Prabhat Patnaik, scholar and JNU professor, on Saturday delivered the Anugraha Narayan Sinha Memorial Lecture on "Climacteric for capitalism" at a programme organised by the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies.

Structural changes to capitalism in today's age, he said, have resulted in the persisting world economic crisis.

"The persistence of the world economic crisis, which is now spreading to countries like India and China can be attributed being rooted in certain structural changes in world capitalism in the current period of globalisation," said Patnaik. "It has for the first time in the history of capitalism that a significant relocation of activities has been noticed from the north to the south through the agency of metropolitan capital. Neo-liberal capitalism, even before the crisis, had entailed a major shift in income distribution away from the workers towards the surplus earners in metropolitan economies. The social gulf between the workers and these groups has widened in advanced countries under neo-liberal capitalism. Increase in income inequality, and its implications for democracy are matters of concern.

"Class organisations such as trade unions have weakened under the neo-liberal regime. The intelligentsia has lost its moral credibility. The world of mediapersons, literati, and even academics - whose social distance from the working people widens under the neo-liberal regime - is perceived as beneficiaries of neo-liberalism and hence a part of the 'establishment'. The fact that all over the world, from the US to Europe to India, fascist and semi-fascist forces are on the rise, it is the outcome of this particular conjuncture," he added.

Fresh start

Commerce and vocational course students of Patna Women's College organised a welcome for the freshers on Friday. A variety of programmes was presented, including songs and dance, to mark the occasion.

Galti Se Mistake, Naach Meri Jaan Hoke Magan Tu from new releases Jagga Jasoos and Tubelight ruled the dance floor.

Earlier, the programme began with a prayer song by bachelor of mass communication student Shubhi Agarwal. BCom and the mass communication students shook a leg to Hindi, Punjabi and Marathi numbers to huge applause.

Principal Sister Marie Jessie spoke to the new students about the principles of Swami Vivekananda they should follow in life.

Diabetes myth

Having more sugar in your diet makes you prone to suffering from diabetes was debunked by city physician Diwakar Tejaswi at a programme held by non-government organisation Astha Foundation on Thursday at Magadh Mahila College.

"Control your food habits, avoid oily food and fast food. These measures will help you to keep diabetes at bay," Tejaswi told students who gathered at the programme. "The condition is spreading among people aged between 30 and 40 years. Awareness needs to be generated so that they can make the necessary lifestyle modifications."

Magadh Mahila College principal Dharmshila Prasad asked the students to have their food on time and to take a brisk stroll whenever they have time. She advised the college staff to do their work on their own to help burn some extra calories.

Placement call

Various companies visited Cimage College on a placement drive in the city to choose candidates for various posts on Saturday.

Severa lstudents were placed in Karvy Finance, Sharekhan among others.

Head advisory, Karvy Group, Mudit Kumar Dutt interviewed the students along with other officials. Total 10 students were selected on the basis of their written examination, group discussion and personal interview, and finallyselected for the post of equity analyst.

They will get an annual package of Rs 6 lakh.

Sharekhan also selected 14 students for various posts while 12 students were selected by SPA Capital Services Ltd and JK Paper Industries picked up another eight candidates.

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