Amid rain, wave of excitement floods DU

New Delhi: Delhi University added a fresh chapter to its storied history on Thursday when it welcomed a new batch of around 70,000 students who completed the rigorous admission process to secure a seat for an undergraduate course.

The heavy early morning rain did not dampen the spirits of the youngsters who thronged North Campus in large numbers. While many of them had reached their respective colleges from different parts of the National Capital Region, a large number from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu were seen with their guardians who had travelled with them to ensure a seamless transition from school to college life.

The rain did take a toll on some students like Shivanand Yadav, who was seen running desperately to the gates of Ramjas College. “I got late because of the rain. I came from Shahdara and my orientation is just about to begin,” said a breathless Yadav, who is from UP’s Deoria district. He shared that though he could have upgraded to Hindu College as per his CUET score, he hadn’t and was happy to settle at Ramjas.

The cacophony on the campus was a lively mix of Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Punjabi, Nepali and more languages, underlining the country's unity in diversity, with students from the north-eastern and the southern regions clumping together in familiarity in smaller groups.

The excitement of newfound freedom — freedom to think, to explore, and, for many of them, to be independent of home for the first time — was visible on all faces. Most students TOI spoke to described how they and their families felt on securing a seat as catharsis, not surprising because DU is a university ranked 6th in the country in the recent NIRF standings. “Where else can I get the quality of education that DU imparts while charging us minimal fees?” asked Diksha at Miranda House. “It was a big relief not just for me but also for my family. We do not have to worry about education loans needed to pay the fees at private universities.”

The college canteens, famous for their affordable food, were popular spots where the newcomers met and shared stories. As were the lush green lawns in North Campus. Many nascent friendships were formed at these places amid the confusion of scurrying around for the last-minute photocopy or printout of an essential document.

The red brick buildings of North Campus formed the backdrop for many group photos and selfies — of the students, parents and families. But not all was red; blue and saffron seemed to have gained ground as evidenced by the messages and slogans on the walls painted by student outfits such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, National Students’ Union of India and Students’ Federation of India.

While the heavy downpour made Delhi Metro the first choice of commute for most freshers, there was no dearth of luxury SUVs which drove to the campus in large numbers. Many of them bore posters, photos and slogans praising student leaders.

In sharp contrast, and belying the DU administration’s claims of gender sensitisation and anti-ragging awareness, there were very few signboards displaying the helpline numbers or instructions for students issued by the proctor’s office in case they faced problems. Student organisations and groups had, however, put up helpdesks to assist the newcomers and address their queries. Most freshers TOI spoke to claimed they hadn’t been fully informed about such procedures and were unaware of any helplines. They shared that they would approach their professors in case they faced difficulties.

Lap and Lee, two friends from Vietnam, who were seen sipping coffee at a roadside eatery on the campus amidst the heavy precipitation, shrugged and said they were too new on the campus to express their likes or dislikes. They only said that they were temporarily staying in Majnu Ka Tila and hoped to find accommodation near the campus.

Many students, particularly girls, weren’t happy that the allotment of hostel rooms in their colleges hadn’t taken place yet. This has compelled them to seek temporary refuge with friends or relatives in the capital, but they remain hopeful about getting a bed in the college hostels in the coming days.