Rajendra Nagar, New Delhi- Where Dreams Come True, Even at the Cost of Life!

I vividly remember the condition of coaching and libraries in Rajendra Nagar, New Delhi, during the summer of 2023. My concerns about the area were validated when I explored it with my son for his coaching. The recent tragedy at the UPSC coaching hub in Rajendra Nagar, resulting in the tragic loss of students due to a basement library flood, is truly devastating. It’s challenging to think that negligence and lack of responsibility led to this terrible accident. As a parent, I deeply empathise with the pain these students’ families are experiencing. Every parent needs to understand the studying conditions and challenges their children face in their pursuit of success.

My son was in his third year of B.Tech at IIT Guwahati. As he approached the end of his third year at IIT, he decided to do his internship remotely to have the time to contemplate his future course of action. One potential path was to pursue a career in civil services. During a trip to Turkiye, while standing at the immigration counter, he inquired about the diplomatic passport holder’s category, noticing no queue for them. He was curious about obtaining a diplomatic passport, a trait he had exhibited since he was young, always turning to his mother for answers. In response, I told him that if he wanted that passport, he would have to crack the civil services exam and achieve a rank of below one hundred. Inspired by some of my friends from IIT Roorkee who had become bureaucrats and held diplomatic passports, he delved into exploring exam preparation.

I had family commitments, so I was supposed to be in Delhi for two months. We planned that we would go to Delhi, where he would remotely do his internship and start some preliminary preparation to take the exam after his degree is over. Until you explore it, it is not possible to understand what this exam is. He heard many stories of successful students who cleared it in their first attempt. Most of them had taken coaching in Delhi, so there was no second thought, and Delhi was the destination where the journey would start.

We were fortunate to have the guidance of a faculty member from a well-known coaching institute who is a family friend. He provided valuable insights on the UPSC exam preparation process, advising my son to carefully consider his choice of optional subjects. Initially, my son considered Political Science due to its overlap with the mains papers. However, after meeting a successful UPSC candidate with a background in mathematics, and considering his own B.Tech in Engineering Physics, he decided to pursue mathematics as his optional subject. Despite his ability to excel through self-study, we explored coaching centres and gathered all relevant information to ensure he had the necessary resources for success.

During our search for preliminary study materials, I accompanied him to various coaching centres to gain a better understanding of the system. We encountered agents from different coaching centres distributing pamphlets, and after considering recommendations, we visited Vajiram and Ravi. We also explored options at Vision and Drishti, collecting information without making any commitments. After reviewing the online class schedules at various institutes, we realized it wouldn’t be feasible due to the demanding nature of IIT exams and tests. Ultimately, we decided to opt for self-study, as the discipline required for JEE preparation emphasizes independent learning. Our next mission was to gather all the necessary study materials. To get accustomed to the study environment and patterns, we aimed to join a well-regarded library, essential for succeeding in UPSC exams. Therefore, we decided to enlist in a library.

During our visit to Rajendra Nagar, I found the experience of taking the metro uncomfortable due to the crowds and the need to climb bridges and purchase tickets. The area was bustling with students during lunchtime, and numerous shops offered snacks, tea, and sweets, all of which were very crowded. Many students opted for these options for their lunch, although I was concerned about the health implications of consuming samosas and other snacks. I suggested that my son consider the egg vendor’s cart for a healthier option, as I was worried about his lunch choices during breaks. Despite the focus on UPSC coaching, my primary concern was ensuring my son had access to nutritious food.

.We visited a shop that sells a variety of educational materials based on a recommendation from Sir. My son picked up two math photocopy books and decided to have the rest couriered to us as needed. He already had books for politics, economics, and geography. We then set out to find a suitable library and visited several but were shocked by their conditions.

The first library we went to was on the first floor and had a narrow, untidy entrance. The hall inside was filled with small desks and was very hot, with a loud and irritating fan noise. The space at each desk could have been more extensive, making studying difficult. We were surprised by the crowded and uncomfortable conditions, especially compared to the spacious and private libraries we had seen before.

We then visited another library in a basement with a similarly cramped and uncomfortable setup. This reinforced our concerns about the safety and overall condition of these libraries. We also noticed that most coaching centre libraries were in basements, which was not ideal. I shared this sentiment with my son, and we continued our search but could not find a suitable library on the ground floor.

Finally, we found a library in a corner of the market, but it took a lot of work due to its small signboard. After my son tried the library for a day, he felt it offered no added value compared to studying at home. We were expecting more student interaction and discussions but have yet to find anything. In the end, we concluded that the libraries only seemed to offer the risk of infections due to the proximity of students, without any real educational benefit. We visited a shop that sells a variety of educational materials based on a recommendation from Sikka Sir. My son picked up two math photocopy books and decided to have the rest couriered to us as needed. He already had books on politics, economics, and geography. We then set out to find a suitable library and visited several but were shocked by their conditions.

The first library we went to was on the first floor and had a narrow, untidy entrance. The hall inside was filled with small desks and was very hot, with a loud and irritating fan noise. The space at each desk was minimal, making studying challenging. We were surprised by the crowded and uncomfortable conditions, especially compared to the spacious and private libraries we had seen before. The cost of the library ranges from Rs. 2000-3000 p.m.

Finally, we found a library in a corner of the market, but it took a lot of work to locate due to its small signboard. After my son tried the library for a day, he felt it offered no added value compared to studying at home. We were expecting more student interaction and discussions but found none. In the end, we concluded that the libraries only seemed to offer the risk of infections due to the proximity of students, with no real educational benefit.

We have decided against joining the library and have instead come to Mumbai, changing our plans to extend our stay. I’m still amazed that the students who studied in these libraries and passed the UPSC exam never raised any security concerns. It’s illegal, but there are no regulations for library design and the number of desks allowed per square foot. The system is indifferent, and everyone is only concerned with themselves. The lack of social responsibility is at the heart of everything. I’m relieved that he did not choose to join these libraries.

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