Tej Pratap (top) takes a walk with friends on his first day at BN College and (above) students have a chat on Patna Women’s College campus. Pictures by Jai Prakash and Deepak Kumar

Patna, July 19: Several youngsters stepped into the euphoric world of friendship and higher studies today as Patna University (PU) opened its gate to students for the new session keeping a close watch on ragging.

For the students, it was a nervous yet exciting start to a new beginning. Thousands of students in colourful apparels thronged their respective colleges before time to avoid confusion related to class and stream. A few incidents of eve-teasing, a protest and a VVIP’s son’s first day in college summed up the day’s events.

Tej Pratap, the son of Bihar’s erstwhile first couple — Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi — who took admission at the prestigious BN College for a Bachelor of Arts degree, too reached his institution on time.

According to him, he did not want to miss the first-day frolic at his college. Tej’s father has a master degree in political science from the same college, affiliated to PU.

Tej, like other students, reached the college in the morning but preferred a walk around the campus. Sporting a shirt and black trousers, the RJD chief’s son roamed around the campus meeting new students and seniors.

“Being a son of a VVIP will not be an issue. I am like any other student of this college,” Tej told The Telegraph.

Tej, who has so far kept politics at bay, is also pursuing a course to obtain a commercial pilot’s licence at the Bihar Flying Institute in Patna. He said: “From childhood, I had plans to become a pilot but initially my father was reluctant in me becoming a pilot.”

The 21-year-old said he had a huge collection of various aircraft models at his residence. “Though I am pursuing graduation in political science, I am not interested in joining politics,” Tej said.

Meanwhile, PU’s directive to deal with ragging incidents sternly kept the menace out of the campus at least on the day-I of the new session. However, a minor incident of ragging was reported from BN College where a few senior students passed lewd comments at a fresher.

In a bid to help freshers deal with any kind of ragging, the Patna College had put a board on the college premises having detailed information about what is ragging and the provisions under which a student can be punished if found indulging in ragging.

Anil Pathak, a BN College fresher, said: “Ragging is quite common on the first day in the college but very few students have information under what provisions a student can complain.”

Vikash Singh, who is pursing his final-year graduation from Patna College, said: “Earlier, we used to have introduction sessions with first-year students. But this practice has met a dead end.”

The new students got a taste of campus protest on their first day at Vanijya Mahavidyalaya. Those who did not get admission in the college under the sports quota staged an agitation alleging foul play in the admission process.

Raunak Gupta, a state-level volleyball player, said: “Despite having a state-level certificate I was denied admission to the college. Whereas, there are many who has got admission in the college without valid certificates.”

The mood at Magadh Mahila College and Patna Women’s College was ecstatic. Girls in colourful dresses and many in uniform reached the college.

There is a strict dress code at Patna Women’s College. Students have been directed to wear only salwar kameez. However, many thought the diktat was a major turn-off.

A first-year student at Patna Women’s College said: “The administration should not impose the type of dress a student should wear.”