Beneath a canopy of lights and the fragrance of marigolds, the lawns of the Hall of Girls’ Residence (Old) transformed into something rare: a space where institutional memory and youthful ambition held each other in balance. The Annual Function, themed Confluence of Dreams, was not merely a celebration — it was a reckoning with the names on the walls, the women this hostel is built upon.
The evening drew together Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar of Jamia Millia Islamia, as Guest of Honour, alongside Prof. Neelofar Afzal (Dean of Students’ Welfare), Prof. Mohammad Asad Malik (Chief Proctor), and Prof. Ahteshamul Haque (Controller of Examinations) and the various other faculty members and dignitaries. The programme opened with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Ammatur Rehman, followed by the Jamia Tarana — a moment of collective breath before the evening unfolded.
In her welcome address, Prof. Rana Noor, Provost of the Hall, named the four women who define this residence: Gerda Philipsborn, Bi Amma, Begum Anis Kidwai, and Aruna Asaf Ali — educator, matriarch, activist, revolutionary. She then turned to the present: a suite of infrastructure improvements designed not for ceremony, but for everyday life.
Infrastructure upgrades announced
• Industrial-grade RO plants ensuring uninterrupted clean drinking water across all residential wings
• Industrial coolers and new refrigerators installed to support student well-being through peak summer
• Eco-friendly circular irrigation system repurposing RO wastewater to sustain the campus Herbal Garden with many more in process and to be expanded across all hostels
The hostel’s annual magazine — also titled “Confluence of Dreams” — was formally launched by the Registrar and hostel administration, presenting a compilation of resident voices spanning poetry, prose, and reflection.
Addressing the gathering of residents and guests, Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi highly commended the hostel management team for maintaining a secure, progressive, and enabling environment that consistently fosters student empowerment, leadership, and safety.
In a deeply personal and nostalgic keynote address, the Registrar struck a chord with the audience by reflecting on his own days as a hostel resident. He spoke at length about how hostel life serves as the true crucible for character building, emphasising that the values of tolerance, mutual respect, and lifelong kinship instilled during these formative years stay with a person forever. The unique bond of brotherhood and sisterhood forged in a hostel environment teaches students to look past differences and collaborate as a family. These are not lessons found in textbooks — they are lived, day by day, within these walls.
Furthermore, addressing the operational dynamics of the residential halls, the Registrar reiterated the university’s unwavering commitment to merit and equity. He highlighted that given the massive volume of applications received by the university each year, hostel allotments are processed through a highly transparent, competitive evaluation.
He emphasised that the residents sitting in the audience represent the very best candidates who earned their seats through rigorous selection — making it both a privilege and a responsibility for them to uphold the stellar legacy of Jamia Millia Islamia. Certificates were distributed to residents across all competitions and programmes held during the academic year, recognising not merely achievement, but consistency.
The cultural programme was anchored with grace by student hosts Aradhya, Pragya, Nida, and Injeela. A senior Ramp Walk gave way to an eight-resident Semi-Final Talent Round and a final Question and Answer session — the chit system ensuring every outcome was earned, not stage-managed.
The four Miss Hostel Titles were awarded to residents embodying the spirit of each wing’s namesake:
• Miss Bi Amma: Courage
• Miss Aruna Asaf Ali: Resilience
• Miss Begum Anis Kidwai: Service
• Miss Gerda Philipsborn: Dedication
The coveted title of Miss Farewell 2026 was awarded as the evening’s definitive honour, alongside special recognition for Best Performer and Best Talent. The cultural slate included a traditional Qawwali, a vocal medley by the student ensemble Sur Se Sisters, and an expressive solo dance performance by Pragya — each act drawing the audience deeper into the night.
The formal Vote of Thanks was delivered by Prof. Mary Tahir, Deputy Provost, who extended gratitude to the university administration, sister hostel provosts, the student editorial board, and the full web of support staff — caretakers, sanitation workers, gardeners, and mess contractors Mr. Fasiuddin and Mr. Sadi Atiq — whose invisible labour makes visible celebration possible. The evening concluded with a community dinner for all dignitaries and residents.
Source : Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi