In a viral Reddit post, one Chandigarh student shared his emotional battle after being denied admission to study at Hansraj College, a top college under Delhi University (DU). His parents refused to let him relocate to Delhi, citing severe air pollution as the reason for their decision.
After enduring a mentally and emotionally challenging year, having failed in three competitive exams, the student finally found hope when he cleared the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and secured admission into Hansraj College.
He termed the success as one he had "very much desired" and spoke of how much effort he had put in to achieve it. But just when things appeared to look up, his parents intervened, voicing strong opposition to his living in Delhi, citing the city's poor air quality as a major health risk.
While he recognised their worry as being genuine, he termed the situation heartbreaking. "I feel stuck and honestly pretty heartbroken," he wrote in his post, saying it was as if his aspirations were being shattered when he was just going to achieve them.
Parents Deny DU Aspirant Admission to Hansraj College Over Delhi Pollution | Reddit
UG admissions in Hansraj College are done via CUET UG scores.
Seeking advice and empathy, he turned to Reddit users, many of whom responded with encouraging messages, suggestions, and similar personal experiences.
Netizens Reactions:
The Reddit post by the student rapidly gained momentum, inducing a storm of responses from users who provided emotional encouragement as well as useful advice.
A user encouraged the student to get his parents to realise the significance of the opportunity, commenting, "Explain to them that getting into a top college like Hansraj and then wasting that opportunity would be a mistake."
Another user pointed out the high level of competition in India and the relatively decent conditions at Delhi University: "Brother, see the population of Delhi—there are many living and succeeding here in spite of pollution. The colleges keep them green and clean. Then see the population of India—there is tough competition. If you are unable to get Hansraj, there are thousands ready to fill your seat in the second round."
A third user recognised the pollution issue but emphasised that it must not negate the advantages: "You will miss a lot if you don't come here. I do agree pollution is a problem, but it's bad for only 2–3 months. See the AQI now—it is tolerable. If pollution alone is keeping you back, that's not good enough. You will fall in love with Delhi once you are settled."
Another user encouraged, "Seize the opportunity. No excuses."
