Badminton Training Camp

As in the beginning of every academic year, this year also, the JNU Badminton Club organized a training camp for sporting enthusiasts who want to take up badminton as a recreational sport. The camp targets students who want to learn the basics of the sport and see physical activity as intrinsic to maintaining good health.

The 12 day camp focused on developing team spirit, camaraderie and leadership capabilities among the participants apart from teaching them racquet skills and fitness training methods.

The basic skills that were introduced were grip, various strokes, service (short and long), net rally, clear/toss, drop, smash, half-smash, ready position (on your toes, knee bent, racket up), serve return (ready position, watch the shuttle, aim at target), forehand and back hand drive, singles and double strategy. The camp started everyday with warm-up, stretching and other exercises (court running, shadow practice) before moving on to the actual play and racquet skills.

The camp was well received by the participants, of which 13 were men and 5 women. The camp was conducted by the conveners of the club Rajesh Soami and V Sudhakar with help from senior members of the club under the supervision of former national champion Damayanti. V. Tambay. The JNU Badminton Club intends to continue with more of such camps in the coming years as well.

Rajesh Soami
Convener, JNU Badminton Club
Research Scholar, CRCAS/SIS

SIS Foundation Day

The School of International Studies celebrated its Foundation Day on 1 October 2011. It was for the first time that the School celebrated its Foundation Day.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the then Vice-President of India, inaugurated the (Indian) School of International Studies at the Indian Council of World Affairs, Sapru House, New Delhi, on this day in 1955. Dr. Radhakrishnan also felicitated Dr. Hridyanath Kunzru, Chairman of the School's Governing Board for establishing the School and Dr. Appadorai as the first Director of the School.

The celebrations began at 10.00 a.m. with a welcome note by Professor Christopher S. Raj, Dean of the School. Vice-Chancellor, Professor S.K. Sopory, unveiled a portrait  by an artist titled 'Nehru's India & World View'.  This portrait was donated by Professor Christopher S. Raj and Mr. Paul Rajshekar, a doctoral student of the School.

A large number of former faculty members of the School also participated in the celebrations. Among them, Professor Devendra Kaushik spoke on “Dr. Kunzru I Remember” and Professor Rahamatullah Khan on “Dr. Appadorai I know”. These lectures were appreciated immensely and applauded by the audience.

The Vice-Chancellor addressed the participants and declared dedication of Room No.203 as Kunzru Conference Room and Room No.001 as Appadorai Committee Room.

These celebrations were followed by a workshop on India and the World that was specially arranged on this occasion. 

The celebrations ended with a vote of thanks by Professor Christopher S. Raj, Dean of the School, with the hope that the tradition of celebrating this important day would continue as an annual event.

Christopher S. Raj, Dean,
School of International Studies

Festival Power-Lifting & Body Building Competition

The JNU Sports Office organized a Festival Power-Lifting & Body-Building Competition on 15 October, 2011. In this Competition about 35 Participants took part. Mr. Ashish Kumar Singh, SC&IS, the convener of the club, won Best Power-Lifter's award and Sh. Mohan Lal, CGS/SLL&CS, won the Best Body-Builder award.

The main motive of the competition was to promote the activities of the Club. A lot of enthusiasm was seen amongst the Participants

.R. C. Joshi, Coach
Weight-Lifting & Power Lifting