Sophia College for Women
(Empowered Autonomous)
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Clubs and Associations


2020-2021
International Relations Club (IRC)

Our theme for the year 2020-21 was #FactOverFiction, focusing on combating misinformation and fake news with well-researched political arguments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the disappointment of a nationwide lockdown and missing the “offline” and human touch to events this year, IRC had phenomenal events organised- such as a panel discussion on Period Poverty, seminars on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and the impact of the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition. There was also a month of collaborations with six different clubs under the umbrella theme of ‘The Art of Political Expression’, which aimed at highlighting the intersection between art and politics. The academic year was concluded with a “Vivaad”, a staple event by IRC- this year focussing on Protectionism & Welfare, The State of Indian News Media, and The Indian Farm Acts of 2020. 

2021-2022
International Relations Club (IRC)

The academic year of 2021-2022 for the International Relations Club commenced with a
documentary screening of Anders Hammer’s ‘Do Not Split’ followed by a discussion, in
lieu of Indian Independence Day. IRC’s classic recurring-discussion themed event,
“Vivaad"was hosted on topics ranging from the Emergence of Populism in the Global
South, Women’s Rights in East Asia, and the geopolitical intricacies of Climate Change
globally. This academic year also saw intriguing club collaborations with English Literary
Society [ELS] and Students’ Social Reform Initiative [SSRI], such as a discussion on
George Orwell’s 1984, The Crucible, and a speaker event on Naxalism in Eastern India
respectively. The club also smoothly conducted documentary screenings such as Do
Not Split and on Félicien Kabuga, a financier of the Rwandan Genocide. The highlight of
the year was the two-day panel on International Territorial Conflicts featuring
academicians who would discuss the complexities of the Sino-Indian and Nagorno
Karabakh border conflicts.
Documentary Screening on ‘Do Not Split’, Discussion on
Global Climate Agenda, and talk by Dr. Rajat Ganguly on
‘Naxalism in Eastern India’:

2022-2023
International Relations Club (IRC)

This academic year is particularly significant for IRC, as we gradually make the
transition from online to offline interactions. The year started with a documentary
screening and subsequent discussion on the UN Peacekeeping Forces and their
experience, particularly during the civil war in Democratic Republic of Congo, in lieu of
Peace Fortnight. The pandemic can be credited for introducing the versatility of online
events, as IRC collaborated with the Nature Club to organize a workshop on Climate
Change, by a UK-based NGO named Climate Science. It was followed by a poster
making competition, the winners of which were awarded with certificates from the NGO.
The club has so much in store for this year’s upcoming events, ranging from discussion
based events such as “Vivaad”, to club collaborations and documentary screenings.
Our Instagram page also acts as a blog with respect to the research-based content
posted, which will remain active throughout the academic year.
Workshop on Climate Change, Documentary Screening on UN
Peacekeeping Forces:

CLUB INFO
International Relations Club (IRC)

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CLUB

The International Relations Club (IRC) is the venue for testing one’s flair in general
knowledge and comprehension of international affairs. It explores the key concerns in
international relations and forecasts the course of world affairs, through a variety of
events such as debates, discussions, speaker events, and documentary screenings
among many others. It is one such medium that Sophia College [Autonomous] offers to
those who show a keen interest and understanding of geopolitics, with the aim to hone
its members’ skills, and to provide a space for them to learn, develop, and find a unique
community. With such a frame of mind, IRC has for many years been one of the many
sources of intellectual development, along with proficiency in research, public speaking,
and professionalism at Sophia College. The club runs with the unwavering support of
teachers-in-charge- Dr. Paul Rozario and Dr. Trevor Allis. The Executives for the
academic year of 2022-2023 are: Anezka Saraogi, Arisha Mohsin, Artha Anil, Mitali
Agle, Sanjna Sen, Aaliya Bukhary, Fizraa Wani, and Shriya Ray. The club’s Instagram
page [@ircsophia] acts as a visual glimpse of its potential.

2023-2024
The International Relations Club 2023-2024

 

Annual Club Report

Peace Fortnight: Discussion on "Genesis of World Peace" 

Date: 14/8/23 

Time: 1:30 - 2:30  

Registrations:100 

Attendance: 30 

The International Relations Club hosted its first event of the year 2023- "Genesis of World Peace" on  14th August. The event was set in motion with the Junior Executive of our club, Mary, by asking the  members of the audience the interpretation and implication of the word Peace with regard to international  politics and foreign policies of various countries.  

A zestful and exuberant discussion was had as a consequence of the active participation of the members  of the audience.  

Plethora of topics were the center of discussion that ranged from abstract concepts and theories namely  evolution of Peace Treaties, modification of diplomacy and the power dynamics on the global stage to  deliberating on real life events such as world war one, world war two and formation of the United  Nations.  

Some audience members quite spontaneously talked about the perils and the precarious nature of the  policy of appeasement which has led to lethal and irreversible events that left blood stains on the human  psyche, ensanguining the pages of history with it. Everyone agreed upon how appeasing a dictator doesn't  placate them and a collective force of nations must emerge to check them from sparking off and pre  precipitating another tragic war. 

For certain people pacifism was the answer for imperturbable peace and tranquility while there were some  people in the audience who were skeptical of this notion.  

No discussion on peace is complete without the talk of the relevance of the United Nations. By the end of  the event, this Peacekeeping organisation was declared by some as sisyphean and sterile while others  hailed it as the lamb of God.  

Overall, the event was conducted with impeccable brilliance by the moderators of our club. A feedback  form was circulated which received were mostly positive and heartening. 

Israel and Palestine: A discussion on the legitimacy of states (IRC x SSRI) 

Date: 25/8/23 

Time: 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM IST 

Registrations: 151 

Attendance:48 

The event was a result of the collaborative effort of the International Relations and the SSRI Club. It was  brilliantly moderated by the IRC Senior Executive,Fizra Wani and one of the SSRI executives.  The event commenced with Fizra questioning the audience members about their knowledge of the topic  and their perceptions regarding the geopolitical situation of this particular region in the Levantine. Many  members of the audience had an unprejudiced and a non-partisan approach towards the state of affairs in  Palestine, a political sentiment which was quite scarce in the previous generations. There was a discussion  and a debate on the legitimacy of both Israel and Palestine. While some members spoke in favor of Israel,  others had a contrary view and unabashedly supported the validity of Palestine. The content of the  discussion in some parts was an apparent testament of the sort of media consumed by the people present  for the event. 

A proper discussion was conducted on the political events which led to the creation of Israel, such as the  Balfour Declaration, Zionism, Sykes–Picot agreement and so forth.  

This event was a triumphant collaboration between IRC and SSRI since it successfully functioned as an  instrument that helped to bust myths about the political tragedy in the Middle East. This activity  simultaneously provided a sanctuary and a safe space for the discussion of a topic that is often considered  to be too scandalous and controversial to talk about, especially in the West. 

India and the G20 (IRC x Political Science) 

Date: 29/08/23 

Time: 2 PM IST 

Resource person: Mr. Samir Saran 

Registrations: 131 

Attendance: 95 

The event commenced with an introduction regarding India and its involvement in the G20  summit. Mr. Samir Saran, our speaker for the event, talked about how the Indian presidency of  G20 is unlike any other and a force to be reckoned with. He spoke of digital empowerment and  India being more advanced in that scope, while also touching briefly over cyber security and  sustainable development. He also focused on India emerging as a prominent leader and voice of  the Global South. Lastly, he spoke of global governance and changes that India could witness in  the upcoming years. 

The talk was a gripping, concise, and an informative one, with a lot of new perspectives introduced.  Following, was a question-answer session and the questions asked by the students were precise, to  the point and captured the essence of the talk aptly. He opened the floor to questions where students  asked several queries to gain better understanding. The event concluded around 3:30 PM IST. In  terms of improvements, an attendance form should be circulated to keep track of the attendance of  Sophia students for the purpose of credit allocation.

Diplomacy in the 20th Century 

Date: 28/09/2023 

Time: 5:30pm- 6:00 pm  

Registration: 48 

Attendance: 21 

This was an online event hosted solely by IRC on 28 September. It was a general quiz regarding the topic  of diplomacy in the 20th century.  

The event was commenced by IRC’s Secretary, Sanjna Sen, briefing everybody about the rules and  regulations to be followed while answering the quiz. The quiz was played on an interesting platform  called the Quizlet. All the participants joined using the link provided in the chat box. Once everybody had  clustered in the quizlet room online, they were then provided the quiz code. This was done to ensure  equality of time for all the participants. All technical problems or glitches were solved before sharing the code. To ensure a smooth flow of the event the members were requested to switch off their cameras. Participants started answering enthusiastically which was visible through the shared screen by the host.  The questions ranged mostly from World War-1, World War-2 and the Cold War. It ended with the 3rd  position going to Anandita Anand with 5750 points, 2nd position going to Krshna with 10717 points and  1st position going to Aashna with 12041 points. 

It was a well organized quiz as per the feedback form. Due ECC hours were given for participating in the  quiz. 

Political Cartoons (IRC A&D)

Date: 01/11/2023 to 07/11/2023 

Registration: 7 

Attendance: 7 

The Political Cartoons event, held in collaboration with the Art and Design Club, aimed to provide a  platform for members to creatively express their views on contemporary socio-political issues through  artwork. Participants were encouraged to submit their pieces via Google Forms between November 1st  and November 7th, 2023. 

The event called for submissions in the form of political cartoons, allowing participants to address global  issues using their artistic talents. The chosen topics for artwork submission were carefully selected to  encompass a range of pressing concerns: 

Oil Crisis: Participants were prompted to illustrate the challenges and implications surrounding the global  oil crisis, exploring its economic, environmental, and geopolitical dimensions. 

Global Warming: Artists were encouraged to visually communicate the urgency of climate change and its  far-reaching effects on ecosystems, communities, and future generations. 

Food Security: This topic invited participants to depict issues related to access, distribution, and  sustainability of food resources on a local and global scale, highlighting disparities and potential  solutions. 

Israel-Palestine: Artists were tasked with representing the complexities and conflicts inherent in the  Israel-Palestine conflict, fostering reflection and dialogue on this long standing issue. Russia-Ukraine War: Participants were challenged to depict the consequences and human toll of the  ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, shedding light on its geopolitical ramifications and  humanitarian crises. 

We had 7 artworks submitted in total and after careful consideration, three artworks were chosen as  winners. Anushka Gorg (Oil Crisis), Tabassum Khan (Israel-Palestine), Sarah Colaco (Global Warming) 

Event: Building Bridges

Date: 01/11/2023 to 07/11/2023 

Registration: 25 

Attendance: 4 

The virtual presentation event titled Building Bridges aimed to provide a platform for students to delve  into the intricate web of diplomatic ties that India shares with other countries. The one-hour event brought  together enthusiastic participants who represented various nations, offering a unique perspective on the  geopolitical dynamics of the region. 

The event was structured to ensure a comprehensive exploration of India's diplomatic relations with other  countries. Each participating student was assigned a specific country to represent, and their task was to  present key aspects of the diplomatic relationship, including historical context, current affairs, and future  prospects. The presentations were followed by a Q&A session to encourage an interactive and engaging  atmosphere. Participants began their presentations by providing a historical overview of the diplomatic  relationship between India and their assigned country. This included significant milestones, treaties, and  historical events that shaped the bilateral ties. 

The focus then shifted to the contemporary landscape of diplomatic relations. Students discussed recent  developments, trade agreements, cultural exchanges, and any challenges or opportunities that currently  exist in the global scenario. A crucial aspect of each presentation was the geopolitical analysis, where  participants delved into the strategic importance of the diplomatic ties between India and other countries.  Factors such as shared borders, economic interests, and geopolitical alliances were explored in depth. 

Event: Book Discussion: (IRC x ELS)

Date: 11/12/23 

Time: 2:30 PM IST 

Registrations: 7 

Attendance: 7 

The collaboration between the International Relations Club (IRC) and the English Literature Club (ELS)  brought forth an intellectually stimulating event—a book discussion on "The Handmaid's Tale" by  Margaret Atwood. The event aimed to explore the intersection between literature and politics, delving  into the dystopian world crafted by Atwood and its implications on society. The primary objective of the  event was to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among students, encouraging critical thinking and analysis beyond the confines of traditional academic boundaries. By merging the realms of international relations  and literature, the event sought to broaden perspectives and encourage participants to reflect on the socio political themes depicted in Atwood's seminal work. 

The event commenced with a brief introduction by the moderators from both IRC and ELS, providing  context on the significance of "The Handmaid's Tale" in contemporary literature and its relevance to  global socio-political discourse. The moderators highlighted key themes such as authoritarianism, gender  politics, and reproductive rights, setting the stage for an insightful discussion. Drawing from their  expertise in international relations, IRC members facilitated discussions on the geopolitical implications of the novel. They analyzed power dynamics, state control, and the suppression of individual freedoms,  drawing parallels to contemporary global events and authoritarian regimes. 

The War You Don't See : Documentary Screening and Discussion.

Date: 26th January 2024 

Time : 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM 

Platform: Google Meet 

Registrations: 60 

Attendees: 40 

The International Relations Club screened "The War You Don't See," a gripping web documentary, on  Zoom. The IRC secretary, Sanjna Sen, initiated the event, which began at 4 PM. The documentary  explored the frequently hidden facets of war, illuminating the influence of the media on public opinion. 

A provocative story that questioned the authenticity of information provided by the mainstream media  during wars surfaced as the program went on. After a certain point , the film was cut short, leading to a  controlled discussion instead. This pause gave viewers a chance to think about the documentary's subject  matter and posed insightful questions regarding the responsibility and openness of the media. The discussion continued, led by Sanjna Sen, with IRC executives Fizraa Wani and Shriya Ray joining  her as moderators.The three effectively led the discussion, encouraging listeners to offer their thoughts on  the details of the documentary. The interactive style of the program encouraged passionate debate and  gave attendees a space to share their opinions and thoughts. 

In conclusion, the online documentary screening was a thought-provoking and engaging event that  sparked discussions about how the media shapes our perceptions of war. The success of the event was due  to the powerful documentary as well as the skillful moderating of the IRC team.