The Hislop Herald
A Weekly by the Students for the Students
Vol IV – Edition VII, Dated 05.04.2024
Best of the Week
Yuvarang 2024
Yuvarang is an annual cultural event organized by
Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. This year,
the event was organised from 19th to 22nd March 2024. It
featured various competitions and performances for students,
and served as an excellent platform to showcase their art and
creativity.
With a stiff competition from various colleges, Hislop college
became the star of the event, winning in various
categories. Students of the college secured First Position in
various competitions including Classical Vocal, Group Song
(Indian), Skit, Mimicry, Classical Dance, and Folk Dance.
They secured Second Position in Western Vocal Solo,
Westen Instrumental Solo and Quiz. To add to the list of
victories, Satyajeet Sakhare of BA third year and Indrani
Indurkar of BA first year became the stars of the whole event
as they received the honours of “Golden Boy” and “Golden
Girl” respectively, for the event.
Continuing the college’s rich legacy of winning, Hislop
secured the prestigious Overall Championship title, only to
add to the sweetness of the glory.
The themes for Skit and Mime were beautifully chosen as
both the audience as well as the participants were able to
resonate with them. Hislopians performed a skit titled “Gallan
Goodiyan” revolving around the theme of optimism, and
finding happiness in every little moment. The script was
beautifully composed, with different languages showcasing
different emotions such as anger, jealousy, love, and sadness
while reflecting on the complexities of human relationships.
Similarly, the main theme for Mime was Women
Empowerment, representing the numerous issues faced by
women in society, advocating for gender equality. Using
silent gestures and excellent music, the mime struck the right
chord with the audience. Overall, all the mime performances
reflected on the strength and resilience of women and
delivered the message for the upliftment and betterment of
the society.
As for Dance and Music, The Golden Girl, Indrani Indurkar
shone brightly in the Classical Dance Competition,
performing the Bharatnatyam dance form, beautifully. As for
the Group Song Category (Indian), the students represented
the Indian folk song named as "Hori”. In the Classical Vocal
category, Parvathi Harikumar Nair performed a beautiful
classical Carnatic song, leaving the audience spellbound.
Hislop’s outstanding success at the event is a testament to the
dedication of its teachers, it’d be incomplete without
acknowledging the college staff for their continued support,
especially Dr. Shirin Badar, Convener: the Athenaeum and
Dr. Prashant Shelke, Principal: Hislop College, Nagpur,
whose tireless efforts not only inspire students but also helps
underscore their potential.
All in all, the event was a massive success, all thanks to the
efforts taken by the organizers and the enthusiasm of the
participants. It was a treat for all those who participated in
these competitions, as well as for the audiences. Safe to say,
Yuvarang, as always is, will be one of the most awaited
events of the entire year by students and teachers alike.
The World This Week
India to suffer extreme heat from April
to June
As per the Indian Meteorological Department's latest predictions,
India is set to experience extreme heat during the April to June
period, with the central and western peninsular parts expected to face
the worst impact.
Normal to below-normal maximum temperatures are likely over
some parts of the western Himalayan region, northeastern states and
north Odisha.
Above-normal heatwave days are likely over most parts in the plains
during this period. Ten to twenty days of heat wave are expected in
different parts of the country against a normal of four to eight days.
Gujarat, central Maharashtra, north Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, Odisha, north Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh are likely to
experience the worst impact of heat waves.
Mumbai set to become country's first
tri-service common defence station
The Armed Forces intend to establish Mumbai as the nation's first
"tri-service common defence station" for the Army, Navy, and Indian
Air Force (IAF). This move is intended to foster unity among the
three services in advance of the establishment of integrated theatre
commands.
The senior military hierarchy is currently discussing this matter, and
an announcement is anticipated soon.
All Army, Navy, and IAF facilities would be consolidated into a
single defense station, allowing for their optimal operation under a
single lead service. The Navy, with its largest presence in Mumbai,
will be the lead service in this case.
India does not currently have any common defence stations. The
Andaman and Nicobar Command was established as a full-fledged,
tri-service command in 2001. Last year, additional initiatives were
implemented to promote cooperation between the services, like inter-
service postings.
Earthquake in Taiwan
Taiwan experienced its strongest earthquake in nearly 25 years. The
quake struck during the morning rush hour, causing widespread
damage and loss of life.
The earthquake was centered off the coast of rural, mountainous
Hualien County. Taiwan's earthquake monitoring agency reported a
magnitude of 7.2. Nine people lost their lives, and over 900 were
injured. Buildings leaned at severe angles, and ground floors were
crushed. Tiles fell from older buildings in Taipei, and schools
evacuated students to sports fields.
A tsunami warning was triggered but later lifted. Damage was
reported across the island, but threats to Taiwan and Japan subsided.
Taiwan, accustomed to quakes, did not issue alerts for what turned
out to be an intense tremor.
Despite Taiwan's readiness, the earthquake’s strength left the
residents shaken. The island mourns the loss of lives and begins the
rescue and relief operations.
Bindyarani Devi Wins Bronze for India
at IWF World Cup 2024
Manipur’s weightlifter Bindyarani Devi secured a bronze medal for
India in the women’s 55kg category at the IWF World Cup 2024.
Bindyarani lifted a total of 194kg (83kg in snatch and 111kg in clean
and jerk) during the competition held in Korea. She also won the
silver medal specifically in the clean and jerk section.
Although the medals fall in a non-Olympic weight category,
Bindyarani’s achievement makes the nation proud of her.
Bindyarani’s participation in this event was crucial for her
qualification journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Ahead of the tournament, head coach Vijay Sharma emphasised the
importance of participation and aims to peak during the Asian Games
later this year. Bindyarani Devi’s performance adds to India’s
influence in weightlifting, and her bronze medal is a significant
milestone tor India.
Poetica Carefully wrapped in bandage red,
The rose’s beauty, where it bled.
Its mien, a touch upon my skin,
A timeless bond, where love begins.

Love’s Embrace Once lush and vibrant in my garden fair,

- Divya Rajurkar (BA II) Now dried and gone, yet still I wear.
Its hues within, my veins alive,
A lasting tie that will survive.

Cut off from the sun’s warm embrace,

I seek its glow, a healing grace.
Digging deeper, I find the rose,
Its colors bloom, where darkness goes.

Even in death, the rose will thrive,

Through my veins, its beauty will arrive.
No judgement dire, no fiery pains,
For the rose within, forever reigns.

Sometimes lost in invoke,

Sometimes lost in yell.
Hey God! Where do I have,
Lost my awake.
That twinkling stars are,
Love
- Ananya Deshpande (BA I)
Witness of our tenderness.
And snowy moon admires you,
The rug wrapped clouds,
Seems to be bed of us.
These drowsy nights,
Are meant to be spent,
With you dear cherished one.

Rosira
- Arya Kukde (BA I)

Like the cool breeze of summer,

And the warmth of the bonfire lit in winter,
As experience is intoxicating,
At any age one might get the learning like the positive support,
And a mystery that no one could sort,
All about those little moments,
Repeated reminders and cute names are not its components,
Respecting and adjusting are its features,
As ‘love’ human named this emotion,
Yet another God’s creation.

Amidst the thorns that draw my blood,

I cradle the rose, a crimson flood.
Its painful truth, a piercing grace,
Yet through the wounds, a smile I trace.
The Art Column Foodie Finds
- Anshika Shivhare (BA II)

The summer heat is only increasing each day and if you're tired of
eating the mundane flavours of ice cream, then don't worry, we have
something exciting in store for you!

This week in Foodie Finds, we'll explore a relatively new ice cream
store in the city, called Ice Cream Factory Shahi Durbar. Located on
Canal Road, near Panchsheel Square in Ramdaspeth-Dhantoli area,
it's a franchise chain outlet, serving premium quality ice creams, both
traditional and modern flavours, all under one roof. It offers a
delightful variety of flavours, each boasting of rich and creamy
textures. With quite a cozy ambiance, the place is an ideal spot for a
sweet treat in this Nagpur heat.

They serve a wide variety of waffles, brownies, pancakes, faloodas,

thick shakes, cold coffees, ice creams, sundaes, kulfis, and gelato
sticks too. In short, almost everything to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Tanushree Bandhekar (BSc I)
One of the things that stands out is their hot brownie jars, which are
as delicious as they are aesthetically pleasing.

So, the next time you wish to try something new in chilled desserts,
do visit this place and lets us know how you like it!

(Disclaimer: This column is not sponsored by anyone. The

observations drawn in this column are the personal observations of
the editors. The Hislop College or The Hislop Herald are not
associated with the said place in any form.)

Scan this QR Code to follow our

Instagram page @thehislopherald
for exciting quizzes and fun Q&A
sessions with our editorial team!

- Aksa Benjamin (BA I)

Editorial
Mislabeling: Just Words, or Making
Mental Health Frivolous?
- Reema Mewar (BA II)
The twenty-first century has brought about a stark contrast in
society’s attitude towards mental health, as compared to what it was
merely fifty years ago. While mental health is still considered
secondary to physical health, the strides that have been made in the
past few years alone show that the field of counselling holds a great
deal of promise when it comes to improving the lives of individuals,
and hence the community as a whole. With the increased use of
social media among people of various age groups, several mental
health professionals have utilized their platforms to provide care and
guidance to the masses.
However, the accessibility that these social media platforms have
provided comes with its own set of cons, the worst among them
being mislabeling and misrepresentation, which may end up
trivializing serious problems through the casual language used by
unaware masses. A common example that we not only notice very
often but are probably even guilty of using are the words therapeutic
and therapy interchangeably.
Therapeutic activities include a broad range of behaviours that
individuals may turn to when they want to relax, reduce stress, or
enhance their mood. These activities bring a temporary sense of
satisfaction or happiness and allow individuals to reconnect with
themselves after a tiring day. It can include anything, from reading,
swimming, taking a walk, gardening, or even taking a hot shower.
While therapeutic activities can rejuvenate a person mentally, they’re
highly subjective to the individual and are not permanent solutions to
any underlying issues that a person may be facing.
Therapy on the other hand is a structured conversation between a
trained mental health professional and a client. It seeks to address
specific mental health concerns, challenges, or behaviours that are a
source of distress to the client or may be hindering their personal
growth. Therapy sessions are protected by a set of ethics, boundaries,
and confidentiality to uphold the client’s best interests and guard
their privacy. Therapy sessions have set goals and are customized to
meet individual needs. Unlike therapeutic activities, they delve
deeper into the minds of the individual and tackle the root cause of
their issue. Therapy helps resolve a person’s mental health concerns
or equip them with the correct tools to help them cope with their
specific problem.
The reason it is important to distinguish between the two is that
interchanging them can perpetuate misconceptions and undermine
the seriousness with which mental health problems should be dealt
with. For one, calling everyday self-care practices (like cooking or
listening to music) ‘therapy’ undermines the intricate complexities of
proper mental health treatment and professional intervention. While
it is healthy to occasionally rely on these recreational activities to
recuperate, it is unlikely that they will be able to promptly replace the
interventions a trained therapist will provide, and more importantly,
the long-term and sustainable impact of the process.
Similarly, comparing therapy sessions to recreational activities
diminishes not only the profound impact of therapy on an
individual’s life but also the role of timely, evidence-backed
interventions in addressing these problems that have the potential to
escalate into something much more distressing. Furthermore, the idea
that simply participating in these activities will serve as a substitute
for a session with a trained therapist grossly underestimates the depth
and complexity of living with mental health problems.
Another very concerning trend which is the result of mislabeling and
misinformation is the casual use of diagnostic terms. How many
times have we come across someone nonchalantly mentioning that
they have OCD just because they like things clean, ADHD because
they sometimes end up losing track of their thoughts while speaking,
or Bipolar Disorder because they are moody? It is important to
understand that these disorders are not just words. They are
legitimate and diagnosable mental conditions that cause a great deal
of harm and distress to people who actually suffer from them,
sometimes affecting them to the point where they can’t function
properly. Moreover, normalizing the use of these terms based on
anecdotal evidence or limited understanding can bring about a host
of harmful consequences, including widespread misinformation,
devaluation of how seriously a disorder can affect a person, or even
delayed access to appropriate care. Mental health disorders are
clinical diagnoses that need the same attention and evaluation that
one would give to a physical ailment.
If we want to tackle these problems efficiently, the first and most
important step is to spread awareness about how this unceremonious
use of technical language can make a joke out of mental health issues
and may even end up discouraging people from approaching a
professional. Secondly, we as a society must develop empathy and
understanding for these conditions, and for the people who struggle
with them every day. Rather than mislabelling personality traits or
behaviours, an open dialogue that seeks to educate and empower
people should be welcomed, so that people stop trivializing mental
health problems. If we start thinking of therapy as an integral part of
our healthcare journey rather than an optional luxury or a hobby, not
only will we create a culture of informed and aware individuals, but
also encourage people to seek professional care from the beginning.
The dream for our society to provide accessible mental healthcare
services as a right to the citizens can be made possible with these
seemingly small but necessary changes.
Guest of the Week
Coming to my camaraderie with the professors, I look up to our Vice-
Amanda D’Souza Principal, Dr. Pratik Michael Sir and Dr. Shirin Badar Ma’am, with
President, The Athenaeum immense respect. In fact, Shirin Ma’am is one person I can approach
any time, be it for academic or personal guidance. She is always
there for her students.
I was born in Nagpur, and I
completed my high school
from St. Joseph’s Convent. I
joined Hislop for my junior
college and have stayed here
since, pursuing my under
graduation, from here only.
My parents wanted me to take
up Science stream and even
sent me for career counselling,
hoping that I would change my decision of taking Arts. But I was
determined to take up the Arts stream and here I am today, in the
final Semester of my Bachelor of Arts degree.

Reflecting on my years in Hislop, I can certainly say that this period

was quite enriching, filled with opportunities, learnings, and
unforgettable memories. Although 11th was quite fun and we had a
wonderful experience in the college, 12th passed a little mundane,
owing to the COVID pandemic induced lockdown. By the time we
reached Senior College, online classes started in a full-fledged
manner. The period of lockdown was of extreme uncertainty and
apprehension. But all our professors took immense efforts to ensure
seamless continuation of the learning process.
As for my future plans, I wish to take up teaching as my career. An
When the lockdown restrictions were relaxed, we all were looking instrumental episode that helped me make this decision is the recent
for a reason to come back to the college and NSS became that teaching internship that I took up in my alma mater, my school.
reason. It was the first cell that I joined; it has given me a bunch of
friends who I can safely call my family. They have helped me sail I believe that music is a silent healer. It is my safe space. I mostly
smoothly through my college life. listen to country western music. I love singing as well. In fact, I have
also been a part of a few recordings. It was an extremely enriching
and fulfilling experience. Apart from this, I also enjoy dancing,
mostly jive, and reading.

My family has been instrumental in shaping my life. They have

always supported me in every decision of mine. Spirituality has also
been one of the most important parts of my life. I feel it is important
to believe in some bigger power working above us and practicing
gratitude on a daily basis.

Talking about the Athenaeum, initially, I had little knowledge about

this cell. But now that I know considerably well about its legacy, I
believe that one thing that stands out about this cell is that, by finding
talented students from around the college, it helps them achieve their
potential and carves out a niche for them. My journey started when I
did compering in the installation program in 1st year. It was at this
point that I made up my mind to give my best to the cell. I consider
myself fortunate enough to have found seniors like Ninad Gahane
and Shalomi Johnson, who have always supported me and helped me
grow as a person. The Athenaeum also gave me opportunities to hone
my management skills. Be it Yuvarang or any University event, I was
mostly a part of the management team. This has helped me learn
quite a lot of important lessons, quite early in life. In fact, I believe
that I was selected as the President of the cell because of my One advice that I would like to give to college students is that,
management skills. I would also like to say that I was rather lucky to choose people wisely. I would like to share my two go-to mantras -
have witnessed the NAAC visit to the college, it was a wonderful patience is the key to success and time is the best healer. Also, never
experience in itself. I was a part of the group songs and I had even shy away from helping people in need.
designed the dresses for SCM!