The Inscrutable IITians

I had given up blogging a long time back. I realized that I was too lazy to sit down and jot down my thoughts, inhibitions and apprehensions.

It was an article by Sandipan Deb in the Outlook that changed my mind. I tended to disagree on most things he had written. It seemed to be an absolutely amateurish take on IIT life. I am unimpressed with the writings of even Chetan Bhagat. Take for example - his claim to fame - Five Point Someone. Replace Ryan, Alok and Hari by Venkat, Ramki and Arjun and the story doesn't change nor does its appeal. Replace IIT by any other college, even though the story would be the same, with the same ability to move and shock you, it loses it appeal. What he portrayed would be applicable to any engineering college not just the IITs. What sold was 'IIT' and not his script.

Moving back to Sandipan Deb, here's the link to his article:
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?209444


I have a few questions for him.

A decade and a half out of IIT, I wonder how many of us IITians achieved our potential? How many went to seed in remote dusty townships, tending massive pipelines and drinking in the township club
Is achieving potential equivalent to working in dusty townships?

How many, trained to think rationally and without bias, never managed to figure out the nuances of Indian office politics, and were relegated to obscure corridors in huge buildings?
If rational people could figure out Indian office politics, India wouldn't be a third world country.

How many, obsessed with the American dream, settled for second-rate US universities, hung in for a green card, and today work at unfulfilling jobs in Idaho?
What's wrong in that? You consider tending massive pipelines in dusty townships to be fulfilling jobs? I beg to differ.

How many willfully walked away from their natural talents in favour of safe MNC jobs selling diapers and hire-purchase schemes?
What's wrong with selling diapers and coke? You end up doing more good than harm. The more you sell, the more money you make: which is in turn is passed on to the share holders. At the same, as the business expands, you create more employment opportunities for the society. I dont think that anyone can agree more to the fact that this would be more satisfying and 'fulfilling' than developing esoteric models and equations in theoretical physics which would not have any practical significance(but for a Nobel Prize), even in the 'far future'.

We lived and ate together, and shared our joys and heartbreaks and good times and bad times, in competition and camaraderie. We compared our philosophies and, bit by stumbling bit, developed our value systems. Never were stronger bonds forged between young people.
Isn't this the same with every campus. This isn't something that is peculiar to the IITs. Ask any Tom, Dick and Harry from a tier 4 college, and he would land up with this very statement.

Totally cut off from politics and "the bigger issues", our delights remained in competing fiercely on the field or the stage with other hostels or other colleges.
Again, aren't most Indian teenagers cut off from politics and 'the bigger issues' in life. Is the IIT system responsible for this? Is it only the IITs who pride themselves on out doing other colleges?

He ends up contradicting himself. He talks about how most IITians went to IIT not because they wanted to become world class engineers but because their parents told them to do so. At the same time he regrets the fact that IITians have moved away from engineering. If in the first place they did not want to become engineers, why should an IIT degree stop them from doing so. Is getting into the IITs a crime?

I am not a critique. Its just that there are certain aspects about my Alma mater which people (including those belonging to the IITs) seem to take for granted. The article is actually very well written. I personally enjoyed the ingrained subtle humour - be it the reference to matrimonial columns or to the fairer sex at IIT.

RDB

Yesterday, I watched Rang De Basanti on Zoom. It brought back fond memories of the first time I watched it. I remember having woken up at 9 a.m on a hot Chennai weekend to watch it. Those were the only tickets that were available. And take my word, it was totally worth it.

Giving this a longer thought, I realized there were just 2 other occasions that I had willingly woken up before noon on a weekend during my days at IIT.

1. For the Sunday brunch at GRT
2. To watch Sachin Tendulkar bat