Centre of Excellence Unlimited

It has been a week since tragedy struck IITKgp. Things are returning to normal. Students have stopped questioning the attitude of the administration. Only a select few are taking an active interest in being a part of the change.

There has to be change - no question about that. The events that unfolded last week suggest that IITKgp is far from being a 'Centre of Excellence'. A 'Centre of Excellence' like IIT cannot survive solely on the strength of its students. There needs to be change - and for the better.

B.C. Roy Hospital

That an IIT could have such an ill-equipped hospital - I had never imagined. Despite several cases of negligence coming to the fore, nothing has been done about it.

Why does the administration not realise that a hospital with state-of-art facilities will not just serve the students but also the staff and the faculty?

The students here will stay for 4 years and then move on. In that short span, they can bring about only a few changes. A large part of the initiative has to come from the Junta who have been staying in Kgp for some time.

Transport Facilities

The impression I had formed of Kharagpur in Delhi was far from accurate. In Delhi, I had taken the transport system for granted. The 781 Blueline bus and the Metro was so convenient for my daily 'up-down' to DCE that I couldn't think of something as bad as the Kgp transport system. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that I would have to hire a Rikshaw to go to the Railway Station.

Why IITKgp does not have a bus service in the campus till date escapes me. That Rohit Kumar had to be taken to the Hospital in a Rikshaw is a real shame. It baffles me why the institute does not have an hourly bus service covering the important landmarks in the campus.

Why - won't it serve the interests of all - students, faculty and the staff?

Food

Every now and then, Professors at IITKgp talk of the standard of students degrading by the day. They blame it on the 'Coaching Centres' and the increasing intake into the IITs. Never do they realise that a student's performance reflects his/her mental and physical well being.

How can someone concentrate in the class when the food being served at the hostel is repeated every 7 days - as it is. Can we not have a regular review by an expert/nutritionist on the quality of food? Am I asking for too much? But don't the IIT Professors expect a lot out of us? Surely, we deserve better quality food.

Rohit Kumar's headaches might have been a direct consequence of the quality of food at the hostel. I am speculating here but we don't wish to have more incidents - do we?

Then why not improve the quality of food at the hostel?

Faculty - Student Interaction

A lot can change if the students learn to interact with the Professors. How can that happen? And when can that happen? It can happen only when we have a better faculty : student ratio. I don't see any point in going to classes if I cannot interact with the Professor. I might as well watch the video lectures. And how am I supposed to interact when we have one lecturer for 180 students?

And to make matters worse - there are rumours floating of 'Biometric Attendance' being brought into play. Why can't the faculty look at improving the basic amenities in the camps rather than concentrating their energies on 'disciplining' the students? The trust between the students and the faculty has vanished.

When it is a well-known fact that the doctors at B.C. Roy are irresponsible, why didn't any Professor take Rohit Kumar to Kolkata in his own car? Or if that wasn't possible, why didn't someone get the process of taking the ambulance out of the campus expedited. Why was no responsible person accompanying the students? Was a head injury the sole responsibility of two friends?

I shall be looking for answers.

We all should be.

Tragedy Strikes at IITKgp

I cannot provide the complete story.
I can only provide an angle.
To have the complete picture, the reader MUST go through the following links:

The Scholars' Avenue

http://209.97.214.175/~scholars/wordpress/

News Article From The Telegraph

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090323/jsp/frontpage/story_10710225.jsp

Teary Farewell From Friends

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090324/jsp/bengal/story_10715166.jsp

Blog Posts

http://grassonfire.blogspot.com/2009/03/rohit-kumar-will-be-remembered.html
http://anurag-priyam.blogspot.com/2009/03/students-death-at-iit-kharagpur.html
http://artagnon.com/2009/03/iitdeath-the-day-that-was/

22nd March, 1315 hrs:

Hot afternoon in Kharagpur.
Feeling unwell after a bout of vomiting last night.
Sore throat and fever accentuate the pain.
Decide on having a nap.

1715 hrs:

Wake up from my longest siesta in Kgp.
Feeling groggy.
Decide to go to B.C. Roy to have myself checked up.
Wingmate informs me of the decease of a fellow Kgpian.
Hall: LLR
Cause: Negligence at B.C. Roy Hospital
Details not known.
Confused.
Proceed to B.C. Roy nevertheless.
Calm at B.C. Roy. Everything seems normal.
Doctor at B.C. Roy prescribes medicines.
No thermometer used to check fever.
Diagnosis as per my description of the ailment.
Full dose of medicine given.
[Why? Because some of the medicines were nearing expiry date]

1730 hrs:

Back to Hall.
Friend persuades me to take him 'doubles' to Tech Market.
Learnt about protests at Director's Residence.

1740 hrs:

Proceed to Director's Residence
Park the cycle at a reasonable distance

1745 hrs:

Inside Director's Residence after hopping the fence.
Learn about damage already done:

Windows of Innova smashed.
Car turned upside down.
Lamps in the garden damaged.
Windows of bunglow damaged.
Students crowded at the porch of the Director's Residence - demanding his resignation.

Director allegedly passed spurious remarks which sparked the backlash:

(smiling) Who are you to ask for my resignation?
I can give my resignation only to the President of India.
Student mar gaya hai tho mai kya karoon? [What can I do if a student dies?]
Chutti chahiye kya? [Do you want a holiday?]

1800 hrs:

Call my parents informing them of the tragedy.
They urge me to be cautious as such situations can turn ugly.
Pick up a packet of biscuits being supplied.
Students taking photographs. Ready with videocameras.

1815 hrs:

Director emerges.
Announces his resignation.
Flash of cameras all around.

1830 hrs:

Getting dark.
Decide on returning to my room.
Rumours doing the round that student was caught with videocam at Puri Gate
Call from parents - News is out in Bengali News Channel - Star Anondo.

1900 hrs:

Learn that internet & LAN not working in Kgp.

2115 hrs:

Back at Director's Residence.
Learn of a 'just concluded' meeting.
Informed of Open House at 2200 hrs in Netaji Auditorium.
5th years present some points they wish to raise at Netaji.

2200 hrs:

Seated in Netaji.
Request by Student Representatives to refrain from unruly behaviour.
Learn that a very poor picture of Kgp students had been potrayed in the media.

2205 hrs:

Venue Shifted to Tagore Open Air Theatre (TOAT) due to space constraints.
TOAT jam-packed with 4000 students.

2215 hrs:

1 minute of mourning.
Minutes of the meeting presented.
5th year students present their problems.
Interspersed by angry shouting from the crowd.

2230 hrs:

Junta informed by students that this is not the only case of negligence.
Another student is admitted in the ICU at Apollo in Delhi because the Doctors at B.C. Roy could not diagnose Malaria.
Students demand resignation of Dean of Students Affairs (DOSA) and Deputy Director (DD).

2300 hrs:

Friends of Rohit - Vidya Bhushan & P.R.K Singh narrate their tale of injustice.
They had volunteered to help him after his head injury.

2330 hrs:

DOSA and DD announce resignation.
Junta disperses.

23rd March:

Complete boycott of classes as a mark of protest.

1800 hrs:

Candlelight march from Gymkhana to Vidhan Chowk.
Students wear black as a mark of protest.

Rohit Kumar was a 3rd year student of the department of the department of Electrical Engineering. He was a Kshitij Core Team Head and resided in the Lala Lajpat Rai Hall of Residence.

May his soul rest in peace.

Ambigram: Old Monk

This is my second ambigram of my name 'Mainak'. Couldn't get it as well as I wished to have it.

The 'k' could have been better. Plus the ambigram is not very symmetric. I'll try to improve upon my mistakes later.

Do let me know how my second ambigram turned out to be. How do you find it in comparison to my first ambigram? Do let me know.

Quintessentially Bengali!?

Kgp stands for Kharagpur

IIT Kharagpur is in Bengal. Or is it?

Outside Kgp is surely Bengal.

But, inside it is only a penumbra of Bengal.

A Kgpian is reminded that (s)he is in Bengal only when a voice in the mobile informs him/her:

Apni jei numbere chesta korchen, sheta ei muhurte byasto aache. Kripa kore kichukhon pode chesta korun. (The number you are trying is busy. Please try after some time).

The Kgpian rarely gets a flavour of the Mach-Jhol or the Roshogolla. 

I am sure Kgpians would understand Bengal better if they think of what is Bengali, what is non-Bengali and what is it that goes to shape a Bengali.

Below, I am enumerating what I find typically Bengali. The reader is invited to offer alternative potraits/add on.

Party/Politics

The first thing that comes to the mind when one thinks of WB is the colour red - the Communist colour. How the Communist party has managed to stay in power for so long amazes most non-Bengalis. And it amazes me! 

It goes to reflect the unwavering faith that Bengalis have on those in power and their reluctance to try something other than Mach-Jhol or Roshogolla.

Roshogolla

Roshogolla and Mach-Jhol is always associated with Bengali food. Roshogolla, though, in IIT also means a duck - a zero because of its round and juicy nature.

Whenever I go to visit a Bengali family back in my hometown, I am presented with no less than 4 Roshogollas and a variety of other delicacies. Muri (puffed rice) is the staple breakfast. A meal without fish is considered incomplete.

My personal favourite though is Alu-Posto.

Football and POK

Bengalis are very passionate about football. A Mohan Bagan vs East Bengal match would evoke stronger emotions than an IPL match. Unlike the rest of India, Football here is followed with as much fervour & tempo as Cricket.

The 'Prince of Kolkata' though is very special. The kind of adulation that Saurav Ganguly receives in WB - other players can only dream of. This though is accentuated by Ganguly being the only player from Bengal in the national squad.

The Siesta

The lethargic attitude is probably one of those characteristics of a Bengali that irritates a non-Bengali to no end. A typical/Khanti Bengali cannot do without the Siesta/Afternoon Nap.

The lethargic and easy go attitude though is more pronounced in the urban Bengali than the rural Bengali.

Adda

The evening gatherings where everything from politics to cinema is discussed with a passion typical of Bengalis. 

This is the Bengali version of 'hanging out'/intellectual discussions. In Kgp , Bhaat (Bekar Chaat) would probably come close to Adda.

Fine Arts, Literature & Music

Bengalis have been known for their love for fine arts, literature & music. 

Bengal has produced some of the finest artists - be it Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay or Satyajit Ray.

And it is no coincidence that the very best are from Bengal. I remember having to attend painting classes from my childhood. I am not an exception. This is the tradition in every Bengali family. 

I am a Bengali who has lived outside Bengal all his life. My perspective towards Bengal is bound to be different from that of a 'Khanti' Bengali or that of a non-Bengali. In fact, it has to be different. Do let me know your views on what you find typically Bengali.

Ambigram: Mainak

This is my first attempt at an ambigram. This was the product of an otherwise unproductive Maths class - yes the same one which I had bunked.

And if you are wondering what I have written - that is my first name - Mainak. I actually did not imagine that I would be able to produce an ambigram out of my name. However, this try has left me thirsty for more. I am presently working on producing an ambigram out of my name in a font which I call Old Monk.

More of Old Monk and others in a later post though.

N.B. - This image has been scanned directly with no added effects. However, I would be glad to hear your suggestions.

Indicators

Indicators - we all know. While some may be familiar with chemical indicators, others with indicators on cars and other vehicles. Most of us would have come across road signs which indicate the directions. I am sure we all would have come across some form of indicator or other. There are instances of indicators everywhere.

Being a Science student, I can talk about chemical indicators - no, not at length - but surely I can talk about them. Phenolphthalein, Methyl Orange or Iodine - they are all chemical indicators. What do they indicate? They indicate some point of interest in the chemical reaction. They help us to measure the progress of a chemical reaction.

Similarly, we have have what I would call 'Social Indicators'. They indicate the progress of a system in the society. I could think of only a few but surely interesting examples of 'Social Indicators'. If you can think of more (or even better?!), do let me know.

Exams

Every now and then, the question over the futility and the utility of the examination system. People keep asking the authorities to do away with them. I believe you need the exams simply because they are indicators. They indicate your progress in a course of study. However, just as chemical indicators are added in small quantities (a few drops), exams should be conducted judiciously. An overdose of exams will only hamper the progress.

Sensex

I am not a student of Economics. However, any aware citizen of this country would be knowing the role of the Sensex in indicating the state of the Indian Economy. Sensex going up implies that the economy is doing well - sab kuch badiya hai (All is well). If the Sensex is volatile, investors tend to lose faith in the structure that is in place that helps our economy grow.

Elections

Elections (atleast in a democratic country) signal progress. Timely and fair elections help people assess the legislators and the policy makers. Absence of elections indicates that something is wrong with the democratic setup.

Attendance

What does the attendance in a class indicate? According to me, it indicates how well a professor teaches of probably a professor's popularity. Or it may even indicate the smartness (or should I say laziness?) of the students enrolled in the course.

I am positive you should be able to find more examples of social indicators. However, before signing off let me share with you what I consider are the essentials of a 'Social Indicator'

• It has a property that changes.
• It measures progress
• It aids in progress
• Too much will surely spoil the broth

And lastly...

We need to pay heed to indicators

Labels

Indian society despite its lacunae and shortcomings provides a very interesting study. In my last post, I talked of the Jugaad system - a roundabout system of solving problems. Such systems have become a part and parcel of the Indian society.

Although every system is more or less within the legal framework, they have formed such complicated cobwebs that change is out of question - and the cobwebs keep increasing by the day. I discovered labels in the society much before I discovered them on Gmail. And contrary to Gmail labels, they add to the Jungle.

Below, I have presented a few I have have come across in school, college and hostel. And as usual, you are free to add your own to the list

First the ones with negative connotations

Maggu

This is the kind of person who is always in his room. (S)he believes in rote study rather than understanding

Ghissu

The term 'Ghissu' I have rarely come across in Kharagpur. A Ghissu is a really hardworking diligent chap and may or may not be a Maggu. However, this distinction is rarely made and often it is used synonymously with Maggu

Now the positive ones

Though they outnumber the negative ones in my list, they have more or less a similar effect on the Indian society

They promote hypocrisy

Phodu

This is the kind of fellow who achieves miraculous results with (relatively)(very) less effort. They are what one might call 'street-smart' people

Bond

Etmologically speaking, this word comes from Bond 007. I guess you all know about him. Someone who can do anything - pull off unimaginable feats with amazing perfection

Stud

This fellow is supposed to be a complete individual with an awesome personality. (S)he is not just good at academics but also in interacting and socialising with people.

Genius

Einstein has been famously quoted as saying

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration

This definition does not hold in the Indian society. Only a Ghissu can qualify this definition. What people look for in a genius is

1% perspiration and 99% inspiration

Update

Two more that I missed earlier.

God

Self explanatory, I suppose. Generally, in Kgp lingo you can be a god in something. God in Drams, God in Guitar, God in football and so on.

Pro

As suggested by Rash I am adding Pro. Derived from Professional.

More suggestions welcome.

Almost everyone is labeled depending on his behaviour in the society and his/her skills. However, my position is very clear on this issue -

I hate being labeled