The Hindu : Front Page : In Delhi, all roads lead to the University

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 02, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

In Delhi, all roads lead to the University

Mandira Nayar

HOUSE FULL: Admission seekers out on the Delhi University campus on Thursday. - PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

NEW DELHI: The first day of the admission season for the new academic year saw a packed house at Delhi University. With many bright-eyed aspirants taking their initial steps from the rather protected environment of schools to the big adult world of the University, there were many who wanted to get a head start in the race for a seat in a college.

Day One saw close to 40,000 pre-admission or centralised forms being sold at 16 centres set up across the city. Colleges selling individual forms also drew a good response with Kirori Mal selling 800 copies of the prospectus and 2,000 of its own forms. Deshbandhu College on the South Campus sold 200 of its own forms, while there was a better response for pre-admission forms.

"The response was excellent. Students looked excited and anxious,'' said Ramjas College Principal Rajendra Prasad.

From standing in queues to splitting up into groups to cover more ground, for most candidates it was a long hot lesson in patience. While colleges had big boards, banners and even help-desks to guide students and their parents, there were still those who were unclear about how to go about the whole process. Relying as many did on rumours rather than reading the extensive booklet provided by the University, apprehension was high on the minds of most students.

"I have heard that only six colleges accept the centralised forms. For all the others, you need to buy separate forms,'' said Surekha, who had come armed with a huge bag and a newspaper to guide her about how to apply.

Wearing almost a deserted look, the admission centre at the Dean of Students' Welfare (North Campus) office might not have seen very many students lining up for forms in the morning, but the centre at Kirori Mal College seemed to be a hot favourite. Still retaining its reputation of being the highest selling centre, it sold a total of 5,001 centralised forms on Thursday.

The University also saw some submission of the pre-admission forms on the first day. While the number was 128 at Kirori Mal College, Gargi College saw 92 forms being submitted.

With its own unique procedure in place, St. Stephen's, the most sought after college on the campus, saw students walking dutifully from one room to the other, many of them a little intimidated by the rather silent and strict atmosphere around. Right across the road, the grand old Hindu College presented a slightly different picture with students jostling for space to buy the forms. With the queues extending up to the porch, it was a busy day all the way for the college staff.

Enthusiasm to get into college was not the only factor that seemed to draw students out in the June heat. "Entrepreneurship" was another. A group of students inside a prominent North Campus college were "helpfully" selling forms for an extra five bucks apiece to spare those standing in the long queue the trouble of getting to the window.

"I bought an extra form for Rs. 30,'' said a young boy.

Colleges on the South Campus of the University also saw a good turnout. While there was no chaotic rush at Jesus and Mary, there was still a good response. "We sold 1,850 centralised forms in the general category and 100 in the SC/ST category at the Joint Dean Students' Welfare Office on the South Campus. That is a good number on the first day. I also found that students were not only buying forms but also submitting them,'' said the Joint Director of South Campus, Malashri Lal.

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