IIT

found this lil outburst of mine while looking thru my old drafts …. had penned these thoughts down when the famous new hostel shifting took place.. but somehow didnt get arnd to publishing it. 

i think this deserves to be put up.. so here goes!

For everyone who thought IITs are the epitome of technological advancement in India, I have two words — ” Ha Ha”. Well, sure the output of IITs is world-class and sure the facilities (technologically) are the most cutting edge — comparable, maybe even surpassing, the ones available at the top universities in the West. But the administration, atleast here at kharagpur, lags behind the world by more than a decade ….

where else would you find a new hostel being constructed with the exact same (building) plans that had been designed in the late 50s, or an administrative cadre that thinks an internet connection, geysers and curtain rods are not “essentials” when girls are asked (rather forced) to relocate to a new hostel.

What do you say, when, on bringing the lack of these amenities to the notice of the people in charge, you’re told that the reason why the management wants you to move to the hostel is that all such discrepancies can be identified and rectified….. moreover, when, after shifting in, you, again, bring these to the management’s notice, you’re told to bear with them for a few days… you can’t expect a palace now, can you?

errr… we never expected a palace, respected ma’ams and sirs, but we would like to ask you…. when u;re commissioning new hostels / buildings in the campus, is it absolutely essential you stick to the age-old building plans that the first hostels were made by…. is it not right for a student who joins an IIT with the expectations of world-class facilities, to expect a half-decent hostel — atleast one that has been constructed in 2007?? and.. is it that necessary that an available hostel is filled with residents (during the middle of the term) while it still lacks basic amenities & still has workers milling around all day?

Ironically, the only answer the authorities have to our complaints / suggestions / grievances —- take this opportunity to learn to manage with whatever is available. Pray how do you manage without hot water in a place like kharagpur where morning temperatures drop to abt 13 degrees?? Maybe we can turn this into a learning opportunity by luggin buckets over to our warden’s home half-way across campus to use hot water….. hmmmm good idea.. wat say?