It's testing times for parents too

As soon as the clock struck 9 in the morning, the first person to step into the Delhi University’s admission centre at Gargi College on Saturday was Neeraj Dhubey.

The middle-aged teacher from Gorakhpur was among one of the hundreds of students’ guardians who themselves go through the grind while accompanying their wards and doing their bit to reduce their hardships during admission season.

“My niece made a big mistake in the form the other day. That is why the first thing I decided to do today was to get her form filled correctly,” said Dhubey, who was accompanying his niece Karishma at Gargi College.

“Karishma’s father is in the External Affairs Ministry and keeps travelling, so I have been tasked to help Karishma,” said Dhubey, adding that filling forms for Delhi University was no child’s play.

Some parents accompanying admission seekers said they wanted to protect their wards as the college admission process for their children was the first step out of the secured environment of schools.

“Girls need some help to move around,” said a woman accompanying a student at Gargi College.

From filling error-free forms and offering cold water to their children, parents do everything during the two-three weeks admission season, during which many office going people even take leave to contribute to their children’s future.

Anand Mani, a resident of Mehrauli, who escorted his son to an admission centre in south Delhi, said, “I have planned my leaves as per the DU admission schedule.”

Sanjiv Bhargava, vice president of a firm based in Gurgaon, struggled on behalf of her daughter to find the correct subject code for Fine Arts.

“My daughter stayed home as we had to leave early to reach Gargi College at 9 am,” Bhargava said.

T V Krishna, an Indian Air Force official, stepped in for his son, who was filling college forms in Telangana. He could be seen frantically coordinating with his son over the mobile phone to recheck all the details in the form.

Work as counsellors

At times, parents also work as counsellors for depressed children, said Ayesha Agarwal, a member of the students’ union of Gargi College posted at the help desk.

“When children lose hope for not being able to make it to the college of their own choice or when the percentage is low, their parents never lose hope and encourage them to keep at least trying their luck,” she said.