Studying policy implementation: FYUP at the university of Delhi

Abstract

As a former student of the University of Delhi (DU, as some would colloquially call it), I have had the opportunity to witness first-hand this living, breathing microcosm that teems with academic institutions of glorious legacies, a magnificent diversity in its student pool, best-inclass infrastructure for a public university, and a student life that is unparalleled in both the breadth and depth of experiences (both inside and outside the classroom) that it can provide to a student. In spite of the above, writing this foreword evokes a bittersweet sentiment – particularly because any student who completes their 3 year stint at DU has the word ‘mediocrity’ normalized into their way of life – the prevalent culture (that is gleefully handed down to each successive generation of starry eyed school graduates dreaming of changing the world) encourages one to do the bare minimum required to ‘manoeuvre’ the academic requirements, and spend the time saved in any pursuit of one’s choice – productive or not. This propensity to circumvent the pursuit of one’s true potential is not only limited to students – the faculty in most of DU’s constituent colleges & the college specific and university level administrative staff are complicit in devolving what was once considered the hotbed of tomorrow’s leaders to a collective that now, with the experience of having been an insider, clearly functions only on the weight of its legacy, that is driven primarily by the affection of its well-entrenched, highly successful & eclectic alumni base.