Hello folks! I am a student of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) pursuing PG Diploma in Hindi journalism. It’s been two months and I’ve fallen in love with the campus. Established in 1920, JMI is a central university located in New Delhi.
About the campus –
The campus is distributed over a large area in the Okhla area of Delhi. It has various faculties and departments. When I visited the Zakir Hussain central library for the first time, I was mesmerised by the infrastructure and the ambiance. The campus has lush green trees, flower beds, melodiously chirping little birds, squirrels and the beauty of Mother Nature. The classrooms, the cafes and canteens, the departmental libraries, the seminar halls and the gardens of Jamia are all very close to my heart.
Popular rumours –
Having heard different rumours about Hindu minorities being ill-treated in Jamia, I took admission with untold expectations and flashes of insecurity. But the moment I entered the campus, all my notions disappeared. There were students belonging to various religions, caste, places of origin and race. I found many young and vibrant people and they all welcomed me with a smile on their faces. People here greet each other with a humble ‘Salaam’ . The people here do not engage in communal debates and respects each other’s culture and religion. I have witnessed some healthy debates on political issues but they always end on a positive note. Students here are secular in nature and they never discriminate against each other.
No restriction on clothes –
TBH, Jamia is the most diverse and secular educational institution I’ve ever seen in India. The ratio of Hindu-Muslim students here is almost equal. Here you can easily find guys wearing a Taqiyah which is a cap worn by people of the Islam religion. You can also find girls wearing burka or hijaab. But the fun part is that in Jamia you can come across girls wearing jeans-tshirt, dresses and shorts. The point that I’m trying to convey is that JMI does not put any restrictions on it’s students. There is no official dress code and the students are free to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.
Diverse and secular environment –
The professors and faculty members are very supportive and understanding. They are never biased in their judgement. And there is not a single instance of partiality or discrimination. One thing that makes me proud of being called a Jamian is that I study in a very diverse and secular community. The environment here is so vibrant and lively.
Overall, I feel grateful to be a part of this diverse campus. I wish to make friends from different parts of the country and I wish to grow up and become a secular citizen of this nation. Looking forward to a fruitful journey in this beautiful university.