Latest news with #StXavier'sCollege
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Minority colleges to approach court over social quotas
Mumbai: Minority colleges in the city are preparing to move court against the "sudden" implementation of social reservations such as SC/ST and OBC quotas for their non-minority seats. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The state govt is in the process of releasing the provisional merit list for the ongoing first-year junior college (FYJC) admissions on Thursday. While the state govt did not issue any official notification, the implementation of social reservations for non-minority seats came to light only when the seat matrices of minority colleges were put out on the admission portal. The department has now cited a 2013 govt resolution dated May 27, by the state's minority department, which mentioned that in the 50% seats that are filled by non-minority students in the open category in these institutions, "it is mandatory to admit students from SC/ST, NT and other backward classes". Principals are worried about the sharp reduction in open category seats in their colleges due to this. A minority college principal said that writing a letter to the department at this point may not help, as many students would have already applied to these reserved seats and the department may allot students accordingly in the next few days. "We will still write a letter to the department and see their response. There is a recent Bombay high court order from 2017 in the St Xavier's College case which we plan to cite in the letter. This order was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. We will simultaneously consult principals from other colleges in a day or two and will also plan a legal recourse if talks with the govt fail. They did not issue any official document or directive before the process commenced. The orders they are citing now are vague and this has come as a shocking development for all of us. There is a reduction in management quota seats, too, which has now come down to half," said the principal, adding that this was also not notified. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Some principals are worried that if the discussions with the govt leads to a stalemate, junior college admissions across the state may get delayed. A govt official cited the May 6 resolution, which principals termed as "ambiguous", and another one from the minority department dated May 27, 2013, which read, "Aided religious/linguistic minority educational institutions should have admit at least 50% of their admission capacity to the students belonging to the minority group which they have got and on the remaining 50% of the seats non-minority students can be admitted. "
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
2nd list: BA, BCom cutoffs fall below 90% in leading colleges
Mumbai: The demand for traditional courses such as BA and BCom in the city's top- colleges has taken a hit this year, with high scorers now having a wider range of professional courses to choose from. In the recent past, top colleges would close admissions to these courses at cutoffs in the 90% range, but many witnessed a drop to the 80% range in the second merit list announced on Saturday. FYBSc cutoffs across colleges plunged by 10-15%, which has many principals worried. Some city colleges are still receiving admission inquiries from students, as the early start to the admission process this year seems to have caused some to miss the application deadline, and could possibly have affected the cutoffs too. Take, for instance, the FYBA cutoff at Jai Hind College — which, in the past, would barely budge after the first list — but has now dropped by 5.17%, from 92.17% to 87% in the second. The cutoff for BCom, too, dropped at the college compared to the previous list. Ramnarain Ruia College closed the second list for FYBA at 88%—a drop of 2% from the first list. At St Xavier's College, the cutoff, though, dipped marginally for FYBA (courses other than psychology and English), it also did not breach the 90% mark. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Wrinkle Cream Is "Actually Worth It" The Skincare Magazine Undo Psychology and English group at Xavier's and other leading colleges, though, stayed above 90%. FYBSc cutoffs in most colleges plunged to even 50s, and with no takers, many are likely to allow walk-in admissions for the course. On the contrary, the cutoffs in self-financed courses, mainly the allied BCom courses, have seen only a marginal drop of 1-2%, and continued to remain out of reach for many 90%+ scorers. While HR and KC Colleges, which come under the HSNC University, already announced their list on Friday, N M and Mithibai Colleges, from the SVKM group, have decided to release their second list on Monday. Ruia College principal Anushree Lokur said with the array of new professional courses and also newer private universities, traditional courses have taken a hit. "Many are coming to us with the usual problem—they have either filled the university form or the college form, many still believe that admissions are centralised like is the process in FYJC," said Lokur. R A Podar College principal Vinita Pimpale said many are coming with inquiries as they have missed applicaton deadlines. St Xavier's College principal, Rajendra Shinde, said they usually never had second lists for FYBA, but of late, students opt for other colleges if they do not get their subject combinations, which may have led to a marginal drop in the cutoffs. On poor interest in pure sciences, Vijay Dabholkar, principal, Jai Hind College, said students have to spend more time for science lectures and practicals unlike other courses.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Degree college cut-off percentages show growing demand for professional courses
MUMBAI: As approximately 850 colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai announced their first general merit list for degree admissions on Tuesday, the lower cut-off percentages for traditional courses as compared to last year, as well as the higher cut-off for professional courses told a story. At St Xavier's College, Dhobi Talao, the cut-off dropped by 1.83 percentage points compared to last year (90% as opposed to last year's 91.83%) for the traditional Bachelor of Arts (BA) courses. Analysing the trend, Rajendra Shinde, principal of St Xavier's College, said, 'This year, we introduced two new courses, BA Psychology and Economics and BA Economics and Statistics for which we had a higher cut-off compared to traditional courses.' The BA Psychology and Economics and BA Economics and Statistics cut-offs stood at 93.33% and 89.83% respectively. 'With these two new courses, it shows that students are preferring self-financed or professional courses, which have pre-decided major and minor courses as advocated in the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020,' added Shinde. Meanwhile, at R A Podar College, Matunga, the traditional B Com cut-off showed a marginal increase (94.33% compared to 94% last year). Self-financed and professional courses such as BCom in Banking and Finance and BCom in Banking and Insurance saw an increase in the cut-off compared to last year. Commerce and allied courses continue to attract a greater number of applicants. Minu Madlani, Principal, KPB Hinduja College of Commerce and Economics said, 'This year's merit list reflects a growing shift in how students are approaching commerce education. The high cut-off of 90% shows that more students are actively seeking courses that offer not just academic knowledge but real-world skills and industry exposure.' While analysing the trends in the science stream, Shinde said, 'New Age courses like BSc in Biotechnology and Computational Biology are much in demand among students.' Taking this point forward, Preeta Nilesh, principal of Vaze-Kelkar College, Mulund, stated that the traditional BSc was showing a downward trend but the demand for IT was growing. A total of 2,53,370 students registered for pre-admission, submitting 8,11,643 applications across various undergraduate courses in the online admission process, which began on May 8. The process is being conducted in accordance with NEP 2020 and a directive from the Government of Maharashtra dated April 20, 2023. The programmes on offer include three-year degree programmes, four-year Honours and Honours with Research programmes, and five-year integrated programmes that offer multiple entry and exit options.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kavita Krishnamurthy: ‘Dubbing for Lataji was the best learning phase of my life'
Tu Hi Re, the simmering centrepiece of Mani Ratnam's Bombay, which just completed 30 years, has travelled well. A low, hesitant invocation, it moves towards a crescendo and hits high notes of a kind — ones that playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy, 67, cites as music's non-existent 'Z scale'. In the long arc of Krishnamurthy's five-decade career, the duet with Hariharan, was neither her debut nor her most-decorated song. Yet, it has stood the test of time. Just like so many others in the singer's oeuvre of over 25,000 songs across languages. From the sultry romp of Hawa hawai (Mr. India, 1987) to the intimate Pyar hua chupke se (1942: A Love Story, 1994), the playful Aankhon ki gustakhiyaan (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999) the powerful Dola re (Devdas, 2002) — her duet with Shreya Ghoshal — to her graceful renditions of Tagore songs and other devotional bhajans, Krishnamurthy's diverse journey has chronicled India's streaming soundscape. The artiste will mark her golden jubilee in Hindi film music next year — her first Hindi song was a version of Lata Mangeshkar's Aayega aanewala in the Shabana Azmi-starrer Kadambari (1976), but her career as a playback singer began at least half a decade earlier. 'The first time I sang in a film was in Bengali (Shriman Prithviraj, 1971), and it was a duet with Lataji,' she says over a video conversation with The Indian Express. Krishnamurthy was just 16 at the time. 'But so many years later, music continues to give me a great sense of purpose,' she says. While Bollywood gave her recognition, it is the Bengali music industry that is responsible not just for her foundation in music, but for also giving Krishnamurthy her name. Born as Sharada Krishnamurthy in a Tamil family that lived in government housing near Kali Bari on Mandir Marg in Delhi, life for Krishnamurthy revolved around 'Rabindra sangeet, Durga Puja, food and adda'. Her early exposure to music came from her mother, a Lata acolyte who'd sometimes get so engrossed in her melodies on the radio that 'rice would burn in the kitchen'. Formal learning began when her maternal aunt, Protima Bhattacharya, insisted that she learn Rabindra sangeet, eventually taking her to Mumbai to pursue a singing career. She was 14 when she enrolled in St Xavier's College and met Ranu Mukherjee, daughter of composer Hemant Kumar, under whose baton Krishnamurthy made her Bengali debut. It was Kumar who insisted she needed a new name after she had to clarify to a concert audience that she wasn't the then musical sensation Sharada Rajan. Kumar told her aunt, 'Cholbe na. (This won't work). You'll need a new name.' And thus, Sharada Krishnamurthy was rechristened Kavita. 'I think the name proved lucky for me,' says the Padma Shri awardee. It was around this time that family friend and neighbour, ad man and Guru Dutt's brother Vijay Dutt, asked her to sing jingles which helped pay for expenses in Mumbai. One thing led to another and Krishnamurthy plunged headfirst into the advertising world that had mavericks like Ashok Patki and Vanraj Bhatia at the helm. The result was iconic ads for Vicco Turmeric and Nirma that are still etched in memory. Her precision stood out. 'Jingles are done in many languages, so it helped with diction as well as sticking to the rhythm,' says Krishnamurthy, who went on to explore playback in several Indian languages. Her first original solo was in Kannada in Girish Karnad's Ondanondu Kaladalli. ALSO READ | Kesari 2 director Karan Singh Tyagi: 'The youth must know they can't take their freedom for granted' She also got help from Hema Malini's mother, Jaya Chakravarthy, who was close to her aunt and introduced her to composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Krishnamurthy's first assignment: to dub for Lata Mangeshkar. These were scratches — reference tracks — for Mangeshkar. 'When I'd record then, there was a lot of tension in the studio and you couldn't make a mistake since you were singing with a big orchestra and musicians like Shivji and Hariji (Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma and Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia) were often a part of these. If you made a mistake, the whole song had to be redone. The musicians always had other recordings to get to,' she says. 'But dubbing for Lataji was the best learning phase of my life. Her range was much higher, so to hit those high notes, my voice opened up. And when that song came on the market, I could see her improvisations and learn from them.' The learnings evidently came in handy more than she realised. About Hawa hawai, she says: 'Going by its scale, I think it was meant for Ashaji (Bhosle). When I saw the opening lyrics, I asked how was I to sing those words. But they said, 'Likhiye, chee ho wa honolulu', and I just followed. I wasn't worried. I knew it would be sung again.' But Laxmikant told her they were keeping her version. 'I told them a word was wrongly sung. They said Sridevi has lip synched it and it is wonderful.' From AR Rahman, with whom she's recorded some of her finest pieces, she learnt how technology can be used well. 'He is a gentle music director. You go on the mic, sing something, sometimes repeat a line 10 times like I did in K sera sera, and come back home. But when that song comes on the market, I am always surprised. That said, tech will never replace the soul in music. We talk of AI, but it can't give people empathy. But when used intelligently, and I am hoping Rahman will use it in an optimal way, it can sound fantastic,' she says. Krishnamurthy's self-effacing approach only amplified her credibility. She went on to sing popular numbers like Tumse milkar (Parinda, 1989), Aaj main upar (Khamoshi: The Musical, 1996), Pyar hua (1942: A Love Story), Mera piya ghar aaya (Yaraana, 1996), K sera sera (Pukaar, 2000) and Ishq bina (Taal, 1999). She won four Filmfare awards, although a National Award is yet to come her way. 'My entire focus then was to just work and do my best. That has stood me in good stead. I had no avariciousness of being number one. I didn't long for money and I didn't want fame. I hardly went to the parties and didn't like dressing up. I was a complete antithesis of everything that Bollywood wanted. But I am glad that I was allowed to be myself and work with legends like RD Burman, Khyyam saab and Laxmikant-Pyarelalji, whose only demand from me was to work hard. And I did work hard,' she says. Our conversation is set in a time when Pakistani musicians are being removed from apps like Spotify and bans are being called for in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. Krishnamurthy says that it is time to be a nationalist and support the nation but that shouldn't turn our shared cultural heritage into disdain for artistes. 'I have always received love from the people of Pakistan. Our films are so vastly appreciated there. They adore Rafi saab and Lataji. And, we adore the music of Mehdi Hassan saab, Ghulam Ali, Noorjehanji and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and will keep doing so,' says Krishnamurthy.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Finding a roof in Mumbai an uphill task for young women
MUMBAI: Young women students and professionals who arrive in Mumbai from other cities to study or embark on fledgling careers face multiple pressures. Having flown the nest for the first time, they find themselves bereft of home-cooked meals and the comforting presence of parents, and additionally have to manage finances, personal security and household affairs all by themselves. But perhaps the single biggest burden is that of finding proper accommodation in a megapolis with the most expensive real estate in the country. Weaving a nest independently here is no mean challenge. For women migrants, paying guest (PG) accommodation is the first economical option, given the limited number of working women's hostels. However, the brutal housing market in the city of dreams is becoming a nightmare to negotiate. The massive wave of redevelopment projects under way in the city has multiplied demand for rental homes by displaced local residents, consequently shrinking rental stock. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Rents are soaring by up to 25-30% in some areas, and migrant students and professionals alike find themselves at the mercy of a distorted market. In many cases, the responsibility of rent is shouldered by the parents of these young tenants. For women from other cities, finding a house isn't just about affordability but about navigating a system that sometimes disregards their lived realities. They are forced to compromise not just on comfort but also autonomy. The experience is tainted by moral policing, discriminatory housing practices, and a lack of privacy, especially in PG accommodation. The dream of new independence often comes tethered to shared bathrooms, curfew hours and rules, and monthly costs that rival starting salaries. St Xavier's College student Sakshi Bajaj , 20, paid Rs 60,000 per month for a double-occupancy PG room in Kalbadevi after moving to the city from Lucknow. "Despite the steep rent, there was pest infestation, strict curfews, and 15 girls sharing common washrooms," she says. "I browsed 8-10 PGs before choosing that one--most were smaller and even more expensive." Sakshi has since moved to a spacious 3BHK in Parel, where her share of rent is Rs 37,500. "It's large, with attached bathrooms, gym and pool facilities, cook and maid, along with 24/7 security. And still, my total cost is under Rs 60,000. The difference in quality is vast." When another St Xavier's College student, 21-year-old Adyashree Upadhyay, also from Lucknow, first moved into her 900-square-foot rental flat in Girgaum Chowpatty, it was far from ready. "My father had to come and get the place painted, install lights, fans, everything, just to make it livable," she recalls. Now living alone, Adyashree pays a modest Rs 31,000 a month as rent, thanks to her father's contact. Even for those willing to pay premium rents, the trade-offs can be jarring. Veronica, 21, a native of Delhi, lives in a PG near Marine Lines where Rs 35,000 fetches her a small double-sharing room with no attached washroom. 'The only thing going for it is that it's a five-minute walk to college,' she says. For many women, PGs are not just costly but stifling. Curfews, constant scrutiny, and shared facilities reduce autonomy and affect mental well-being, especially since they are living away from family for the first time. Renting an independent flat may offer freedom, but finding one is no cakewalk. Landlords frequently turn away single women, citing "no bachelor girls allowed" as a rule. Even if the landlord is agreeable, housing societies sometimes override the decision, demanding character references, personal interviews, and assurances of a "quiet lifestyle". "Women are probed about their personal lives, including whether they have male friends or partners, what time they return home, and their marriage plans," says one tenant. In Santacruz East , a student from NMIMS Nagpur shares a 400-sq-ft flat with two others. They pay Rs 20,000 each, with utilities pushing costs higher. "It's functional, but not ideal. Finding something affordable that doesn't feel unsafe or suffocating is quite a task," she says. Landlords tend to limit the number of visitors, disallow cooking non-vegetarian food, or demand parental approval. Yet a few women manage to strike good deals. Sahal Masood, 28, a stock exchange freelancer from Saharanpur who studied at Mithibai College, shares a semi-furnished 3BHK in Juhu with three flatmates and pays just Rs 12,500 a month. "We got lucky. The flat has all basic appliances and 24/7 security. Our extra costs come to about Rs 4,000 per month. Given the area and condition, it's a great deal," she says. Masood contacted nearly eight estate agents before chancing upon this golden deal. However, these are exceptional cases. Even in an upscale neighbourhood like Malabar Hill, quality doesn't always align with cost. A student pays Rs 20,000 per head in a cramped 500-sq-ft flat with three others. She reports deteriorating infrastructure and zero amenities. 'The only thing justifying the rent is the location,' she notes. Landlords and brokers define the rent pricing spectrum by location, furnishing, and sea views. Ronnie Vaz, a broker operating in Bandra-Khar, says that a sea-facing 1BHK can go for Rs 70,000, a 2BHK for Rs 1 lakh, and a 3BHK for Rs 1.5 lakh. With limited housing stock and high redevelopment activity, renters are left with few choices. In South Mumbai, broker Narendra V says demand for PGs never dips, especially among young women who come here to study or work. "Students, doctors, lawyers--so many women come here looking for opportunities, and the demand keeps growing," he says. "Safety is a concern, but in Mumbai, agreements are always registered and renting involves a lot of paperwork and background checks. Landlords are cautious, and only after thorough verification is a flat handed over. That makes our city safer for women than many others." Across the city, several PGs and hostels offer women either an individual bed and cupboard with common bathrooms and a kitchen, or individual or twin/ triple sharing facilities. A vast old hostel named Shram Sadhana in Bandra East is a 10-storey structure that was established in 1978 by the family of former President Pratibha Patil. "We accommodate 550 students and working girls," says Dnyaneshwar Patil who manages the centre. In Old Mhada, Andheri West, Aditi Saksham runs four or five different PG facilities, and is mindful to stick to the rule book at all times. "I insist on meeting the girls' parents and seek their Aadhar cards too. Earlier, I have actually had girls sharing their boyfriend's number as that of their father for verification," she says. Near the Opera House, Kamlesh Jain has been running 'Jain PG' for 12 years where the rent is Rs 18,000 per person. "The girls live like our daughters. Out of towners basically seek 'ghar ka khaana' (home food) and a benevolent landlord who will guide them like a family elder. In a large hostel with 100-150 inmates nobody knows if you have eaten food or not. Whereas I have 5-7 inmates who call my wife even if they see a cockroach," says Jain with a laugh. And in Worli the Shirinbai Mody hostel houses Parsi women from as far as Gujarat, even Kolkata and Madhya Pradesh in its comforting environs, said Filly Bapuna who funded its grand renovation along with other community members. Anuradha Patil, chairperson of the Lady Willingdon Hostel in Fort, makes a case for hostels over PG. She says, "Hostels are an economical and safe option as nearly all of them are managed by the govt or NGOs. Information is available on their websites, enabling one to select a reliable option, say, by location. Women prefer to live near commercial centres or railway stations. Moreover, hostels charge reasonable fees, provide nutritious food prepared in-house and 24-hour security. Hostelites are expected to abide by the rules, but can always return to a clean room thanks to the housekeeping staff. Not all PG places have a separate entrance and cooking facilities. Unlike PGs, hostels often allow women to meet friends or relatives of either gender in the common lounge. No one is allowed to enter their rooms. Most hostels have relaxed timings for the girls as today, all of them work long hours. Also safety is guaranteed as they have to sign in and sign out every time." Pavana Anchees, president of YWCA Bombay , which runs four hostels in Colaba, Byculla, Andheri and Belapur housing 300 residents, says, "Our organisation is well known for its hostels which are fondly referred to as 'home away from home' by students, working women and job seekers. We charge affordable fees ranging from Rs 750 to Rs 15,000, depending upon the location and salaries of residents, and offer well-maintained rooms, security and sumptuous meals."
