As the controversy between the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Delhi University on the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) takes more vicious turns, the authorities’ concern for students seems to be evaporating steadily. In this clash of egos, we the students seem to be the ultimate losers.
Like thousands of other applicants, I set my feet on Delhi on June 23, eager and anxious about the first cut-off lists that were expected to come out on June 24. I studied humanities at Notre Dame Academy, Patna, scoring 95.4 per cent in aggregate. Pursuing academics and getting into the field of writing have perpetually been my primary goal and I have always considered DU as the most suitable destination for myself. I am privileged to have got an invite for interview from St Stephen’s College for the much sought-after philosophy department. I had even applied to DU to ultimately get into the position of juxtaposing the options that would ultimately be open for me. But the day I reached Delhi, I got to know about the utter chaos, confusion and political debate regarding the FYUP that had been introduced in the academic session 2013-2014. All of us students were already anxious about our prospect of getting into the college of our choice and this inordinate delay in the admission process with rising confusion about the new syllabus is only adding fuel to the fire. I am really worried since even after getting into the merit list of the Government Law College, Mumbai, and ILS, Law College, Pune, I sacrificed these revered institutions to become a part of Delhi University.
The monotonous days start and end in the same manner — intently browsing through the news channels and websites in order to get the latest update about the commencement of the admission process. Many of my classmates are here in Delhi too and some of them have already visited the university’s campus about a dozen times, returning each time even more dejected and worried than before.
What has made us more frustrated is the authorities’ inability to say anything to us with clarity. Many of us had a pre-planned schedule regarding our arrival and departure dates but we are now clueless about our next step given the indefinite logjam. Many of my friends who were to reach Delhi by June 24 or 25 got their tickets cancelled after learning about this delay. Now, even in our hometown, the students are getting inquisitive and frustrated for they are unable to decide their next move regarding the appropriate date for getting tickets for Delhi.
What has made things even more complicated is that the dates for applying to courses in most other universities have lapsed, leaving us with scant options.
As the hours and days are passing by, my family’s anxieties are increasing because of multiple reasons. Right now we are staying at Bihar Niwas, New Delhi — the Bihar government’s guesthouse. We had got it booked only for a period of five days and now we are faced with the situation of trying for an extension in Bihar Niwas or find a new accommodation altogether.
No date for the start of the admission process has been announced, making it impossible for us to leave Delhi for our hometown. DU is a world-recognised university and such politicised tussles can prove to be a blot on the reputation of the institution’s education system. I hope things get sorted out soon enabling us to take admission, which is an issue more critical to students like us rather than provisions like FYUP or the three-year undergraduate programme.
