The Hindu : New Delhi News : Dazed newcomers at Delhi University on Day I

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Dazed newcomers at Delhi University on Day I

Staff Reporter

Many colleges, dressed up for the first day, welcome newcomers on a musical note Colleges dress up for the day; welcome freshers on `musical' note

WELCOME: Seniors and freshers at an introduction session at Kirori Mal College in Delhi on Monday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

NEW DELHI: Delhi University is finally back to work. Bringing in a whole new set of enthusiastic youngsters, Day One of the new academic year on Monday saw dazed newcomers trying to get a hang of campus life, while those returning were trying to settle in to the routine after the long break.

Festooned with bright yellow marigold garlands, many colleges were all dressed up for the first day. Welcoming newcomers on a "musical" note, there were orientation classes for "freshers" in many college auditoria.

"There was not much of ragging, just the usual introduction. I am still trying to understand where everything is. There were no classes, but I don't think we'll have any studies in the first week,'' said Kanika, a B.Sc. Physical Sciences student, at Ramjas College.

Studies might have been the last thing on the minds of students, but there were some who found that the first day of college was serious business. Putting a dampener on their spirits, Economic (Honours) students at Hindu College got a taste of things to come.

"The first day started on a bad note. We actually had classes. I was hoping to see some ragging, but we just had the usual introduction. There was nothing else,'' said a disappointed fresher Smriti at Hindu College on her way back home.

With posters in all colleges warning students that any form of ragging would be dealt with seriously, the first day was a low-key affair in some parts of the campus.

"We were taking rounds and found that seniors were not even taking introduction from their juniors. We have no objections to the healthy form of introductions. Otherwise, the atmosphere will become serious and freshers will not be able to adjust to the campus life. It is important for them to interact in a non-formal way with their seniors,'' said Delhi University Students' Union president Ragini Nayak.

However, there were those who stuck firmly to the traditional introduction routine of Delhi University. Real "heroes" copying the dance moves of those in reel, Kirori Mal College saw seniors getting to know their juniors in a fun way, all for the benefit of shutter bugs and television cameras.

"Do this only if you want to," said a senior student to a young fresher while getting him to dance. "See I have made you a hero,'' she said smiling as all the camera people zoomed in to capture his steps.

Giving a whole new meaning to dancing in the rain, freshers sang and danced like Abhishek Bachchan and even cat-walked their way to their first adult experience out of school.

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