Delhi University welcomes fresh batch, orientation goes online

Delhi University for the second consecutive year welcomed the fresh batch of undergraduate students online. Colleges have decided to conduct the orientation programme online to help students get familiar with their faculties, classmates and other facilities.

Delhi University's (DU) began the new academic session for the fresh batch of undergraduate students on November 22, 2021. However, the anxiety and excitement that should come on the first day of college were missing as thousands of students attended the classes through virtual mode. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year too, the orientation programme was conducted online to avoid large gatherings. 

While some colleges organized the day-long orientation programme, others, decided to conduct it for two consecutive days. Colleges have decided to conduct the orientation programme online to help students get familiar with their faculties, classmates and other facilities. However, many freshers felt disappointed as they have been looking forward to this day for a really long time and because of COVID-19 restrictions they couldn't meet their classmates or visit their colleges in person. 

A student of BA (Hons) at Gargi College, which held its orientation programme on November 18 and 21, said the experience was nice but yet different. 

"For last two years, we have been sitting at home attending classes and examinations in online mode. We really hoped that with college starting we will get to experience the very first day of our college life. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was not possible. But we really wish that the college campus will reopen soon and we will be able to live that college life," he said.

Several students have been requesting the Delhi university's authority to reopen the campus for physcial classes for some time now. However, the authorities have not announced a specific date to reopen DU but have assured students that they will soon be taking a call on the same issue. 

Ishita Sajwan, a student of Phil (Hons.) in the Kamla Nehru College, echoed similar views and said, "spending my last year of school online with neither a farewell nor a sendoff into the next phase of our lives was nothing less than dismal. Although it did make me a little too comfortable (lazy) with meeting my friends over screens, I can't imagine my college life to come about like this. I have always envisioned college to be IT, I mean this is what I have looked forward to for the past 4 years. I really really hope things get better and that we get to experience a collegiate life soon."

It's not only the students who are missing out the campus life but also the college teachers and principals across Delhi University who are missing them and looking forward to welcoming them back to campus. 

Indraprastha College for Women, Principal, Bali Moitra Saraf, speaking on the same, said, "It's very unfortunate that students are still not able to see or visit the campus yet. However, I still look forward to seeing students coming back to campus soon and the college will become lively again. This is the second year in a row that the orientation programme is being conducted online. This year's batch is very special as they will be graduating in the year 2024 in which the college will celebrate its centenary year." Indraprastha College for Women had hosted its orientation programme on November 22, 2021. 

Sangeeta Pandita, Principal, Zakir Hussain Delhi College said, "This is a transition period and very important phase as students are coming from schools to college. Students have been coming out of very challenging times and have been at home for the last 20 months. We are looking forward to welcoming them to our beautiful campus, where they will get a chance to interact not only with their classmates, teachers but also with their seniors. They will also get a chance to enroll themselves in a lot of societies, art and culture, social work and extra-curricular activities that we have for them."

While many colleges conducted their orientation programme, many have planned it in the coming days and are expected to finish it by this week.

DU Admissions 2021 for undergraduate courses are still underway. DU had released the DU First cutoff 2021 on October 1, 2021. DU PG Admissions 2021 are also underway. 

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