THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUEIIT KHARAGPURSEPTEMBER 2012 EDITIONwww.scholarsavenue.org

A Career in IFSPage 6

bunch of people were marching rhythmically to the A

beats of a drum, wearing caps and bearing their respective house flags. The audience was respectfully silent as the Head Boy marched past them bearing the School Flag. This was followed by athletes burning up the tracks and a host of medals being awarded at the victory stand. Feeling nostalgic, eh? Well, delve deeper into your nostalgia and try to

remember the day. Does it vividly stand out in your memory -The Annual Athletic Meet? Taking inspiration from this very idea, KGP’s inter-collegiate sports meet Shaurya came into existence and was first organized in 2008. It has seen several changes since then, not always consistent with the original idea, but it has persisted. As a sports meet, it is primarily considered as tournament practice for the Inter-IIT Sports Meet in December. Interestingly though, KGP’s standings in the Inter-IIT haven’t improved much since the inception of Shaurya. The fest was scrapped last year due to the construction of facilities for the Inter-IIT meet, yet our points tally

improved significantly. But the relevance of Shaurya is much more than just practice for the Inter-IITs. The Steering Committee members of Shaurya ins i st that the performances are only an indicator of the team’s health, and this helps in the final preparation for the Inter-IIT. The captains agree, saying that Shaurya marks only the beginning of

their Inter-IIT training. year, has given them much needed Paranjape (Captain, Table Tennis) familiarity and direction to organize said, “While the competitive the meet in a better manner this practice Shaurya provides is From a player’s perspective, Shaurya time around. To prevent colleges valuable, having regular matches presents a chance for the captains from backing out on short notice, against players from the West and coaches to take stock of the the organizers plan on signing an Bengal Table Tennis Association talent at hand, especially new blood. M o U KGP often fields multiple teams in w i t h Shaurya events thereby allowing a t h e greater number of players to exhibit authotheir skills against external r i t i e s opposition, and captains claim that of the this ensures a fairly transparent will add more value in the long run. conce rned co l l e ge s be fo r e selection process for the Inter-IITs. These matches can happen confirming their participation. They A l o t independently and the restrictions assure us that the financial situation r e v o l v e s of a fest will not be there.”is healthier this time. The organizers around this also claim that the level of selection, as Shaurya has slowly, but assuredly, competition will be significantly r e s o u r c e s moved away from being solely a better and that the focus has been a n d sports meet. The 2010 edition on providing a competitive sporting facilities are featured various pre-events such as environment.s c a r c e i n workshops on boxing, Kung Fu and K G P . archery along with fun games too, Despite all the organizational work Coaches are including a case study competition. that has gone into Shaurya so far, the a v a i l a b l e While this has drawn criticism from infrastructure of the sporting only once a week and the some quarters which claim that facilities on campus leaves a lot to optimization of practice schedules Shaurya has become ‘just another be desired. On the issue of to get the most out of these visits by event in KGP for organizational infrastructure, Shaurya claims its professionals is experience’, others feel that an hands are tied. The squash court is paramount to their preparation. inclusive approach is in line with still not ready, while Tata Sports Another often ignored point is the Shaurya’s aim of building the Complex and Jnan Ghosh Stadium chance the tournament provides for need work. team bonding and the exposure to Even the both hostile and supportive crowds. table tennis A packed basketball court is a sight c o u r t s that is all too familiar at Shaurya, show wear and these situations prepare players a n d t e a r to perform under extreme pressure. d e s p i t e As Suhas Reddy (former Captain, being built Footbal l) points out , team on ly l a s t chemistry plays a critical role when December. the stakes are high and Shaurya While the proves to be invaluable that way.

sporting culture on campus. The organizers claim to continuously organisers have confirmed that monitor these areas of concerns, it’s The team of Shaurya 2012 seem these subsidiary activities will really not their job, according to really upbeat in pulling off a meet remain and new events will be them.added, the aim being to involve every KGPian and get them out of The window provided for the their rooms.fest by the administration has also left the organizers unhappy. By the time you read this, Shaurya “Ideally, we would have wanted 2012 will be less than a month away. a five-day window. A three-day The organizers are working hard to meet hardly does justice to the that does justice to the original idea. get rid of the adage that has come to sportspersons involved. Imagine Shaurya2010 was calamitous to say be associated with Shaurya – ‘To be playing a football match at 9 AM the least, with the organizers or not to be’. Will Shaurya wilt and coming back for another one at t h e m s e l v e s t e r m i n g i t a under the problems it has been 2 PM. Despite this, we have tried to ‘disappointment’. Participation was plagued with or will it be the schedule in a way that is not too low and they incurred a significant proverbial sporting underdog that hectic for anyone,” claims Kinshuk debt in the process. The organizers defies all odds to come out on top, a Bhardwaj, an S.Com member. believe that the mistakes of 2010, la Rocky Balboa? Time will tell.When asked about the short coupled with the experience of Images courtesy: www.shaurya.org.inwindow for the meet, Hrishikesh organizing the Inter-IIT meet last

The Other Fest

SWG Drive 100 Days 100 Patents Bhaat Avenue Hitchiker AvenuePage 2 Page 2 Pages 4 & 5 Page 7

“Team chemistry plays a critical role when the stakes are high and Shaurya proves to be invaluable that way.” - K Suhas Reddy ((former Captain, Football)

“While the competitive practice Shaurya provides is valuable, having regular matches against players from the West Bengal Table Tennis Association will add more value in the long run.” - Hrishikesh Paranjape (Captain, Table Tennis)

C A M P U S A V E N U E THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SEPTEMBER, 20122

Patents Galore!curtain raiser by Dean (SRIC), Prof guidance of associated faculty be patented / copyr ighted . IT Kharagpur has taken a fine PP Chakrabarti, Associate Dean members. All the students and Following these, Prof SK Guha initiative to promote the spirit of I(SRIC), Prof S Das Gupta and professors involved in this drive will (SMST), who recently developed an research and patenting amongst its Professor-in-charge (IPR and IR), sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement indigenous non-hormonal polymer students by launching a first-of-its-Prof SK Barai on 7th September, 2012. with the applicant(s) to assure the based injectable male contraceptive kind drive – ‘100 Days, 100 Patents’. During the last few years, the safety of all technical details revealed (RISUG), and Dr PL Narasimhan This drive majorly aims at facilitating institute has filed 250 patents, of in the process. Furthermore, as per (TVS Motors Chair Professor), who research practices on campus along which only about a 100 have been Institute rules, patents/copyrights has 83 patents in his name, gave with educating the students, granted. The administration wishes will be filed in the Institute's name glimpses into their technologies and professors and research scholars

with the students and elucidated the importance of about Intellectual Property (IP) conce rned f a cu l t y patenting. The workshop saw a very especially the process and merits of ( app l i c an t s ) be ing good response from both students patenting. Students on campus come designated as Inventors. and faculty alike, with several up often with many novel If the patent gets technical and legal doubts being technologies/processes for Inter-commercialized, then raised. The drive kicked off to a good Hall events, Technical Fests and the profits will be split start with 35 abstracts being during their research work in various with the major share submitted by Day 3 of the drive.labs, yet the concept of securing going to the inventor(s).inventions is disseminated only to a

small extent. Thus, this drive has The drive, if successful, will provide been initiated to spread awareness on In order to equip the a much needed boost to the Research the importance of IP Rights and to student fraternity with & Development not only in IIT highlight the superior protection and the fundamentals of K h a r a g p u r , b u t i n o t h e r value provided by a patent over a p r o t e c t i n g t h e i r technological institutions across the research paper. i n n o v a t i o n s , a n country as well and will inculcate a

Intellectual Property sense of IPR protection within the Rights Workshop was research community. In the words of With the Sponsored Research and conducted on 9th Prof PP Chakrabarti, "We shall not Industrial Consultancy (SRIC) September. Some key only gain confidence in ourselves, but handling the entire expense of filing e l e m e n t s o f t h e also prove it to others that it can be the patent and other related workshop included done and shall seed the concept of procedures, the day to day events are guest lectures by Dr SK serial innovators on campus”.being looked after by the Technology M i t r a ( A s s i s t a n t Transfer Group (a student body to accelerate this process by

Controller of Patents & Designs, The under the aegis of SRIC) and the To download the abstract form and conceiving and filing a minimum of Patent Office, Kolkata) and Dr Indira requisite legal assistance is being t imeline of the drive, vis it hundred legitimate patents in the Banerjee (Patent Attorney, L S Davar provided by the faculty and student www.100days100patents.com.stipulated time in four major streams & Company, Kolkata), who gave volunteers from the Rajiv Gandhi - Electrical Sciences, Mechanical insights into the patenting scenario in School of Intellectual Property Law. Sciences, Chemical Sciences and India and shed light on the General Sciences, with the aid and obscurities of which innovations can The drive was officially launched in a

A Helping Handfter bidding a teary adieu to his of the 2011-12 batch under its ambit seniors. It is an institutionalised their second semesters, the allocations Aparents, he returns to the and with the then 3rd year students mechanism to break the ice and this year are to be made in the first

campus, his home for the next 4 or 5 and 4th year students of dual degree enable communication transcending semester itself. Every mentor has been years and gazes at the tower that program as their mentors. Allotment the natural hesitation that the entrusted with six mentees, “in the shoots out of the main building. It’s an of mentors, who were chosen based freshman or the sophomore has in interest of effective interaction”, we’re alien land, IIT Kharagpur, which he on criteria such as CGPA, social skills seeking assistance from a senior”, told. Eradication of the problems bothered to locate on the Indian map etc, was done at random such that not counters Riva Verma, the head of plaguing the present version is the top only after his JEE results were out. more than 6 mentees of the mentor's SMP’12 at the SWG. priority. The SWG proposes to make What now? Infinite questions pop out department were under him/her. The monthly meetings between the of his head, from how to survive the mentors and the mentees were free to mentor and the mentees compulsory. To this end, the SWG asks the adviser raw wilderness of KGP to what to do meet up as and when desired and A common session has been held for and the advised to abide by a code of in life. Like most of his fellow discuss on a few basic pointers issued all of them, in the presence of the conduct, which, among other things, freshmen, he has little clue about by the SMP. Last year saw about 250 Governors and heads of the SWG. stipulates periodic meetings. Skeptics what he wants to do in his time here - applications for the post of the Also, the mentors are of the same have located in this provision an including, maybe, the department he mentors, out of which 214 were department as the mentee, and this inherent flaw, saying that an effective has chosen by the rank he has fished selected. Feedback was taken from structure is suitably tweaked in the monitoring of the same is impossible. out of JEE rather than his own the mentees as to how useful this event of a change in branch. This is to A large number of mentees agree to personal interests.As he sets into his programme was, and how helpful help sophomores with their queries this, saying that they rarely meet their routine, he’ll be bombarded by more their mentors were, based on which, regarding internships and department mentors and some have not contacted questions and doubts regarding which the mentors will be given a certificate affairs.them at all. Interestingly, most of books to refer, whom to approach of appreciation from the DoSA. them admitted to their own during crises, how to tactfully not indifference and apathy as being the There is no denying the fact that place himself under any of the clearly For the hapless newbie with little cause for the same. Several juniors m e n t o r i n g i s a n i m p o r t a n t demarcated social structure of the exposure to the rigors of the KGP complained of a poor response on the developmental tool. 80% of the top KGP crowd and most importantly, existence, the SMP aims at developing part of the seniors who were assigned leadership at Fortune 500 companies how to keep the elusive DepC dream a smooth transition to campus life and to them as well. However the SWG, testify to this, drawing in from afloat while living the ‘KGP provide a support system. And the plans to introduce compulsory personal experience. The program in experience’. SWG never tires of hinting at this as meetings from SMP 2.0 onwards, and place at IIT Kharagpur, and its

they repeatedly equate the mentor to monitor them. The implementation counterparts in universities across the Who could answer these questions a friend, philosopher and guide of the of this remains to be seen, as a mentor world, are meant to inculcate the “ better than the ones who have ‘been protégé. However, the opinions on chips in, “With Facebook and Gtalk right” attitude from the beginning, there done that’? Extrapolating on this the viability and the effectiveness of around, you don’t need to have a one that can propel the individual idea, the Student Welfare Group the idea have been varied. It has been mandatory sip of coffee (and pay for towards professional stardom . The (SWG) have initiated a Student commonly stated that the pragmatic it) with six other people who need program is still in its nascent stages Mentorship Programme (SMP) under junior mostly has a person among his your help”. a n d a n y j u d g e m e n t o n i t s which every freshman will be acquaintances, whose experience can effectiveness is likely to face a strong mentored by a 3rd or 4th year student be tapped into, and as a consequence, difference of opinion. Similar Armed with a year’s experience, the of his own department for a span of 4 he is indifferent to any random initiatives at IIT Bombay and IIT implementation of SMP 2.0 saw a few semes te r s . Th i s p rogramme, stranger allotted to him for that very Delhi, and even at institutions like notable alterations. The selection of conceptualized earlier last year, aims purpose, thereby challenging the very MIT, Stanford etc. did take the initial the 250-odd mentors, from more than to ensure that all freshers were relevance of the programme. ”The hiccups in their stride and have 300 applicants, was the result of an equipped with the necessary know- programme aims at helping those who excelled to enviable levels. Although intensive selection process, inclusive hows about day to day things here in have come to the college without any it’s utility and reach would have to of a GD and a meeting that was held KGP. The SMP, backed by the DoSA, pre-existing local support or are face the test of time, SMP 2.0 is all between the governors and the took flight on its maiden venture in unable to tap into the valuable geared up to face it, with a shot in the prospective mentors. Unlike 2011, February this year with all the freshers experiences of their co-habitants and arm and raring to go.when first years got their mentors in

[Abhijeet Mukhekar is a junior Canara Bank and ItzCash. A team the government spending nearly path to this goal.unde r g radua t e s t uden t o f under the able guidance of Prof. one rupee to print a Rs 10 currency

Ashish Das, led by Poorna Chandra note. If implemented on a Engineering Physics at IIT As far as IIT Bombay goes, this is yet and myself, have been working their nationwide scale, an offline micro another example of an enabling Bombay. Apart from being the socks off to implement this scheme. payments setup could potentially environment that encourages Institute Secretary for Hostel

save the country amounts to the innovations.Affairs , he is the overal l tune of Rs 3000 crores that is now The technology used for contact-coordinator for the Cashless s p e n t i n p r i n t i n g s m a l l less payments will be NFC (Near Campus project. This is his account denominations. Field Communication), where a tag of the idea, purpose,and vision

stuck to a mobile or any other behind this pioneering initiative.] commonly used personal belonging can be used for instant payments

magine living a life without ever with just a tap. This tag contains the Ineeding to carry a wallet loaded user’s data, and will serve as a re-

with cash. Cards allow us some loadable prepaid e-purse, and must

freedom but there are many places be tapped against a designated

where you are forced to cough up terminal for the transaction to

loose change. How many times have occur. These terminals will be

we heard that oft repeated refrain of installed in various hostel shops and

“ Chutta nahi hai kya ?” followed by cafeterias in the campus, and will

the futile scrounging around in thus provide a perfect low-volume

pockets and purses. Then there is but realistic environment for testing

the sudden need to rush to the the effectiveness of this new

nearest ATM machine. Now With worldwide annual NFC concept. Lessons learnt here would imagine a scenario where all those shipments expected to surpass 1.2 be valuable if we want to everyday aggravations are gone. This billion by 2015, even RBI’s working implement this for mass usage should be possible with some state group recognized contact-less across our country in everyday life.of the art technology, right? payments as one of the most

promising innovations of recent This system will not only increase

times. Interactions with major the market awareness for the

banks have painted a bright future technology, but will also be cost-

for NFC, with a lot of potential in effective and time-efficient.

low value daily payments, transit Students and employees will be

and toll fares. NFC technology is not spared long queues and the chore of

only restricted to payments but also keeping loose change in person,

for secondary applications like whereas merchants can also save on

identification, access and data cash handling and operational costs.

transfer.The system is easy to use and payment and authentication is in

One of the main motives of the real time.The students at IIT Bombay are all Cashless Campus project is to set to experience this radical new create an entire network where

NFC may still be in its infancy in innovation in most shops across quick and easy payments can be India, but has immense potential, their campus. Cashless Campus, as made throughout India, and especially for micro-payments. this pioneering project is being although this may take a few years, According to information divulged called, is an initiative that is being this pilot project is one of the most by the RBI, printing notes of smaller coordinated by IIT Bombay important stepping stones on the denominations is very costly, with students in association with RuPay,

mid a sea of students from all student from Germany, says that his difficult to catch but enjoy embarrassment of our campus Aparts of India, there is a small most shocking experience was interacting with them nonetheless. society this way.segment that adds a tantalizingly witnessing the traditional form of unique and exotic flavour to our birthday Lee Young Sil , a Choosing India as their destination campus. TSA caught up with some greeting student of the Dong-A for the exchange program was of the frequently seen foreign at Kgp. university in Korea, certainly a momentous decision for exchange students, over a cuppa at W e also joined us after a them. Lee finds the Indian culture CCD one evening. What followed assured w h i l e f o r t h e intriguing and wanted to experience was an interesting conversation that him that conversation. Lee, it firsthand. Elin and Tim, who had painted a vivid picture of Kgp as t h e who happens to be a the choice of American and seen by them. greeting r e p o r t e r a t h e r European universities, took up w a s a campus, was delighted India as a challenge. Elin says that

form of Elin Vesper, a student enrolled at at the opportunity to exchange programs are a common h o n e s t one of the leading technical t a lk wi th fe l low thing in USA and thus there are affectiouniversities of Germany, has several reporters. We asked extensive mechanisms to help the n and that in fact, the more intense interesting insights on the classroom Elin and Lee if they had anything to foreign students. The fact that the the greeting, the greater the experience here. She remarks that it say about the skewed sex ratio on p r o g r a m s a r e r e l a t i v e l y affection is.is a pleasant change having to study campus. Laughing again, they both unexploited, adds to the uniqueness

in a class of 30 people rather than a agreed that the manner in which of the experience. They added class of 800. The personal A fasciating initiative taken by the boys interacted with girls was wittily, that as exchange students interaction that it affords her with duo is their German classes. You can different from how they interacted are so common in USA, they the professor, she says, is certainly find them teaching German to a among themselves back where they wouldn’t have received all the extra helpful. An interesting titbit that bunch of their students on came from. But saving a few rare attention that they get in abundance would warm the heart of any weekdays. The barter system might occurrences, they haven’t faced any here!KGPian, especially those from the well and truly be back, with them prob lems . Bu t even the se Mechanical Department (the being paid in return by getting to infrequent incidents should be Overall, the evening at CCD proved department that she is studying learn Hindi. They laugh as they tell treated as serious issues, as such to be an absolutely delightful one, under), is that Elin had the choice of us about their Hindi lessons and the untoward behaviour by our and ended with Lee taking photos all the seven prominent IITs for her hard time they have remembering students will reflect badly on, and with us. We hope the three of them, exchange program and she chose all the letters of the language. They mar the generally good reputation as well as the rest of the foreign Kgp as she felt that it has the best find their classmates to be warm, of Kgp's residents. After all, it only students on campus will find their course structure of all of them. encouraging and always helpful. takes a quantum grain of common stay here an absolutely fantastic Tim Federmann, another exchange They do find the local accent sense for one not to make an experience.

When The World Comes CallingCAMPUS AVENUETHE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SEPTEMBER 2012 3

Cashless Campus

Executive Editors : Chirag Tibrewal ( 9 8 3 6 5 4 7 5 4 5 ) , I n d r a S a h a (9433766464)

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

Asst. Editors: Aditya Agarwal, Akhilesh Prasad, Aniruddha Dey, Jatan Buch, Mallika Prasad, Sanat Mehrotra, Sayak Bhattacharya, Siddhant Wahal, Sourya Dey, Vinodhini Comandur, Yogarshi Vyas

Reporters: Aishwarya Roy, Anurag Baid, Arijit Patra, Gaurav Das, Rushant Badani, Sriram Sridharan, Subhomoy Bakshi, Vishaal Singh, Vivek Aithal

4

2.

The first half of college life was about relatively Spartan sustenance, but in final year I had permitted myself the luxury of a personal heater. En route to my room, I peeked into the corridor bathroom: bad luck, laundry drier already in use. I made my way hopping from one dry island of concrete to another on the uneven floor (the location of elevated regions had become muscle memory). Reduced in intensity now, the rain could be heard as a steady prattle, a background static, the chatter of a conversation you always carried on with nature. There were fine fissures and openings in the attenuate the bobbing of their window frames and wooden fittings of our wizened rooms, ports by which the water crafts. After the pictures had would let itself in. These were boarded up with newspapers, magazines, the glossy been shopped, Kharagpur paper of certain issues of the campus newspaper, that together transformed one's would become a veritable habitation into a curious montage, a collage of snippets from classifieds, calendars, Venice. Well-decked barges editorials, headlines from months past, posters, sports reports and matrimonials. I that lined the stream provided unlocked my door and swung it open, taking stock before stepping in, lest I walk into eats and a roof over your head. the trap of a little pond within. The tub under the cracked pane was to the brim with These served as perfect

straining as the heavy machinery above triggered a volley. The violent wind took hold water it was positioned to collect, the rain had sent in thin black serpents of water to theatrical devices: finding each 1. of the ammunition and thrashed about. Outside the fastened windows of some living invade the place. 'Monsoon Parliament session a washout' had submitted to the siege other in the same vessel, quarters, a shirt had been hung out (vanity of human endeavour) to dry. That must and lay damp, a corner curled in shamefaced apology. I took hold of a mop, gathered simmering in the heat of the have been days ago, for it was now faded and creased, battered against the walls. In the the water in a pool and, looking left and then right, conveniently handed over its boat, steam visibly rising from brief spells when the rain would relent, this Sisyphean shirt would release the heavy custody to my neighbour by shoving it in front of his door. I then twisted, wrung, their bodies, people were left "Room for more?" I heard a voice behind me call. load of moisture on its shoulders up into the atmosphere in meticulous steps, only to strangled and coerced drops out of clothes- which briskly organized themselves into to cook. I could think of more than one relationship that had begun this way. Two lost I turned around to jog my neck in the negative, and seeing the thin frame of my be rolled back and cast down when the downpour resumed after a recess. I admired rivulets and headed towards entrances to the drains- before switching on the giver of souls swimming in a fish bowl, that kind of thing. Speaking of drama, I was started by

classmate in mid air, realized this was a statement rather than a question. He had leapt the complex patterns in which the wind coiled, waved and arched the rain now, till it electric heat, the magic lantern which arrested the advance of its liquid foes and an loud, evil guffaw performed by a Jack Sparrow-costumed figure at the bow of a changed course by a right angle and cracked the whip on us. All yours to whet, I spat vapourized them to another phase.from the walkway and landed in my raft with an audible thud. The boat rolled deeply mock-up ship, complete with sails and cannons. He brandished at a chained captain a out.to one side and I almost whacked a passer-by with my oar as I danced for balance. By cardboard cutout wrapped in foil that passed for a sword, in rehearsal for a dramatics

the time the wobbling died down and my heartbeat returned to normal, we were The drainage system, actually, was elaborate and responsible for the egress of gallons production, in all probability. The campus was electric at this time, electric eels let "This place is getting crowded. There's room for only so many boats," I said when we sitting in a few inches of water that the sides of accumulated water out of the campus vicinity. But much as they tried, it was loose, and the water conducted the current to all corners.narrowly avoided a speeding motorboat probably steered by some professor. I looked of the boat had sipped. "Any load?" inquired impossible for the HMC to ensure no collection of stagnant water. Notices around to find the hitchhiker in a blissful state, hair flopped all over his forehead, his my passenger. I poked the walls of my prescribing precautions against various fevers were put up, some pools gave off a I contemplated stopping at Central Library for the conditioned, dehumidified air that spectacle lenses misty and otherworldly, a silly buck-tooth grin conveying how much inflatable transport. "Not enough air. My pungent odour of sprayed chlorine, and clearing up water with a raspy, diesel- circulated in its interiors, which was why most people halted there, but the moment he enjoyed being ferried this way. This was the last straw, I'm not helping him hall's pump is no good, " I complained, and chugging portable pump provided constant employment to workers in the halls. All passed and I drifted too far. By and by I reached well into the stream of departments. anymore. With the approach of Aquaculture Engineering, we were close. I hadn't glanced at my wristwatch. The destination structures were built on a height, supported by pillars, criss-crossed with catwalks and My raft left a gentle wake in its flow, and I thought I was by myself until a ripple explored this part of the campus previously, and attending classes here allowed me to being faraway Nalanda and a pillion on submerged passages. The buildings were built for dual use, in this season and the next, coming from the opposite direction that nudged my raft betrayed the presence of gaze at the large fish farms. There had to be some advantages to living in this climate, board, we would enter the classroom a good when the rain finally did cease and the water disappear. Contact with water over the others. I should have guessed. Further ahead was OENA deep, which along with some aims to exploit it, something more concrete than the jest about the water being years had left the lower sides of the outer walls slick with moss, caked in sediment and Chem Top was an unstated haven for companionship. A sudden searing band of the reason why our team dominated the inter-IIT aquatics meet. The fisheries ornamented in polygonal deposits of scales. All sorts of enchantments would be brilliant light swept the surroundings, and I saw an insect scamper away, supported by seemed to be one such project- seven sprawling tanks populated with members of recovered on the ground in the first few days then: a sunk underwater autonomous surface tension. The source was the Wonder of India, the landmark insti tower. With class Pisces, with hand-painted boards above them vehicle; a boat, lying on a side and appearing bewildered; a smartphone that slipped its rotating searchlight, it was a pulsating beacon, a lighthouse that you could wash up proclaiming which genes had been tinkered with. from the fingers; a drafter; a waterproof clock keeping time at the bottom of the sea. against or derive your bearings by.There was also a buoyant interest in developing an Till then though, sunshine was a precious, contested commodity. Crossed feet would autonomous underwater vehicle. The first couple of be dangling out of grills to catch the warmth, creepers could trace the lattice in which attempts saw bots sink, but there were floating plans the light filtered in from windows. You would fight a cur to stand in a square with the 4.for further improvement. The installed solar panels, it sun in your face. There was little romance of the rain in this place, as there is in the was generally agreed, were an inept project to put to movies- no katana-drawing before a showdown in a sombre shower or loving reunion

The rain had stopped. I was on the roof of my hall, perched up there on the invitation use ample institute funding and twenty-one hundred in a bright downpour with a rainbow smiling on the horizon. I could frame the sun and of wingmates ("We'll get high and dry," accompanied by a wink). I lay at the edge of acres of bog. There was quick, silvery movement in worship it daily. Give me Norah Jones' Sunrise any day before Pitbull's Rain Over Me.the roof, on my back, staring at the patch in the sky where the cloud cover had been the water beside me, and I peered over the edge of the knifed open and there shone clearly a handful of stars. I turned on my stomach to look raft. "Do fishes truly come to inhabit the water? at the water below, now still like glass and polished like a mirror. Kharagpur, a pale Mutants escaped from aquariums." "Na, rumours," 3.muddy puddle on a pale blue dot, was like a Noah's Ark that covered seasonal time was the reply I received. We had arrived, and I instead of distance to find land. This fraction of a constellation flawlessly reflected was dropped anchor. I woke with a start, uncomfortable, tugging my collar; the heater had been on too long. a rare sight of beauty, like a lotus flower that occasionally discovered a way to the

I flicked it off and sat upright with my head in my hands, my brain flashing surface. Studying the span of the reflection, I felt I was examining not only an Nothing that fancy really, it was a reef-knot secured unconnected images that were fragments of the dream I was already forgetting. After I accurate, laterally inverted reproduction, but an inversion, a parallel world. I to a pole. The rather senior professor of our swam up to the surface of consciousness, wondered about the existence of twisted parallel worlds with similar, but other department hadn't noticed that we were plodding I noted first the darkness outside, and extremes of climate. A college in a desert, where rain was worshipped. A frozen hell into the room when half the class was done- or he was then the silence. It was evening, and the where people sledge around. Or an optimum case, where an azure, gleaming sky lay at past caring. As I climbed my way to the farther rows in the hall, my boots oozing rain had trickled down to a drizzle. A the end of a period of monsoon that was just long enough to get on your nerves. I water at each step, my clothes the soaked decoration of a war hero, I left behind this need for fresh air shortly saw me floating would ink these thoughts, stuff a copy into one of the fine bottles that lay emptied dark trail of mud and water, a new coat on a path that had been marked by previous on the 2.2 in my raft. I gazed upwards, around me, and set it into the water. This was a custom of final year students- I found entrants, but begun to fade in places. I could picture it to be the remains by which and the sight of the softly falling droplets "So long, and thanks for all the fish." from a batch five years ago.fifteen minutes late. Wiping my eyes of the rainwater that tunnelled through the hood evolutionary biologists would uphold a hypothesis that a primitive water-dwelling reflecting streetlight reminded me of old pulled over my head, I looked up to see a grey, gloomy sky occupied by an infantry of animal had squirmed its way out onto land, beginning the chain that would eventually Windows screensavers and the way A loud splash scattered the birds of clouds that presently assailed us. Through the iron curtain of precipitation I could lead to humanity. After remaining seated for a couple of minutes, it dawned on me fixed stars were elongated into pencils of my reverie. It had just crossed make out the faint forms of an approaching artillery of storm clouds. I shrugged, held that I couldn't hear a word of what the prof said. A deep seated belief in his own light as a spaceship in a sci-fi movie midnight, and a "Happy Birthday to out my double-sided paddle at arm's length, and began once more to propel forward. booming voice and a half-baked distrust in modern devices of teaching led him to accelerated before entering hyperspace. you!" rose to the roof from some shun the use of a microphone. The rain clawing and screaming against the windows Had not the rain gradually let up over the floors below. The boy swimming It had been the unending pouring over the past eight or so weeks that had borne and deafened him to the disinterest of the class and in turn drowned out his discourse to day? Could this be a sign of- I swiftly back to the shore had received his continued to feed the rivers and streams that gushed down and swallowed up his audience. Hands outstretched, he surveyed the room. "Very bad acoustics," was commanded the jinxed thought back to yearly baptism, in one of the more roadways. This would continue for another couple of weeks, and was only nature and the last decipherable transmission from him I could tune into. He was right about the the cellar. As much as a wet blanket of hygienic pools I hoped.a feature of the season in Kharagpur: people adapted in various ways, like the place being poorly constructed. There was a reason the assigned deadline of inertia enveloped and impeded all-rickshawallahs who tied puffed-up tubes to keep their vehicles aloft, attached at the construction was before the onset of this season. While reasons for why the deadline around progress during the day, a A bright flash illuminated the night, rear a crude rotor they peddled, and for ten rupees extra pulled over you a useless was swept away are debatable, the result was a leaking roof and seepage spreading in fountain of life fed the campus capturing for a split second the sheet during your ride that failed at keeping the rain out. We passed a clutch of them circles and wisps in the walls, like graffiti. The prof wore a little umbrella with strength and zeal through the night. concern on our faces, followed by a now, these wiry, waterproof men who never broke eye contact once established in alternating red and yellow flaps on his head, like a crown. It allowed him to gesticulate That combined with the ebbing rain long and low rumble. "We will see the the hope of offering their services, regardless of whether you were on foot or not. I too freely while lecturing without the torment of a Chinese trickle torture. seemed to have drawn forth a number light on another day. For now, back to had adapted- badly, after four years. The innocent raincoat that arrived neatly packed of people. A sizeable gang of cheerful our rooms." The party concurred.with me when I first docked into college was lost in a month, and it would have stood The second I stepped out of Nalanda, the desire to remove myself to the comforts of guys were rowing their boats down the weakly against the weather anyway. I now sported an odd assortment of protective my room uppermost on my mind, I felt like the heavens had emptied a bowl of pins stream. Merrily merrily, life was a gear that was repeatedly under renewal: the current boots were lifted from a senior's and pricks. I caught sight a little ahead of a thin frame with misty spectacles ambling dream. Amateur photographers peered goodbye giveaway, a rough rubber patch under my left arm had been sewn in place by along the high walkway built specifically for use in the season. As I neared on my raft I into footlong cameras, jaws open and a dada who waded his dinghy into the hall every Sunday morning. Those stitches were slowed down and said, "Oi, hop on.” set in concentration, one palm covering the lens and the other hand swaying to

BHAAT AVENUE 5BHAAT AVENUETHE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SEPTEMBER 2012

The author studied B.Sc (Hons) Today, a science and technology language in about three months. unfair situations, and frustrating Physics at IIT Kharagpur after background can be an asset in bureaucracy. But if you put in your topping the entrance test from the dealing with issues such as nuclear Working in a Mission abroad is best, you will also receive the best Western Zone. He went on to do an e n e r g y , c l i m a t e c h a n g e , never routine or boring. Every day sooner or later.M.Sc from Delhi University in 1968 information technology, arms is different with new challenges to and a Ph.D in theoretical Physics control, outer space, the oceans, deal with and you constantly The civil service includes many from Stonybrook University, USA, energy security, environment sharpen your skills and knowledge. prest ig ious serv ices which 1972 and returned to India to pursue protection, international health, S You work as a team with your contribute to our national an academic/teaching career as a & T cooperation, to name a few. colleagues including those from development, such as the IAS, IPS, CSIR Pool Officer with the Punjab India as a growing technology and other services of the government. etc. After a lot of introspection, I University (1972-74). He joined the knowledge power with a huge Taking new initiatives forward decided to join the IFS because it IFS in 1974 after getting the first rank market is deeply involved in almost gives one a sense of achievement. I offered a profess ional and in the civil services examination that all these international efforts. My can recall working closely with specialized career, with a core year. He retired in 2007 and among own experience was that my Indian companies in bagging competence in international other things,he is a visiting professor training in Physics proved very contracts in pharma and IT in Syria, relations, which is becoming more at JSS University, Mysore. useful in dealing with subjects that a rather challenging market, for i m p o r t a n t i n t h e e r a o f

I came across in my work, and in example. The canvas for operations globalization. The IFS has also so far ndia is being seen abroad as an particular helped me in interfacing is vast, and you can literally define has remained relatively free of Iemerging power with great with S & T institutions wherever I your work and targets and achieve political interference and postings

economic potential despite many was posted. them. and transfers at the whims of daunting challenges. Countries and politicians.institutions all over the world want Training for our diplomats is Along the way, you get to develop to engage with India. Our Missions provided over 2 years at a dedicated lasting friendships with people Dr. Bhaskar Balakrishnan would abroad and the Ministry of External well equipped Institute with good from many countries, Indians welcome queries or comments on this Affairs play a central role in h o s t e l f a c i l i t i e s . I t i s abroad and visitors from home. article.He can be reached at facilitating this engagement. The comprehensive, covering areas Your family also should have a bb0947@gmail.comIndian Foreign Service (IFS) is the relevant to diplomacy today. Basic positive attitude to change. After human resource that implements Indian foreign policy. It is currently expanding rapidly to match India’s rising profile and increasing role in t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s y s t e m . Recruitment to the IFS has been increased from about 15 per year to around 40. In 2011, of 34 recruits, 26 had a science and technology background.

In brief, the role of a diplomat is to promote his country’s national interests and to provide assistance to nationals abroad. National interests are now wide ranging, covering political, economic and cultural sectors and involving not merely government agencies, but also relationships with businesses, and other cultural organizations.

knowledge about India, its all, beneath the layers of language Effective diplomacy requires good

g o v e r n m e n t , i t s p o l i t i c s , and culture all of us are human and cross cultural communication with

economics, history and culture is share common va lues and people from different cultures and

one aspect. A district assignment aspirations. It is a lifelong learning countries. It also requires good

gives a firsthand exposure to expe r i ence i n wh i ch you management skills, including being

realities at grass roots level. A accumulate skills and knowledge. able to get the best out of the

course at the Indian Institute of Every one of my assignments – organization you belong to, in this

Foreign Trade provides training in Sudan, Syria, Zambia, Austria, case the Government of India.

foreign trade and international Cuba and Greece, and the UN in business. There are modules on Geneva and Austria, and in India,

A diplomat needs to develop the current international relations has been of great value for me.

capacity for multitasking and topics, diplomatic practice,

adapting to a constantly changing communications, administration, Conditions of service in the IFS

environment . He needs to and study tours abroad. Our especially after the recent pay

understand the country he is training programmes for diplomats revision are quite good. Job security

working in, develop contacts with are well regarded and we also is assured. There is an effort to

key people there and project the provide training for diplomats from introduce performance based

most appropriate image of India. other countries at our Institute. promotion systems. With modern

The work involved is constantly communications, it does not

varying, from helping Indian Our training includes mandatory matter much whether you are

business development, developing study of one foreign language. working in Manipur or Mexico –

projects and implementing them, Language learning comes naturally you can be connected to your

organizing events, winning friends to most Indians who are familiar home, access news, culture and

and influencing people. It is a with at least two languages, My family. With the rapid expansion of

matter of great pride to represent own compulsory language was the IFS there will be many

India abroad, something that French, but along the way I did o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r c a r e e r

cannot be measured in material manage to learn others such as enrichment. It is possible to add to

terms.Arabic, German, Spanish, and your sk i l l s through s tudy finally Greek, with varying degrees programmes including higher

Science and Technology are playing of proficiency. It is possible with degrees in relevant fields. Of course

an important role in our lives today, modern computer based materials there are down sides. As in any

and diplomacy is no exception. to get a working knowledge of a other job there are difficult bosses,

6 C A R E E R A V E N U E THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SEPTEMBER 2012

n our previous issue, we reported the close race I

between the batches of 1991, 1984 and 1962 to raise Rs. 50 Lac and win the laurel of being the first 'Founding Donor' batch of the institute. This campaign, ap t l y ch r i s t ened a s the ' E n d o w m e n t G e n e r a l Championsh ip ' has been instrumental in reconnecting our alumni who are dispersed across the world and bringing them together for their Alma-mater's cause.

In a short span of three months, the batch of 1991 has leveraged its network and has reached the target. In acknowledgement of this feat, one of the new 120-capacity classrooms coming up in the Nalanda Academic Complex will be named after this batch.

Though the campaign tracked contributions batch wise, KGPians did not miss a chance to rally behind their halls and show off their hall tempo. Hall-specific mailing lists were put to good use to spread the message and this helped to bring in a lot of contributors.

Mr. Anupam Sarkar, facilitator at the institute's Alumni Cell noted that more than half of the funds were raised by alums based in India. This is a markedly d i f f e r en t f r om p rev iou s campaigns where we have seen NRI donations steal most of the limelight. Wherever our alums might be, we thank them for contributing back to their Alma mater and wish them the very best in their careers.

A GC which the Institute won

Diplomatic Dividend: The IFS as a Career

t happens every once in a while named after mountain birds and Bhutan is its clean and placid top', is the capital of the least that one gets tired of the incessant several smaller tents. Built out of pine environment, distinct from the dust, populous and arguably the most activity on campus, the ceaseless wood, each cottage contains a hustle and bustle in many Indian beautiful state in the country – I

shuffling between lectures, labs and wooden staircase which leads up to cities. The people there are warm and Sikkim. Nestled in the Shiwalik Hills society meetings, the chatter of an attic of sorts where there is friendly and most of them understand at a height of 1,640m, the city (in pic) roommates and the multitude of additional sleeping space. The Hindi. The idea of Gross National is not behind the world in terms of cycles hurtling through the roads. At cottages are also equipped with Happiness (GNH) originated here urbanisation and boasts of good such times, you do feel a desire for and according to latest ratings, Bhutan transport facilities, modern schools, complete and uncondi t iona l is the happiest nation in Asia. Also, a h o s p i t a l s , r e s t a u r a n t s a n d relaxation and an urge to cut yourself visa is not required for Indians visiting entertainment areas, not to mention away from the rest of the world. But Bhutan, but a tour permit needs to be the fact that it's a beautiful hill how do you do that? obtained. station.

This is where The Scholars' Avenue We first visited Karbandi monastery I visited Gangtok several years back in steps in with its new venture – where the architecture is magnificent October, in the aftermath of the Hitchhiker Avenue, with the aim of and a stunning view of the plains is on Durga Puja festivities. The city served providing you the necessary funda on offer. Then we arrived at the capital a vast collection of places that you can Thimpu, which is located at a height

balconies offering a terrific view of visit to break free from your hectic of 2,000m and was quite chilly when the peaks beyond (in pic). If you are life. In our first edition we deal with we reached. Having arranged lucky, you might get to see the accommodation, we went to a Kanchenjungha in all its splendour. restaurant serving Indian food. I But the unique beauty of the place is wanted to taste some local dishes too derived from the fact that the and was astonished to see a cottages are devoid of electrical lights, preparation called Emma Datsi which result in lamp lit evenings wholly consisting of chillies and being spent in the balcony eating cream. The markets there close early pakodas, gossiping and letting the as a base to visit other areas in north during winter; however, a walk down ethereal feeling of being cut off from Sikkim such as Lachung and the mall road gave us a fair idea of the civilisation take over the spirit. Yumthang. The temperatures are rich local artwork. drastically low in these 2 areas and Our first day was spent in exploring there is one place aptly named Zero The next day was spent in local the jungle nearby, where quite a few Point where the mercury stays below sightseeing. Our first stop was uncommon species of birds are to be zero throughout the year. The Indo-National Memorial Chorten, an found. The foliage canopy is thick and China border is to be found nearby, a imposing structure with scores of the occasional streams of icy cool region buoyed by fierce, bone-chilling pigeons to feed outside. The next water are a delight to touch. On the winds that made me ponder over the destination was the Statue of second day, we visited the Lava hill stations, where the calm and plight of the soldiers who have to Sakyamuni Buddha, which is built on monastery, the Changey waterfalls serene surroundings offer a perfect continuously man the border. One of a hill top and is a gigantic depiction of and some of the tea gardens. The getaway from your humdrum my most cherished photographs was Lord Buddha sitting in a meditative latter were vast and impressive, existence. The cooing of birds, the taken here with me standing in posture (in pic). A constant breeze invok ing a heady sensa t ion rustling of leaves, the brushing of between an Indian and a Chinese blows here and the view of the entire reminiscent of the unique flavour of winds whispering sweet nothings, the soldier.city is spellbinding. Then came the eastern Indian tea which makes our freshness of air purged by dim sun Takstang monastery, built upon a cliff country the world capital of this rays, the sprawling tea plantations Coming back to main Gangtok, the at a height of 1200 metres. You have beverage. If you have more days to below and the majestic view of snow first day was spent in visiting some of to trek to reach the place and it gives kill, there are several sleepy and peaked mountains as the backdrop the city attractions such as the you the feeling of travelling through picturesque hill stations within a 20 make for a celestial setting. Add to R u m t e k a n d P e m a y a n g t s e the clouds. It has a long history of km radius such as Lava and Rishyap.this the ever-smiling simple minded monasteries, Hanuman Tok and tragedy to it, being destroyed several

people and their tribal culture and Gurudongmar Lake. The latter times due to fire, but the building has On leaving Kolakham and returning you have a place worth calling destination is enchanting in its to Kolkata, the stark contrast heaven, if there ever was one on earth. stillness and tranquillity. There wasn't between the attitude and lifestyle of So go ahead, explore these places and a ripple to be seen on the surface of people in the hills and those in busy feel your spirit escape from its earthly the water, let alone any floating cities became glaring. I felt my mind bindings. Bon Voyage! debris. It was like a child's painted returning to the utter bliss of those 3 image, where he takes a crayon and days spent nestled away in the gives the entire lake a single blue hue. Himalayas in that quaint cottage The second day comprised trips to untouched by modernisation, but Baba Mandir and Nathula pass, which which touched my heart and left in its connects Sikkim to Tibet. If you want wake a feeling of solace akin to that to spend more time in Gangtok, there felt by an infant in its mother's arms. are a number of interesting markets been restored every single time.

to check out. A more popular alternative would be to take one of The post offices in Bhutan make the many Gangtok holiday packages customised stamps with any which branch out to different exotic photograph of your choice on it. I places. Apart from packages covering even got one for myself. All in all, the other major areas in Sikkim like trip to Bhutan was emotionally very Personal Account: (Sourya Dey)Pelling and Lachen, one can opt to satisfying and served to be the perfect take a trip to Darjeeling in West tonic to dissolve all my worries!Imagine a place amidst natural forest Bengal. This is a frequently visited hill surroundings while facing a range of station famous for its tea gardens.mountains at the same time. A place

completely cut off from any human There are several hotels offering value interference as if an army of celestial Personal Account: (Aditya Jalan) for money. We stayed in Hotel beasts are guarding it against spoilage.

Annapurna where the service was Such a setting is what is offered by excellent and easily made up for the The end of my first semester was Kolakham, an abode of solitude in not so luxurious room. Overall, tiring owing to the hellish ten days North Bengal.Gangtok is a wonderful holiday spent in NCC camp. A break was destination. The scenery is gorgeous, what I needed and no place could I spent 3 days in Kolakham in the the city is well developed and it serves have been better to relax than the summer of 2011. The place where we as a gateway to the rest of Sikkim.land of the Thunder Dragon - Bhutan. stayed is called the Neora Valley

Let me begin with a brief description Jungle Camp, a wonderful resort of this landlocked nation where the Personal Account: (Sourya Dey)located above the main Kolakham populat ion is predominantly village at an altitude of 6,000 m. The Buddhist. The most striking feature of place comprises 4 large cottages Gangtok, popularly meaning 'hill

Kolakham

How to reach: Avail trains running to New Jalpaiguri station from where you can hire direct cars to Kolakham.Time taken: 20 hours.When to visit: The winter break

Kingdom of BhutanPocket Pinch: Rs 2000 per head (3 days/2 nights)

How to reach: Take a train to New Jalpaiguri. From there, book a cab to Jaigaon (Indo-Bhutan border).Time taken: 22 hoursWhen to visit: October, end of AprilPocket Pinch: Rs 3000 per head (3 days/2 nights) Gangtok

How to reach: Take a train to New Jalpaiguri and get on an auto, bus or taxi from the station. Time taken: 20 hoursWhen to visit: Durga Puja holidays or the winter breakPocket pinch: Rs 3000 per head (2 days/3 nights)

H I T C H H I K E R A V E N U ETHE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SEPTEMBER 2012 7

The Heavenly Hills

8 THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² SEPTEMBER , 2012