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Everything in this pandemic lockdown feels doomed. But if you are the Class of 2020, it must be doubly so. Let us take a moment to acknowledge the pain of the graduating students in 2020, perhaps the unluckiest batch ever.

No farewell parties, no graduation ceremony, no last day group photographs in college, no campus interviews. In fact, there is a protracted wait for the final exams too. Without this rite of passage, all they have is a very awkward adulting phase ahead of them.

What’s worse, with recession and pandemic paranoia ahead, there is no room for even a ‘papa kehte hain’ moment.

Also read: Online exams if possible or pen-and-paper exams after lockdown, V-C headed panels tell UGC

‘Crash’ course

For teenagers stepping into adulthood, this is always a transition period of mixed emotions, of excitement and sadness. As Amir Khan’s character DJ in Rang De Basanti says, “College ke gate ke is paar hum duniya ko nachate hain, us paar duniya hamein” (we run the world on this side of the college gate, on the other side, the world gives us a run for our money).

But thanks to the coronavirus, the ending of college for this graduating class will be far from what we can call normal.

I remember my farewell at Sri Venkateswara College in Delhi University as clear as day. My biggest worry was not to trip on my saree and make a fool of myself while walking up to the stage. Although our final exams were yet to be held, we all felt like that was the last day we were ever going to see each other. People had kinder words for even those with whom they had never really connected or talked. Optimism was in the air. We felt the joy of crossing an important milestone.

Indians are obsessed with Bollywood: whether it is doing an Amir Khan with ‘papa kehte hain’ or living the ‘throw the cap in the air’ moment. Most of it might not happen for many Indian college-goers, but there’s no harm in dreaming.

Also read: May-end date likely for pending CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams, if lockdown ends on schedule

No farewells for them

Whether one is from a small town or a metro, the last few months of one’s graduation life always hold a special place. Feelings about which path one takes after college, coping with college memories, leaving the cocoons, saying goodbye to friends. But the pandemic has robbed these students of all this.

One of my college junior, who is graduating this year, tells me that when she came back home after the university asked the students to vacate the campus, it was supposed to be for a week. “Week became a month and then I realised I do not know when I will see my campus and friends again”.

“There was a scene in Life of Pi where the protagonist said that what hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye”, tells my junior.

Well, they have a right to complain. We all know how we still smile looking back at those farewell pictures, the titles that the juniors gave us, those last hugs and a good cry.

But it is not just about not being able to have a farewell or a convocation. It is also the uncertainty about the future since academic activity got suspended during the most important part of the calendar.

Also read: This Bihar university is conducting exams from tomorrow — on WhatsApp

No placements, uncertain future

In many colleges, placements start from early February. This is also the time when universities conduct entrance exams for their higher studies programmes. Those who are privileged may have gotten into good programmes abroad. But given the current situation and uncertainty about international travel, the plans might come crashing down. I know many who were refused the placements they had earned because of the unstable economic situation and job market.

Their degrees are at stake too. A UGC committee has said that the country does not have enough resources to conduct online exams for everyone. Not every state is clear about bringing closure to this academic year like this university in Bihar, which conducted exams on WhatsApp.

This uncertainty at one of the most important phase of one’s career can be mentally excruciating.

For a bunch of 17-18 year olds, this might seem the biggest crisis of their lives. But as Andy Dufresne said in The Shawshank Redemption: hope is a good thing and no good thing ever dies. Things might seem a bit hazy for now, but we can hope that everyone will emerge stronger from this, including the graduating Class of 2020.

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