So, you’ve studied for CLAT. Cracked CLAT. Got into one of
the NLUs they have on their site. Great.
Did you know there are two more NLUs worthy of this status,
and most people don’t know about them? Well, I’m talking to DSNLU and TNNLS
(Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University and Tamil Nadu National Law
School respectively).
Look the thing is, I’ve been hearing a lot that the lower
tier NLUs aren’t even worth going to study to. So, the main objective of this
post to clear some stuff out.
I’ve got into DSNLU this time. My CLAT rank was 1919. And I have
a nice batch of people with me. One of the most talented lots I’ve been with.
Now, I hear them saying they’ll leave and join some other NLU (like CNLU, NLUO,
HNLU etc) because this isn’t worth it. Why? Some say it’s not there in the CLAT
committee. Some say the placements will not be good. And yes, I have a
different opinion. I have something to say.
A brief history: I’ve been suffering from pancreatitis since
the last two and a half years. I was in hospital and ICU all the time. Mostly
on ventilation. So I’m glad I’m alive. And yes, I’ve had a stent placement
right just a week before CLAT. And well, I started studying just a week days
before that stent placement (I studied for engineering). So, basically I got no
time to study for such a tough exam. But yeah, I could have done better to make
my parents happier. I just guess, things are seldom as you expect.
First up, the story of me and CLAT. I’m basically a computer
guy, not a law guy. I spend more time doing things with C++ and circuits than I
study law books. So, why law you would ask, I guess. Well, frankly, I don’t
know clearly. I’d get into NITs but I didn’t think that was my field to pursue
a career in. Engineering is so limited in its field that engineers know nothing
else than their particular stream. The software guys don’t know the process of
silicon casting with caustic soda (My experience with an IIT Grad), and the
electronics guys can’t do any mechanical stuff, and so on. So law gives me the
chance to study everything as a whole. And trust me, I’m loving my course.
Secondly, there’s something called interest. Yes, I know I
was interested in computers, but that was until I was exposed to the legal
stuff. I cannot spend my day happily if I know I couldn’t be of use to someone
today. What is the point of living for your own selfish needs if you don’t care
about anyone else, if someone’s life in the world is not better because of you?
Most people study higher education to earn. Not to learn. That’s the sad part.
Engineering can give you money, surely. But so can everything else. Even
studying fine arts will fetch you money. Which is where the third point comes
in.
The third thing is, you’re on your own baby. Yes, no matter
which college you study from, it all depends upon you. What the college can do
at most for you is provide a chance to grow, to learn, to research, to
encourage you to study. Sure there’s something called a brand name, but if
you’re not that kind of guy who’s passionate about the stream you chose, you’re
not going far (exceptions are always there). So, yes, most people in India
study engineering/law/medical for the ultimate goal of earning money. Which is
wrong. VERY wrong. Yes, so referring to my second point, interest, that’s what
you need to have in what you’re studying. If you don’t, then may God bless you.
Studying law makes you the guardians of justice. Please make sure you
understand what responsibilities that comes with. If India is a backward
country, their people are too blame too. Because, I repeat, they want to earn,
and not learn.
Coming to talk about DSNLU, I’ve done two weeks of classes
here. I know I can’t judge much. But I’ve had a lot of interaction with all the
people here. I can proudly say I have the best seniors ever and the best
teachers ever. Yes, they should take all the credit for my love for this
college.
First up, the seniors.
Would it be enough to make your mind have an idea of how good they are if I
said they provide me with their numbers on Facebook® days before the
counselling took place so as to speak to our parents and clear our doubts about
everything? Yes, that’s what they did. My dad spoke to a second year guy,
Aditya Shrivastava, for almost an hour to be sure he was putting his son in the
right hands. After the call, his reply to the family was, “Done. He’s going to
DSNLU”. Yes, that’s how impressive they are. They’re one of the best. Nah, THE
best. Both academically and as a human being. They always have a helping hand
ready whenever we need something. They insisted on not calling them sir,
because they’re not worthy of it. Yes, they said that. I take this moment to
give a salute to them from my heart for being the best seniors ever on the face
of Earth.
Next comes the teachers,
well, in our Legal Methods class we’ve basically had every teacher in the
college teaching us their field of specialization. I guess that’s not done in
most places. All I can say is that they’re the teachers I wished for. They
insisting on understanding things instead of merely copying stuff and mugging
them up. And our VC, well, here’s an example: One day our history teacher was
teaching us History and he comes into the class, fixes some spellings on the
PowerPoint slide there. Sits. Listens to his lecture. Asks us, “Why should we
study history? What is it’s relation with law?” and such stuff. He took the
class to explain to us why we should keep our own thinking, our individuality
and learn from each other. He still admits he has a lot to learn and he can
learn from us. Now THAT is how teachers should be. And as human beings, well,
they can’t be better. And now I take this moment to salute them too for being
the best teachers I’ve ever had.
So, that’s what our
university can give us. We couldn’t ask for more. But there are some things a
student must do too. Instead of sitting and complaining “We won’t get
placements!” why don’t YOU change the face of DSNLU? Why don’t YOU prove
yourself wrong? Well, academic excellence brings with it its own benefits, and
I can surely say, our seniors showed us that. Their internships and CVs show
so. So, good or bad, let us stop complaining about things and be the change
ourselves and strive for excellence because we are definitely the heroes of the
future in the making.
-Debadatta Bose,
Student, Semester I,
DSNLU
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