EXAM FEVER

Lush green lawns, the cool breeze, the fragrance of Maggi - all tended to pull me out from the never ending series of back-to-back lectures. But lo and behold! I was always found sitting in the middle of a jam packed classroom trying to steal a glance at the messy blackboard with my watery, sleepy eyes!! I tried to recollect my emotions on the 21^st of July, 2011. That was the very day I had felt blessed and had absolutely nothing on my mind. However, since the announcement of approaching examinations were made, only one thought, “DATESHEET IS OUT”, hovered over my tension-struck mind 24x7.

Suddenly, college had become an entirely new place with the ever amiable lawns having tranformed into hell adorned with students heel-bent to complete their assignments. The canteen tables were strewn with books and assignments and not to forget the library shelves where we couldn’t find a single place to deposit our heavy bags.

The only people who seemed happy at that excruciating point of time were the much honored “Xeroxwale bhaiyyas” who had appeared to develop halos.

From 8:40a.m. to 2:10p.m., there was not a single break. I say that once the day had started there was no looking back. Oh!! Did I forget to mention the tutorials after 2:10p.m.???

I say how blessed my seniors are who basked in the bliss of the annual system. Most of them had already headed to their respective hometowns for the unofficial Diwali break even after the formal announcement of the date sheet of their “internal” examinations, whereas my classmates sat exasperated giving second thoughts to the “tatkal” railway tickets that fluttered in their hands.

How I wish I had enrolled into college an year earlier!! But there was not enough time for even giving a thought to the thoughts swirling in my mind then. We the “DU-wallahs” had entered into a tumultuous “RACE AGAINST TIME”. It was high time to complete the assignments, notes, practical files and study too. Dear Lord!! Wasn’t that a lot of work to do??

Now with the announcement of the results, I can feel my shuddering heart beating like a wild rhythm and my mind burning with anticipation for I barely remember what I wrote in my answer sheets and don’t know what to expect. I have my fingers crossed. Good luck to you all and yeah to me as well…

Ciao

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Ritu Garg is a first year student pursuing Mathematics Hons. from the prestigious Hans Raj College.

Sleepy People

Have you ever felt so sleepy as to fall asleep with a jerk when you boarded the metro at Vishvavidyalaya, intending to travel to AIIMS, but got up to see the automatic doors sliding shut at Sultanpur? And when you climbed out at the next station, you were still enough sleep deprived to go back to sleep in the AC environs of the AIIMS bound metro.

Yet, when I shared this unconformity with my friends I wasn’t utterly laughed at as I had expected them to. What else can you expect when the day itself ends not before 3 or 4 dead in the night? For life in DU, there is night life like you don’t have in the day. Who has the time to sleep? What are classes for then, if you have to miss all the fun sleeping early (which means 1 at least)!! As soon as it is 7 in the evening, there is regular shunting in all the localities spread all over Delhi that accommodates us students. Couples say buh-byes only when it is 10 in the night and for all the amateurs; everyday is a field day with countless single ladies dropping their handkerchiefs at every small instance. There are Maggi shops, coffee shops and fruit juice kiosks all around, and there is one generous friend to treat you almost every day. Nights are livelier than days. There is the guitar to aid the lovely wind turn musical and make the air moist with camaraderie. There is so much fun; time passes by like water dripping when you shave. Hookah corners too count their coins as the regular rush slowly fills in and the last drips of beer become empty.

When we sit to chat on our rooftops, there churns out endless topics. How someone bashed someone else in a fight, from silly topics to why it is scientifically dangerous to have cold water after meals to how pretty the young lady professor looks. How someone called up to fix a date with his second girlfriend, the moment his first one declined his proposal for a movie next Saturday and how he manages back to back with both. East, west, north and south of my PG are girls’ hostel (indeed an enviable residence!!). It gives us ample opportunity to take note of feminine habits, the most conspicuous being their over-extended time on cell phones. They must be laughing at us often as we surreptitiously do at them. One of my friend suggested that they pretend they are on phone calls when they are not, to keep themselves busy and confuse others. Someone in my PG, who is a little myopic, wishes to buy a pair of night-vision binoculars and has already started saving money for it.

Nights end only when the sleepier ones leave for their beds or boyfriends leave to talk with their girlfriends in solitude; leaving lesser number to argue nonsense. Sometimes unfinished debates continue even the next day. Only one day in recent several weeks, I happened to get up at 4 in the morning and that probably because I had fallen asleep with my shoes and lights on. I then had the sudden urge to watch a movie that I had kept downloaded (Ben-Hur) from a lot of time. When it ended it was 7 and I had the perfect start to a day which otherwise never started before 9.30. Sometimes it makes me wish I could turn into a zombie so that I never have to sleep. It is such a waste. And yet we have to have adequate sleep unless we want to spend the whole day yawning like hippos and spreading lethargy all around.

Falling asleep at untimely occasions reminds me of a school time memory, which is still found unbelievable. The National Anthem was on, and one of my friends had slunk down as if he had fainted. When assisted, he said he had fainted. But later we knew the truth, he had fallen asleep standing!!

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After completing his schooling from MVM, Guwahati, Tonmoy Barua spent the five most glorious and beautiful years of his life at the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. Being a war enthusiast he had an ardent desire to join the defence forces, but before he could gather the technical skills of war and strategy his keenness to serve the nation and don the star-studded uniform came to a halt when he was rejected on medical grounds. But as life goes on, he is now pursuing B.A. (Hons) Political Science from Moti Lal Nehru College, New Delhi and yearns to serve the country on different fronts.

Exam time of a life time

First University examinations… A BIG stress for every student of the new semester system. The syllabus was huge and so were the expectations. The professors were anxious and graved and grilled us with precision. Less than a year from our 12th board’s trauma, we were getting subjected to that same pressure. Again for a month, at least, we had to sacrifice our lives and take a deep sea dive into the world of books. The only funny thing was how in college everyone was so relaxed and calm and the line “kuch ni pada yaaaaaaaaaar” was to be heard on everyone’s lips everywhere in the corridor. It’s weird how people can lie so much. The library was cruelly striped of its glory and splendour as the shelves were emptied mercilessly. Nobody cared anymore about the fine they had to pay and just the sight of a course book would set our hearts racing. The backpacks were a curse and they cursed us too when books weighing kilos were lugged in it. The main aim of existence of students and teachers alike was syllabus completion. All in all, we were in a mess as we had to excavate notes from the long past and students were dazed as in these six months we had just come to acknowledge ourselves as college guys, we had just settled in and now it was exam time, this was very unsettling. Well, but one thing surely lifted our “dil to baccha hai ji” attitude. More common than the study related queries were the fantasies about the after exam holidays! The December chart was all chalked up with the places to visit. Amidst all the chaos and confusion came the exam time. One thing was very surprising and also very relaxing that even on the morning of the exam the corridors were swarming with laughing students. They did have books in their hands but somehow none seemed to be paying any attention to them, a mark of our brazen confidence. The exam time went pretty smoothly but there were confusions in between too, some wrong question or a wrong paper in one case when the paper had to be repeated after half an hour. The highest drama that unfolded in our class was when a student forgot to bring her ‘Admit Card’ and the principal admonished her in front of the whole class. She was literally harassed and she had to call at least five people so that her admit card could be brought to the college. All of this took away around half hour of her precious time and that does not count the time she wasted worrying about the ordeal. I personally believe that it should not have been made such a big deal of as anyone can make mistakes.

On the last day of examination, the last half hour was like a black curtain keeping us away from our world of sunlight and play. I could sense that the entire class was agitated and wanted to submit their papers and go but they held on somehow. When the exam was over and the final full stop had been put we chucked aside the curtain and were dazzled by the streaming light. We didn’t know what to do and where to go but started with a mall nearby. For two days, I am sure, everyone would have woken up early in the anticipation of some subject to study but must have been shocked when they would have realized that none was there!! It took another day to seep in the feeling that we were finally queens of our own time and could go wherever we wished and do whatever we wanted. Now, a full week after the momentous day it’s laid back fun everyday. I can pursue my hobbies and plan an outing with my friends almost everyday but the worst part is that 200 SMSes per day don’t seem enough and phone bills are the new monsters. Oh well, so be it!!




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Tulika Banerjee is a student of Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women. She is very passionate about everything she does... she loves to write, sing, dance, paint, speak so on and so forth!! Her friends love her because she loves them A LOT! She generally takes charge of stuff and sees that they are done properly. She is affectionate, strong and a voracious reader. Life is fun for her and exploring it is her job. She hopes that she can grow up well and achieve all her goals.

SILLY NEWS-MAKING

On two consecutive days there was news-making in the Campus. The Principal was seen scurrying around with an angry frown in a pushing manner when on other days he is sober and peaceful. Two burly policemen and a couple of lady constables around him gave more importance than you would otherwise associate with a rampant Principal inspecting the college. In ten minutes, another class-less day had become significant to the gossiper’s mouth. The scattered crowds had gathered together like vultures on a piece of meat and the subject of derision had only to face more shame. Endless tales had suddenly been born and the original story buttressed with spices to ten different versions in no time. 

A senior was caught smoking behind the cafeteria the first day. It was a clear coincidence, some of us knew for some time how much fun they had pulling smoke behind the Canteen. But that you could be caught too had not appeared as a risk. There is great fun in making mockery of the system; proving efforts at making DU a smoke-free zone meaningless has been consistent. Now the officials proved they really meant what they professed. Mayhem had followed immediately. The policemen led him outside, much to his own embarrassment and to the dilution of the college’s good name. Next day there was a notice put up on the board. “Mr. So-and-so has been restricted from entering the College ground till further notice. His brother has been informed about his misbehavior”.

It is not one of unusual incidences. Amongst the little number of people that I know in DU, a good proportion of them are smokers. And girls are no exception in this puffing race too. One of my friends in Satya Niketan told me the other day of a pretty girl she found in a corner of the locality, “She looked lovely as an angel in her elegant composure and beautiful face. Then she turned around her hand to smoke on her red lit tobacco”………. “And she broke my heart”, she said with a sad look.

What is it that leads you to this menace? Plain curiosity? Mere acting silly develops into habit and later into addiction. And I have also heard of smoking increasing your concentration power and helping you stay trim. Isn’t that a loser’s way of saying it is too sunny for water and therefore you needing an energy-boost? In trying to be a sport, and the self-determined assumption of being adventurous that goes along with it; the curse may follow you for a lifetime.There is nothing more disdaining than campaigning for cheap popularity. Sometimes, I tell off a smoker classmate with such harshness; the avoidance seems uncompassionate by human standards. But he has got the hint now, I am not invited anymore.

Booze is still considerably ok, because you can see the bottle draining in front of you and you can tell yourself to stop, unlike a smoke which would appear small but harm you in greater magnitudes. I am not here to stick up for Booze though.

The next day again, someone from another college had smuggled his way inside Motilal. He had a feud to settle with a boy who he felt stole his girlfriend. The gatekeeper had been alerted somehow when the love-strucks dueled each other near the cafeteria. The Principal had found his way again in time, accompanied by policemen. We were sitting on the front lawn that day, class-less as ever. It seemed all funny to us; how love-blind can you be?  That is another reason why we pride in being singles: no jealousy, no competition, no extravagant spending, no insecurity and most importantly no crazy shootouts.

The boy had given a chase it seemed, the police were all over the place. The boy was crying when he was led out. The Principal had supposedly slapped him hard. Someone in the crowd said,”Rula diya bechare ko”.

Funny, this love!!!

by Tonmoy Barua
Image Courtesy: Google 

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After completing his schooling from MVM, Guwahati, Tonmoy Barua spent the five most glorious and beautiful years of his life at the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. Being a war enthusiast he had an ardent desire to join the defence forces, but before he could gather the technical skills of war and strategy his keenness to serve the nation and don the star-studded uniform came to a halt when he was rejected on medical grounds. But as life goes on, he is now pursuing B.A. (Hons) Political Science from Moti Lal Nehru College, New Delhi and yearns to serve the country on different fronts.

MJ'S ANGELS

For me only a few things hold true in this world…out of which two are friends and dance, both of which came together on Shaheed Rajguru’s ‘Cultural Day’ or I can say OUR cultural day on 30th September 2011. When the notices were put up, I was beyond happy!!! It was a dream come true that I would get to dance here too!! For the background information my good old school would happily volunteer that whenever there was music and a piece of ground, I would be found dancing. So I was naturally thrilled and to my astonishment and delight even my ‘gang’ was!!

Eight of us signed up for this, each of us an enthusiast. We didn’t have the prize in our eyes just the opportunity to be able to get in front of an audience and ‘just dance’. I was in charge of the music and made a compilation of our favourites, 'Desi Girl’, ‘Chammak Challo’ and ‘Bounce’. The best part were the practices that followed. I became the choreographer and started dreaming of cool steps at night. Oh the sweat, the sweat!! Slowly but steadily we developed a style and a look. MJ’s look. The dances were hip and not easy at all but I’m a taskmaster when I come down to it and so, all of the group could pick it up. With the dance came the chance of bunking classes!! We would never hesitate to get up from our seats and start walking and when the teacher would stare, we all would go ‘Sir, hum jeet gaye to aapke department ka hi to naam hoga na’. After a lot of practice and high pitched drama we found ourselves on 29th with tempers running super high. The group was cranky and exhausted and also we had developed a hope of victory somewhere down the line. But trouble was still on its way… the next day a girl was missing a hat, a part of the props. It was three hours of running around and getting worked up and me redesigning the sequence around one missing hat. At the very end a batch mate (not from the dance) went to Laxmi Nagar and got us one hat. We were really inspired and decided of dedicating our dance to her. The day was fantastic after that!! A rock band performance… stand up acts… a self written ‘qawwali’… and then the group dance competition. ‘MJ’s Angels’ as the first group, us, ‘dhak dhak, dhak dhak’, our hearts were beating in a frenzy, but I knew that if we remain anxious then as sure as hell we will sink. I prayed, and suddenly there was music and the compere announced that there would be some Rajguru group dance first!! And for half an hour all of us ‘jhoomo-fied’ on various dance numbers however classy or rustic and I could see my group was relaxing… then when the time was near I gave a very emotional sa speech (very Shahrukh Khan like from Chak De India!) and my group beamed at me. The dance.. was FANTASTIC!!! I’ve never been this proud of my gang ever before, each of them was a rockstar!! I think we did well also because of the dedication, we were so much more attached to the performance now! We came down and gave a big group hug and with big smiles on our faces and inflated hopes in our hearts went back to our seats where our batch mates could cheer on us.

After us the other groups went on stage and this is where our mouth brain co-ordination ruptured. The words in the bracket will be what I was thinking. There costumes are good no? (Helloooo!! What are you wearing??), the co-ordination is just fine (far from it) etc etc... Then came a genuinely awesome group and our hopes of winning were shattered, but we were still happy because we were satisfied with our performance, then came another group and the conflict started. Good sequence girls!! (LOL) But the brain and the mouth rejoined when the results were announced and… we were the last group out of four. WHAT THE HELL!! (PARTIALITYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!). We were not sad that we had lost but sad because the judges made their dear students win even when they did not deserve it at all and the truly deserving ones came second. We were heartbroken for some time but then we were just fine when the DJ pumped it up.  Like every day of your life has got a lesson for you, we learnt that even if you work real hard it’s not guaranteed that you will win the competition, but you definitely win something for the longer run… confidence in yourself, trust in your peers and a memorable experience which taught you group work, co-ordination and that you got to take it in your stride even if you fall. So even if you lose, even if you come last and all you hopes are shattered in a cruel way, you need to cheer up and look at the brighter side of it. Later on, my friends pointed out that we WERE winners in their eyes and that is what matters, doesn’t it? So, after all we did win the competition.

Images Courtesy: Google

KNOW YOUR FRIEND FROM DU

Tulika Banerjee is a student of Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women. She is very passionate about everything she does... she loves to write, sing, dance, paint, speak so on and so forth!! Her friends love her because she loves them A LOT! She generally takes charge of stuff and sees that they are done properly. She is affectionate, strong and a voracious reader. Life is fun for her and exploring it is her job. She hopes that she can grow up well and achieve all her goals.

FICTION

A LIE FOR AMMA

“Mami it’s going to rain” shouted Mallika as the mystique abode above her roared in her approval.

“Bring back the dried clothes from outside or else they are going to get wet”. This time my mom instructed her as she was busy preparing the after-noon tea. It was 5:00 pm.

“Ok Mami I’m bringing”

Soon the rain drops made their way to reach the mortal land, it wasn’t the safest place, they realized, and juxtaposition with the ethereal clouds made it feasible. This type of shower has become the part and parcel of people’s life in this part of the world; a hot day has to end with a replenishing shower.

Tea was served. I occupied the window seat on the oval dining table. Besides me my mom, my two sisters and Mallika occupied the rest of the chairs.

Mallika was our maid, a small girl, 11 years old probably. But she was not treated as a servant or so, rather she was considered among us. One may say its child labour but see her father; an illiterate pervert who was going on producing babies unless his wife gives birth to a boy, having already produced four daughters. Having spoilt his wife’s health he was left with no money to feed his daughters. Thus, Mallika was sent to us. The lean thin girl now transformed into a healthy girl...her dark skin began to glow owing to the time she spent at the dressing table doing permutation and combination to apply various beauty products available. None of my sisters ever scolded her...the reason probably she turned to be the eye candy for all of us. Be it her witty replies or the way she talks, everything got her more points than the daily T.V. soaps. My younger sister taught her the English alphabets, even to pronounce her name...her accent changed, from colloquial Bengali to fine Assamese. If one asked her what her name was, she would reply instantly in English to be precise, “My name is Mallika Sherawat” - the bollywood actress. Actually my younger sister incorporated her surname to her. So it seemed even she enjoyed staying with us.

As we all were sipping our hot cup of tea the door bell rang; as if with fury. My small sister rushed to open the door. Who could be at this point of time...I mean making his way in this rain. Must be someone whom Mallika knew; my sister called out her name as soon as she opened the door.

I was still absorbed with the droplets; the person who visited was none but Mallika’s father. We still were finishing our tea as both father and daughter chatted for a little while. Soon we all went to the drawing room where Mallika and her father were talking. It took only a while when he announced that Mallika would not be staying with us anymore. The reason when asked was that Mallika was beaten and tortured by us. Moreover her mom needed her at home.

My Amma, gave a look of surprise tinged with utter disapproval but she knew it was of no use to beat her brains out. Even my sisters were surprised, I was also included. How can one put a lame excuse? My mom didn’t say anything but my elder sister confronted Mallika, “Did we ever beat you or even slap you?” Without letting a sense of remorse to devote her face she nodded an affirmative.

A year’s trust slivered within a second. She was paid for her service to us; even though she didn’t pay back what we deserved. Well our family lamented not for the loss of a maid but for the loss of faith; a faith that was entrusted.

***

It’s 20th May 2011. Delhi University summer vacations just started. I’m waiting at the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS). It was finally 2:30 am when I boarded the train with fears over burdened. I have a ticket but it was an E-ticket and it was on W/L- 2. An e-ticket with waiting list is considered to be without ticket as the money is refundable. So, basically I was considered to travel without a ticket but I was desperate to go home at any cost. I thought I would board the train and if the T.T.E. (Travellers’ Ticket Examiner) asks I’ll pay the fine; even brought the cash for fine. My summer vacation started from the 16th of this month. It’s not that I haven’t visited my home for years but I was eager to see my home, my Amma. Even though it was the third time in six months, I was still excited to go home.

My elder sister and her friends also boarded the same train as they were on their way home after their educational tour to Delhi. Luckily I managed to sit in between them. Finally, after fifteen minutes or so after the train departed the T.T.E. came. I occupied a seat which was supposed to be my sister’s friend; he was absent. He came near me for inspection purpose.

“Number 64”

“It’s me” I said firmly.

“Ticket”

“The ticket is with our teacher. He is in the next compartment”

“Ok! “

“Thank you Sir.”

I’m wondering what made me lie so spontaneously. Perhaps I was desperate to meet my mother at any cost...be it the shelter of a lie.

As I was still thinking deep; I remembered Mallika and her lie. Was her lie also for her Amma? May be...even though it was like home at Delhi but still I was missing the homely affairs there. My real home can never be replaced with anything. She was a small child...maybe she was also missing her home badly. A sense of remorse evoke in my heart as any kind of lie hurts me deeply. But I reminded myself, “It’s a lie for Amma”.

by Syed Wasbir Subhani
Image courtesy: Google

KNOW YOUR FRIEND FROM DU

Name: Syed Wasbir Subhani
Nick name: Aquazir
College: Ramjas College, University of Delhi
Course: Physics

Hobbies: Syed doesn't like to work. He likes to read novels and play some sport.
Interests: He loves writing and doing all chores that are forbidden to him.

---

DU Dastan’s Travelogue

SATYA NIKETAN MARKET

"Satya Niketan Market" the main attraction and the common hangout spot for the South Campus Colleges.

Identification of this market is through overcrowded lanes with people, cars and shouting and howling, after all it’s the HOTSPOT OF SOUTH CAMPUS!!!!

Be it 9:30 in the morning or 4:30 in the evening, this hotspot attracts students from JMC to Maiteryi College and of course the ones opposite Satya Niketan market. It has become a get together joint where students gather to meet friends and pass time in between the classes. The famous eating joints are Barista, Café Coffee Day, Subway, and of course the famous Chowrangee Rolls – value for money!!!- are located in this vicinity. Their names in themselves are a big attraction for all and they even cater to all pockets.                                                                          

Satya Niketan market is also a hub of various institutes and computer courses which again attracts the younger crowd. 

All said and done along with everything positive is also attached the negative - the narrow lanes, the huge garbage disposal place right at the main road opposite Sri Venkateswara College. The place stinks especially during the rainy season. There is a lot of water logging on the main road which makes walking very difficult. WAKE UP AUTHORITIES !!!!!!!!!!

By Vrinda Makhija

DU FAMILY

A nostalgic feeling still shrouds my mind whenever I look down the memory lane – my SCHOOLDAY, those precious 14 years that made me what I am today but just the mere thought of being a part of the DU family lifts my spirits and makes me less morose. 47 days on and now I am well adapted to the rocking DU lifestyle. I got a funny feeling that being in DU is like being trapped in a computer program amidst great chaos except in the case when you know the basics. Let me make it a bit simpler for you to comprehend. Since entering this new life, I have met a wide variety of people who earlier used to make me flinch and even become flimsy, but nowadays, just a mere look tells me how to confront the person in front of me just because I have got the hang of BASICS.

What I realized is that there are 3 classes partitioning the DU family.

1… The SO-CALLED ELITE CLASS

      Basically, its members are those coquettish covetous butterflies who walk as if on ramp, talk as if crooning (inaudibly) and live in their hive with their own species as if being near you would suffocate them. It also includes those studs who consider them to be the world of one and all. But in reality, who cares??

2… THE BINDAAS CLASS

      This is my personal favourite. Its members are not only people but people you can call friends at the end of the day. You can chat, eat, laugh, cry, study- in other words live life to the fullest with them.

3… THE GLUE CLASS

      Well! Its members are creatures who are actually synonymous with parasites. They will follow you wherever you go but won’t speak a word; would take spoonfuls from your “anmol thaali” but won’t dare shell a buck for you. They will call you their world no matter how hard they try to make your world topsy-turvy so that you may fall down.

Now, I know why college life is known as the stepping stone of life because one becomes wary of so many personalities here that all the apprehensions fade away. DU gives you some best friends, some friends and not to forget our beloved parasites. But at the end of the day if you are perplexed, just sing to yourself…

KOI ACCEPTED KOI FORCED HOTA HAI,
         PAR HAR EK FRIEND ZAROORI HOTA HAI…….

Image Courtesy: Google



Article By: Ritu Garg

DU ELECTIONS

Two weeks of slushy and wet rains failed to dampen the spirit; perhaps only agitated more the zest and competition in the various parties as they campaigned for the forthcoming DUSU elections. A week back, DUTA elections had led the way in exercising Democratic participation in electing the representatives; the ones who would come to represent them and fight for their rights and opinions. DUTA preceded the DUSU elections in an exemplary behavior, keeping alive the age-old tradition of Guru-Shishya handing down of knowledge and responsibilities. The protocols were observed in letter and spirit in as flawless a manner of a role-model as possible; even as coarsened disputes materialized in corners of newspapers and there were reports of grouches bullying those standing in elections, especially lady students from filing their affidavits and documents in North Campus. There is little fun in winning without a little tussle. In keeping similar spirits, the student bodies held up their nominees onto the larger platform of University from colleges.

How high and prestigious the offices of the victors would be was obvious from the ceaseless cheering by the participating bodies and their supporters. And the voices got louder as D-day approached. 9^th September loomed large. Many had spent hours; there was behind-the–curtain strategizing. Each day there were supporters to be won. From the past three weeks curiosity was cooking amongst the non-participants. Even as the budding politicians joined their parent parties, there was unconditional support extending from the classrooms. Attendance was marked silently. In gratitude there were also promises of cocktail parties to the boys’ majority and graceful parties to the teetotalers. There was a sudden striking of handshakes with the seniors, they visited the fresher’s classes often: sometimes to introduce themselves, at others to be introduced with the latter. There were smaller associations, like the Political Science Association in my college that asked for contributions and asked us to churn them a Vice- President (Vice-Presidents are supposedly from 1st year).

As 9th September approached campaigning got fiercer and fiercer still. There was to be no stopping until the last supporters to opposing parties had changed sides. Classes were never regular for the hollering in the corridors only got louder. They dropped in amidst the classes; standing to give their manifestos with poise and élan. “Bus service must be started on this South campus route. ….. There should be Metro feeder to AIIMS station. ……The dilapidating canteen needs infrastructure and better food……. Evening college has no club rooms of its own……It has been ages since a new College opened up”, while

one emphasized on what ought to be, another stressed on what they had already accomplished, “In the Radhika Tanwar murder too we had held protests and fought for student rights…etc.”

The last week came as the finishing touch to the hard work of months. “Hamara neta kaisa ho……..Jaisa ho” filled the air. Some dressed in the quintessential Netaji dress, some in Kurtas and Jeans. Garlands hung on their necks like ornaments. The canteen was on-the-house on Wednesday, and there were organized trips to ‘Adventure Island’ in groups throughout the week. When I went to college last before elections on Tuesday, all of the parties barricaded the entrance path. Hands were shook every two meters and pamphlets handed over. Even if you were convinced with one party, the next was standing just ten feet away to lure you into their welcoming embrace. A north-east forum came up in my college in the last couple of days and actively supported NSUI. We visited the Indira Gandhi National Cultural Association (IGNCA) at Janpath with the NE-forum; though it was differently aligned it came as political education and guidance for the campaigners. There was also a Palam Party activist who got cell numbers written so that we don’t shake off balloting on the last day but mysteriously did not come to college on the last crucial days before Friday. Election Day was only dampened by the lashing of clouds, it was one of the wettest days of this Monsoon and the exercise of the franchise stood at a mere 32 percent. (Courtesy: The Hindu) When the results emerged late that day, Prem Kumar Mishra assumed office as President of my college student’s body. (The name had registered like a poem from weeks of campaigning outside our classroom window). At the University level, while NSUI’s Ajay Chikara reined winner of the post of President of DUSU, BJP backed ABVP clinched rest of the five offices. It was all’s well that ends well for the parties and students as life tuned back to normal from Monday.