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Paper short abstract:

The paper calls for re-examining notions of solidarity and sentiments in the context of university friendships. This involves critically looking at ‘hostel sentiments’ and how they affect relationships between and among junior and senior year residents in university hostels in Northeast India.

Paper long abstract:

This paper looks at the relationship between hierarchy, sentiments, and friendships among women students in Northeast India. Based on staying in an all-women university accommodation (hostel) as a part of my doctoral fieldwork at Gauhati University in Northeast India, I have observed how sentiments have both segregating and unifying effects. 'Senti'—as sentiment is popularly called by students is perceived to be binding all the residents together in a hostel. However, senti is imposed upon the juniors by forcing them to follow the unwritten, unjust hostel rules. The hostel senti creates a façade of hostel solidarity while covering up the hierarchical relationship between junior and senior year residents. Questioning the unfair rules may lead to consequences ranging from subtle insults to physical abuse. Therefore, when it is about resisting these rules, juniors find themselves divided into those who do not support the rules, those who adjust to the rules, and those who become close with the seniors through flattery and align with the seniors in monitoring their peers. The seniors seem to be united while exercising power over the juniors. However, at an individual level, many seniors disapprove of this hierarchy. These schisms, at times, bring a few juniors and seniors closer, sharing similar senti while transcending hierarchy. The hostel sentiment is, thus, created through interpersonal relationships rather than an overarching hostel space. This senti between women leads to new friendships and recreates hierarchical relationships while facilitating continuity of hierarchy in the university hostels.