From Screens to Celebrations: Embracing Life at JNU

In November 2021, I got the mail for joining the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University for the B.A. Hons. in Russian Language course. We, being a batch affected much by COVID, completed our Class 12 and 1st year of graduation from online mode only. We were given details to provide the digital copy of all our documents and anti-raging affidavit, medical certificate, etc. on mail to be verified by the university for admission, and we were given ample amount of time to submit them. It was notified that a formal offline document verification will be done on campus after the situation of COVID-19 gets normal.

From Virtual to Reality: Discovering College Life at JNU

In the 1st year of graduation, the semesters were shortened due to the lack of time to keep the schedule of the whole college again on track. The teachers laid out special teaching plans, devised new methods, and took long classes and even extra classes to help us cope with the syllabus and the new language. Although a normal semester was supposed to be started in September, our semester started in mid-January, with the cherry on top being it in online mode. But somehow, we completed the 1st year.

We got the opportunity to go to the college very late. The DDMA gave guidelines to open offline colleges in March, but our college was opened in August. The first thing we did there was to get our documents physically verified in the Convention Center of JNU. After that, we were issued our ID cards, health cards, and library cards. A few days later, we were called for offline classes, and in a span of 2–3 months, all were allotted some dorms or hostels in JNU.

Unity in Diversity: Experiencing JNU's Vibrant Campus Life

We started going to classes regularly and explored the diverse, green, lush campus, flora and fauna, and the immemorial walls and buildings. Then, all with the time passing by, things became normal like pre-covid, and I can surely claim that there is no campus as of JNU in India. JNU doesn't have any centrally organised fest but what makes it different is the celebration of diversity that is all the different festivals, culture, regions and religion. One of them, which is must to attend, is Holi celebration at JNU. Durga puja is also celebrated in a unique way at the campus. It’s a newly added fest to the list of cultural activities, celebrated for 9 days, all managed by the student bodies only.

Matki Fod Competition at Krishna Janmashtami and the pious month of Ramzan and Eid festival are also celebrated at a huge level in all hostels. They also offer ‘Iftaari’ to all students. While the campus holds balance between diversity of traditional Indian festivals, it also celebrates international cultures and festivals like the Hangeul Days festival by Korean language Centre and the Marchen Party week of German language Centre and Maslenitsa celebration of Russian Centre and so on.

Apart from all these cultural, traditional and ethnic fests, there are international level seminars, conferences and talks that are very informative and interesting.We used to participate as a volunteer as junior students of BA or MA. We also participated as a paper presenter or in other more active roles for the PhD students and research scholars. Where these parts represent unique and different ideas, there are DJ night parties in all the schools and centers of JNU where anyone can go and enjoy. More or less, the identity and true spirit of JNU lie in its diversity of students and ideas and the acceptance of them and their representations.

About the author: 

Sujay is currently purusing BA Hons. in Russian Language at JNU. He completed Class 12 in 2021 during Covid-19 Pandemic.He has participated in many fests at JNU. 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.