We the students of Delhi University would like to appeal to the university administration to take into account the deeply distressing times that we are all trying very hard to cope with and consider cancelling the upcoming OBEs.

Covid-19 has in the past month wreaked havoc on the lives of so many of us - our families, friends, professors are all reeling from its onslaught. The virulence of the virus has taken far too many lives, and each day is a struggle to keep ourselves physically and mentally strong and safe.

In light of the fear and uncertainty that this has brought us to, it is quite appalling that students and teachers alike, are expected to proceed with the scheduled OB Examination. The distress of our times should have warranted a sensitivity to our well being, overriding this need to achieve targets and keep to schedule.

You would know that there are several students battling the virus during this period, while many are still to recover from its infection. There is also both the trauma and logistics of caring for family members who are suffering currently. The impact of this dangerous virus cannot, by any measure, be deemed as 'indirect' anymore.

It is not just the capital Delhi, that is reeling in despair, so many of us students from across the country are in smaller towns and even villages, where Covid-19 numbers and fatalities are rising frighteningly.

In light of this terrifying position that we find ourselves in, examinations will only serve to heighten the suffering and anxiety of all stakeholders.

Further, with the absence of any real possibility of taking the exams offline for students who lack internet resources, given the sudden surge in cases, the University’s offer of an offline mode as alternative is bizarre, proving how callously out-of-touch the administration is with the current crisis.

This is an appeal to the University and other concerned authorities to demonstrate some amount of compassion and empathy for everyone in these trying times by either canceling the upcoming examinations for second-year students, or at the very least postponing them until this horrific second wave abates. It has been done before and hence we are aware that it is possible, taking our internal marks and the results of the odd-semester OBEs (that we are yet to receive) into account.

This last one year of the pandemic has taken a real toll on all of us. Its worst is upon us now and we need every strength, every fortification that we have to fight it. We need to preserve our resources and our health, and we, the students and teachers of the University of Delhi, appeal to you once again to kindly allow for a deferral of the final semester examinations and the cancellation of the fourth semester examinations.