THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUEIIT KHARAGPURAPRIL 16 2011

1

www.scholarsavenue.org

Final Year Special

-Page 7

Exclusive

Some of what is in store

Special posts, covers, envelopes and cancellations will be available for a day. One can send posts using this stationery via a special post stand. These will later go into a postal museum.

An exhibition train will be launched on the 18th which will visit 50 destinations around the country in a span of 3 months. It will ...as IIT Kharagpur closes in on 60 showcase the IIT system of years of existence. The Scholars’ education. We're still in talks with Avenue spoke to Prof. B.K. Mathur, the Ministry of Railways regarding Dean of Planning and Coordination this. Special conferences and and Head, Information Cell, to symposia will be held around the provide readers with a preview of year. Prof. Mathur’s idea is that all of what we might be seeing on campus them use similar-themed stationary next year. “The Diamond Jubilee and similar bags. Mementos bearing Celebrations are going to be a once-the 60 years' celebrations logo will in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. be given to all guests.

Plans for the opening ceremonySpeaker s inc lud ing Nobe l -Laureates are being invited for talks. While each year certain occasions This list of speakers will be available special to the Institute are before the end of this session.conducted on a befitting level, we

can expect to see them take place Different subcommittees are in on a different level next time. The charge of overseeing various events. Convocation is planned to be held There’s a publication committee, on the Foundation Day, 18th of which will be bringing out monthly August, with possibly the PM as the volumes highlighting aspects of the Chief Guest. institute’s history. Department-specific committees will be bringing The evening of 17th is when it is out monographs highlighting proposed that former Directors, department achievements and 60 Deputy Directors and Chairmen of years’ worth of research.The Inter-the BOG will be invited and IIT itself is being handled by the honoured, acknowledging their Gymkhana.hard work and vision for the institute. Prof. Mathur also proposes The Diamond Jubilee calendar is up that some ‘tempo building program’ on the internal notice board and such as a quiz or debate be held to being updated regularly. There’s make the guests feel at ease and more yet come. Expect a detailed involved. He is also looking for a report from our side next July.script for a 15-20 minute light-and-

sound-show with the idea of depicting the history of Kgp via lasers projected on smokescreens.

There’s a Sparkle on the horizon... Interview with Prof. Gautam Sinha

Mess Matters

Page 3

A perspective of the Kgp Mess system

Yahoo HackU

Page 4

Check out the cool hacks developed by Kgpians

On campus, a school with a difference

Page 5

The Story of Disha Seema Centre and its founders

An overview of how the placements unfolded this yearFor a detailed analysis of the current placement season that includes course-wise placement

statistics among other things, hop over to our website www.scholarsaveneue.org

2 INTERVIEWS AVENUE THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SATURDAY , 16TH APRIL 2011

Prateek SpeakTSA: Congratulations on the ids. The weekly newsletter will start Centres and Schools will election to the post. What are your from the next semester, whererin be asked to give a list of views on carrying forward any we'll work in tandem with TSA. projects which they proposals of former VPs ? would like students to PA: One of Arnav's proposals was apply to this program, TSA: On the implementation of the the induction of students in the which will first be proposal on No Due certificates.Library Committee. The long implemented next year.PA: I have already spoken to two process of procuring a book can be companies who have confirmed shor tened through s tudent TSA: Tell us about the that the system can be implemented representation. I'd like to address IIT Kharagpur with the Diamond TnP Site.within a month. I am confident that the prohibition of taking books Jubilee Celebrations and Inter-IIT. we will be able to have the online PA: A public website exclusively issued in the Hall/Department That is something which no earlier payment gateway integrated into for TnP purposes, incentives to libraries into the CL. VP has been involved in, and will be the system by the r e c r u i t , t h e

an additional responsibility for me.I'll look to increase the involvement end of the semester. placement brochure of Department representatives in As for other matters, I plan to and other statistics t h e T n P g r a n t i n g f o r m a l increase security in the other part of will be available on TSA: On the nature membership of the T&P Cell, the 2.2 as it is rather deserted. With the site for visiting of grievances to be without calling privileges. the addition of the Grievance Cell, c o m p a n i e s . T h e addressed by the

new matters that require attention These are only suggestions at highlighting feature is Grievance Cell.will be brought to notice.present, however, and nothing has a dedicated student PA: A student can

been finalized. login portal and a post any grievance TSA: Having been through the company login portal.he/she seeks to be process, what do you think of the TSA: Let's discuss your proposals. Students can directly addressed on the election scenario and the system On sending regular gymkhana apply to companies forum. The issues followed here?updates to students via email. and read notices s h a l l b e m a d e PA: As a VP I won't be judgmental PA: I plan to send a weekly email, which otherwise are public on the forum of the system. I feel that people who on Fridays most probably, which up on the internal sub j ec t t o the want to contest independently will contain information of events notice board.Grievance Cell's should come forward. Personally, I in the forthcoming week as well as It will make things easier for discretion. It will act as a medium feel that the pact system should not results of the previous week. There companies as well, who can view between s tudents and the be present, but at the same time we will be sections relevant to the 3 the profiles of the applying students.administration.should not have 10-11 candidates. If GCs along with academic updates, Finally, it will help smoothen the somebody can come up with a if and as requested by the P l a c e m e n t C o m m i t t e e ' s TSA: About the Research Program system that works better, well and administration or faculty. functioning.Proposal.good.The mass mailing has already been I aim to have the database PA: The idea is to have a system

tested by sending mails informing completed over the summer, and similar to foreign universities where students about the Institute email- we will be getting to see the site in summer programs are held with the

practice once students return for participants receiving a the next term. Check out the full transcript of the stipend.

interview on our website- it includes The source of the fund Prateek’s views on the previous VP’s TSA: Aside from the proposals, will be the caution and the opposing candidate’s any other matters you have in deposit of final years proposals.mind to work on during your who will have the

tenure?option of contributing.PA: Next year will be eventful for HODs of departments,

Personally, I feel that the pact system should not be present, but at the same time we should not have 10-11 candidates.

Next year will be eventful...the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and Inter-IIT...something which no earlier VP has been involved in...

Interview with the Placement Committeeith the placement season improved upon and have been would like to offer for the next TSA: Were there any instances of Wdrawing to a close, The successful. batch of students gearing up for unprofessional conduct by

Scholars' Avenue decided to quiz the placements? students reported by companies?Apart from this, we tried to Placement Committee members PC: There are always instances of introduce other initiatives like a PC: Make sure you prepare well about their experience. Here is what unprofessional conduct and TnP ERP system, but they fell prior to an interview. Don't oversell they had to say. complaints in a huge operation such through due to various reasons. yourself in your CV. Most

as this. However, with the help of importantly, don't sweat it - the professor-in-charge, Prof. TSA: Department Representatives whenever you face any kind of TSA: How would you rate this S.K.Srivastava, these issues were is a fairly new concept. How have situation, the placecomms are your year's placement season as taken care of. As he likes to say, t h e y b e e n h e l p f u l t o t h e go-to guys.compared to previous years?these are only minor hurdles and we Placecomm? PC: Overall, there has been an should not lose sight of our main PC: Idea l ly , a department TSA: What were the major trends increase in the number of job goal.representative is expected to (if any) you witnessed with respect opportunities, students placed and support the student placement to the companies recruiting? average packages as compared to TSA: Being a Placecomm member committee by providing a priority the previous years. As such, this PC: There is no one answer to this must be demanding. How has list of companies, information year's placement season has been question. The trends of recruiters your experience been? What will be about the department pertaining to much better. are very company specific and your advice to students aspiring to prospective recruiters and sourcing wildly vary from person to person. be Placecomm members?industry contacts from professors in What works this year may not TSA: What were the new

the department. In this regard, many PC: It has indeed been a very necessarily do so the next. Only one initiatives (to attract companies or department representatives have demanding job but it has also been thing is obvious - the smarter you otherwise) introduced this year? proved to be adequate. rewarding. One gets to learn a lot are and the higher your CG, the How would you rate their success?

and build lasting relationships. To more the companies like you.PC: This year, in collaboration with those who are aspiring to be TSA: Based on feedback from Communique, we conducted a members, make sure you know Companies, what are the skill sets TSA: Has TSA's TnPedia helped 'Placement Drive' consisting of CV what the job entails and that you are Kgpians are found wanting in? students sitting for placements? Bu i l d in g and GD/PI/Ca se upto the task before you decide.PC: Although there are always How do you think it can be workshops by professionals.

exceptions - in this case, a large improved? Although the attendance was not number of them - in general, when Celestine Joseph, Amiya Adwitiya, what we expected, we received a lot PC: It was definitely helpful to a compared to other IITs such as Kavish Desai, Mihir Ajmera, of positive feedback and plan to l a rge number o f s tudent s . Bombay and Delhi, Kgpians fall Praveen Agarwal, Ankit Kakrania, continue it next year as well. Hopefully, there will be a marked behind mainly in communication Amola Panda, Khalid Jamal Ansari, In addition, some of the earlier improvement with a more skills. Rohit Sudheendranath and Sankar endeavors like the TnPedia (in streamlined and exhaustive form of

Narayanan are Placecomm 2010-11.collaboration with TSA) and the data collection. department representatives were TSA: Is there any advice you

Executive Editors : Dheeraj Golla(9932574210), Mayank Kedia(9732649809) , Pa l lav i J a y a n n a v a r ( 9 7 3 2 6 5 3 8 6 8 ) , Siddharth Prabhu(9932572716), Siddharth Singh(9932978715)

Edi to rs : Abhi ra j ika , Amiya Adwitiya, Arvind Sowmyan, Ratan J S, Tiyasa Mitra, Vijay, Sumeet Mohanty

Asst. Editors: Achyut Bihani, Chirag Tibrewal, Deepesh Kumar, Hridya Ravimohan, Indra Saha, Mahtab Soin, Parth Govil, Rishabh Poddar

Reporters: Abhijeet Tallavajhula, A d a r s h M a t h e w , A j a y Vishwanathan, Debadrita Das, Koulick Ghosh, Madhurima Kumar, Pranav Rao, Pravin Sharma, Sagnik Chakraborty, Suvinay Seth

Junior Reporters: Akhilesh Prasad, Jatan Buch, Sayak Bhattacharya, Siddhant Wahal

TEAM SCHOLSAVE

To read these articles online and to

give your feedback on them, please

v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t

www.scholarsavenue.org, or write

to us at editor@scholarsavenue.org

Arjun Sen is president and founder of final year students the most because that he would open up a temporary though we had succeeded in ZenMango. A resident of Patel Hall of the imminent interviews and eatery, where food would be served circumventing the immediate in IIT Kharagpur, and the Vice- employment joining dates. Students to all students. He advised me to issues, we were in a position to President of the TSG in 1985-86, this who lived far away were also left in focus my efforts on keeping the change the system for good. As the g r a d u a t e i n A e r o n a u t i c a l a stressful situation as they had to students motivated to take exams strike extended into January, Engineering held high-powered change tickets at very short notice. under these circumstances, as the delaying the start of the spring term, marketing positions in numerous Even more challenging a task was to testing times that lay ahead would I started working with the Fortune 500 companies like Papa convey the reopening dates to every change the history of our IIT. Management to make sure that John’s, Pizza Hut and Boston student as we didn't have present- students had other food options.

What happened next was Market. In the following anecdote, he day luxuries like the Internet and Residing in a Hall did not compel a nothing short of magical. Within a recounts the events that ultimately cellular phones. student to eat at that hall’s mess. day, Mr. Man Singh and his team led to the opening of permanent That opened the door for three new

When the mess workers went from Jamshedpur set up a gigantic eateries in the campus. cafeterias, and by late January when on strike yet again at the start of tent next to the gymkhana to serve the students came back, we had

n the two years preceding the December 1985, I had had enough. I food. A day later another tent nearly permanent structures Itime that I ran for VP of the had endured the strikes for two opened in old campus, then came replacing the tents. The students Technology Student’s Gymkhana, years in a row and I was determined another one in the new campus. now had choices and more we witnessed regular strikes by the to put an end to them. Most students, seeing that a solution importantly we could not be held Mess Workers Union. Typically, the was already in place, were able to hostage by any union before our I knew the Administration strikes started days before our final focus on their exams. A smaller, yet exams ever again.would support me, and I found an exams, and in both years, the sizeable group of students were

ally in Mr. Russi Mody, then the outcome was the same: the institute critical of my actions, calling them As I write today after nearly 25 Chairman of TISCO and of the was closed temporarily and exams 'anti-union'. It wasn’t flattering, but years, I believe that the rewards BOG of IIT Kharagpur. He had to be taken after the vacation. backing out then would have only were worth going through the pain cautioned me that the journey The stress induced by this kind of caused more disservice to the of the numerous taunts and ahead was not going to be easy for last minute change was caused students. However, throughout the constant criticism. Sometimes, we me personally and for the students primarily because students were whole process, the students did not have to stand up for what we at large, but he would ensure that nearly completely reliant on the hall lose focus and successfully gave believe in, and we need to have the the institute stayed open and exams mess for their food. As students, we their exams. conviction to see it through to the conducted as per schedule. With were at the mercy of the unions. end, even at the cost of being exams approaching, he assured me After the exams, I realized that These sudden shutdowns impacted unpopular.

Cleaning Up The MessHow Regular Campus Eateries Came Into Being

Privatization in Messes - An Overview

The Food Monitoring Committee (FMC) is a student advisory body created with the objective of providing inputs to ensure improvement in the quality of food on campus. Besides suggesting improvements in the mess setup, the committee also shoulders the responsibility of ensuring proper hygiene conditions in the various eateries in and around the campus. It conducted surprise checks to evaluate conditions in the kitchens of campus eateries, and exposed the minimal attention paid to hygiene.

In the near future, the team proposes to introduce a systematic rating system for all messes, enforce stricter mess duty rules, monitor the consumption of expensive commodities in the messes and analyze the nutritional value in the food served. They interact with other professors to implement rules, a recent example being a rule suggesting Wardens to eat in the Hall mess thrice a week.

Things you can do to reduce the Mess Bill

1. Give Feedback. If you think you have suggestions, or can spot food or energy being wasted somewhere, talk to your G.Sec.

2. Do your (Mess) Duty. It’s your responsibility to ensure that there is no misappropriation of resources.

3. When in doubt, ask. If you have any query regarding Mess Expenditure or the status of your Personal Ledger File, be sure to ask the appropriate authority.

FEATURES AVENUETHE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SATURDAY , APRIL 16TH 2011 3

HMC-run Messes

THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SATURDAY , APRIL 16TH 2011

hen I c ame to I IT equality of opportunity due to gifts and aptitudes lay at the heart subconscious insecurities, social WKharagpur in 1985, I saw it many disadvantages, for example, of it, gifts like analytical acumen milieu, career fads, role models, as my big achievement. Most of family income, social class, a n d g o o d m e m o r y a n d parental and peer pressure, people I knew saw my All India gender, caste, language, etc. So the cognition—at least the kind that available life paths, lucky breaks, Rank of 190 as a reward for my runners on the racetrack to the IIT matter for the JEE. I was lucky to be and other contingent factors. I had academic merit and hard work, and don't begin at the same starting born with some of these gifts. But not even thought much about the bestowed on me enough awe and point. What does it mean to say can I claim credit for what is a career path I stumbled upon. Given respect to embarrass a minor god. I that the first to cross the finish line matter of chance? I was lucky in all this, it seems reasonable to ask: had prevailed in what everyone deserve their wins? another way too: I lived in a society Did I , or did my socially believed to be an open, fair, and that happened to value my conditioned ambition and drive get Take my own example. I was tough competition, for which I aptitude for science and maths. It into the IIT?born into an upper-caste, riding on (Namit Arora ) deserved all the served me well in an India looking eons of unearned privilege over But perhaps this is how the thunder and applause. to modernize and the U.S. facing a 80% of Indians. I was a boy raised in system works. It selects us, like

shortfall of engineers. Would I have This is still how most people a society that lavished far more selecting actors for roles in a stage done as well in an earlier age when see it but I now have my doubts. If I attention on boys. In Gwalior, my play, except we are given the rewards favored those with an am honest with myself, I can’t really parents fell closer to the upper illusion that we fully author the aptitude for trade or government take credit for it. I suspect that middle-class, had university scripts for the parts we play. I bureaucracy? Centuries ago, much of my achievement was not degrees, and valued education and realize now that to see through this society valued other aptitudes, of my own doing, but was success. I lived in a kid-friendly is to abandon some of the ways in such as sculpting bronze in Chola accidental or due to my being at the ne i ghborhood wi th pa rk s , which we mark ourselves apart India, civil administration in right place at the right time. I came playgrounds, and a staff clubhouse. from our fellow humans, and open Mughal times, or being a seafaring to this view after reflecting on the I had role models and access to the ourselves to other stages, other merchant among the Pandayas.three implicit claims that attribute right schools and books, the right scripts, and other parts we can

it to my own achievement: (a) my coaching classes, and peers Which brings me to the third choose to play.performance in a fair competition preparing for engineering entrance claim: What about the personal (b) my academic merit (c) my drive exams. My background gave me a drive and hard work I put into More from the author at and hard work. sense of security and self- cultivating my gifts? Do I not www.shunya.net. Shunya's Notes is

confidence that put me ahead of deserve to take credit for my Consider the first claim: Is it a liberal-progressive blog visited by perhaps 96% of Indians—the odds diligence? Besides the fact that true that the IIT-JEE is a fair hundreds of discerning people each that I would excel in the JEE were many others who worked no less competition? Can anyone compete day. The founder of this blog, Namit huge from the start. This made me hard didn’t make it, I must consider and win? Or is the game strongly Arora, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus think: was it me or my background the countless factors beyond my rigged to favor some over others, has contributed this piece for The that won? choosing that shaped my ambition based on socioeconomic factors Scholars' Avenue.

and drive—my family’s work ethic, that are arbitrary and derive from As for the second claim about my chi ldhood experiences , accidents of birth? India lacks my academic merit, many natural

A Letter from an IITian

Yahoo’s famed university event – HackU was in Kgp after a tremendous response at our sister institutes at Madras and Bombay last s e m e s t e r . T h e 3 0 0 - s t r o n g participants were then given an opportunity to individually interact with the tech crew and finalize what they were going to build in the next 2 days. The 24-hour Hackathon began on Saturday and was very well received by Kgpians, who were kept in good stead with some groovy music and timely refreshments. At the end of the hack-off, the organisers were full of praise for Kgpians, who showcased 30 creative hacks. Here’s a round up of a few interesting ones.

When Kgp Hacked...

Rail Mapia: A cool visualisation tool for all your rail journeys, Rail Mapia overlays train routes and timings on a google map. You can search by train number or name and plan your travel intuitively by selecting points on a map. This team, comprising four final year students - Shubham Agrawal, Rishav Agarwal, Ashish Yadav and Naveen Sharma of the CSE department, walked away with the first prize.

Stock Network: While the rest of the world is hooked to various social networks, here’s a new one you can use to actually make money. In this secure environment, your followers will be able to see what stocks you trade in and hold discussions regarding the same. An exciting concept and a legitimate reason to squander your time online!

ssh-SMS: This walked away with the third prize thanks to numerous real world use cases. When everyone has a cellphone and when you can interact with a computer through SMS, you open up a lot of possibilities.

GUEST AVENUE4

Groovy Stuff

cultural events such as drama, music, debate and more.” - HNProfessors and Academics“We had P.T. classes every morning.” - HN“I was the first girl to be admitted to the Department of Electrical “The debates used to be fantastic, with jam-packed auditoriums and Engineering, and also among the first Snites.” - HNconstantly swinging loyalties.” - HN“The Department of Architecture and Regional Planning had the

craziest bunch of people on campus.” - HN Hangout spots“During the 1965 War, we used to cover up our windows with black

paper to comply with Blackout regulations. Classes went on in the “In those days walking down The Scholars’ Avenue with a couple of basement of the institute throughout the War.” - HN guys was considered inappropriate behaviour.” - HN“Our professors were superb. If someday I get dementia, I may forget “The only decent place to eat was a Nayar’s (near present-day my name but not the concepts taught by them.” - PKD Dreamland), where good South Indian food was served.” - PKD“I passed out in January ’65. Due to the Chinese aggression, two batches were advanced because a need for engineers was anticipated. Life in generalAdvanced meaning that our vacations were cancelled, and we had “All our expenses, including our fees, amounted to only Rs. 150 per continuous semesters. The ‘64 batch passed out in March ’64 and the semester.” - HN’65 batch in January ‘65.” - PKD “IIT Kharagpur was the first IIT and Patel Hall was the first hall, and I

hold this view that everything built thereafter are Xerox copies of these originals.”- PKD Extra acads“For the first 10 years of my work I was using a slide rule for “SF was held in Jnan Ghosh back then, with a variety of social and calculations, I had no calculator.” - PKD

Dedicated to the Service of the NationFEATURES AVENUETHE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SATURDAY , APRIL 16TH 2011 5

Disha Seema Centre Facts (since 1993)

Website – www.jdtdisha.orgAcademic Features -No. of students ~ 250Monthly Fee – Started from Rs. 20, now Rs. 180.Academic strata – KG to Class 8Capacity per class ~ 30Medium of Education – Bengali

Extra-Academic Features –Daily meals, Computer lab, singing, tabla, dancing, sowingFree healthcare and complete medical history.

I believe that the primary difference between animals and humans is that humans have the capacity to help others. This facility should be used well. – Mr. P. K. Dwivedi

When talking to Mrs Hansa Nundy (HN) and Mr. P. K. Dwivedi (PKD) about their NGO, The Scholars' Avenue obtained valuable insights into Kgp life back in the '60s. Presenting a summary here-

Scenes from the Sixties...

‘

’

Devendra Purbiya (CS, ‘04) is today a semi- photography. professional photographer. TSA: Who supported your decision?

DP: My sister, brother-in-law and friends TSA: 2010 Kingfisher Calendar Launch. TSA: How did your stay at IIT Kharagpur were my biggest support. Luckily, my How was it?influence your artistic tendencies? parents were not too harsh on me. When I DP: Crazy! In the coming days, I was often

told them I was quitting my job, all my dad DP: In Kgp, I started participating in art- seen smiling for no apparent reason.said was that one should always have a re l a ted compet i t ions , e spec ia l ly I got some good candid shots of the mainstream job, while my mother Illumination and Rangoli, where I had to celebrities and models. A copy of the quipped, "What will become of your IIT think and be creative; it helped my abilities Kingfisher calendar is safely hidden in my degree?"grow. I also learnt some Photoshop and house, though I’m not sure where

Coreldraw to design posters for Bitwise, <laughs>. my department fest. TSA: Did you undergo any professional

training in photography? TSA: To conclude, what are the future TSA: What event/process during your days DP: I did not undergo any basic training. It prospects of ‘the IITian who can click’?at the software firm urged you to reach out was simply a hobby, and being a DP: Since Kingfisher has now stopped and pursue your passion? photographer or owning a DSLR was not a conducting contests, I have put my dream

social status thingy. After shooting for two DP: I always wanted to make sure that my of working with Kingfisher and eventually years with ambient light, I attended a job gave me time enough to enjoy life. I did calling myself ‘the IITian who clicked the workshop on studio lighting with that by nurturing my creative side. So I Kingfisher Calendar' is on hold. If I say that HellmuthConz, in Bangalore. learnt animation, dabbled in theatre for a I have a concrete plan for my future, I

bit, and then gradually moved into would be lying. I am going with the flow.photography full time. The toughest part One thing that is common to us all is our about leaving a job is the fear that the tendency to seek approvals, a factor that I want to explore photography some more, money will eventually dry out. The biggest ceases to matter in professional training. I have a lot to learn in marketing and challenge is convincing yourself that you Also, you learn/do things as part of your techniques.can earn money by doing what you want to training that you might not in your regular do. shoots, and this adds dimension to your

...If we can’t maintain water quality everything we do is seen in that light. TSA: What about poetry? How did Bahadur Shastri Institute of or the bare minimum required For example, in any B-school, every the whole poetry thing arise? We came Management as Director. How do you hygiene parameters, then I think we teacher has at least one or two across your blog. feel about it?don’t deserve to be called the Indian teaching assistants for things like GS: I don’t know. I know I don’t look GS: The only thing that bothers me Institute of Technology. quizzes, attendances and classroom the type. But I’ve been writing for is the date - April 1st.

evaluation. We don’t need them in quite some time now. I have been engineering, but in management we published since 1985. I had a full TSA:What do you think about TSA: Do you plan to come back?do. We can’t have 55-minute classes. page in The Telegraph. I’ve VGSOM currently? How is it doing? GS: As of now, yes, obviously, We need either 75 minutes or 90 published with the who's-who of GS:It’s time we went to the next otherwise I would have put in my minutes. Indian Poetry. Tabish Khair, level. With about a hundred odd papers.

Makarand Paranjape - we all started students, I think we should jump to publishing at the same time. I just TSA: Considering that you are a the next level. But no, I don’t think TSA: It's been a pleasure taking this didn't pursue it.motorcycle aficionado, what do you the facilities provided in campus can interview, sir.

think about the ban on students support that. We need a separate GS: Good to see that somebody's keeping motorbikes? Were you here hall; the students need to be in the TSA: Did you have some bucket-list of reading poetry, haan? Please do leave when the ban was enforced?same hall. The co-ed facility in SDS sorts, before leaving campus? comments! Thank you.block worked for us in MMM. I GS: Yes I was. Before that, we had GS: Not really, but my wife would don’t know what happened. gone to Shankarpur with students be pestering me that she wants to go

Professor Gautam Sinha can be Somebody felt very strongly about with 16-18 bikes. As adults, students to Cheddis and have a tinku burger. found in a poetic mood on young boys and girls spending time are expected to run the nation. So My daughter made me do it at 4:30 http://karmaon2wheels.blogspot.ctogether. Probably one of the basically, you are good enough to a.m. one fine day.om/problems is that the engineering decide the fate of this country but

paradigm is the overriding one, and you don’t know what’s good for you. TSA: You are now moving to Lal

The Voodoo Child

Prof. Gautam Sinha’s Interview continued from Page 1...

The Skilled Virtuoso

A Life Through Another Lens

6 NEW AVENUES THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SATURDAY , APRIL 16TH 2011

BHAAT AVENUETHE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SATURDAY , APRIL 16TH 2011 7

Kharagpur, 23 November 1974: After years of misrepresentation, and anguish over sharing front row seats in classes, while being deprived of rights to proxy attendance and the otherwise ubiquitous indifference, females in the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur have decided to come together to overcome the "class-divide". In what could be defined as a water-shed movement for feminist India, the students have finally decided to take action. Taking inspiration from tribal and peasant women in Naxalbari and other areas involved in land struggle, the students have decided to fight to claim territory in the male dominated seating arrangements.

Denouncing armed struggle, the female students have decided to act as propagators of learning and change. Promoting what they call the Burnt Chapatti Campaign, the female students have been collecting and sending burnt chapattis to Halls of Residences on Campus, with poignant messages like "Burnt Chapattis. You've been served." Using an organised way to deal with the pressure of adding classes to all their waking hours, the students also intend to create the vision of a just world through fiction. The first edition of their collection of literary works, "It is up to me" offers interesting insight into the female psyche. Inspired by Bengali Muslim feminist,

Roquia Shakhawat Hussain's "The Sultana's Dream", which depicts a gender-reversed purdah in an alternate and terminologically futuristic world, females at IIT Kharagpur have written about their dreams and aspirations, where several of their male counterparts are forced to attend lectures, huddled together, decorating the front row seats, while females sneak in and out of the side doors for coffee, conversations and more. The book goes on to describe instances where males are ridiculed for not being able to handle the welding torch during laboratory classes, while females deftly produce exquisite designer patterns, that go on to be accepted at the New York Guggenheim Museum.

When asked about future plans, one enthusiastic member of the sorority said, "We now intend to join the railway strike in order to extend our fight for seats to transport systems. Some day our sisters will get to the Parliament. We believe in a sustained fight for equality." The Women's Congress Committee has applauded the movement as a courageous step towards eliminating any form of discrimination. How much will be achieved, however, remains to be seen.

For those select few amongst us who will be passing out this semester, these final few weeks mean treats, farewells and every mundane thing being qualified with a sento-laden "last time". However in the backdrop of this merriment and obligatory nostalgia lurks the dreaded Grand Viva. That special ritual where students present, before a panel, the knowledge they have acquired here and proceed to be systematically eviscerated, dismembered, racked, drawn and quartered - figuratively of course. Keeping this in mind we decided it was time for another installment of our long running series: "Event-ification: Inter-Hall Style". A few scenes from this chimera of sorts follow.

WONDER WOMEN: IIT Kharagpur's second wave

VOL. XXIV HOOHA Kgp Edition

Kgp is like my cycle. It's old and rusty, but has never failed to take me where I

want to go. - Siddharth Singh

It has been four years here and I still can't get over the wonderful food. – V V

Aditya

Most of my years here were spent in pursuit of a relationship, but I didn’t realize

that I forged many along the way that I will sorely miss. - Ravindra Chengala

Thank God It's Over. - N S Teja

Half a decade worth of memories wrapped in a 2.2 - S Shobana

Now, I'll get to spew arbit funda as an alumnus. Can't wait. - Arvind Sambasivan

Life at Kgp has been G, GC and GCC - Ashish Shubham

No matter how much you whine about it in your first year, it grows on you, and

after 5 years, you are addicted - Digvijay Gagneja

Kgp is three letters that hold infinite memories. - NV Girish

It is indeed ironic that we spend our college days yearning to graduate and our

remaining days being nostalgic about our college days. - Ketan Kanoongo

It's a ride. Of a lifetime. - Arnav Saxena

Kgp has brought the best out of me. I can't imagine studying in any other place

and learning and growing to this extent. Perhaps Hogwarts? - Nithin Nemani

Kgp alternates between being heaven and hell. Sometimes, several times within the

same day. - Vibhav Viswanathan One hell of a roller coaster ride for those who decide to hop on! - Gayatri Kannan

Thank you for the news, especially the first edition! - Peeyush Agarwal

My thoughts have always been about parting. Parting with a lot of different

things. - Nikhil Sarda

Kgp – where girls become women and men become boys – Dolon C.M.

My best times here were spent on two wheels, now i'll have to move to four. Its

been awesome. Bye Bye. - Done Rasheed This place has been both my domain and range for so long, that I can't imagine

myself functioning out of it. Though it's kind of sad, saying it makes me happy. -

Biswakalyan Rath

My time here has been like a long night of drinking: I'd stay longer but I don't

wanna puke. - Ankit Sethi

The same thought that made me very happy when I first arrived in Kharagpur

saddens me today. "My life will never be the same again." - Ranjitha Shivaram

With the twists and turns, irony and coincidence, flashbacks and flash-forwards,

and all the suspense building up to a surprise ending, five years at Kgp is a great

story to tell. - Pallavi Jayannavar

Famous last words...

Inter Hall GV

related campus amenities. Areas to be covered are:

:Student amenities / infrastructure·Student participation in global

competitions·Financial aid to needy students

Brand Building:Addressing the critical matter of international branding of the in s t i tu te , the In s t i tu t iona l Development (ID) Program aims to fill-in gaps in the brand and present a world-class institution. Taking into account the statistics which speak of a correlation between world ranking and endowments, the ID Program aims to build such endowment funds.

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

8 NEWS AVENUE THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SATURDAY , APRIL 16TH 2011

iting examples of contributions Cby illustrious alumni to the institute, the My Imprint program launched by the Alumni Cell seeks to reach out to students passing out to contribute similarly. An imprint ceremony will be organized where the graduating students will pledge a specified amount or a percentage of their annual pay (minimum 1%). This pledge ceremony will take place prior to the Convocation, Alvida, Gymkhana Farewell and the Annual Alumni Meet. The funds will be utilized for the following:

Student Support:My Imprint aims to resolve issues related to quality of life- it will encourage improvement of student

Alumni Cell web portal.Acknowledging major donors in

institute publications.Keeping the members of the

Imprint community connected to the Alumni Cell job portal.On-campus tour for donors and

free hospitality during campus visits.

Accountability:An Annual Report will be released in the month of August every year which will have details of funds generated, expenditure made, channels of expenditure, progress in work thereof and fund planning and closing balance. The Alumni Annual Report will reflect the difference made by the Imprint.

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Make an Imprint, Make a Difference

harat Khanitras, a team from BIIT-Kharagpur was ranked 3rd among 18 teams from different universities across the globe for their endeavors at the International Mine Design Competition 2011. The competition was organized by the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME).Six IIIrd and IVth year undergraduate students from the Department of Mining Engineering were part of the prize winning team, mentored by Professor Debasis Deb. They had to work for 21 days on real life data provided by mining companies

across the world and offer them a technical and economic feasible analysis for the same. The 'Bharat Khanitras ' were sponsored by the department, alumni and companies and the $1000 prize money has been donated to the department to f i n a n c i a l l y s u p p o r t a n y student/team of the department who participate in an International Forum in the future.

The team thank the Director, Dean Alum, Dean SRIC, Department of Mining Engineering and esteemed alumni for their support.

SME Competition 2011ith a view to promote the Wwelfare of the student

community at IIT Kharagpur, Counselling Centre (CC), IIT K h a r a g p u r r e c r u i t e d H a l l Coordinators from all Halls of Residence. Applications were invited for the posts of Senior Hall Coordinator (existing UG 3rd year/4th year (dual)), Hall Coordinator (existing UG 2nd year, PG 1st year and Research Scholars) and Associate Hall Coordinator (existing UG 1st year). All Hall Coordinators shall be

professionally trained to identify students who are in need of psychological help. They shall act as mediators between students and counsellors, in addition to their involvement in organising sessions and activities in their respective halls. Moreover, as part of the central team of CC, they shall aid in organizing workshops, launching campaigns, conducting surveys and working for content development of website. Each Hall Coordinator shall be accredited with a certificate of appreciation directly from the Dean, Students Affairs.

Counselling Centre

Institutional Development:The ID Program is designing programs in other arenas such as procuring R&D projects. The GoI will run a matching program especially for IIT Kgp wherein it will match the funds raised by IIT, hence multiplying the amount generated. The interest from these endowment funds could be utilized for other projects.

How will the Alumni Cell recognize an Imprint?

Public recognition of contribution, a demonstration of gratitude and encouragement to other alumni, will be realized via:Featuring donors’ profiles on the Ÿ

tarting up? This might help. SAngel networks are platforms meant for facilitating interaction among people with interests in entrepreneurship. This means in an ideal angel network, you’re likely to run into seasoned entrepreneurs (with years of experience behind them), passionate students with stupid (potentially explosive) ideas, industry executives looking for a way out and investors sifting through the dust for that proverbial diamond. These networks aim to provide both guidance and m o t i v a t i o n w h i c h a n y entrepreneurial venture would find invaluable. Sometimes a heated discussion can throw up wonders; it can inspire and energize its part ic ipants , open up new possibilities and bring about much required clarity on important issues. Quality control also helps, if the

angel network only aims to involve quality people, any start-up applying to join would face invaluable scrutiny and the peer group so formed can provide a strong support system.

East Angels is a not for profit angel network being put into place by two IIT KGP graduates to cater to start-ups growing out of eastern India. As of now it has on its network a handful of investors and couple of start-ups, it is inviting you to submit your idea and vie for a place on the network. East Angels aspires to be all of the things that ideal angel networks are and hopes to get there someday. The process is necessarily a long one. You could try to be a part of the experiment. All the best.You can visit their website at www.eastangels.in

(East) Angels