The University of Delhi, which has had its doors shut for nearly two years, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, welcomed its undergraduate and postgraduate students back on Thursday, 17 February.
The returning students are scheduled to attend four-five classes on Thursday, similar to the pre-pandemic timetables.
Meanwhile, several first- and second-year students are attending offline college for the first time.
However, it is not just students who are thrilled about the resumption of physical classes. Street vendors in North Campus are just as elated, as their business witnesses signs of revival after two years of lull.
Speaking to The Quint, Vasu, a third-year student from Gurgaon, expressed his excitement on Thursday, saying it feels "great to come back to college... It feels a little different because most of the faces are new, we don't know any kid. They've also changed a lot of rooms."
He added, "I'm a little anxious because we need to give our exams offline."
Responding to a question about outstation students, Vasu responded, "They're coming slowly because they (administration) opened the colleges on a very short notice... I think everyone will be here by the end of February."
Another third-year student from Agra, Ravinshu stated, "We left as freshers and we've come back as the senior most."
Ravinshu added that there is a feeling of nostalgia upon returning to classes and he is unable to believe how much his friends, who he has not seen in two years, have changed.
Accommodation Issues for Outstation Students
The reopening, met with exaltation from several new and returning students, also comes amidst concerns of outstation students, who are struggling to find accommodation at a short notice.
Many available accommodations, meanwhile, are undergoing maintenance work on account of being empty for the last two years.
The announcement to resume offline classes for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses was made on 9 February – giving outstation students less than 10 days to return to Delhi and find accommodation.
Students' Protest to Reopen Colleges
The reopening of the campus was announced by Proctor Professor Rajni Abbi, in the backdrop of students staging protest for the resumption of physical classes at Delhi University's North Campus.
Scores of students had demonstrated in front of varsity Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh's office as they pushed for their demand.
Kicked off by the Students Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students' Association (AISA), who had taken to Twitter as well as the streets to mark their protest, the agitation later included other student unions, both left-wing and right-wing.
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