Er. Niraj Dubey
It is a common perception that, hostel life has a unique impact on the pattern of students’ life. Living in the hostel makes students socially and behaviorally different. Boarding or hostel life is a combination of different cultural backgrounds, in the hostel life students learn to live with different cultural background people. There is a popular quotation “Times change people change” it is best applicable for the hostel students. Hostel life going to change the way a student is, its effect on the personality behavior, thinking, and dressing as well.
Hostel is a place where food and lodging are provided for students or certain groups of workers or tourists. Life in a hostel is different from the life in a home. Generally a student stays in a hostel when his residence is located far from his educational institution. Life in a hostel makes a student self-dependent. It makes him smart, active and disciplined. A hostel is controlled by a warden. The warden guides the students. He sees whether the rules of the hostel are being followed or not. To think about the welfare of the students, whether they are being provided tasty meals, good medicare facilities, healthy reading atmosphere as well as neat and clean surroundings. It should be the hard endeavor and top priority of Hostel Warden to make students hostel a centre of excellence, “Where – Peace, Prosperity, brotherhood and communal harmony always prevails. Where Hi-tech education should be the key focus. Where sports and other extra-curricular activities should be the regular feature. Where students with innovative minds and ideas as well as creative talent should always be encouraged. Where there is no scope of hatred, violence and ego clash among students.” Hostel Warden is generally called Warden Sahab by the students as well as by the supporting staff. Though the warden is there to look after them yet they have their own way. They have to study and do their duties themselves. A hostel has a mess which at times is run on a contract/co-operative basis. Food is served in the mess. The washer man and the barber visit the hostel regularly. Some students wash their own clothes. Others give their clothes to the washer man. A hostel has a recreation hall. Here, the students assemble together to watch television. They also discuss in groups about the daily events, politics, current issues etc. A hostel generally has a library. Many hostels have reading halls adjacent to the library. A hostel has facilities for indoor games. Some hostels have facilities for outdoor games also like basketball, volleyball, badminton, cricket etc. Thus, in a hostel, a student can develop his mind and body. Various types of students are found in a hostel. Some are very studious. They always remain busy in their studies. Some are mischievous. They give little time to studies. They spend their time moving around, playing and bullying others or making fun of others, Students shouldn’t misuse their time. They should utilize their time in studies, games, debates, group discussions and other such fruitful activities. Students of various communities and religion, stay together in a hostel.
Thus helps them to know about the various cultures of different regions. They develop a sense of unity in diversity and broaden their outlook. They learn the lesson of co-operation. Students learn many things in the hostel. They help one another in the hour of need. They become enduring friends. They learn to become independent. In hostel, students have to live accordingly to the rules of hostel. They have to wake up on time, sleep on times, have food on time, study on time etc. This helps them in maintaining discipline in their life style. In hostel, students have to do a number of works by themselves like taking of their belonging, washing their clothes, arranging their beds etc. This helps them to be self-reliant. They learn what is right and what is wrong. Here, they do not depend on their parents. They depend on themselves. College students staying in hostel are guided by wardens and teachers. The adults are masters of themselves. Hostel life makes the students life regular and systematic. Students living in hostels face many difficulties and hurdles such as financial crises, adjustment issues, personal helplessness, distress, changes in eating and sleep habits, and many other issues. There are also chances of students going astray in hostels. They should be properly guided by the hostel authorities. Students face life practically on their own in a hostel. Life in a hostel instills confidence in them. They develop their personality. They learn to face the problems in life. They learn to self-disciplined. They develop a feeling of respect for other religions and culture. They learn to help and co-operate one another. They learn social etiquette and lead a better and disciplined life. Hostel life thus helps them to develop many good qualities and make the students good citizens. Living away from family for a specific period of time leaves some enduring experiences in the life of the students.
In this new life style student learns to live independently, and learn how to compromise with the other students and roommates. While living in hostel students share their personal ideology with other students, and learn many new ideas from their hostel fellows. Hostel life also makes students more ambitious, those students who have stayed in hostels are more self-reliant and confident than other students. In hostels students learns courage and spirit from other students, and that may help students to face the practical life more confidently.
(The author is a Sr. Faculty (CSE)-GCET, Jammu)
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