The English Press Club sat down with the former Srinivasa Ramanujan (SR) Bhawan chowkidaar, Hawa Singh, to hear about his experiences spanning almost three decades working at BITS Pilani.

Hawa Singh joined the institute in 1998 as a security guard, drawn by its proximity to his hometown, following his service in the armed forces. 21 years after starting work as a guard, he was posted at the Student Welfare Division in 2019. Subsequently, two years later, once the pandemic had settled, he began his job at SR Bhawan, the freshmen boys’ hostel, as its chowkidaar.

In the interview, he reminisced about his early days of working day and night, toiling in his fields in the morning and serving as a night guard with two work shifts that changed periodically. One from 5 PM and another from 1 AM. Some of his shifts would be interspersed with early leaves, so he could go and water his crops.

His experience as SR Bhawan’s chowkidaar provided him with a unique perspective as he had seen various batches come and go. Hawa Singh spoke of his belief that students, being inexperienced, would forget that while they were independent individuals, they also carried the expectations of their parents and loved ones with them. He mentioned that being in a new environment, they may unknowingly break rules, so his top priority when reprimanding the students was to make them understand the weight of their actions. 

When questioned about how he felt when misbehaving students asked him not to contact their parents, he explained that he was not only answerable to the authorities but also to the parents. Occasionally, involving parents was necessary to prevent repeated misconduct. While he acknowledged that minor rule-breaking was inevitable, he maintained that ensuring student safety—both from external risks and from their own choices—was a central duty of his.

He shared a few parting words addressed to the incoming batch, urging them to study hard, follow the proper rules and regulations, and remember that they have loved ones at home rooting for them.

Final Note: July 19, 2025, was Hawa Singh’s last day on duty before retirement.