[Points: Introduction—arrangements in a Common Room—its free atmosphere—provides relaxation—developes corporate social life—some undesirable tendencies conclusion.]
In every college there is a big room or spacious hall set apart for the students' free use during their leisure periods. It is the place where the students are left to themselves. They cut jokes or engage in serious discussion on burning topics of the day. If they choose they take a hand in playing indoor games. The Common Room in a college is a place of rest and recreation.
In the Common Room there are long tables on which are laid dailies, weeklies, magazines and journals of different kinds. In some Common Rooms there are almirahs stacked with books of light literature. There are also arrangements for indoor games like carrom, table tennis and chess. Some wall-papers are hung up against aboard.
The atmosphere of the Common Room is absolutely free. While some students play, others lounge at ease. Some read quietly and discuss an interesting point with friends. Others hotly discuss current politics or the latest film in the town. Players at chess sit silently and think gravely of the next move on the chess-board. The students playing carrom or table tennis give shouts of joy when they score a point. When a common grievance becomes the topic of discussion, tempers rise and tables are thumped. All subjects from China to Peru come under review. Thus, in the Common Room, students enjoy charter of freedom.
Lectures in the class room tax the brains of the students. Naturally they want some relief from the serious preoccupation of the classes. The Common Room provides this much needed rest and relaxation. During the off-periods the students flock to the Common Room and enjoy themselves in a carefree mood. They have no thought of their studies. The shadow of examination no longer clouds their mind. They escape from the stamp-mill of lec tures and enjoy a free hour or two. They feel refreshed in body and mind. When the bell calls them back to their classes, they no longer feel jaded.
In a college, students come from far and near places. Some come from different provinces. They have their peculiarities in language, dress and habits of life. In a Common Room all these different types of students meet and freely discuss their problems. Gradually, a common friendship grows among them. Peculiarities are smoothed down into a general pattern of fellowship. Thus a Common Room sows the seeds of common Indian nationality.
It is sometimes noticed that Common Room activities run on undesirable lines. Some students flee their classes and kill their time in idle gossip. Some again try to convert the Common Room into a forum for political propaganda. Union politics often splits the students into different hostile camps. These activities are in jurious to the interest of the student.
The Common Room is an important adjunct to a college. It relieves all the dull monotony of daily routine. It provides rest and recreation to students. It is the Common Room that makes college studies interesting.
