NIT students take part in the freshers’ welcome function in Patna on Monday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Senior students of National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Patna had everything in store for newcomers during “Udjeevan” on Monday.

Udjeevan, as the freshers’ welcome function is better known as on the Ashok Rajpath campus, started with a musical extravaganza in which NIT students sang in tune with the 2006 Bollywood movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’s title song. During the formal inauguration of Udjeevan, NIT-Patna director Asok De spoke on the institute’s various activities and its recent revamp of the campus to give the fresh batch a comfortable stay.

Besides, solo music, solo dance and group dance competitions, Udjeevan held a “beauty contest” too. Saumya Pathak (architecture) from Jhansi and Arindam Roy (mechanical) from Ghaziabad were crowned Miss Fresher and Mr Fresher, respectively. The two were given their awards by last year’s winners Yashu Arora and Nupur Bhargava.

The special attraction of the freshers’ welcome was a motivational speech delivered by first-year student Mohammed Aftab Alam (Muzaffarpur) from electrical engineering branch who had lost both his hands. Alam spoke on how hard work and determination can help overcome all hurdles.

Anshu Priya, a second-year computer science student, said: “Alam’s speech was really inspiring and motivating as he talked about the hurdles he that came his way in life and how he overcame those.”

This year, NIT-Patna admitted over 600 students based on the IIT-Mains score. As per the NIT act, 50 per cent of students should be from outside Bihar and the rest should be from within the state.

However, getting accommodation in hostels remains a problem. Sai Teja, a first-year IT student who hails from Telangana, said: “I have not got hostel accommodation yet. At present, I am staying outside the campus.”

Teja, who has rented a room, claimed he and his friends had approached the NIT administration and were promised hostel facilities soon.

Echoing the views of Teja, Mansi Sharma, a first-year electrical and communication engineering student who hails from Lucknow, said: “I am lucky that I got a room at the hostel and am also impressed by the institute.” Mansi also said that NIT Patna on the banks of the Ganga always reminds her of the Gomti, which passes by Lucknow.

Apart from cultural programmes, the students were also offered light refreshments like samosa, cutlets, sweets and soft drinks.