Our friend vinay

Our friend Vinay’s  ‘Journey of Delight’  in Central University of Jammu

Gulshan Udham/ Surbhi Badyal

‘Wider the gates of a University, more the strength of students.’
According to a survey, a country cannot progress if the total percentage of the students in Higher Education is less than 20%.
This clearly explains the importance of Higher Education in a country.

A student of Central University Jammu, Vinay, is presently studying in semester 2nd of one of the departments of the respective University. After completing his secondary education from a Government School, Vinay completed his Graduation from a Government Degree College itself, before taking admission in Central University for Post Graduation.

The atmosphere of the university was more democratic and comfortable for him as compared to his school and college. His teachers and classmates were all friendly and helpful and within a short span of time he got acquainted with all his classmates as well as faculties too.

This university is the perfect example of the phrase ‘UNITY in DIVERSITY’. Students across the borders of J&K are also the part of this university, hence, diverse colours of culture can be seen in one place. Even after having different language, food taste, clothing and traditions, all live under one roof, eat the same food and are ready to have each others back whenever in need. That is the essence of diverse culture. What Vinay had only seen on television or read in books, was now in front of him in a kaleidoscopic picture.

There had been minor problems which Vinay had to face as the university has just begun to function at the speed of success, but the love and affection by the teachers and classmates is enough to overlook the minor flaws.

But there have been some problems which cannot be overlooked. A minor problem took the shape of a major problem recently. In the middle of the session there was a sudden hike in the bus fee. Earlier each student had to pay the desired amount of Rs. 1000 annually, but now each student was asked to pay the same amount monthly, which was difficult to pay for a student like Vinay, belonging to a lower middle class. Vinay shared that he dropped an year as he couldn’t afford the admission fee last year. He worked for an year, collected money enough for the admission fee and then applied for the university. He was not able to collect enough money for hostel and so had to do a lot of up-down for reaching university on time and back. He also told us that he used to work in a part time job when he was in semester one but had to leave later in order to focus on the studies. This decision taken by the university authorities has put him in trouble.

Vinay is trying to look deeper into the education system of the country. In 2009, the Right to Education Act came into being, making education as the ‘right’ of every student and not just a ‘privilege’. The Government is itself responsible for the education of children between 6 to 14 years of age groups. This clearly tells how important is education and primary education for every single child.

But now the question arises that which government or non-governmental body is responsible for the education of children below 6 years and above 14 years?

Vinay said that there will be a fall in the percentage of students in universities, if the fee structures start touching the peak, ironically “sky is the limit”.
And this will further lead to the larger lot of students, escaping the congested gates of the university and away from the higher education.

The future generation, therefore, is in trouble. And who is responsible? Who is to be asked?