Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s love for his alma mater, Hindu College at Delhi University, will not be unknown. But the final time he visited his school campus, it was not only a journey down the nostalgia lane but in addition one final expertise of seeing the hostel rooms the place he created main reminiscences from his #CampusKeDin. “There’s a sad and bitter note to this visit,” stated Ali, who’s a 1993 graduate in BA (Hons) English, as he is aware of that the Boys’ Hostel is being introduced down for a brand new constructing to be constructed as a substitute.
Overwhelmed with feelings, Ali informed us, “I am [constantly] seeing the building of the Hindu College Boys’ Hostel because it’s getting demolished. I’ll probably never see it again. I’ve taken some pictures of it, and the world moves forward for sure… But the three years I’ve lived here, in three different rooms (can’t change). It makes me feel very sad that I won’t see this again.”
Ali was on campus on October 9 for an alumni interplay with the NAAC committee, which visited for the faculty’s accreditation. “The good thing about coming to college is that it feels like you are still in college,” says Ali, including, “All those issues that time has tried to resolve… of anger, of trying to change the world, and all those silly notions I had in my young days, they came back to me whenever I revisit my college. And somehow I feel most powerful while being in college. Last time (in April, 2022), when I went up the stage in the auditorium, I thought nothing wrong could happen to me here! That’s the reassuring feeling whenever I come back.”
“It was such a surprise to see him check out the entire college campus like a student here and not a celebrity,” shares Anshika Chauhan, a final-year pupil of BSc (Hons) Chemistry, including, “While wandering he reached the new research centre building and just casually started talking to us about our work… I must say I haven’t come across a more humble person than him… He didn’t say no to anyone requesting for selfies, and humein toh khud se bola ki ‘Selfie chahiye toh kheech lo’!”
While visiting his alma mater, one factor he can by no means miss is checking on the members of Ibtida — the dramatics society of the faculty, which was based by him throughout his pupil days. “This (Ibdita) is my longest playing production,” says Ali, who huddled with the scholars to share how he fashioned the society and is gratified to see it reaching new heights at this time. “The society has been here so long! All these years, the students have done better than we ever did. It’s not a boastful statement at all and neither am I trying to be modest over here. Every year, I come over here and realise that the batch of Ibtida is doing better than we’ve ever done. And I’m so proud and I consider myself lucky that they’re doing so well. I was here for only three years, three decades ago, and the rest of the years other people have actually contributed to Ibtida. And I’m very grateful for it.”
Rishabh Wadhwa, the president of the society and a final-year pupil of BCom (Hons), shares, “When Imtiaz sir started talking about his student days and ‘his Ibdita and our Ibdita’, we were all left in awe. He told us how he started with stage and did theatre for fun, and felt proud that we’re pursuing this craft professionally and have expanded it to the stage and screen. Now, we’ll soon be sending our play (in the screen category) to him and await his feedback on the same.”
“We also gifted him our official Ibdita merch, a red T-shirt and hoodie,” says Chinmay Juyal, basic secretary of the society and a final-year pupil of BA (Hons) Philosophy, including, “I told Imtiaz sir that the bright colours match his personality. He even asked if the hoodie has his name on it… and guess what, it actually does!”
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
