Page 6: A Leaf From the Ledger of a
Young Entrepreneur
Page 4: Alumnus Speak: The Dhobi
Issues - Then and Now
Page 3: A Monthly Column Devoted to
Timely Updates on the SU’s Progress
THE FINE PRINT
ENGLISH
Major events on campus have been cancelled, outstation
tournaments slashed and getting an outstation form signed
has never been harder. What exactly are the ramifications of
this ailment has gripped one of India’s largest states in a
death-hold of fear? We spoke to Dr. R P Pareek, the
Medical Superintendent of our Institute on this matter and
he provided us insights on what exactly is at hand.
Swine flu, originally caused by the virus H1N1 was declared
a pandemic by WHO in 2009, but this statement was
repealed in 2011. Dr. Pareek insists that there is no need to
panic and we should take common precautions against it,
such as coughing into a handkerchief and washing our
hands regularly. Maintaining personal hygiene is also an
important aspect of this. When asked if there were any
particular precautions that the Institute had taken, he refers
to the mail of dos and don'ts that was sent to us a while ago
(regular checkup and follow up of symptomatic people).
The doctor insists that there is no difference between the
precautions to be taken against swine flu and the common
flu. He says that eating healthy and living healthy are more
than sufficient precautions. As for masks, as are always the
new custom statement in flu season, he says, “these masks
are only for people in direct contact with patients or those
who will be in contact with them (and of course the
patients as well). They are not necessary for the general
public.”
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When asked about the possibility of a vaccine-drive in
Pilani, he said that not only is BITS not authorized to run
such a drive, it would also be futile. Vaccination is useful
only if given before the disease breaks out, he says. Once
the virus is up and about, a vaccine will not be useful. He
recommends that we get vaccination against flu every year
at home (in fact, not just against flu, but a lot of other
diseases too – hepatitis, et al).
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ISSUE II
PILANI
MARCH 2015
limitation has affected us in the way of there being one (he
wouldn’t give us an exact number) case of swine flu
diagnosed on campus. The patients were sent home and
those who were diagnosed positive, were given treatment,
promptly. He says that Pilani is not removed from the
world completely, and considering the fact that Rajasthan
has been plagued to such a large extent, this couldn't be
helped.
“The WHO releases a new vaccine every year to combat
flu. I strongly advise all students to be vaccinated against
it.” His stance on the matter of distribution of vaccines or
medicines is stern. “It is not necessary,” he insists. But,
medicine will be given to those requiring it.
Coming to what we talk about the most in these post-dhobi
-laundromat days, the cancelled events – Music Nite, QED
and BITSMUN. Music Nite was definitely postponed as a
direct result of this, while the other two were called off
temporarily. It was done with the health and safety of the
students in mind and we shouldn’t bear ill-will, as some
He said that the usefulness of the vaccine is so much in
people do! It was all done to ensure the prevention of an
question that many medical experts don’t use it at all,
epidemic in our little abode and as soon as the threat is
preferring other methods of curing the infection. Its
over, things will return to normal.
effectiveness is around 15% and side effects cause concern.
With (almost) no outstation forms being signed, ANC
What about TamiFlu then? The name we’ve been hearing
workers wearing masks and rumours on DC main chat
all around. “Tamiflu is not a vaccine. It is very useful for
about various people being infected, these are trying times.
treatment. We are using it all over the country and is also
Dr. Pareek insists that we shouldn’t panic and we should
given to people in close contact with the patient(s) tested
lead normal, healthy lives as recommended in his mail to us.
positive. It is available at government dispensaries and
We should also get vaccinated against the flu every year,
hospitals in Pilani.”
and had we done so we wouldn’t even be worried about it
now. The whole scenario is under strict control of the
What about Pilani? Our little hamlet? “Well, we can stop authorities with number of fatal cases on the decline. It
people from entering and leaving, but not the air.” And this really looks like the taunting threat imposed by this virus is
decaying and will soon be done with.
There have been some growls and
grumbles about the hostel messes
recently. Long queues at 1 pm have
become the bane of the average
BITSian’s midday meal. The English
Press Club caught up with Rushyant
Reddy, President of SSMS, to obtain
an official view on the general
functioning and recent changes being
implemented in the messes, and the
reasons behind some of the
inconveniences faced by many
students on certain days of the week.
Rushyant was optimistic about the messes' production this semester, citing that the messes
have been churning out good food on a more consistent basis. General feedback regarding
the food is that quality has been better, as compared to the previous semester. He has
been spearheading a revamp of the mess services, and the ship has sailed pretty smoothly
so far. "Very few problems have occurred," he says, "and they are easily adjustable." We
begin to mention a supposed "shortage" of food, but that is dismissed as an isolated
incident. "It happened only once (20th Feb), and that too was only a small delay. The
students turned up in large numbers for the chole bhature. The mess employees did not
expect that, and hence there was a delay in pro GV7F