Welcome to Somaiya
Your First Day: The Real Story
Congratulations! You've made it to KJ Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Vidyavihar. You probably got here via the chaos that is Vidyavihar station—where the escalators are more decorative than functional, the rickshaw stand is a battlefield, and your first lesson in Mumbai survival began before you even saw the campus gates.
But let's be honest. No one prepared you for this.
They gave you:
- A prospectus full of achievements (most from 2015)
- A campus map that looks simple but makes no sense in 3D
- An orientation day where they talked for 3 hours but told you nothing useful
- A senior who pointed vaguely and said "Campus is that way, you'll figure it out"
That's why this book exists.
This is the manual they should have handed you on Day 1. The one written by students, for students. The one that tells you about Chacha (the campus legend vendor), the Running Statue everyone uses as a landmark, why the Management Canteen had that infamous "hair-in-food era" (now resolved, thankfully), and why you should never, ever lose your ID card.
Welcome to KJ Somaiya. Let's survive this together.
The Vidyavihar Reality Check
Before you even enter campus, you need to survive Vidyavihar Station.
The Morning Commute Wars
6:30-7:30 AM: Peaceful. You can actually walk. Rare sighting of empty seats in local trains.
7:30-8:30 AM: Absolute chaos. This is when every college student, office-goer, and school kid converges. The platform becomes a strategic battlefield. Pro tip: position yourself near the door BEFORE the train stops.
8:30-9:00 AM: Still crowded, but slightly more civilized. You might actually make it without losing a shoe.
The Rickshaw Stand Politics
Right outside the station, you'll find the rickshaw stand. Here's what they don't tell you:
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Morning Pricing is Creative: ₹20 to campus? Sure. But during rush hour, suddenly it's ₹30-40. Learn to walk or share.
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The Sharing Culture: "Somaiya? Wait, I'll find 2 more people." This is your life now. You'll make friends in rickshaws before you make them in class.
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The Walking Route: 12-15 minutes from the station. Many students walk. It's free, it's exercise, and you'll learn the neighborhood—tea stalls, xerox shops, and where to grab quick breakfast.
Your First Week Survival Kit
Physical Items (The Real Essentials)
1. ID Card (Your Holy Document)
- Your passport to everything
- Gate entry, library, exams, events, existence itself
- Lose it, and you'll spend a week in bureaucratic hell
- Get a lanyard. Yes, it's uncool. No, you won't care after the third time you forget it.
2. Water Bottle (Mumbai Heat is Real)
- Dehydration is real, and the canteen lines are longer
- Fill it at the water cooler near Aurobindo building
- Pro tip: Insulated bottles are worth it in Mumbai summers
3. Power Bank (Because Campus Outlets Are a Myth)
- Every classroom outlet is mysteriously broken, occupied, or doesn't work
- Your phone will die during a boring lecture precisely when you need it most
- 10,000mAh minimum. You're welcome.
4. Earphones (Your Survival Tool)
- For the commute (obviously)
- For the library when you need to focus
- For tuning out that one loudmouth in every class
- For pretending you didn't hear someone calling you
5. Umbrella (Mumbai Weather Respects No One)
- Sunny morning? Still bring it.
- Weather app says clear? Bring it anyway.
- Mumbai rain doesn't care about your plans
- Bonus: Useful for shade during afternoon campus walks
6. Notebook & Pen (Obviously, But Listen)
- You'll think "I'll type notes on my laptop"
- Then the WiFi dies, the charging point doesn't work, and your laptop overheats
- Good old notebook never crashes
7. Small Backpack/Sling Bag
- Big bags are annoying in crowded trains
- You don't need to carry your entire life
- ID card, wallet, water bottle, notebook, phone. That's it.
Mental Preparation (The Stuff That Actually Matters)
1. Patience (Your New Superpower)
- Lines are long. For everything. Always.
- Attendance sheets take 10 minutes. Per class.
- Admin work? Block out half a day.
- Canteen during lunch break? Plan accordingly.
2. Flexibility (Because Plans Are Suggestions)
- Your schedule will change without warning
- Room changes, time changes, surprise lectures
- "Free lecture" can mean guest lecture
- Accept it. Fighting it only causes stress.
3. Curiosity (Explore Everything Early)
- First month: explore every corner
- Find the shortcuts, the quiet spots, the good food
- Learn where Aurobindo building is, where the chess spot is, where Ganapati Baba sits
- Future you will thank present you
4. Humility (Everyone's Learning)
- You don't know everything. Neither does anyone else.
- That senior who seems super confident? They were confused last year too.
- Asking questions is smart, not weak
- "I don't know, let's find out" is a valid response
The Somaiya Vocabulary You Need to Know
Every campus has its own language. Here's your starter pack:
| Term | What It Means | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Chacha | Generic term for any campus vendor, but also refers to specific beloved ones | "I'll grab chai from Chacha" |
| Running Statue | The iconic statue everyone uses as a landmark | "Meet me near the Running Statue" |
| Dalchini | Dalchini Canteen, one of the main food spots | "Dalchini after this lecture?" |
| Aurobindo | Aurobindo Building, houses the famous open library | "I'll be in Aurobindo library" |
| Sanskrit Building | Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (proposed/under construction) | "New building coming up near Sanskrit Building" |
| Amphitheatre | The open seating area, unofficially known as the "lovers' spot" | "Let's sit at the amphitheatre" |
| Chess Spot | The outdoor area where students play chess | "I'll be at the chess spot" |
| The Bridge | Bridge behind the chess spot | "Meet me at the bridge after class" |
| Management Canteen | Previously infamous, now hygienic after staff overhaul | "Management Canteen is actually good now" |
| Gate 3 | The main daily-use gate with strict security | "See you at Gate 3" |
| Ganapati Baba | Campus Ganesh idol/shrine, cultural & religious landmark | "Turn left at Ganapati Baba" |
The Unspoken Rules (The Real Ones)
These aren't written anywhere. But break them, and you'll know.
1. Bench Politics Are Real
- First bench = Overachiever zone or forced by poor eyesight
- Last bench = Cool kids or sleepers
- Middle benches = The safe, invisible zone
- Choose wisely. You'll be judged.
2. "5 More Minutes" = 15-20 Minutes
- Professors run on a different clock
- "Just wrapping up" means at least 10 more minutes
- Learn to plan your bathroom breaks accordingly
3. WiFi Works... Sometimes
- It exists. Technically.
- Certain spots have great connection (IT labs, Aurobindo library)
- Other spots? You're back in the stone age
- No one knows why. Accept it.
4. The ID Card Is Your Life
- Forgot it? Your day just got 10x harder
- Guards at gates will not bend
- Library won't let you in
- Exam hall? Forget it.
- Get a backup photo on your phone. Seriously.
5. Morning Class Attendance is Sacred
- Afternoon class is skippable
- Evening class is optional
- Morning class at 8 AM? They will notice.
- Your attendance percentage is calculated with frightening accuracy.
6. Never Trust "No Class Today" Messages
- Verify from multiple sources
- That one friend who always gets it wrong? Don't trust them.
- Official notices only, or you'll show up to an empty class
- Or worse, you'll miss a class everyone else attended
7. Canteen Timing is a Science
- 12:00-12:30 PM: Chaos. Avoid if possible.
- 12:30-1:00 PM: Still crowded.
- 1:00-1:30 PM: Manageable.
- 2:30 PM onwards: Peaceful. Your best bet.
8. The Commute Changes You
- Week 1: "This is exhausting"
- Month 1: "I can do this"
- Semester 1: "I can sleep standing up in a train"
- Year 1: "I can read a full book during commute"
How to Use This Manual
This isn't a textbook. You don't have to read it cover to cover (though you can if you want).
Think of it as your emergency handbook. Having a specific problem? Jump to that chapter.
Quick Navigation:
- Feeling lost on campus? → Chapter 2: The Campus Map (The Real One)
- ID card drama at the gate? → Chapter 3: Gate Politics 101
- Need a good study spot? → Chapter 4: Library Survival Guide
- Hungry and confused? → Chapter 5: The Food Bible
- Professor giving you trouble? → Chapter 6: Professor Types & How to Handle Them
- Exams coming up? → Chapter 7: Exam Hacks That Actually Work
- General life advice? → Chapter 8: The Unwritten Rules
- Placement tension? → Chapter 9: The Placement Game
- Want to join clubs? → Chapter 10: Clubs, Committees & Campus Life
- Commute killing you? → Chapter 11: Mastering the Mumbai Commute
- Dating on campus? → Chapter 12: Love, Friendship & Campus Relationships
- Events & festivals? → Chapter 13: Somaiya Events Survival Guide
- Feeling overwhelmed? → Chapter 14: Mental Health, Stress & Survival
- Graduating soon? → Chapter 15: Life After Somaiya
Welcome to the Family
Here's the thing about Somaiya: it's not perfect. The gates are strict. The admin is slow. The crowds are real. The commute is exhausting.
But it's yours.
You'll make friends in random places—rickshaw shares, canteen lines, group projects you didn't want to do. You'll discover shortcuts you'll never share with juniors. You'll have inside jokes about specific professors, specific canteen items, specific campus incidents.
You'll survive. You'll thrive. And three years from now, you'll write your own unofficial guide for the next batch.
For now, just take it one day at a time.
Welcome to KJ Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce. Let's survive this together.
"The journey of a thousand assignments begins with a single attendance mark."
— Ancient Somaiya Proverb (definitely just made this up)