The time spent in college is certainly
to be treasured. As First Years we step in with bags full of expectations and
hopes and as Graduates we step out with bags full of experience and memories.
Mata Sundri College For Women provides
space for students from very diverse cultures and many kinds of personalities.
The college campus is always brimming with activity and conversation. Students
shuttle back and forth between classrooms, the canteen and activity rooms.
On a regular college day, one can
easily spot a group of girls grooving to the energizing beats of bhangra dhol,
and somewhere a gang of budding actors practising their latest sketch. Just
then one would hear the impressive commands of the head NCC Cadet to the rest
of the cadets who respond by marching in unision, their feet symmetrically
beating the ground. Inside the canteen, which is always buzzing with activity,
one may witness a group of girls dancing and singing, apparently with no
reason, while most of the others are giggling spectators, nibbling on their
bread pakoras or slurping in noodles. The library is in the basement. One
could always lay bets on spotting a dozen book lovers, some hovering around the
compartments and some others with their noses buried deep in books. The sports
complex of the college is also used by sports girls to practice during the
early hours of college.
There is liveliness all around, at all
times. But we have a contrasting sight as well. Just as one enters the main
building, the very first place that comes into sight is the Gurudwara Sahib.
The air around the Sikh shrine is utterly calm.
The rooms surrounding the Gurudwara
Sahib are the labs, music room and administrative office. Though it's not
mandatory to enter the Gurudwara, it remains open to all: students, teachers
and staff members. Every student is sure to walk across that part of the
building owing to lab practicals and visits to administrative offices.
Observation tells you that many students who happen to walk across the
Gurudwara Sahib, pause for a second to take a bow once and walk on.
Occasionally one can hear beautiful melodious religious hymns being sung
inside. Upon entering the Gurudwara after taking off shoes and with a covered
head, to sit inside, cross legged, with eyes softly shut for a moment could be
enough to slow down the train of thoughts and calm one down. Especially worth
mentioning is that volunteers sing the prayers and play traditional instruments
like harmonium and tabla. The prayer session is open to attend for anyone who
wishes. Many teachers, students and staff members (and the principal*) join in
the prayers with Sangat (a religious congregation), which traditionally ends
with langar and is everyone's favorite part!
As is expected most of the functions
in the college often involve the Gurdwara Sahib. Whenever the college makes a
remarkable accomplishment, the Gurdwara is the first place everyone goes to. An
Akhand Paath (uninterrupted reading of the holy Guru Granth Sahib), is arranged
which lasts for two complete days and ends with Ardaas (a formal prayer for
well being) and is concluded by taking a mandatory command from the Guru Granth
Sahib. It is after the Akhand Paaththst celebrations of any other kind can
start.
Moreover, the college frequently
arranges sessions with experts who talk about the religious texts. As under the
command of DSGMC, the college conducts many successful efforts directed for the
promotion of the minority, Sikh religion. Anyone is welcomed to attend the
session, to be inspired or just to add a new fact to their bags.
Providing spiritual knowledge and
worldly knowledge, the college tries to mould an independent batch of young
girls with a thoughtful bent of mind, along with adeptness in humanities and
expertise in the sciences.
All the Khalsa colleges under the
umbrella of Delhi University have this unique feature of offering parallel
training in both religious and academic programs. Interestingly, it is worth
mentioning that, our college which is named after Mata Sundri ji (wife of the
tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji), is also a major historical shrine where Mata
Sundri ji lived half of her life. A Gurdwara, Mata Sundri ji Gurdwara stands in
her loving memory. The birth anniversary of Mata Sundri ji, is celebrated in
the grandest possible way. This historical association of the college is what
makes it different from the rest of khalsa colleges.
This inclination towards spirituality
makes the college a more positive place, and anyone who comes within the field
of the college is sure to experience this energy.
With a motive of generating efficient
leaders and responsible citizens, the institution develops values in the
personality of every girl and the result is a beautiful, passionate and
independent woman who is sure to make her own mark wherever she sets her foot.
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