V N Patil College

V N Patil College is based in Igatpuri, which is up in the hills of the Nashik district. Because of where we are, the weather is often damp or very foggy, especially when the monsoon hits. The college building has some damp patches on the walls, but it’s a solid structure. We serve the local community here so that the young people don't have to move away to the city just to finish their education. It’s a small college compared to the ones you find in Nashik city. We have a limited number of staff, and we all pretty much do a bit of everything, from teaching to helping with the admissions paperwork. The library is small, but it’s quiet and has all the necessary books for the courses we offer. We don't have a big cafeteria, so most people just bring their lunch from home and eat in the common area. You can hear the trains passing by not too far away, which is a sound we have all grown accustomed to. The students are mostly hardworking kids from farming families or local shops. We try to keep the atmosphere relaxed but focused on the books. It’s a simple way of life here in the mountains. We don't have any big signs or advertisements. People just know who we are by word of mouth. We open the doors early in the morning and stay until the last student leaves in the evening.