On Revisiting Jubilee as a Guest!

A knock at the main gate of the hostel!

I witnessed this tradition of locking the gate after Covid only. Prior to that, it had always been open, 24*7, welcoming residents and their guests whole-heartedly. The other reason might be to avoid trespassing those who do not belong to Jubilee in any form and their only motive is to sneak from the main to the back gate of the hostel to minimise the perimeter while taking the other path.

Raju bhaiya rushed to free the latch of the gate, as usual, while wearing a smiling face. Watching me approach the entry register, he couldn’t hold his curiosity and asked,

“Is any of your friends going to come?”

“No”. I replied with a subtle smile and added that I no longer am part of this hostel.

He caught the matter and simply asked, “When did you vacate”

“Yesterday only”, I said and strolled toward the mess to have my breakfast which I was already getting late. I was afraid that I might not get the coupon. Fortunately, Nandu Ji was sitting at the desk, lost in bills and register. Sensing me coming, he detached one coupon, did the necessary and slid it toward me before I could ask for it and pay the necessary amount. He knew that I had no longer been part of this hostel as I went to him the day before yesterday to get signed my no dues certificate. Up to this, it didn’t look strange as I did get some coupons for some of my guests this way except for the fact that this time, it was for myself which I realised later on.

At the entrance, Damu Ji intervened in my sight and he too was flummoxed after seeing me grabbing a coupon in my hand. He also asked the same question as Raju bhaiya and again, I had to reply in the negative. His reaction was one of indifference as if he is used to the cycle of students- joining and leaving. After all, he had been working there for years.

As a guest, I should maintain the protocols, I thought. Instead of my preferences in parantha like karari, kam tel wali, bhari hui etc, I simply ate what was given to me. However, I was surprised when I realised that the mess staff still remember my choices when it comes to food. I got what I wished for, without asking.

While having breakfast, Pandit Ji walked up to me and asked in a hardly audible tone, hesitating a little- where is your coupon? He knew that I have vacated because we all had to get his sign too. I beckoned toward the table where the coupons were kept that it has already reached you.

While in Jubilee, after having breakfast, I was accustomed to walking to and fro in the back garden. I did the same but with a sort of anxiety. The feeling was mixed one which I couldn’t justify. The realisation of some belongingness, memories, nostalgia and then realising that I don’t belong here now made me apprehensive. After all, it was my home away from home for the last two years where I wished to return, where I felt safe, secure and contented after my every short or long challenging trip. The tree, the plants, the dogs, the cats, the people, the gardens, the badminton court, the common room, the mess, all have witnessed several students come and go and I had become one of them. They have become our bosom friends in this time. Isn’t it? The hostel folks gather at every event, festival, cheering loud in unison, getting clicked, aren’t all these the indelible part of hostel life? Though it wasn’t the end of everything, I don’t know why I found myself on the borderline of my ambiguity, hard to justify whether I belong here or not.

I would like to tweak here the quote of John Devey who said that “Education isn’t the preparation of life, education has life itself” into,

“A school shouldn’t be a preparation of life, a school has life itself”

The same applies to hostels and colleges too. They have their own life. You can be part of their life for the some time and then you have to take your leave because they’re keen on nurturing one after the other.

Adios Jubilee and Jubilians!

– Shashank