Ben Harsha Is the Next President

COMPLIMENTARY COPY NOVEMBER 12, 2017 Volume III, Issue 21 4 PAGES BFMC TIMES THE WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEMORIAL CLUB IN THIS ISSUE

- BNS (Nov 5) President – Ben Harsha (9 votes) against Ben Utkarsh (8 ALMOST THERE - Keep watching this space for a detailed coverage on how the votes), Ben Siddharth (1 DONE IN BY Elections have taken place. Or haven’t! We ended our last vote). RETURNING week’s story with this line. Vice-President OFFICER! Sunday, November 5, 2017 Spellbound institute. 2:45 p.m. 4 (Administration) – Ben Ben Utkarsh members present: Mouli, Venkat, Sunil, Krishnaveni. No Tushar (12 votes) against gave a valiant nominations received for Elections 2017. Ben Ayush (5 votes). fight to the It looked like it was going to be a washout. It looked like Vice-President BFMC Times would, after all, report how the elections Presidential (Education) – Ben Krish- c o n t e s t haven’t taken place. naveni (Unanimous). polling an * * * General Secretary – Bens Praharsha (13 votes) against equal number of votes as Ben Cut to the scene a couple of hours later. The Benjamin Srikanth (4 votes) Harsha the other contestant. Franklin Memorial Club election process for the year 2017 Joint Secretary cum Treasurer – Ben Sriram However the Returning Officer's is complete. A new Governing Board Elect is in place. (Unanimous). vote to break the 'Tie' resulted in eventual winner Ben Harsha The Score Card * * * piping Ben Utkarsh to the post. Electorate: 17 voters (Bens Mouli, Jayaraman, Muralimohan, It was Déjà vu all over. Last minute nominations. Last mi- In his defence Ben Utkarsh gave Sethuraman, Kamal, Venkat, Sairam, Krishnaveni, Harsha, nute rules (not a secret ballot, RO’s vote is tie-breaker). A Tushar, Praharsha, Srikanth, Siddharth, Bhargav, Ayush and sleek & shiny ballot box. Unanimous elects. Campaign a positive campaign speech and Vybhav) and 1 Returning Officer (Sunil) whose vote would speeches. Near invalid votes. Nail biting finishes. And, of fielded questions with aplomb. come to count in case of a tie anywhere. course, a brilliant one-time campaign almost upsetting a His presence at the meetings Nominations: President – Bens Utkarsh, Siddarth, Harsha; favourite with a commendable track record. more often could have enabled him garner more votes, however Vice-President (Administration) – Bens Ayush, Tushar; Vice The baton has passed over. The stage is set for the new -President (Education) – Ben Krishnaveni; General Secre- order to take over with a bunch of young Bens soon to be he did give Ben Harsha quite tary – Bens Praharsha, Srikanth; Joint Secretary cum Treas- some anxious moments. the helm after the yet-to-be-announced Installation Nite. urer – Ben Sriram. Yes, Keep watching this space! Final Tally:

A STRONG OPPOSITION? INVALID VOTE CAUSE FOR TIE? BEN SRIRAM WINS IN The support for the Governing board in the While both the Presidential candidates polled equal number ABSENTIA elections while overwhelming, the President- of votes, it is pertinent to note that one Vote was allowed as Ben Sriram was one of the two governing elect did have a tough contest before he "valid" by the Ben Sunil, the Returning Officer (RO) in the board members to be elected scraped through. BFMC Times foresees a absence of clear instructions prior to the start of the unanimously. The Jt Secy-cum-Treasurer stiff opoosition from the General Body and election process. Pointed out by the Counting officers Ben elect was however conspicuous by his some healthy discussions in the GD. Sairam and Ben Venkat that one Senior member had signed absence on polling day with his Meanwhile a Senior member, on condition on the ballot paper and that it should be disqualified as nomination too being filed in proxy. of anonymity, remarked "Could we have Ben "Invalid", Ben Sunil stuck to his ruling. Interesting to note BFMC Times learns that the Returning Utkarsh as Opposition leader?". Well what that one of the contestants would have then polled a vote Officer was reluctant to allow his does the Constitution say? Do we have such less, and the RO's vote would have been avoided, with a nomination, but was prevailed upon by a provision? We shall hear more on this clear winner in view and no difference to the final result. Did Ben Venkat citing a precedent of a soon! the RO want his Vote to count? We would never know! governing board member getting elected similarly in 1993.

CARTOON OF THE WEEK A Branch of BFMC? Ben Shankar Unwell - BNS (Nov 8) - BNS (Nov 9) A proposal to start a branch of BFMC has It has been a time of anxiety for all Bens, as been put forth. It is reliably learnt that the their favourite “senior” Ben was hospitalized principal of Aurora Degree College, Uppal with high BP, infection and respiratory prob- showed keen interest in having the students lems. Though his situation is not alarming, he of the college be a part of meetings similar to continues to be in ICU with a certain com- that of BFMC when Ben Ravichander met him fort level . Last heard Ben Shankar was al- recently. More details are awaited. ready turning his charm on the doctors and nurses. We wish him a speedy recovery! The Road Ahead... Subscriptions Galore!

BFMC Times takes pride in joining all members in Congratulat- Our Finance Minister.. er.. Treasurer Ben M Murali Mohan has presented a neatly ing the newly elected Governing Board of Benjamin Franklin hand written statement of accounts which shows a healthy Rs. 33491/- in BFMC. Memorial Club. Post our last report in BFMC Times dated Oct 22, 2017, we wish to place on Today, BFMC has moved to a certain stage of certainty, with a record the payment of subscriptions from the following members: new set of members and an elected governing board all set to Towards Annual Subscriptions: be installed soon, the dozen years of dormancy can finally be Ben Guru Moorthy :1200 Ben Anand Varanasi :1200 confined to history. The efforts of members from the 1969 Ben N Madhavan :1500 charter era to the 2000s have culminated in a fruitful transition. Ben D Parthasarathy :1500 The team led by Ben Harshavardhan has its hands full. While Ben D Narayan :1500 the earlier years of the club had, at any given time, about a doz- Ben L Jayaraman :1500 en odd active members they could still fall back on a few dozens Ben Krishna Kamal :1200 of peers. The current team however has just over a dozen Ben Durga Prasad :1200 members and the challenge would be to sustain the club with Monthly Subscriptions from Young Bens: interesting debates and discussions, innovative literary and fun- Tushar, Harsha, Krishnaveni, Bhargav, Ayush, Utkarsah, Srikanth, Vybhav, Prahar- filled sessions, external competitions. The bigger challenge sha, Siddharth, Pooja and Sriram would be to enhance the membership and retain interest in the The current financial status : Cash in Hand: Rs. 2291 and Cash in Bank: Rs. 31200 activities. for a Total of Rs. 33,491/- Ben Harsha and team would do well have a plan to keep the

Editorial - Ben Venkat CRICKET CROSSWORD - Ben Narayan activities going with increased membership. Quality is the key. Mentorship from senior members is always available, and the young Bens can take lot of tips by picking their experience. Par- ticipation in competitions across the twin cities in various college fests is a surest way to gauge their level of performance vis -à-vis other forums. We would have dozens of ideas to share from the senior Bens flowing in about what to do and what not to do… this Editorial just attempted that. I wish to acknowledge the role of Bens Utkarsh, Siddharth, Ayush and Srikanth, for their participation in the elections and it is heart- ening to note that with their enthusiasm they are sure to make a big difference to the club in the days to come. Simple straight advice to the team of Bens Harsha, Tushar, Krishnaveni, Prahar- sha and Sriram – You have understood what this club is about and how to take it forward. Do your best and have fun!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Across Guyana's gunner? #SameGuy. (6,4) 2. Viru Sehwag is not an anagram for 15. Is it a gigantic party down under? this player, but a synonym possibly. One You could say so. (3,4) To the editorial team! Congrats on another glorious edition! is the other's idol, and both have the What is the status on the discontinuation of this wonderful master same approach: see ball, hit ball. (11) Down piece. Keep it coming and try to motivate everyone to contribute an 5. Lack a blinder? Not when you're the 1. The Princess' mouth? Would fit Sar- article. I will come up with something soon. world's first double centurion in inter- desai and Vengsarkar. (6) - Ben PS Mohan national ODIs. (7,5) 3. I had had Le Carre, mistakenly, as the 6. We go Dravid now, but, believe it or top test wicket-taker at one time. (7,6) not, there actually was an English player 4. Who put slide? Does it show you who epitomized grace before him, at what to do when Dhoni is at bat for U n S c ra m b l e least at bat. (5,5) CSK? (7,4) 7. Chandra, Bedi, Venkat have all said 10. E.g. Wins tour somehow with one "real thanks, ok" to him in different that beats the batsmen going away. (10) L A D Y E D I T H E R E ways. (6,6) 11. It's not quite a German-made luxury 8. Famous collective alias for Chris car, but it could still knock you out. (6) Harris, Gavin Larsen, Rod Latham, 13. Skiing is put on ice because cricket Willie Watson. (6,6,6,6) is played on ice here every year since P A S T A R 9. Additional insurance, literally, on the 1988. (2,6) T H I N K G offside. (5,5) 14. Bid farewell to a lower limb, maybe, 12. Afghanistan's Afridi? Sunrisers' star? for an extra. (3,3) Padmavathi can’t hold a candle to this hand-crafted beauty now lost in the mists of history.

ANSWERS FOR LAST WEEKS CROSSWORD Across 13. Tilak Raj (Off whose 2. Dead Ball 1. Googly bowling he hit six sixes) 4. Rajinder Goel Answers to the last week UnScramble 3. Manohar (As in Sunil 5. Silly Point

STACKS MOROSE PAINTS MILDEW Ben Narayan Manohar Gavaskar) Down 6. Tendulkar Real netas do it too so why shouldn't we? 9. Chappels 1. Goswami 7. Mithali Raj 11. Gus Logie (Vamos = Go, 8. Dilscoop MOCK PARLIAMENT 12. Short Thirdman Guru = Swami) 10. Gooch INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK - BEN HARSHAVARDHAN “I seek Contentment in small little things in life”

We have the President Elect today, I'd decided to become a mem- What excites you the most ence. It's not women empowerment Ben Harsha Vardhan in a free- ber. The one thing I'd wanted to And the one thing that describes me that I'd like to see, but women being wheeling chat with Ben Sairam improve at most was my general best would be content. I'm always treated as equal to men. this week. awareness, and I think that I've excited by the small things in daily made a little progress, but I still have life. People of my age, these days are You have been a part of the a long way to go. only excited by the ‘big’ things in Know the Ben revival story their lives. Like their birthday, or an Ben Harsha What did you expect from One thing that stuck most event or a party. But I'd be content BFMC when you joined and Ben's is your statement that with just the small things, like playing to what extent do you think you are selfish. Is it true? my guitar, making fun of each other, you have been reaching your what describes you the best and sports. expectations? By stating that I was selfish, I meant I remember my first BFMC meeting that I saw two benefits in becoming What annoys you the most distinctly. I'd come for the very first the club president. The one thing that annoys me most meeting and I was surprised, for Firstly, it would be a great honour to is when I have to study for a subject sure. Firstly, I didn't expect some be the president of a club like BFMC, that I don't like. And especially being place like Malkajgiri to have a club given the fact that all the members an Engineering student, off the like BFMC, and I didn't expect to see have been successful, not just profes- course subjects are quite a few. And the kind of people that I saw there. sionally, but successful at life itself. it's very annoying. And after I'd heard the things that all So I saw this as a way to improve the seniors Bens had to say about myself, and be a kind of person If there is one thing that the the club, how it helped them and everyone, including me, aspires to society you think needs Zodiac Sign : Pisces how it would help us, too, I was sure be. change what is that Education : B Tech 1st Year this club would do me a lot of good. And secondly, I also saw this as a One thing- it's hard to pick. The Fav. Personality: Koby Bryant At a personal level, I admire Ben way to do something for the club, society today is amazing in some Michael Phelps Naraharinath a lot, and after I'd and perhaps revive it to it's best cases and it could use some change Fav. Movie/book : Da Vinci Code Fav. Dish : Mango Dal heard how it had helped my father days, or even further. in others. But I think that women made @ Home and him be the people they are really need to be given equal prefer-

Genetic Disease – Gene Therapy - Ben Dr. Gita Sharma

All medical conditions or diseases except correct can often times makes hilarious, or trauma have a genetic component. Globally serious miscommunications. It is with this 3-6% of babies are born with a birth defect, analogy that I wish to go further to state and 1-3% with an intellectual deficiency. An that today in genetics too the possibility of estimated 303 000 newborns die within 4 all these and more editing technologies ex- weeks of birth every year, worldwide, due ist to make us dream of a disease less socie- to congenital anomalies congenital anoma- ty albeit in the distant future. lies can contribute to long-term disability, The dream is further complicated by the which may have significant impacts on indi- need to experiment within the given of : viduals, families, health-care systems, and ethical, regulatory/ safety norms extending societies.( WHO :2010). from the person concerned to an all inclu- Gene therapy (use of genes as medicines) is The central dogma of biology is that infor- sive environment at different levels and to basically to correct defective genes respon- mation /function, flow is from DNA to add further to the already existing con- sible for genetic disorder by one of the fol- RNA to protein. A error is possible at any strains the economics of doing it all , who lowing approaches- one point in this flow, the earlier the error will invest ,when will the ROI be, etc,etc. • A normal gene could be inserted into a the more lasting and global is the impact on Needless to say hope motivation innova- specific location within the genome to re- the individual. The error correction or its tion, will take us there. place the Nonfunctional gene intervention by inter or intra ,extraneous James Watson was quoted as saying “we (mostcommon) methods is what therapy is all about. The used to think that our fate was in our stars, • An abnormal gene could be repaired effort is also to have an impact of this inter- but now we know, in large measures, our through selective reversal of mutation vention for as long as possible with minimal fate is in our genes”. ( error ) repeats. • Regulation (degree to which a gene is Genes, the functional unit of heredity, are Apropos the above statement that all medi- turned on or off of a particular gene could specific sequences of DNA that encode cal conditions are a consequence of genetic be altered instructions to make proteins. it is the pro- error if it is possible to correct it at this Gene therapy remains an experimental dis- teins that perform most life functions. cipline and many researches remain to be level GENE THERAPY then there it is !!!. When genes are altered, performed before the treatment will realize Switching gears to information technology encoded proteins are unable to carry out and communication today with cut /paste / their normal functions, resulting in genetic its potential. add /del insert much can be done with disorders. ( Watch this space for detailed technical as- great ease, however functions such as auto pects that will follow each week) REGULAR MEETING REPORT - November 5, 2015 An eventful and thrilling election post revival

- Ben Krishnaveni (AVP), and for the position of General they would do for the club under their Secretary, the candidates were Ben Sri- leadership. This was followed by a ques- Last Sunday's meeting was one of the most tion-answer session with the house. The anticipated by both senior and junior bens voting process, a secret ballot, then began, alike. It was The Election Day, when office under the guidance of Ben Sunil. For the bearers of the club, from the juniors, were general secretary, Ben Praharsha won with chosen. Thanks to the few senior bens an eight vote majority. who came down to vote and help shape Ben Tushar won the post of AVP, with a the future of the club, there were a total majority of 7 votes. Ben Utkarsh and Ben of 18 bens in the house. The meeting was Harsha were tied with eight votes each. As chaired by President Ben Krishna Kamal per the previously established rules, the and general secretary Ben Sairam. kanth and Ben Praharsha. Ben Krishnaveni vote of the returning officer was opened The nominations for the various posts, and Ben Sriram were the candidates for as a tie-breaker, and Ben Harsha won. after much suspense, were finally filed to Educational Vice President (EVP) and The victorious candidates then took to the the returning officer, Ben Sunil. Ben Ut- treasurer respectively, and were choosen stage to thank the general body. The re- karsh, Ben Siddharth and Ben Harsha com- unanimously, without any competing can- sponsibilities of the governing body would peted for the post of the president, Ben didates for the same. Each candidate was be officially given to the new board on the Tushar and Ben Ayush gave their nomina- given a chance to campaign and express installation night. The date of this is yet to tions for Administrative Vice President what the club meant to them, and what be fixed by the newly elected members,

Election Day Pictures

President Ben Kamal casting his vote, Ben Siddharth campaigning Ben Tushar campaigning Returning Officer Ben Sunil looks on.

Ben Praharsha campaigning Returning Officer Ben Sunil Narahari Nath announcing the Results

This weekly newsmagazine is published by Benjamin Franklin Memorial Club, Malkajgiri, a registered society with reg. no. 421. Editor: Ben Venkat Parthasarathy. Associate Editor: Ben Sunil Narahari Nath. Publisher: Ben Sairam Chavali (For private circulation only.)