Student Stories: Articles by current Engineering Students

Jobs & Careers
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Installation of 4i Lab at IITG will bridge gap between concept and realisation

IIT Guwahati, in a bid to match up to its counterparts and improve the ambiences of the studetns working in technical projects, has proposed the establishment of 4i-Labs at the New Students Activities Centre of the college. The 4i's correspond to the 4 stages of development of any kind of tech product - Innovation, Integration, Incubation and Implementation.

The 4i-Lab was an initiative at the Indian Institute Of Technology, Kanpur. It was built to provide a central facility for concept design and product realization. It is expected to be of great help both for professional course requirements and industrial consultancy.

Being one of the most sophisticated and advanced facilities in the college, it includes high-end technology like the Laser Engraving and cutting machine and the Rapid prototyping machine.

The 4i-Labs at IIT Guwahati, expected to start by the July-Nov 2016 semester will provide a huge oppurtunity to  students  in the campus for developing their ideas and working on them to improve them. The 4i-Labs will be a two-tier system including an ideation and an innovation room, equipped with all the essential equipments. Planned to be an open space with Google Office like ambience, it is expected to be a great place for the students to learn and develop their skills under the guidance and mentorship of the experienced faculty of the college.


The Robotics, Aeromodelling and the Electronics Clubs are most likely to be the most benefitted of the lot in the campus.Being an extremely important and advanced workplace, the 4i-Labs will have strict guidelines and will probably work on the Principle Of Least Authority for all the students.

The 4i-Labs will surely play an important role in the activities of all the clubs under the Technical Board of IIT Guwahati in the coming years. It will also contribute in buoyating the rank of IIT Guwahati among the fellow IITs and enhancing the participation of the college in Technical matters.

This article is part of PaGaLGuY's innovative internship certification programme for engineering students. Currently, two such programmes are on - one is an Internship in Creative Writing, and the other is a Certification in Digital Media. If you are interested in partaking and bagging a certificate, besides learning the nuances of effective writing, write to us at [email protected].

Note: This article about IITP Patna has not been written by the PaGaLGuY Editorial Team. Readers should research and verify the claims and judgements in the article before reaching a conclusion.

This article is part of PaGaLGuY's innovative internship certification programme for engineering students. Currently, two such programmes are on - one is an Internship in Creative Writing, and the other is a Certification in Digital Media. If you are interested in partaking and bagging a certificate, besides learning the nuances of effective writing, write to us at [email protected].

Note: This article about IITP Patna has not been written by the PaGaLGuY Editorial Team. Readers should research and verify the claims and judgements in the article before reaching a conclusion.

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The act of putting together words like 'technology' and 'human values' would seem quite paradoxical at first glance. But if you dwell on these two words, you will realise that the two go hand-in-hand. So, why are  'human values' not part of learning at technical institutes in India? Lucas Introna, a philosopher, backed up this approach adopted by these institutes (of not teaching human values) by arguing that educators thought that 'the traditional sources of moral knowledge such as religion, community and family' should be the agencies to impart human values. But as time progressed, Introna pointed that the credibility of these traditional sources began to get challenged. As a result, a need was felt to reconsider the way technical education was being imparted in the institutes.

To cater to this, courses on 'engineering ethics' as a subject started getting offered. But it was soon realized that these courses on 'preventive ethics' were not effective. 

Knowledge in technical education sans human values is very well exemplified by what happened with Japan during World War II. So it seems like it is necessary to build moral values in our future engineers in order to keep a check on inhuman use of technology. But how can this be achieved? Can a subject so subjective and subtle such as 'human values' be taught in the institute? Or should we go back to our traditional sources to take care of this? The answers to these questions are definitely not easy to arrive at. 

In an unique attempt, IIT Gandhinagar is trying to approach this problem. Prof. Raghubir Sharan, Professor at IIT Gandhinagar, offers a course titled, "Technological Progress and Human Values". Prof. Sharan says that the debate between 'technology' and 'human values' is quite akin to that between 'science' and 'philosophy. He further adds that the gap between the two can be bridged only if we try and reflect upon where in our endeavor of technological progress, we digressed and went on to create an 'unsustainable' form of development.

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These arethe best days of my life

Every engineer feels nostalgic when he thinks about his life at college and I am no exception. Back in 2012, when I joined Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT-Bhopal), I was a naïve student. My first year at MANIT had many memorable experiences like being ragged by seniors (only fun nothing serious) and making some really good friends who are like a backbone to me still today. They support me both in times of happiness and sadness.

I still remember the day; when I entered my second year when I felt the pride that I too was a senior. In these four years, apart from studies I met people from all over India which helped me learn about their diverse cultures and also a little bit of their language.

The best part of college is the freedom it provides you. I feel that never in my life again I will be as 'unbound' as I was in my college. My life as hosteller for these four years is something that I will miss after leaving college. From my personal experience, I can say that a hosteller always has an extra bit of freedom which a day scholar cannot exercise. However, everything isn't easy at hostels; one should try to adjust to the food and facilities provided at hostels. Especially, when it is a hostel run by a government college, you need to be adjusting more because of the lack of facilities. Moreover, I can confidently say that those who could survive at MANIT can survive anywhere.

When I look back at my college life, I had many cheerful experiences and also had some sad ones. But, all those experiences were very helpful in shaping the person whom I am really today. From my mistakes, I learnt to accept the consequences and be careful not to repeat them again. Most importantly in these four years, I have learnt to adapt myself to the situation.

I have nearly 60 days of my college left and as each day passes on I feel nostalgic knowing the fact that my college life is coming to an end. In these last few days of my engineering, I would like to spend my happy and precious moments with my friends and enjoy each and every single day. For a student, college life comes only ones in his life and I feel that one should enjoy this period of life as much as possible.

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"360 minutes hain tumhare paas!" 90 questions, 360 minutes, 4 minutes per question seems quite an ordinary task but in reality it's not. JEE Mains is one of most eloquent way of summarising two years of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in a small booklet. JEE Mains is the primary step to enter an IIT/NIT/IIIT. The paper consists of 90 multiple choice questions with single correct answers. The level of questions is as same as the NCERT level with some questions being a little tougher. The paper covers almost the full 2 years course with questions ranging from basic mechanics to advanced rotational mechanics. Cracking JEE Mains requires at least two years of dedicated as well as systematic preparation. Normally, the paper consists of about 25% of questions that are easy, 50% average and rest 25% difficult questions. Holding on to your nerves is very important during the exam.

Speed and accuracy are the biggest factors to be taken care of. High speed with less accuracy is very dangerous, it can ruin your result. Also one needs to approach every problem differently with separate processes, don't hurry and think twice before marking an answer. Filtering out problems during the exam is also very important as it helps to save time. Filter out all easy and average problems and attempt them first so that you can have enough time to tackle the tough ones. Also it is advisable to attempt theoretical questions before going for numerical problems. Tricky questions are part and parcel of JEE Mains. Examiners try to trap students by playing around with questions and options. So read the questions carefully to understand what is required and the options with great concentration too. All said and done, with hard work and systematic preparation, one is sure to crack JEE Mains.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sf5qnabULI

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TechEvince : The Annual Technical Exhibition at IITG

Every year, the students at IIT Guwahati explore the vast technical oceans and create the most extravagant and technically advanced projects. The various clubs under the technical board of the Student's Gymkhana Council at IIT Guwahati contribute whole-heartedly to this list. However, projects do no good if they are just kept in club rooms. With this in mind, TechEvince was introduced to provide all the clubs with a platform to present their creations so that the students can be appreciated for their technical proficiency and the hard work they put into making their projects.

Organised by the Technical Board of the college, TechEvince is one of the more important events in the abundantly loaded event schedule of the college. Still in its early years, it aims to put on display the technological advancements made by the institute till date and to give recognition to the Tech-savvy student fraternity of the college for contributing to successful projects displayed every year. Also, the best projects from the inter - hostel technical competition of IITG, Kriti, also make it to the list of displays at TechEvince. Apart from putting the projects on display, it also encourages the students to work harder in their respective fields and create better and more sophisticated projects.

TechEvince 3.0 - Dream Explore Invent, was organised on the 20th of March, 2016 and provided every tech enthusiast with a great learning experience. This TechEvince also provided the observers with some engaging gaming interactions and smart gadgets. The Prakriti Cub of IITG came up with some eco-friendly projects of their own to contribute their part for the environment while the automobile club will be displayed a unique automobile, the Effiycle - designed fully by its members. The Robotics and the Electronics Club had multiple projects on display at this exhibition. Thus, uniting all the technical clubs of the college under one roof, TechEvince 3.0 was by far the biggest and the best exhibition by the students of IIT Guwahati till date.

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"Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end." Beginning of college life comes from the end of the school life.The transition from school to college is a big one. It changes your life completely and determines where you going to stand strong in the future. College life is more about freedom, fun and friendships. However,it brings along with it a sense of competition  self dependence and responsibilities. Like every other teenager, I too was very anxious on the first day of my college. Along with the excitement, there was a sense of nervousness also as all my friends secured admissions in different colleges and I was the only one to be in NIT. So,it was a whole new atmosphere for me. As soon as I stepped into the college, memories of the first day of my school came back to me, How i cried that day to avoid going to school.

No matter how much you grow up,the heart is still the same.The first few days were a bit boring for me. I have a reserved kind of personality. So, I was a bit hesitant in talking to those unknown faces. I roamed around the college gradually, those anonymous people became familiar to me and we turned to friends.

 Our campus is a big and all of 150-acre, with greenery spread all around and It was much bigger than my school where I had spent 10 years of my life. Classes started, teachers came in,taught us and went away.It was not like the school days where teachers used to 'restrict' us like parents normally do.

How strange it was - we used to get irritated by restrictions during school days and now we miss those bindings. But as the time passed, I got habitual to my college routine.

Every phase of life has its own charm and importance. School life had its own importance. And now, college life will play its own part. It has started on a good note. I hope to enjoy and learn a lot from this phase

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Maffick fever grips MANIT, Bhopal

Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, organised its annual cultural fest,Maffick, from March 18-20. The theme for this year's fest was 'Revival of the Lost Arts'. This theme was explored in various competitions held in the city across three days.

The fest was a big draw among students who had come from all over the country to participate, making it one of the biggest college fests of Central India. The interesting line-up of competitions in different categories such as dance, music, lifestyle, sports, dramatics and art kept the students engaged and thoroughly entertained. So while 'Bodyrock', 'Dance Fiesta', 'Dance Doubles' and 'Band Baja Baaraat' were for dance enthusiasts, 'Swarangan' and 'Anahad' were a crooner's delight. Others who wanted to set the ramp on fire headed for 'Panache' and then there were youngsters with oodles of oomph and attitude who made a beeline to be crowned 'Mr and Miss Maffick'. 'Maffick Riders' was the first choice of Daredevils who participated in the competition for that ultimate adrenaline rush. And then there were 'Maffick Mania' and 'Movie Making' for budding filmmakers to capture the moments of the fest and weave a beautiful story for keepsakes. Those who wanted the crowd to pause for a cause preferred to take it to the streets through 'Nukkad Natak', thumping their drums, singing, dancing, acting and leaving the crowd asking for more. 'Rajneeti' was a platform for budding youth leaders who got an opportunity to woo their followers.  

The fest also saw many power-packed performances by renowned artistes including EDM Night by Anish Sood and live performances by Gajendra Verma and his band. The ICC World T20 match between India and Pakistan was streamed live to a packed house on the penultimate night of the fest. India's astounding win over Pakistan gave a reason to students to celebrate and party through the night.

The fest was a big hit among students and the organisers need a pat on their backs for a successful event like Maffick 2016.

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SANSKRIT CELLS IN IITs: UNFOLDING MYSTERIES OF ANCIENT INDIAN LITERATURE

The education ministry has come up with a 10-year roadmap for developing Sanskrit language. Premier institutions for engineering and scientific studies, including IITs, will have a Sanskrit cell to help study ancient Indian literature. This cell will help students explore the depths of Indian literatures related to their faculty.

In a meeting last month, the panel set up by the ministry has come up with few suggestions. The panel suggested the formation of Sanskrit

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ells in the institutes of national importance. This panel is headed by a retired IAS officer N. Gopalaswami. Gopalaswami is a Padma Bhushan awardee and former Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) of India. The panel emphasised the need to fathom the profoundness of ancient Indian literature. This cell will also facilitate the in-depth study of science and technology in Sanskrit. These colleges will also offer internships in Sanskrit language which will be included for credits in the regular course work. IIT Delhi has taken a lead in this educational saltate. The panel hinted at embodying Sanskrit as an optional subject for undergraduate studies. It was also connoted to establish model Sanskrit medium schools across the country in future.

Ancient Indian literatures are treasure-chests of knowledge in various fields. To name a few, we have Siddhanta Shiromani, Atharavaveda, Vaisheshika Darshana, Bhagavad Gita, Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, Arthashastra, , et al. Scholars across the globe reach out to remote corners of Indian subcontinent to learn art forms and scientific methods practiced by the locals. Nalanda University, the oldest university in the world has always attracted scholars for centuries. And now, archaeologists are still trying to study this epitome of Gurukula Culture and the time-flow of its associated knowledge and culture. It has been proved that many equations, theorems and concepts that are believed to be discovered somewhere else were already been etched in these literatures centuries and even millennia before the western world actually came to know of them. Harappan civilisation had also established in those days, many landmarks for other civilisations to follow. It is believed that these ancient scriptures could prove to be instrumental in the progress of many contemporary inter-disciplinary studies.

For engineering students it is a new avenue to look at. Who knows what young Indian brains could unravel while swimming through these colossal oceans of knowledge? This endeavour has no down side though. As already established by researchers, unfolding the mysteries of these scriptures will only broaden our horizons. But, even at the least, we will be able to connect to Indian culture.


We will perceive the economic stands, medical advancements, scientific systems and art forms being practiced at those times. Even for a pessimist how could there be a scope to take a cynical stand in this regard!
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Humility: A virtue or a vice

We pay far too much importance to the false and borrowed virtues such as humility that we forget the real and self-generated virtues such as self-esteem. Humility, according to me, is a mere deception, and not based upon the reliance of one's power to think with reason, unlike self-esteem. An honest and a smart man must assert his self-worth, and if he is on the truth's side, he has got every right not to be humble.

Precisely that was the reason the great German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, who was also the proponent of Egoism, once famously remarked: Egoism is the very essence of a noble soul.

When we use the word boss in our daily routine to address an auto-rickshaw driver, or a subordinate in the office, or our servant at home, we know deep within that we are the ones who are superior to that person. We might try to project ourselves as a humble being, but, the fact of the matter is that we don't understand true humility, which is nothing but being in sync with the truth. Even champion athletes of almost all sports (save for Boxing) applaud the skills of their opponents or their teammates. Actors on big stages try to prove in their speeches that they are down to earth individuals, but deep within, they all know that they are no Average Joes or Plain Janes.

An actor or an athlete has the moral responsibility to project himself as a role model, so I honestly don't care much whether he presents the humble side of his nature or the arrogant one. But when a politician doesn't speak the truth and tries to project himself as the Messiah of the masses, I certainly do. A man who just uses humility to hoodwink the society is a coward. He is not brave enough to assert his right to existence.

One must try to seek the truth (humbly) by reason, and then should discard the rag of the vice which you call a virtue: humility. An honest man doesn't need humility. Truth alone will suffice.

We must fight for our happiness and, also, not ask someone else to sacrifice his happiness for us. If reason drives us, we would never destroy someone else's right or freedom.

To love is to value. Only a rationally selfish man, a man of self-esteem, is capable of love because he is capable of holding firm, consistent, uncompromising, and unbetrayed values. The man who does not value himself, cannot value anything or anyone. Furthermore, only a man who values himself can give value to others. Only such a man is capable of love.

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Technothlon gets bigger this year

 The international school championship, Technothlon, was started by students of IIT, Guwahati, in 2004 to 'Inspire Young Minds'. This exam served as a medium for IITG students to interact with their juniors and help them in developing their analytical and logical skills.

What started with barely 200 students and that too only from Guwahati, will see students from 300 cities participating in this edition of Technothlon. It has become the biggest examination conducted by any student fraternity in the world and owes its success to the hardworking group of students who make it happen every year.

Every year, more than 150 students from the Technothlon team visit schools in their respective hometowns to spread the word about the championship and call for entries. Another team designs the question papers for the first phase of Technothlon. After this, they organise the exam in more than 250 centres across the country and evaluate the answer scripts of the participants. The top 50 teams from each of the squads are selected and invited to IITG during Techniche - the annual techno-management festival of IITG. The winning teams participate in various on the spot contests and logic wars to win the competition.

In the last 12 years, the annual international school championship has shown remarkable progress. It keeps reinventing itself by introducing innovative initiatives to engage students. A noteworthy initiative of Technothlon is LED - Learn Explore Develop in which IITG students visit various schools, meet students and present a plethora of simple yet interesting experiments while trying to demonstrate principles of science. This way they can help the students understand the concepts of science by giving them the much-required support and guidance.

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Be aware while choosing career/Ignorance isn't bliss in career choice

It is a make or break time for Class 12 students and JEE aspirants. According to statistics, more than 14 lakh students appear for engineering exams every year. That means our country produces 10-12 lakhs engineers every year, but not everyone gets a decent placement or job or gets a job matching his or hers expectations. But why is this problem arising?

The cause is a lack of awareness among people about this profession. People don't know what engineering is all about. If you ask or conduct a poll among engineering aspirants, 90 per cent of them will opt for it as a career, but when asked the reasons for choosing it, only a few would be able to give a satisfactory answer.

Ignorance is certainly not bliss when it comes to making a career choice. If we are unaware of what we are opting for as our career, then how can we be certain about our success? Only knowing about engineering will not get the job done. Engineering has many streams - Computer Science, Electronics and Communication, Mechanical, Textile and much more. We should know about each and every stream and then choose the appropriate one according to our interest and aptitude. Most of the students opt for either computer or electronics engineering as these two streams guarantee ample job opportunities and high packages. But are they even interested in these streams? Just because others are opting for it, they choose them as well. As a result of lop-sided choice, they end up becoming engineers sans knowledge.

Our problems arise from this point. Armed with an engineering degree, he/she will neither accept jobs which are not up to one's expectations nor sit at home. They decide to go for higher studies.

In a recent interview, our Human Resources Development minister spoke about the deteriorating quality of engineers - only two per cent of total engineers produced by our technical institutes are employable. One should have ample knowledge about the profession before choosing it. They should also know enough about the stream and then choose it.

I would advise JEE aspirants to choose engineering as a career only if they are seriously interested in pursuing it and choose streams only after properly researching about it. Use the internet and gather as much information as you possibly can. Consult your elders. Go for career counsellings. This will help you make your future better, rewarding and interesting. The chances of success will be higher. The quality of engineers produced by our prestigious institutes will also improve.

All the best!

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Research Conclave at IITG nurtures and inspires young minds

The second edition of Research Conclave, a platform where academics, industries and start-ups come together and create wonders, was inaugurated by eminent scientist and Padma Shri awardee Prof KL Chopra at IIT Guwahati on March 17, 2016. Organised by the Student's Academic Board of IIT Guwahati, the Conclave aims to nurture and inspire young minds towards research, innovation and entrepreneurship. It intends to bring the integrity of students towards both industries and academia to redress research challenges, concerns of the student community and upcoming entrepreneurs.

 The Conclave showcased ongoing research activities at IIT Guwahati as well those at nearby research institutes. Also, there was rigorous industry-academia interaction with participation from delegates from all over the country. In this Research Conclave, interactive sessions with entrepreneurs and start-ups were also pitched. The events were divided into four categories - CONNAISSANCE featuring lectures from various academicians and industrialists, SCIENTIFICIA exhibiting posters, model presentations and lab visits, ACAD-INDUSTRIE SYNERGY featuring interaction with industry delegates, start-ups and academicians and INNOVATEUR PLAT-FORME where start-ups were pitched and discussed.

 This year the Conclave witnessed lectures from eminent personalities such as Padma Shri Prof KL Chopra, Srikrishna Prabhu (General Manager, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering), Brahmeshwar Kumar (Manager-Environment, NHPC), Shirish Asthana (Director, MSME) and many others. The Conclave also had lectures by various professors such as Dr Ankit Garg, Dr Ramagopal Uppaluri, Dr Biman Mandal, Dr Karuna Kalita and Dr Arun Chattopadhyay, all of them from IIT Guwahati, and Dr Pramod Khambete from IIT Bombay.

There also were various competitions for students such as the best poster, best model presentation, etc. Winners won prizes worth Rs 50,000. Indeed, it was a great experience for budding researchers and industrialists.

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'Important' is not always 'Popular' 

The news about malnutrition deaths, farmers' plight and global warming fails to capture people's attention. Have you ever wondered why? Are these issues not appealing enough? Or are we obsessed with all things sweet and nice. Or are we apathetic towards real issues? Or is it a conscious decision of the media to avoid flagging these concerns?

Whatever is the reason(s), it is an undeniable truth that this is an alarming situation and there is a dire need to spread awareness about these concerns and challenges. Taking a small step in this direction, a US based non-profit media organization Fair Observer in association with the United Nations Foundation, organized Voices of the World Program at IIT Gandhinagar on March 19-20, 2016. The program was launched for training students in narrating captivating stories to a global audience on pertinent issues that are bothering mankind such as health, pollution, poverty and so on.

The overall focus of this two-day programme was to acquaint students with the tools of good journalism. There were highly engaging sessions on critical thinking, factual validation and rigorous analysis that are crucial for developing an impelling narrative. In order to take these 'not-so-popular' but highly vital discourses to the masses, there is a need to adopt a moral and pragmatic approach.

The CEO and the founder of Fair Observer, Atul Singh, who is also a guest faculty at IIT Gandhinagar, gave ample examples of 'good' as well as 'bad' journalism in the form of articles, audio and video. Further, he cautioned how the latter can dominate, prevail and shape the perception of the audience. He very aptly said, "Journalism is history in hurry" and, therefore, it is susceptible to lack of inquiry, rigor and credibility. Poor media literacy is giving rise to this scenario where 'mundane' becomes furore and 'important' fails to attract attention. Good media practices can help shed light on these 'important' yet unpopular areas. 

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Exams! Exams everywhere!

It all begins with an idea, a realization of sorts. Resilient, like a virus. Highly contagious. And that's how it starts. The fever, the rage, the feeling of powerlessness that turns good men selfish. But you never heard the bells ringing, the wheels of time furiously turning the tide against you. You were busy warped in a fantasy of your own making. A lie trapped in a bottle weaker than its own existence. But that's exactly how humans function. If you can't bear the weight of reality, hide behind the walls of wilful ignorance. But now the End is nigh. The shadows cast by your own indifference have unleashed upon you the demons that lived in its dark corners. And now you beg for forgiveness? Redemption is for those who fight, but you have already lost haven't you? There are always be those who saw the disaster coming long before it all began. They strived, they struggled. Minds, burning through time as you basked in the soothing shades of peace. Oracles of the time, they struggled, partly because they feared the apocalypse more than they loved the rest, and partly because they loved to strive. Some of them might even help you, while others indulge in mockery. Here you are, lying trapped in despair, facing a certain defeat. Your worst fears have come to engulf your sanity. What do you do? Give up? Let go? No. Remember who you are, remember who you were born to be. A warrior, not one without fear, but one who keeps fighting in its face. Never giving up. Realize that, storms come and go, what stays is the warrior, growing stronger with each battle he fights. Devote yourself to the ideal, for it cannot be destroyed. Embrace your worst fears: Exams. For you're more than just a man. You're an engineer. And engineers are forever.

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Confidence and patience will help you sail through JEE Mains

  

It is the D-Day tomorrow. Anxiety reigns supreme as lakhs of engineering aspirants will take JEE Mains exam. JEE Mains is the first step towards securing a seat in the prestigious IITs/NITs/IIITs.

It is an objective based question paper with multiple choices. Each correct answer takes you four steps closer to your goal while a negative answer pulls you back. The exam of three hours tests your knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Maths.

This exam is more a test of your patience and temperament than your knowledge. All the aspirants focus more on the knowledge part, ignoring the other important factors. One thing that an aspirant should do is to give ample importance to his/her strengths, stop panicking and revising the entire syllabus in a limited time. It is important to realise that there will be some topics which you haven't thought of covering in a month, just brush them up at the most, and trust your instincts. There is a reason you hadn't covered that topic. It could be because either you were well versed in it or were completely clueless. So it is better left undone now.

I would advise you to collect all the documents in a file, a day before the exam to avoid any last minute anxieties. Take your time to read the questions and select the ones that you would like to attempt first. Speed and accuracy, both are crucial for a good score. A lot of questions in the paper are designed to trick the mind, but a little caution can help you gain an advantage over lakhs of other aspirants. Many of my friends complained that they marked the answer incorrectly, so that is another area where concentration is of utmost importance. Carry chocolate or two inside the examination hall (if it is allowed this year); this will not only calm you down but also help you concentrate better when you are stuck anywhere. It was a tip from my brother which helped me a lot, both in JEE Mains as well as Advance. All said and done, give your best on the day of the exam, which is what matters most.

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Let each one teach at least one

"I believe the children are our future Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be."

~ Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston

These beautiful words sum up the thought behind the extraordinary work done by students of NIT, Jalandhar, and IIM, Ahmedabad, to make a difference in the lives of ordinary children, mostly from the underprivileged section of the society, to give them a brighter and better future.

It was way back in 2008 when the beautiful journey of touching young lives started at NIT, Jalandhar. A handful of students from this engineering college stood outside the huts of the construction workers engrossed in deep discussion with them. The students were keen that workers allow their children to study, not at the school but special classes run by them. The students had to bargain hard with the reluctant parents. With scarce resources at their disposal, students had a tough time persuading construction workers who were proud of their children being 'workers' rather than 'students'. The see-saw negotiations went on until they finally gave in. But conditions applied in this deal. The workers agreed on just an hour a day; children could attend classes run by students but only in their spare time. The smiles on those students' faces were inexplicable after all this small measure promised a better future for these children.

What started as a project for some students trying to fulfil the curriculum requirements soon turned into something bigger than they ever imagined at IIM, Ahmedabad. The project which started at IIM A was about teaching the underprivileged kids. Education meant making them literate. And it came as a great relief for students that these children lapped up this opportunity. The smiles on those tormented faces brought a sense of responsibility and belief to change the world, to change the future.

The little project, now officially called Prayaas, gradually found its way in other cities and colleges. The big cities welcomed this initiative with open arms, trying to create a better future for such children. The real challenge was still out there in the small cities.

The movement that found its way in NIT, Jalandhar, had to deal with a lot. The small city mentality not just limited the growth but also made a mockery of it. It was seen as a fad and the 'cool' people thought that those volunteers were in dire need of a 'life'. In contrast, 'Prayaas' in IIM, Ahmedabad, staying true to its name, never gave up. It slowly grew into a bigger force, and today has 300 registered students with 60 dedicated volunteers in and around the college who have found a purpose in their lives. This student-run initiative is the crowning jewel of the management college, which not only provides education to the graduates and undergraduates but is also the first school for many underprivileged children who are taught English and Hindi along with basic moral education. The craft class is certainly the most popular one. Prayaas has taken it forward by inviting the children of nearby villages and even visiting certain areas to provide education.

But it is not a one-way traffic. As Ankush Kamboj, a dedicated volunteer of Prayaas for three-and-a-half-years now, says, "we are there to teach them, but they teach us so much. Selfless love is what I learned," adding, "It is priceless to see their childhood unfold in front of my eyes."

Still, there is a long way to go. The families of those children still find it difficult to allow them to earn rather than learn. Migration is another big problem. The change is happening and now it's our turn to give it a little push to this thought.

Let us spread this movement to more schools and colleges. Let us teach, or contribute towards it in some way or the other. Let the students become the masters and the children become students. Let the world become a better place, let the children be free. Let us take out these children from those dark tunnels and give them a better and brighter future.

90

The Dreadful Drop "Oh my God! I got admission in Engineering. Thank God. I thought I had to drop another year to prepare. Can you imagine doing that all over again?" Now, imagine your best friend saying this to you. And wishing it was not the same thing you had to do. Yes, we are talking about The Dreadful Drop. So what if I couldn't get admission in the first try? So what if all the people around me did get an admission and would be going to their dream colleges (more or less)? It's not that bad or is it? Lots of engineering colleges around us (the quantity, not the quality) and when you can't get in at your first try, it's not easy to deal with. Not only do you have to face the bitter fact that the life moves on with you keeping stagnant, also you have to prepare yourself for the difficult year to come. Birthdays, weddings, festivals etc., I have to leave them at the bay if I want to do something in my future, just for a year, this was the mantra. Listening to the fun filled stories of all your ex school mates and pretending to be really interested was one of the hardest parts. They thought it was a motivation to get a glimpse of the college life. If only they knew how bitter it made you from the inside. Soon, you stop talking to most of your old pals as it reminded you of the time passing you by. And life revolves around that one single day, single test that could change your life, for better or for worse. So, cheers to all those droppers, who took the tough decision to stay and prepare for the year to get in their dream colleges. They have tackled that dreadful year of doubts and questions and came out alive! You all are the real heroes. Salute to all.

91

Make most of your time in engineering college

Many of us end up becoming engineers because all through our growing up years we aspired to be one. Some of us opt for it under parental pressure. The reasons may be different, but there is one similarity that is common amongst all. After joining college, we commit the same mistakes. We realize it but only after completing our course. By then it is late to make amends.

Personally, I feel that most of the engineering students avoid learning the concepts. They only try to cram on the night before the exam, without knowing why and what they are studying. For them, passing the exam is more important than scoring well or for that matter knowing the topic or subject well. Even though they somehow manage to pass the exams, it isn't of any help to them in future. It is a blunder because each and every single concept that we learn as an engineer will be helpful to us someday or the other. Without complete knowledge of the concepts, an engineer can never give 100% to his work. 

Another common mistake is that the students are unable to strike a healthy balance between leisure (enjoyment) and work (study). They are either engrossed in their studies or completely ignore it for the sake of pleasure. Hang out with friends and enjoy as much as you can because this is certainly the best time of one's life. However, this fun shouldn't happen at the cost of studies. Do not be a geek in the college who knows nothing beyond the books. But avoid being a party animal too. The tag that you want for yourself is entirely your choice.

Another mistake that most of the students tend to make is to bunk classes quite often. It is okay to skip some classes but to be a student at an engineering college, in absentia, will not help. Even if the lectures are boring, one shouldn't miss classes. It will be good to know something new that will stand you in good stead.

Budding engineers have crazy sleeping and eating habits. They stay up all night, completing their assignments and projects or watching movies and TV series. They gorge on junk food. One must not forget that health is wealth. These bad habits will take a toll on your health.

Last but not the least, engineers are the biggest procrastinators. They tend to postpone their work until the eleventh hour. We should try and complete our assignments and projects ahead of schedule.

These four years will decide our future. The good and bad will be carried forward with us. There is a lot to learn so don't waste this opportunity. Your degree is just a gate pass to the actual learning. Real college is four years away.

92

The night before the exam

If you think that after taking so many exams, you have mastered your fears, you are wrong. The terror called examination still looms large over our being. This fear surfaces whenever we have to take one. It is not the subject that scares us, but our weaknesses, be it self-doubt or lack of confidence, that surface in the form of examination fear.
The night before exams in the engineering colleges is worth watching. It's silent chaos. You will find students engrossed in their books all through the night as if their entire life depends on how much they manage to study at the eleventh hour and how will they fare in the next day's exam. And if you dare to ask someone how much they have covered, be ready for a mind blowing answer.
Old habits die hard. You still ask after all engineers are the most curious of the lot. What can they do? If that student has covered too much and you have done too little, you will study all through the night to do whatever it takes to outwit him.
Day and night seem like one. Time is running but still there's a lot in the syllabus that needs to revision. Either you feel ravenous, or hunger just vanishes away. Eating food is a sheer waste of time, or so you think. It's just that hot cup of coffee that helps you stay awake. You are scared at the mere thought of sleep. What if you sleep and aren't able to wake up after an hour. But there's little that you can do before the mighty sleep. You surrender. Those last two topics haven't been covered, but you doze off, hoping to complete the remaining bits in the morning.
Alarms come into the picture at this juncture as your knight in shining armour to rescue you from the tentacles of sleep. You deploy an army of ringing machines to wake you up but in vain. Sleep doesn't let go of you. And so you sleep away to glory. That's how the night ends and when you wake up, it is a new day, the D-Day.
The pressure that a student feels during the days before the exams is tremendous. The course just weighs him down. Without proper motivation and support of teachers and students, it becomes difficult for him to sail through. Take utmost care of time management and health. So eat and sleep well.
All the best!