Utkal University: A Holistic Review

The campus lif here at Utkal University is irreplaceable. Nothing else can match this. The lush greenery of this huge campus over a span of 400 acres is just something to be lost in.

The course structure here in my concerned courses goes quite similarly with all other universities in the country. Besides in the fourth semester, unique as a literature department, my department offers a paper in Film Studies under the Free Elective called Pop Culture. So the course is quite relevant and seems research-driven to me.

Internship in the course concerned to me has never been a choice at large or a preference. Although I haven't availed any internship from my department, I've seen my friends from other departments of my university avail internships from great companies like Mindtree, Tech Mahindra, ICICI, Ceasefire etc.

Expression: The Annual Festival~ Expression has been celebrated in the department since its very first days. The function is celebrated at the University auditorium, MKCG Auditorium. The department hosts the entire university this day by performing several cultural numbers of dance, singing, mono-action, skit etc.

Admission and readmission fees to be paid at the beginning of each session. Besides examination fees to be paid before each semester during the form fill up of the respective semester. Fee Structure has always been moderate. Never has put up in any kind of problem. Besides, the hostel, mess and other fees are collected separately.

I had applied for a State Government scholarship called Medhabruti during my MA first year and was awarded with 10000/- for that year. The scholarship was awarded on the basis of pure merit during your entire student career.

Competitions of extracurricular activities are held in the university in regular intervals. The department and students take active parts in them. Sports has been an integral part of the university culture. Each year, the university hosts nearly 50 other universities all over the country over sports competitions of several games. University Premier League is held each year among all the departments over 10-overs games of cricket. Although the Student Council elections have been halted for last few years, it is a part of the University's annual calendar. Number of women is fairly more than that of the men. Almost every department sees a huge footfall of girl students each year that is larger than that of boys.

Yes, I've opted for hostel. During my first year, I was provided with a double-bed room at Gopabandhu Chhatrabas or the Gents Hostel - 1 of the University. For the hostel admission a total of 6000/- was paid out of which 2000/- was a security deposit and was to be refunded. The canteen/mess fee was optional and to be collected separately. The above fees were for that year, the first year only. During my second year, I shifted to a single-bed room as per the guidelines, to Godavarish Chhatrabas or the Gents Hostel - 4. There, exactly like the previous year, I had to pay a total of 7000/- as the admission fee of one year, out of which 2000/- is security deposit and is yet to be refunded.

The immediate seniors from my department have always been quite in touch. The last thouree or four batches of alumni get in good contact with the present members of the department, but not more than that. The present members are often ignorant about the glorious past of the department due to the least possible connection with the alumnus.

I was always fond of stories since my childhood and only literature subjects in my school curriculum used to provide me with that fun part. So when it came to choose a discipline during Undergraduate degree, I had chosen BA in English Literature and it clicked so well with me that I was convinced to carry forward my study with this. Next, my current university had always been a dream place for me to study at. So I appeared for the entrance test of my university alongwith some other universities and I got selected in the test. After being selected I was intimated thourough e-mail about the admission procedure and followed the steps. Within a period of thouree weeks, I was formally admitted into the course and my classes had begun.

Here in my department, the official full strength of faculties goes upto 8 while we just have thouree permanent faculties. But this doesn't worry much as many of the retired professors also come and teach us during all semesters. Only their presence makes the number of faculties upto ten in the department. They are all pretty well informed, have researched in their concerned fields of specialisations extensively. Prof Himanshu Bhushan Pradhan and Prof Jatin Kumar Nayak have always been helmed as two great translators of our time across the country. Such many dignitaries had been, have been and continue to chair the faculty of the department.