Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College in Delhi is known for its Bachelor of Business Economics Programme

Vibrancy and flamboyancy are not reserves of campus colleges. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, or SGNDKC, (the erstwhile Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa Post-Graduate - evening - College), located in Karol Bagh, one of Delhi's leading commercial centres, displays that clearly with many snazzy bikes that line its parking and the colourful ensembles that the students flaunt.

The college authorities come across as being very strict. Even if you look like a college-goer, the guard manning the entrance will check your identity card unlike many DU colleges where anyone from a six-year-old to a 60-year-old can waltz in.

Known widely for its bhangra team, the college is making its presence felt in academics too. "Our pass percentage has improved tremendously in the last few years. From 76% in 2007, it grew to 89% in 2009. Last year, there were three university toppers in Hindi journalism and MA Punjabi from this college," says Davinder Kaur Chawla, associate professor - Political Science, SGNDKC.

This is one of the six colleges, which is highly sought after for its BBE (Bachelor of Business Economics) programme. In this programme, the college produces rank holders every year. "The alumni of BBE also get placement offers on campus, which are to the tune of R5 lakh per annum. Next week, our students will appear for job interviews by a (reputed market and company research) company," says Pradip Kumar Mehta, incharge of the business economics department.

Famous for: Its bhangra team is invited for high-level cultural performances, including the one which took place recently at the International Guest House in Pusa.

Programmes: BCom honours, BCom programme, BA (honours) in English/ Punjabi/ Hindi/ history/ political science/ Hindi journalism/ business economics and BA.

Extra curricular: The College has an arts and culture society that has teams for dramatics, folk dance (bhangra and giddha). There is a debating society as well.

Kanwardeep Singh, a final-year BCom student and a member of the bhangra team, says, "The college administration takes special care of the bhangra team in terms of paying for the costumes and the instructor. There is a Western dance team too, which is just a few years old and is yet to gain recognition."

The college also has cricket and hockey teams but the lack of playgrounds has so far compelled students to practise in the grounds of other colleges, including SGGS College of Commerce, Pitam Pura.

Infrastructure: This is a problem area. It doesn't have a sprawling campus, nor does it have a lawn or a playground.

"The college library has a collection of 75,000 books (though the website puts the figure at 60,000) and was once praised by former vice chancellor of Delhi University Deepak Nayyar for its diversity," says Gurmeet Singh, librarian, SGNDKC.

Singh's claims hold water when you cast a glance over the rows of books of different genres neatly stacked in the iron cupboards. Among the photos of famous writers hung on the walls, one can spot Munshi Premchand and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar.

Computer lab: The College has two computer labs with 80 computers in all. "Soon, we will get the campus Wi-Fi enabled and 80 more computers will be added to the present infrastructure," says Dr Mannohan Kaur, principal, SGNDKC.

The college also has an air-conditioned seminar hall.

Found on campus: "The College is known for its heritage. This is one of the oldest colleges of Delhi University. My father studied BCom in this college and was part of the bhangra team. I also took admission in the same programme and joined the bhangra team, as well," says Kanwardeep Singh, a final-year BCom student.

Fact File

SGNDKC was established in 1973 as Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa PG (Evening) College. In the mid '90s, it became a day college and the campus housed a school that used to operate in the first half of the day. In 2005, the college was given control of half of the building. The college then changed its timings to morning and was rechristened Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College.

Wish List

"Infrastructure should improve urgently. There is no auditorium, no playgrounds, and not even a room for cultural societies. We just have one seminar room, where everything is rehearsed and organised," says Mayank Hans, a second-year BCom student.

 

Author: Vimal Chander Joshi (HT Horizons)

Date: 28th December, 2010

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