New Delhi:
The battle of nerves between India and Pakistan at Mohali cannot be missed even if it means reschedule the timetable or cancelling a few classes at the Delhi University.
A number of colleges in the north as well as the south campus of DU seem to have given into the demand of students (though unofficially) to reschedule their time-table or cancel classes that were scheduled around 2.30 pm, when the cricket match begins. "Teachers have allowed us to skip classes for the India-Pakistan match, though officially there is no word on that. The excitement about the match is quite high here," said Atul Pandey, a final year student at Kirorimal College (KMC).
Prof Suhas Mishra of KMC is not a cricket fan, but he too wants to leave everything behind and watch the big game. "Though I am not obsessed with cricket, this is one match we all are looking forward to religiously. Most of us will wind up the day's work early and grab our seats before the television in the common staff room," he said.
M P Sharma, Sports director at Hansraj College is looking forward to leaving the college around 12 in the noon. "I am expecting a very few students on the campus tomorrow. The hostellers will anyway keep to their rooms. But I'll mark their attendance for the day," he said.
At St Stephen's, the college will install a screen in the main hall to allow the students, teachers and officials watch the semi-final together. However, some colleges like Miranda House in the north campus and Lady Sri Ram college (LSR) in the south seem to be exceptions for the day. They will go strictly by the time-table. "We will go as per the routine. If it is such a big thing, why did the government not declare a national holiday?" said Pratibha Jolly, principal, Miranda House.
But students seem to have a found a way out. "Though we have not been given any classes off, a lot of students will not turn up," said Ambika, president, Entrepreneurship Cell, Miranda House. "As a few of us have classes till 4.30 pm on Wednesday, we have planned a mass bunk. A class is worth skipping for the historic India-Pakistan match," said Leena Matthew, a student at LSR.