatic Ecosystems
Harshit Chawla, Ph.D., ENE, 3 rd Year
Mallika Vashist, Ph.D., ENE, 2 nd Year
‘Carbonate Chemistry, Carbon Cycle, and
Its Sequestration in Aquatic System’,
Hydrogeochemistry of Aquatic Ecosystems
Majed Ibrahim Issa Al-Sari, Ph.D., ENE, 3 rd
Year
‘Managing the Organic Municipal Waste
in Palestine: Linking Policy, Practice and
Stakeholders’ Attitude Towards Composting’,
Journal of the Air & Waste Management
Association
Barkha Singh, Ph.D., ECE, 2 nd Year
‘Quantum Computing based Image
Representation with IBM QISKIT liberaries’,
International Conference on Recent Advances
in Computer Science and Engineering, Jamia
Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Mallika Vashist, Ph.D., ENE, 2 nd Year
‘Potential of Individual Leaf Traits and Leaf-
Associated Microorganisms in Removal of
Particulate Matter’, International Conference
on Trends & Recent Advances in Civil
Engineering, Amity University, Noida
Arkajyoti Chakraborty, B.Tech., EP, 4 th Year
Pankaj Gupta, B.Tech., EP, 4 th Year
‘An Emotion-Guided Approach to Domain
Adaptive Fake News Detection Using
Adversarial Learning’, 37 th Association for
the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
Conference on Artificial Intelligence,
Washington, United States of America
Pankaj Gupta, B.Tech., EP, 4 th Year
‘Transformer-Based Named Entity
Recognition for French Using Adversarial
Adaptation to Similar Domain Corpora’,
37th Association for the Advancement of
Artificial Intelligence Conference on Artificial
Intelligence, Washington, United States of
America
Manasvi Goyal, B.Tech., PIE, 4 th Year
‘The Awkward World of Python and C++’,
Advanced Computing and Analysis
Techniques for Physics Research, Bari, Italy
Saksham Checker, B. Tech., EP, 3 rd Year
‘Fake News Detection System Using Featured-
Based Optimized MSVM Classification’, IEEE
Access
Tayyab Khan, B. Tech., PIE, 3 rd Year
‘Comprehensive review on latest advances
on rechargeable batteries’, Journal of Energy
Storage
AWARDS & COMPETITIONS
WON
Aradhya Saxena, M.B.A., 4 th Year
Finalist, Global Student Entrepreneur Awards,
Entrepreneurs’ Organisation, Jaipur
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 18

Ayush Jain, B.Des., 2 nd Year
Winner, The Inventor Challenge, Colors
Infinity
Ishi Thakur, B.Tech., BT, 3 rd Year
Kunal Dugar, B.Tech., BT, 3 rd Year
Nishtha Jain, B.Tech., BT, 3 rd Year
Runners-up, Ideathon, Bennett University,
Greater Noida
Aastha Singh, B.Tech., ENE, 3 rd Year
MITACS Globalink Research Internship,
Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal,
Canada
S. Meerashree, B.Tech., ENE, 3 rd Year
MITACS Globalink Research Internship,
University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Baibhav Kumar, B.Tech., ME, 3 rd Year
Winner, India and South Asia Region finals,
Speak Out for Engineering 2022, Institution of
Mechanical Engineers, Goa
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNSHIPS &
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
Manasvi Goyal, B.Tech., PIE, 4 th Year
Summer Research Scholarship Programme,
University of Auckland, New Zealand
Riddhim Sehgal, B.Tech., CHE, 3 rd Year
MITACS Globalink Research Internship,
Université INRS, Montréal, Canada
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 19

DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 22

DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 23

DTU Times interviewed Dr. Raj Soin, CEO, Soin LLC and distinguished alumnus of the
1969 batch of Mechanical Engineering who was the Guest of Honour at the Inauguration
Ceremony of the newly constructed Raj Soin Hall & the Homecoming Alumni Meet 2022.

Dr. Raj Soin
CEO, Soin LLC and Distinguished Alumnus
(class of 1969)
How was your time at DCE?
College is a place where you really start to become
what you are. This is because prior to that you are
still being moulded and affected by parents but
in college you are completely independent. I wish
I had spent more time studying but I didn’t. One of
the things I realised was how much I liked studying.
In our education system there is a lot of cramming
and contrary to reality, you are expected to remember
everything and perform every task.
How do you think India can move towards a more
concept-oriented system of education?
It is slowly trying to. In my observation, education
here seems to be a source of pressure. Education is
extremely significant in high school because it builds
the basics. Exposure in college is very different and
the biggest thing to master in life is how to deal with
people. You can keep learning but not be able to apply
it. So college is the time where you learn how to learn.
What prompted your shift to finance and business?
My interest was in motivating people, so I switched
to industrial engineering, which had a lot more to do
with statistics, psychology and management. I can
walk into a room, talk to 5 people, lay out a dream and
make sure they follow through with it, which is just
motivating people.
Since you’ve been into Venture Capital, a highly
competitive space, what is your take on the Indian
Startup Ecosystem and any piece of advice for
budding entrepreneurs?
I think it’s getting a lot of traction right now. In this
instance, I have suggested that professors work with
alumni to assist them with financing, as they are in
a better position to guide them. There is no dearth
of ideas, but problems arise when Venture Capitalists
are unable to identify the needs of the country. This is
where the role of entrepreneurs comes in.
Do you think Indian universities should also form
alumni associations that periodically contribute to
their institutions?
I’m a strong advocate of alumni associations funding
programmes and infrastructure developments at
universities and have spoken to people about the
same. Alumni organisations should represent the
campus, be managed by the campus and not by
external organisations. A certain pride is associated
with being an institution’s alumni, and it is important
that alumni have the opportunity to contribute to
similar initiatives since we ourselves feel we owe the
institution a debt of gratitude.
In your opinion, what is the motivation behind funding
the dreams of entrepreneurs and what is your thesis
for identifying successful companies?
You get about a hundred ideas a month and only
consider a handful of them for further evaluation. You
can cull the number down further to just one while
having a strong understanding of that sector. At the
founder’s level, they need to be extremely convinced
and passionate about their idea. Your belief needs to
be very strong because Venture Capitalists are not
just investing in a concept but also in the ability of the
team to actually make something happen.
What advice would you give to the students of DTU?
Enjoy your time. One talent you must have is the
ability to communicate. You may have the most
brilliant idea but if you cannot present it effectively,
you can’t make progress. This applies in all spheres
of professional life. So, take time and become a very
proficient communicator.
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 27

Mr. Vinod Dham
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 29

The night is lit, spirits are
pumped, and the entire
campus blooms with
exuberance with the onset of
an enthralling fest.
Peer into an unending abyss
of creativity, expression, and
emotion, powerful enough to
engulf one and transcend them
to a surreal space. Awestruck
and mesmerized, the crowd
drowns itself in tuneful music.

An ecstatic celebration
of artistic wonder
embraces the starry
eyed crowd in an
intoxicating reverie,
leaving all with a night
to cherish.
47
47
47
m
.
Anant Vohra (3rd yr ME)
Arein Gupta (3rd yr EP)
Manvir Singh (4th yr Bdes)
Priyanshi Anand (3rd yr SE)
Shanal Bhele (4th yr ME)
Designed By Nishant Sharma

Illustration by Saurabh Sharma, 3rd Year, B.Des.
Mosaics,
Journeys,
& other Allegories
Ananya Rath, 3rd Year, B.Des.
Livsnjutare | (n) A Swedish word meaning, “enjoyer
of life”
If you are reading this, congratulations! You’re a
human. And if you are a human, there is no denying
that you, too, have atleast one dream. Now, I am
no one to say that this dream of yours is any lesser
or more significant than Mr. Martin Luther King Jr’s
dream. However, given that you are here, standing
in DTU as a part of a crowd that walked into this
place already as the creme de la creme of millions,
chances are, you have, what most would consider
big dreams.
An internship at the top recruiting tech company?
Placement at an MBB? An ivy-league admit? Or
maybe you are still figuring it out.
I am not going to lie—it is a daunting journey
ahead. And the bad part is, you won’t always have
a map. But the good part is, that the World is a
big place, and if you are resilient enough, life finds
a way. In college (and, extension, life), there is no
one way to get what you want. It is a process with
many milestones, opportunities, exits, and options
along the way.
So if it’s a long, confusing, tiring journey ahead, why
not celebrate every little thing that brings you joy?
I promise you won’t lose sight of your destination
if you stop and enjoy a cup of chai along the way.
After all, what are you, if not an intricate mosaic of
all the things, people, and experiences that have
left an indelible mark on your life? So choose to
make it a happy mosaic. One with millions of little
colorful pieces, making it a vibrant, extraordinary,
memorable mosaic. Most importantly, make
sure it is a mosaic YOU love, your magnum opus
celebrating a life so drunk on moments of euphoria
and ecstasy that you experienced. Oh! *whispers*
and to hell with what the World thinks.
In the end, you are not who you aspire to be.
Still, you can always let your little dreams and
achievements, and joys calcify into a beautiful life
that you would’ve truly celebrated and enjoyed
living.
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 32

PLATEAUING
DOPAMINE
Saujanya Sood, 3rd Year, IT
I fade in.
I am greeted by a mail this morning, from a
professor I have been meaning to work under for
months now, telling me he is willing to offer me
a project under him. My heart skips a beat. I call
my mother, my sister, and my friends, exclaiming,
barely catching my own breath. Within a week, I
have it all figured out - tickets booked, suitcases
packed, university hotspots researched — I am
psyched as ever. Oh, all the people I will meet,
the things I will learn. I am on a train, going to
a different city all on my own, and yet, I feel like
I am running. I look outside — and I look back,
my life has been a celebration in preparation for
a rather larger celebration in the last week.
I fade out.
Here I am, a couple of weeks later, going home
with a heart and a phone full of memories, and
all my brain is asking me now is, “Now what?”
Everything in the last three weeks has been
like the train I am currently in. But now what?
Where is my dopamine rush? Why am I suddenly
uncomfortable? Why don’t I feel like I am home
when I am not running? Running to a new city, to
a new environment, to work, to party? I become
a square wave, constantly on an adrenaline high
but seeking short-term dopamine highs, again,
and again, and again, somehow never finding a
shore to rest on.
Is this how it is supposed to be? Unsettling as it is,
I am living in the after-the-party’s-over zone and it
forces me to rethink the act of seeking celebration
and wondering whether such happiness really
is the aim I mean to chase in life. We define
landmarks in our lives, festivals, birthdays and
achievements, selectively celebrating sand-dunes
that are bound to shift, and throw us in the
process, into a valley as we try to hold on to the
peak.
Would we be better off if what we were seeking
was a plateau? Is a plateauing brain a happier
one?
Illustration by Preeti Das, 3rd Year, COE; Designed by Mehak Singhal, 3rd Year, B.Des.
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 33

Illustration by Sarthak Sharma, 3 rd Year, B.Des.
The Diary of Pinocchio
(Based on the story by Carlo Collodi)
“Once upon a time, there was a piece of wood, not
an expensive piece of wood, a common block of
firewood.” My name is Pinocchio, I am an ordinary
piece of wood. As a leaf quivers, as a bird sets sail;
as a mother sings, as this story begins - I remain
ordinary, I remain masked. I am indifferent and mute;
still and all, tender and impassioned. I am impatient,
maybe ungrateful, impulsive, and naive. I like the
mellow springs, I like the chilly nights. I am a little
warm, enmeshed in strings​- mute with a hundred
poems, unveiled with assumed emotions.
“Lies, my boy, are known in a moment. There are two
kinds of lies, lies with short legs and lies with long
noses. Yours, just now, happen to have long noses.”
After every lie was another lie; and a truth behind
each. I refused to accept the roses, the sunflowers,
the lilies; I refused to share the sunshine. “Good boys
always tell the truth.” “I am Pinocchio, and I always tell
lies.” I have been dishonest. I have been belligerent,
and gluttonous, I know. But I have also walked past
being barely human.“To-morrow I cease to be a
puppet, and I become a boy like you and all the
other boys.” Rummaging through the paraphernalia
of my strings, I have always promised to prune
them. I always fit into the shapes carved by others,
colouring myself into their lines, and committing
myself to a seamless marathon of fitting in. One for
the laugh and two for the show, I begin my race. But
how do I win when I want to lose this race?
I have danced my way through some beautiful days,
forgetting when I’d trip and bumble and shamble. “I
met some really nice people, Jiminy. They helped
me and they didn’t even have to.” “Well, that’s what
friends do.” Today, I celebrate my individuality - my
peculiarity. I celebrate my flawed story with cheers,
woo hoo, huzzah! And I write this to the friends
and the toasts and celebrations, for the moments
unforgettable, and to what has made me human - I
am Pinocchio, I’ve got no strings to hold me down.
And, to the celebration of truthful friendships - it is
you why I have no wretched mask today, why I have
uncovered my vulnerabilities and strengths, soaking
emotions into my heart. I now feel the sentiments of
humans being puppeteered by situations, and my
heart beats enunciated, like a marionette in a high
wind - I feel belongingness. I celebrate that today I
have a human heart encased in a rock-solid piece
of wood. I celebrate when I look out at the world,
which is always so unusually sparkling, when I feel a
sense of eeriness, just like a common human. I feel
the wind, I adore its modesty, and fear the wrath. My
name is Pinnochio, and I am a real boy.
Rishika Sinha, 3rd Year, ENE
Manvi Nilaya, 3rd Year, ENE

ANti - hero
The vivid
surrealism of
our childhood
is what made it
special. I’m not
talking about
waistcoatwearing
rabbits
and a Mad
Hatter, but surely
the orange
marmalades
and long hours in
the sun. It was a
wonderland of joy
and imagination
and everything
felt like it came
straight out of
Carroll’s head.
We didn’t have
the Cheshire Cat by our shoulders faintly
whispering to us, but we had our heroes as our
guiding spirits. Simple, ordinary humans with
extraordinary personalities. A teacher, a sibling,
some public figure or maybe a neighbour.
We looked at them with awe and adulation.
And while we had a warped view of the world,
limited by both our age and experience, we
were sure these humans were perfect. Majestic,
like a tiger, without any vulnerability. Someone
who inspired us to see the world in a different
way.
Strong. Compassionate. Resilient. We emulated
all the things that we wished to be. And found
our own identities in the process of gaining
their appreciation. Completely charmed and
enamoured by
our heroes, we
would often look
up to them in
moments of
uncertainty.
But once we
came out of our
rabbit holes to
transform into
pragmatists,
we started
to see the
cracks in their
armours. Our
heroes—
reduced,
lessened, and
humbled,
perhaps, by the ageing process.
With every pound gained, and every hair lost
or turned grey, another layer chipped away.
We started to see them much like who they
were instead of beguiling ourselves with who
we wished them to be. Maybe because it
was punctuated by our sense of connection
with them, or maybe because we didn’t quite
understand the full spectrum that life has to
offer us. But while our perspective on people
has evolved to realise their imperfections, we
still have the choice to admire them regardless.
There may not be an archetypal hero in our
world, but we can celebrate our anti-heroes
just the same, with affection and gratitude.
Ishita Mehta, 3rd Year, SE
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 35

CHERISHING THE QUOTIDIAN
- Ritwij Kashyap, 2 nd Year, IT -
A
Illustration by Tejasv Mohan, 4 th Year, B.Des.
Waking up to the all too familiar alarm and peering at the phone screen through a
wink, only to discover the blessed notification of that 8 AM class being cancelled. At
that moment, the blanket feels warmer, the bed feels cosier, and no matter how shortlived,
that feeling of total bliss seems unmatched.
Our lives are full of such little bundles of joy scattered across our quotidian quests. The
subconscious celebration of these cherishable moments is one of the most beautiful
ways of paying homage to the virtues of the human spirit. These moments may seem
insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but our innate elation is evidence that we
do not live in the grand scheme of things after all.
There are moments of obvious joy. I say obvious because there is usually a societal
consensus on the celebration of such events. Birthdays, weddings, festivals - you get
the idea. Now, sipping on that perfect cup of tea while basking in the sun may pale
in comparison to the glamour of a party for some people. However, the joy that I
derive from moments where there is no expectation of it distinguishes these nuggets
of happiness from the moments of obvious joy.
At a time when happiness has become increasingly scarce, finding beauty and
significance in the ordinary moments of life and recognizing that they can be just as
meaningful as grand or extraordinary events is a boon to humankind. In the quest
for true bliss, we tend to venture far and wide in the hope of coming across the secret
to happiness, all the while neglecting the pieces of the puzzle we encounter on the
journey.
I believe these unexpected moments of gratification are what inherently drives us and compels us to look forward to things. Perhaps
what compelled me to write this was the subconscious expectation of the unexpected, the joy I can now experience, having finished
writing.
COMMOTION BENEATH THE ICE SHEET
- Aditya Singh Mann, 3 rd Year, ECE -
When Louis Armstring sang, “What A Wonderful World”, life indeed seemed better. When
David Gilmore’s chords made time stand still, the deepest dormant emotions jolted. When
Adele hit a high note, eyes closed and the head lifted.
Music is just another apparatus to haul into a dimension only known to an individual away
from the clang of the world that we all share. It’s like the sweet few seconds right after the
splash when you dive into a pool completely feeling yourself and the sketchy fast moving
thoughts halt guising as if it was until eternity before returning to the surface.
It is here, in this alternative reality that makes your head sway and body groove. If there
are a thousand genres then there are a million more ways to unravel them because each
melody attunes differently to various intonations since songs are tickets to a universe in your
subconscious continuously being built by experiences and memories and aestheticised by
perceptions wherein your creative self can unboundedly hover around, foray into a multitude
of possibilities, dream, imagine and take comfort while basking in abundant emotions.
This space is yours to the hilt, celebrate and dance like nobody’s watching, cry as if it were a
loyal friend you share profound sorrows with, abscond from the noise of existence and take
refuge for it is your safe place. The belongingness here is comforting that stays put to the
utmost degree of companionship.
Illustration by Shreeya Shrivastav, 4 th Yr, B.Des.
From the facade of it, the life flourishing beneath cold and dry frozen lakes isn’t apparent but there subsists commotion, complexity
and discomposure. Similarly, the rollercoaster of emotions steering from our sound of music within, making us go astray from the
actualities of life, doesn’t manifest outside comprehensively making only us aware of it. The assortment of fantasies experienced as
a main character in our la la land are far and wide but solely ours. Music can bring out a smile or leave you teary eyed, discerning
abstractions of love, solitude, nostalgia, remembrance, immortality and regret amongst countless others.

A Fireside Chat With Myself
Abhimanyu Dayal, 2 nd Year, SE
Designed by Vaibhav Srivastava, 4 th Year, EE
.Des.
“Tea or coffee?”
“Would one be safe assuming you have milk?”
“Interesting choice. Was that a Tarantino reference?”
“You know me well. A glass of warm milk would be
sufficient, thank you.”
I placed the glass in his hand and sat down opposite
him, a cup of tea in mine. The fire crackled comfortably,
loosening winter’s icy grip. I looked into his cold brown
eyes, identical to mine, studying me as I did him.
“I’ll be honest, I was somewhat surprised to get your
invitation. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“We’ve known each other for over twenty years, lived
together even, and yet we have never talked, just the
two of us. There’s always been others present, and
they’ve always been the topic of conversation. I want to
talk to you, about you, just this once.”
“That’s fair. Let me start simple, then — how are you?”
“That’s the wrong question. Some days I’m happy, some
days I’m not. In college, every day’s a new emotion. Better question would be, are you satisfied?”
He sighed deeply. “My expectations for life, sometimes it feels like I can never meet them, like I’m holding out
for absolute perfection — the perfect grade, the perfect job, and I can’t be satisfied until that impossible
standard is met. Is that crazy?”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“No, I’m not satisfied with what I have, I want more. Always. Is it crazy?”
“Yes, it’s insane. Expectations need to end somewhere, else you’re just running into oblivion.”
“If you know that, then why do you do it? Why do you beat yourself up by setting impossible standards?”
“I’m worried, scared, that the world would chew me up if I’m not the best. It feels like a war, and nothing
short of absolute perfection can get me through it.”
“Do you think your fears are justified? Are you actually as expendable as you think you are?”
“There are people who care about me, and to them I’m not. But there are far more people who don’t. To
them, my grades, my skills and abilities, that’s what defines my worth.”
“How about me? What is my worth to you?”
“Do I care about you? I don’t know. I care about your happiness, but I accept that I have to sacrifice that
sometimes. Is that caring? Sacrificing your happiness so you can grow?”
“Isn’t there a limit? How much happiness can you deny yourself? Or conversely, how much growth can you deny
yourself? I can never reach a balance, where I can stop feeling guilty.”
“Quite paradoxical.”
Illustration by Shreeya Shrivastav, 4 th Year, B.Des.
It went silent. I could tell he was scared to continue, same as me. We sipped, quietly, taking in the warmth
of the fire, even as our skins prickled with goosebumps.
“What now?” It escaped me.
“Life goes on. Things will shift and change, and we’ll change with it.”
“Will we?”
“Hopefully.”
DTU TIMES | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 | 37

7 Things Us Nerds Should Do At A Concert
By Riya Singh, 3rd Year, MCE
I think there are always some things we never do because we think they’re below us. Concerts, EDM, and party outfits were all those
things for me. But a few weeks ago, I attended a concert from center stage with a bunch of strangers, and that made me realize how
much - okay, seriously, HOW MUCH - I have been missing out on. As someone who proudly claims to be a 70s kid mentally, I will always
love Frank Sinatra and Kishore Kumar more than dhupchik-dhupchik music. Still, letting myself go for once and enjoying everything
like those typical “GenZ kids” do felt liberating, almost magical. So here, I strictly instruct you to follow my concert guidelines and
have the most fun you can. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the artist or if you don’t have the right people or the right clothes - just
go ahead and have a wild, wild time.
Dress up!
Do you want to know a secret? Nobody is looking at you at a concert. Everyone is too busy waiting for the artist
to arrive or trying to find space to stand straight and not trip and fall over a stranger. So use this opportunity.
Take out that dress, that co-ord set that you thought you could never wear. For once, give yourself the freedom
to look too feminine, promiscuous, or tacky—no one’s watching, go all out with your wardrobe!
Go closer to the stage!
I took a risk with writing this point. Please don’t go break the barricades, scare off the artist, and get beaten
up by security. In case you do, please don’t quote me as your muse. Some people prefer standing behind
since there’s more dancing space. But for me, a non-dancer, I like being as close to the stage because of
the lights. I absolutely love how even with my eyes closed, I can just jump to the flickers of concert lights,
not to mention, when you look up, the whole sky is filled with confetti. It’s the most beautiful sight in
a fest!
Shut up and bounce!
You probably don’t dance. But I know you want to. Even when you don’t know the song, even
when everyone around you is dancing - because you’re too shy. So am I. And here I want you to
remember the secret I mentioned in Point 1 - nobody’s watching. So do your silly little moves
with pride!
Click a selfie with a stranger
Okay, you probably will photobomb someone’s picture at least once. If you can’t move
elsewhere to avoid coming into someone else’s picture, you might as well pose for it—say
cheese!
Learn a dance move.
Yes, you can get away with just jumping and flailing your arms in the air. But if you’re feeling
a little comfortable, challenge yourself to a dance move! Hint: Just look around and find a good
dancer to copy. Hint pt. 2: Please don’t creep someone out by staring for too long.
Get a glitter tattoo!
It’s not a fest until everything, and everyone sparkles! Find the glitter tattoo stall and get a crazy (no,
don’t try to be sophisticated here) tattoo that you never thought you would get! If you’re not catching
everyone’s eye, what are you here for?
Yell that song at the top of your lungs
We all have a song we’re too embarrassed to know all lyrics of. It’s at least true for someone like
me who brags having an acquired taste in music. But you are in DTU, we’re a melting
pot of musical
tastes which might start with Prateek Kuhad or Dream Note, but it always ends with Jatta Ka Chhora.
What do you have to be ashamed of?

FACULTY ADVISORS
Prof. S. Indu
Dean, Student Welfare
Prof. Rajeshwari Pandey
Dean, Academics (UG)
Dr. Yashna Sharma
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Electronics
& Communication Engineering
Mrs. Parinita Sinha
Assistant Professor, Dept. of
Humanities
STUDENT COUNCIL
Ananya Kapoor
Editor-in-Chief
Kapil Sharma
Editor-in-Chief
N. Krithika
Student Head
Shanal Bhele
Student Head
Ritvik Nair
Managing Editor
Manvir Singh
Head of Photography
Tejasv Mohan
Head of Illustrations
Shikhar Rana
Head of Design
Saatvik Agrawal
Head of Design
Nishant Sharma
Student Adviser
Neha Goyal
Head of Development
ALUMNI ADVISORS
Angad Sethi Krish Modi Mandeep Singh Anirudh Kundu
Associate Designers
Hemang Sinha, Vaibhav Srivastava
Designers
Aamodita Singhal, Angad Singh
Thakur, Shubh Mittal, Srijan Pandey
Coordinators of Development
Abhinandan Sharma, Anurag
Gupta, Harsh Batra, Ishaan Kaul,
Naman Gogia, Vaibhav Agarwal
Associate Editors
Anika Passi, Rishika Sinha
Assistant Editors
Aditya Singh Mann, Ananya Rath, Manvi
Nilaya, Riya Singh, Saujanya Sood
Columnists
Abhimanyu Dayal, Gurashima Kaur, Ishita
Mehta, Pranjal Srivastava, Ritwij Kashyap,
Suvani Rohatgi
Illustrators
Mehak Singhal, Preeti Das, Sarthak
Sharma, Shreeya Shrivastava
Associate Photographers
Anant Vohra, Arein Gupta
Associate Illustrators
Harshana Pillai, Saurabh Sharma
Photographers
Akshaya Jain, Ananya Ranjan,
Aritra Ghosh, Priyanshi Anand,
Somesh Shrivastava, Viraj Jain