EDITORS NOTE
S T N E T N CO THE FIRST WEEK CHECKLIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01 FIRST DAY, FIRST SHOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 GOING AROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 MUMBAI RAINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 04 HOSTEL TERRITORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 04 SHOPPING 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 05 THE SIX COMMANDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 HOUS(E)-TON WE HAVE A PROBLEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 HOW TO SPEAK IITIAN-ESE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 HOW TO CHOOSE A GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 09 HOW TO CHOOSE ELECTIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10 WACKY ELECTIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 HOW TO SAVOR BOMBAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 HOW TO CRAXX PLACEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 HOW TO TA BETTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 THE WHAT, HOW AND WHY OF PORs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 INSTI TRADITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 20
Insight, as the official student media body on campus, runs a host of initiatives. We have a flagship print edition, with a readership of over 6,500. Our website regularly churns out immediate news, multiple times a week, reaching over 4,000 viewers per article. The video channel, IIT Bombay Broadcasting Channel a.k.a IITBBC, is the multimedia news arm we run in association with the Cultural Council. We now bring to you Fresh! - a guide book of sorts for PG freshers, a collection of cheat codes for IIT - for the first time ever in this institute. At Insight, the two Chief Editors lead the core team -the Insight Editorial Board- comprising of senior team members each of whom, in turn, lead article teams. We welcome new members, and would love to have talented people work with us. So what do we look forin ourteam members? Writing skills? Nope. We look forinquisitive students who have a passion to report on things that matter to the institute populace. Look for us on Google groups, with the keyword iitbinsight, and apply. Or just write to us at insight@iitb.ac.in with your name, contact number and gmail ID, and we’ll get back to you. And oh, look out for a new issue of the Insight print edition coming soon to your doorstep! Cheers Shreeyesh Menon, Shreerang Javadekar Chief Editors, Insight
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st Familiarize with ASC Check course info to know what entails what before you pick them Grading statistics : Watch out! Let this give you an idea of how chill the course is before you delve in
EKT WE CKLIS CHE
By Shreeyesh Menon Greeted by the ceaseless downpours arriving at the main gate, you probably have formed your first impressions of IIT Bombay by now Acclimatizing to life at IIT Bombay can be a bit difficult. There are a few things from our own experience that we’d like to share though, that might make the transition easier.
What to bring/get ASAP An umbrella/raincoat, would be nice to have A pair of nice, all-weather shoes (That get you through the rains, and also, into some labs that you’d otherwise be denied entry into) Documents (Any photo ID - Aadhaar card, Driving License, Passport, PAN Card would come in handy, whether it be getting a new SIM card, or open a bank account) FB groups to join Join the Freshmen group ASAP to get relevant updates instantly. IITB Food Recommendations : A well-updated group that will might be of help during the initial days of coming to terms with the mess. Buy & Sell IITB : Pretty self-explanatory; A portal where you can sell stuff you don’t need and buy stuff you need Your hostel’s FB group : Your hostel would most probably have a group on FB to discuss mess, maint and more and keep you updated on the activities. Google groups to join insightiitb: For all the news and discussions on the campus and voicing your opinion on all that’s happening. IITB Events notices: Will keep you posted on all events in the campus. Cult Club groups: It is recommended that you join these, even if you’re unsure about your interest in the genre. FourthWall: Dramatics Club Rang: Fine Arts Club Pixels: Photography Club IITBLitzkrieg: Literary Arts Vaani: Speaking Arts Club InSync: Dance Club Staccato: Western Music Club Saaz: Indian Music Club For Complaints: IIT Bombay Complaint Management System
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FIRST DAY FIRST S H OW Chinmay Sankhe, Mihir Bhosale, Palka Puri, Sumith Kulal Setting into a new place is difficult for everybody. Here, we will try to present the ultimate guide to end all your first week woes. This information can be a lot useful and can avoid any confusion. From laptops and SIM cards to umbrellas, medicines and deciphering local train travel in Mumbai, we’ve got you covered. Read on!
SIM CARDS
Getting a local phone number is the first task on the to-do list of most newcomers. Unsure of how to go about it? Here’s a comprehensive guide to address your queries. Can I keep my old number? Mobile number portability has recently been implemented by most telecom operators. This means that you can retain your existing mobile number, and get it ported to a Mumbai circle number (with the same or a different provider). What is the easiest way to get a new number? During the first week of college, temporary stalls are set up outside freshmen hostels(15&16) selling SIM cards from all major service providers. Buying SIM cards from such stalls is convenient not only in terms of their proximity, but also in terms of their lenient address proof requirements. Since the issuing of student ID cards is generally not complete by the first week, most outstation students do not have any local address proofs for submission. Knowing this, the sellers allow students to submit documents with their old address or in some cases, waive off the requirement entirely. However, it is important to mention that there have been rare instances where students discovered issues with their SIM cards and couldn’t do anything about that as the aforementioned sellers had dismantled their stalls and left by then. Thus, it would be advisable to ask the seller for his contact details and such before purchasing the SIM card, just in case it turns out to be faulty. Or, you can wait for the ID cards to be issued and then purchase a new card from various reliable SIM card shops opposite the institute’s main gate, only a short walk away.
Should I get a laptop? While UG freshmen are usually advised against getting personal laptops by their mentors to ensure that they are not distracted by excessive gaming and other online activities, no such formal advice is deemed to be applicable for PG students as they are considered mature enough to not get carried away. In fact, M.tech students usually have a course load with multiple assignments , hence most students suggest that getting a laptop is a good idea. That being said, there are students who make ends meet without a laptop, so given the information, it is up to you to decide. For those without personal laptops, there are enough places in the institute where you get access to a computer and the internet. If you are a Ph.D student/RA, you will mostly have access to a computer 24x7 once you are associated with a professor and a lab. Additionally, students are issued Aakash tablets which will suffice in the worst case scenario. Internet access in the institute for those without laptops: 1) Old software Lab and New Software Lab are open whenever somebody with key permission is using these located in the Math and CSE departments respectively. 2) Nearly all departments have computer labs of their own that are open to students. Some of them are open 24x7 too! 3) The central library has a few computers for student use. Keep in mind that these are only meant for academic use! 4) All hostels have computer rooms, keys for which can be issued against a valid ID card.
Why is getting your own laptop a good idea? You will need to check Moodle (a web platform to handle course material) and email regularly for course material and news. You might also need to submit your assignments on moodle. Some courses might have a few online quizzes on moodle depending on your professor. You don’t have to waste time in getting lab keys, getting printouts or waiting for library systems to get vacated to use a computer. Plus, you can download any relevant softwares required for your research on your laptop which the computers in insti area might not have. Some things to keep in mind: Addiction to internet is not uncommon, leading to poor grades along with a lack of social interaction with peers. Social networks, LAN gaming and pornography can be a huge distraction and hinder productivity. Where can I buy a laptop? Authorized dealers of the brand of choice are suggested. It might cost a little extra, but good services and authentic products are guaranteed. There are a few located opposite the main gate. One can also visit departmental stores like Croma and Reliance Digital (located in nearby Neptune Magnet and R-City malls). Another good option for those looking to procure discounts would be reliable online retail websites. For tech enthusiasts with specific requirements who
3 would like to assemble their own desktops, a trip to Lamington road is a must!
Financial assistance for buying a laptop Don’t worry if you don’t own a laptop and are not in a financial state to afford one. There are various financial assistance schemes open to students that can be availed to cover not only the cost of purchasing a laptop, but also help in funding tuition, mess fees and projects abroad. For instance, the
Financial Aid Program provides a loan given by past students to the present students as a perpetual endowment policy. In addition, both Canara Bank and SBI, the two on-campus banks, have schemes that can help. More information about these can be found on the Financial Aid section of the Student Support page of IIT Bombay Gymkhana. IIT Bombay also has scholarships which you can avail. You can get all the information about scholarships on the Academic homepage of IITB.
are two cycle shops in the institute, one at Y-point gate and one just next to hostel 4. For those skeptical about traveling in and around Mumbai - worry not. Mumbai is blessed with a very strong (and safe!) public transport network as well as opportunities to hire transport. While a rickshaw, taxi or private cab ride may be very convenient when finances are aplenty or you have people to share costs with, when it comes to an individual or a very large number of people, public transportation is pretty effective. Remember, IITB is a very lenient campus, and you can come and go as you please. But entry after 11 pm is restricted and the only way to get in is with a valid student ID card and through the Main Gate. So if you plan on returning late, don’t forget to keep your ID card on you. With a campus the size of ours, it is not surprising that many freshmen feel overwhelmed by the many (of-ten circular) routes to their destinations of choice. Getting lost trying to take the ‘shortest’ route to LT/PSCA, we’ve all been there! Luckily, with the development of the mobile application InstiMap (available for free on Google Play Store), finding your way around the campus is now as easy as a pie. The ever present Tum-Tum is your best transport around the campus which is free of cost and runs nearly once every fifteen minutes (except, of course, when you really need it!) and after 11 pm, runs once every half an hour. You can also travel by auto within campus, fares ranging between 18/- to 24/- for most distances inside the campus. Lastly, you can buy a cycle (avg price between 4000-7000) which saves a lot of time and is also a healthy option. There
Some tips: • Have a general idea of how Mumbai and some surrounding areas like Thane and Navi Mumbai are shaped, located and connected in a map. The railway lines run through the suburbs and localities and divide most of those into ‘East’ and ‘West’. For example, IITB would fall in Kanjurmarg West. • If you have a smartphone, download an app called ‘m-Indicator’. It’s a concise transportation guide for Mumbai and suburban areas. • Local trains, metro trains and buses are very, very crowded during rush hour times, but usually only along one direction. • Trains are truly the best though. IIT is very close to Kanjurmarg station which falls on the Central line. It is also somewhat close to Andheri station on the Western line. The railways follow
the north-south axis of Mumbai, so you just need to follow the brown rail road. • Have an idea of all type of buses,i.e, BEST, NMMT, ST and more. The M-indicator app will be of great help here. • Do NOT stand at the door in trains. Not only are you under the danger of falling, you also obstruct the way of other commuters. • Fast trains do not halt at Kanjurmarg station. • All rickshaws and taxis run by the meter unlike other cities in India. You can demand that a driver go by the meter. Some places (railway stations, for example) have ‘share rickshaws’ or ‘share taxis’ which have a much lesser per-person fare for popular routes originating from there, so ask around. • Cab minimum fare is 22/- (26/- at night) and for rickshaws, it is 18/- (22/at night).Night fares apply from midnight to 6 am. • Rickshaws are not allowed beyond Sion and Bandra. Only taxis run south of Sion and Bandra. • For frequent local train travellers, it is a good idea to buy a smart card. It will come in handy to avoid long queues at the ticket counter. Smart cards can often be recharged by skipping the queue at most stations. • Mumbaikars are very particular about following the queue. Do not skip a queue unless you explicitly know that it is fine, as in the case above. It is usually looked down upon very gravely. • If you’re confused or lost, do ask someone around. People here are very helpful! • So welcome to Mumbai. Explore and make it your own!
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MUMBAI RAINS By Febin Mathew If you want to have an idea of how the rains in Mumbai can be, just ask anyone about 26 July, 2005. That day, you would have seen less land in Mumbai. Plus, with various new and dangerous diseases that monsoon brings, it is better to stay safe and follow healthy habits. During rins, plan your travel well in advance with alternative options ready. Here are some points that you can follow : • Be sure to equip yourself with umbrellas and windcheaters as you prefer. Keep a towel handy. • Drink water only from the purifiers and coolers
HOSTEL
TERRITORY By Febin Mathew
For some of you, this may be the first time you are staying away from home. Others among you may be pastmasters of the Life in a Mess. Either way, we want to reassure you that IIT hostels are in no way hostile territory. In your first year, you probably will have to room with someone else. Get to know your roommates. They are probably your best hope at a social life and also your only hope of waking you up in time for that 08:35 AM lecture. The bathrooms are common, so a little etiquette and a courtesy flush go a long way.
installed in your hostels and the academic areas.
Some important hostel rules you should be aware of :
• If travelling by rail, check schedules before leav-
• You can enter and exit your own hostel at any time.
ing. Trains tend to shut down after a long bout of rains( This happens every monsoon)
• Meals are available at breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner in the mess. Timings should be confirmed with the canteen.
• If travelling by roads, avoid low lying areas like Sion or Kurla. (Lower Parel is actually NOT lower than parel, though.) • And while the rains are on, don’t forget to travel to the famed Marine Drive and have corn on the cob for the Mumbaikar monsoon experience.
• You’re allowed to have guests up to 10 PM. (Yes, even guests of the opposite gender. You’re expected to make an entry for the same with the hostel security and drop your ID card at the security desk.) • Most hostels have a lounge, TV room, library, gym and rec room. They’re all free to use for every resident, but treat them with respect. • No alcohol or drugs are allowed within the hostel rooms (or anywhere else in the campus, for that matter). • Your wingmates (wingies) will be instrumental in drumming up the hostel spirit. Be sure to approach them with any doubts about the hostel. • The hostel notice board, usually near the entrance, has most of the information about upcoming events. • Don’t forget, each hostel has a very vivid and vibrant culture, and each of them participates with gusto in the General Championships (GCs) where hostels are pitted against each other for points and glory. Happy Living!
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SHOPPING 101 When it comes to shopping, be it for items of daily necessity like toiletries or for occasional splurges on electronic goods, for example, there are a multitude of possible options. For the uninitiated, D-Mart (nearest outlets are in Hiranandani and Kanjurmarg) offers great discounts, and bulk-shopping there is a monthly ritual for most IITians. Still, going all the way there for the sole purpose of buying a tube of toothpaste? Tsk tsk. Wondering which is the best place to buy something from? Look no further, here’s all the help you need.
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Hous(e)-ton, we have a problem By Sandeep Upadhyay, Shreya Sridhar and Shreeyesh Menon Every year, the institute admits about 500 Research Scholars into various programmes under different departments, which also includes some, who are married at the time of joining the institute or marry in the duration of their Ph.D program. Unfortunately, due to the surge in the intake, the institute has not been able to keep up with the housing needed for the married research scholars. In this scenario, finding housing outside the campus is the one obvious solution. But with a small stipend of Rs. 25,000 and an additional house rent allowance of 30% of the stipend, finding housing in Mumbai can be an arduous task. The focus of the article is to give the married research scholars a fair idea of affordable housing facilities near the campus. The information presented is based on an institute-wide survey conducted (with a total of 61 replies from married PhD scholars living around the campus) by Insight to gather information and opinions from married research scholars who have found themselves in your position before. The survey also details the level of amenities, as rated by those who have lived there. From the survey results, we can say with certainty that the majority of our married research scholars live in Chandivali, Chaitanya Nagar and Kanjurmarg.
Safety is an issue, with only about 30% of the people being satisfied with the safety standards. A significant fraction of respondents live in chawls (buildings with separate tenements) Variable security deposits ranging from 25K to 1lac
KANJURMARG Kanjurmarg is yet another locality which is preferred by married research scholars. It is located near the Kanjurmarg station of the suburban railway and within the five kilometer radius of the institute. The connectivity is good, as one can easily find rickshaws and buses to the institute. At a glance: Majority of respondents pay a security deposit between 75,000 and 1lac. Rent usually falling in the range 15-20k. Vast expanses of greenery in the near, surrounding vicinity. A safe secure location for housing, with a huge majority of residents reporting it to be “extremely safe” Water supply does seem to be an issue, with most people finding the supply to be “bad” to “average”.
CHANDIVALI Chandivali is an estimated 15-20 minute drive from the campus. Surrounded by the hillocks in Powai and Powai Lake, the locality has a calm environment and is a good residential hub.
Other localities:
At a glance: Proximity to the institute Most people surveyed (50%), reported house-rents in the range of 20k-30k. An overwhelming majority of people (62.5%) rate it to be very safe and secure, with just around 12% believing that the residential areas are not safe. Less than 15% of the people surveyed reported poor water facilities. Typical security deposit is in the range Rs. 75000100000. The satisfaction levels with regards to house maintenance suggest that only about 1 in 4 people think that the houses are well-maintained Most of the respondents live in apartment complexes.
Andheri The rents and security deposits are moderate to high* The living conditions commensurate with the rent paid
CHAITANYA NAGAR (Opposite IIT main Gate): Chaitanya Nagar is seemingly the most preferred locality to reside in, with more than a quarter of the respondents living there. Relatively low rents and proximity to the institute make it an obvious choice for At a glance:
Very close to the institute Municipal maintenance not up-to-the-mark Large variability in house rents, with 7-10k and 20-30k being most common rates. A large majority of the residents seem satisfied with the water facilities.
Hiranandani The rents and security deposits are high* The locality is safe with good living conditions Within 5km of the institute
Airoli The rents and security deposits are moderate* Living and safety conditions have been reported to be good Mulund The rents and security deposits are moderate to high* Living and safety conditions are good *Rents around 15,000 are termed moderate. Rents above 20,000 are termed high
Other suggested localities Raheja Vihar (Powai), Vidyavihar, Bhandup, Ghatkopar, Thane Conclusion The institute has been trying to make room and accommodate the demand for housing facilities for married research scholars, but as of now, there seems to exist a gap between the demand and supply. The QIP building, which earlier used to house female PG students, has now been vacated for married scholars, but this has not bridged the gap completely. In the last PG Open House, accommodation within the campus has been promised by the Dean SA. For the short term though, the deficit is clear and the only solution seems to be on-rent and paying-guest accommodation available in and near Powai.
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How to Speak IITian-ese aap(a) - /aap/- suff. - A highly productive morpheme put as a suffix to nouns. Eg. random-aap(a), arbit-aap(a) arbit - /ar-bit/ - adj. – short for arbitrary. Something you say when you can’t think of anything else to say. Eg. “Hence, e=mc²” “– Arbit” bandi - /bun-dee/ noun – A girl. A rare species in IIT B. chamkaa - /chum-kaa/ - verb - to explain. E.g. Typical convo : ‘Chamkaana!’ ‘Blah blah.Chamka?’’Chamka.’ coordie - /cor-dee/ - noun - Coordinator. Person who is incharge of an event. crack - /crakk/ - non, verb – also craxxx (when the number of x’s exceed 8, pronounced as /craks-ks-ks-ks-ks-ks/) - a big-time achievement DAC - /dack/ - noun - Disciplinary Action Committee. The worst thing that can ever happen to you - especially if you break the rules. dadda - /dud-AA/ - noun - Dual Degree students (also, daddi) (See also: matka) daya - /the-YA also the-YAAAAAA/ - adj. – a substitute for any term/action with a negative/positive connotation you might/might not want to use. Eg.“Kya daya aadmi hai!”, “Kya daya kar raha hai!”, “Dayaaaaaaaa!” delta - /del-taa/ - noun/adj./adv. - Little. Like infinitesimal, but greater. Eg. “Delta help chahiye” “Delta namak de” despo - /day-spo/ - adj. - short for desperate. applies for a typical IITian (especially males). One could be a despo for money, food or bandi (See bandi) ditch - /d-ich/ - excl. – Drop the old plan (and start working on a new one!) DoSA - /dosa/ - noun - Dean of Student Affairs. (Almost) Everything under the sun comes under his discretion. enthu - /enthu/ - verb - Enthusiastic. Eg “Kaunhaienthu” “Kisi enthu punter kojugaado” (See jugaad) fart - /fART/ - noun, verb, adj. excl. – One word which we are unable to define, simply because of the fact that it has so many different meanings (It is rumoured that the word is the topic for a PhD thesis). We stop at giving you the most common way it is used – “Kya fart hai!” farra - /fu’r-rah/ - noun. – FR. A grade you totally, desperately, insanely want to avoid fight - /fite/ - verb, also noun - To try very hard for something. Eg “Bahut fight hai” “Fight maar. Give up mat maar.” freshie - /fresh-ee/ - noun - First Year student. funda(e) - /fund-aa OR fund-ay/ - noun - Tricks of the trade. generaal - /jen-eh-r’aal formerly zen-eh-r’aal/ - Nothing in particular. Eg: “-What’s up?” “-Generaal” god - /gawd/ - adj. - as in Tu God hai (meaning, you are awesome, or you are The One). Also, Godmaxxx and Godgiri. -giri - /gee-ree/ - suff. - used as in Gandhigiri, Dadagiri. Also, applies to RG-giri, Godgiri (see RG, see God) give-up - /givaap/ - verb - give-up maarna – To finally let go of all hope./ To let down someone gyaan - /gyaan/ - noun - Quintessential tips, often from seniors.
infi - /in-fee/ - adjective - Short for infinite. An overused prefix.e.g. infidayamax. (See infinite, daya, -max) infinite - /in-fie-nite/ - noun – Any number greater than two. IITian counting - zero, one, two, infinite. Also, infi. insti - /in-stee/ - noun – The Institute. Yes, this one. jugaad - /ju-gaar/ - verb/noun - Manage with difficulty to (in general) get something. Eg. “Kuch to jugaadlagatehain” junta - /jun-taa/ - noun - More than one person. liby - /lie-bee/ - noun – The Library. A source of knowledge, wisdom and cool air. lukkha - /look-kha/ - verb – To do some time-pass that takes you somewhere. Anywhere. On second thoughts, even nowhere. Especially Nowhere! macha - /much-AA/ - excla. - often followed by any number of x’s (as in “MACHAXX!”, “MACHAXXXX!”, “MACHAXXXXXXXXX!”) – to infinitely crack something (See infinite. See crack) matka - /mutt-kaa/ - noun - MTech student (also, matki) or for any generaal PG (see Generaal). Not to be confused with dadda or daddi (See dadda) max - /maex/ - adj. - suff. - also, maxx or maxxxx, superlative degree of anything mug - /mug/ - verb – (1) study (2) pretend to study nbd - /nu’- bud/ - noun - Nervous Break Down. Tension, often caused by pains in life. (See pain) orgie - /org-ee/ - noun - Organiser. Freshie who runs errands for a coordie. (See coordie) pain - /payn/ - noun - Something that makes you give-up poltu - /pole-too/ - adj. – Someone who practices politics – in every sense. Also, polt. RG -/ar-jee/ - noun - Short for ‘One who tries to improve his grades, taking unjust advantage of ‘Relative Grading’ SAC - /sack/ - noun - Student Activity Center opposite Hostel 1. scope - /sko-p/ - excl. - No chance in hell! senior - /seen-yer/ - noun - One who is always right. sophie - /so-fee/ - noun - Sophomore or Second Year student. Sorry rahega - jury still out on it being a verb or noun, it means something will not get done. Used stand alone or in conjunction with “nahihopayega” Staff-C - /staaf-see/ - noun - Staff Canteen - If you are desperate for food. Shack - /shack/ - noun - The Nestle Coffee Shack - good place to hangout between classes, also famous for its Panini and Ice Tea. tumtum - /tum-tum/ - Little CNG buses that ply in the insti to take you places valfi - /val-fee/ - noun - Valedictory Function. A time in April when the beans are spilled on each and everyone passing out. YP - /why-pee/ - noun - Nothing to do with calls of nature. It’s short for the Y-Point gate. Your one-stop solution for stationery, books, bicycles, hair-cuts, and vada-pavs.
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HOW TO CHOOSE A GUIDE By Eeshan Malhotra Parth Shrimali
Choosing a guide and a topic for your thesis is one of the biggest decisions you’d make in your IIT life. If you’re an M.Tech student, it’s going to define your entire second year at IIT, and if you’re pursuing a Ph.D, it’s practically your entire stay at IIT. It’s important to realise that a student-guide relationship is symbiotic, and relies heavily on cooperation between the two. So, young padawan, follow closely, and you’ll soon be well on your path to be a Jedi. The first step is to familiarize yourself with how the process of allocating guides works. Each department follows their own procedure, and it’s important to be aware of yours. In some departments, guides are chosen in order of CPI at the time of reckoning; In others, professors personally meet students and evaluate their merit (A common metric used is performance in relevant courses). Your seniors and allotted companions in the department are a good source of information about how this process works in your specific department. You can also approach your faculty advisor to find this out beforehand. Once you are acquainted with the procedure, it’s time to do your homework. The aim is to ready a short list of areas of work that interest you, under professors who would probably be willing to take you on as a researcher. First, browse the homepages of faculty members from your department to identify their research interests. A link for these pages can usually be found on your department homepage. Next, when you have a broad list ready, try to set up a meeting with the professors themselves (best done by email) to discuss their research interests in detail. You can frankly tell professors that you are trying to understand their field of work to narrow down your options. Lastly, it is recommended that you also talk to students who have been working under these professors to discuss their experiences. Faculty members are generally open about providing this information and even encourage it, since it helps everyone involved if the decision is made in a more informed manner.
Now that you have a short list of professors you want to work under, it’s time to convince them that you are indeed a good candidate for a researcher. As a basic prerequisite, take up courses that relate directly or indirectly to the field you want to work in. If you are as yet unsure of which field you want to work in, or simply have varied interests in research, do take up more courses in the early semesters, even though that advice may sound counter-intuitive. Of course, you are advised to gauge your capability and not take more courses than you can handle. If you end up in such a situation and realise this a little too late in the semester, consider dropping a course. Consult your faculty advisor if you want more advice on managing course load. Courses can also be audited if your aim is to explore the area, without too much additional burden. Auditing a course will typically have fewer requirements to complete the course, and will not contribute to your CPI. Discuss the possibility of audits or sit-through with the course instructors before choosing this. A majority of departments have a requirement of seminar or project for M. Tech students in their second semesters. This serves as a sample research project to test the waters, and get your feet wet in the research area of your choice. So, by the end of the first semester, make sure to have completed the bulk of the above tasks. Aim to work on a seminar under a guide you wish to take up your thesis under. This works as an induction process for both parties - you get a feel of what it’s like to work under a professor, and the professor can easily gauge your aptitude for the subject. As a bonus, while working on your seminar, you also come into contact with other researchers working on similar projects, which allows you to get a better understanding of what the field is about. In the end, it’s critical to work on your thesis with a professor you are comfortable with and whose working style resonates with yours. The bottom line is to experiment early, and make an informed decision. May the force be with you.
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HOW TO CHOOSE ELECTIVES By Eeshan Malhotra Sandeep Upadhyay So you’ve secured admission in your college of choice, and now want to milk your courses for all they are worth. Most departments have a few compulsory courses, but also have an ample number of elective courses - where you can decide which courses to take. Usually, you’ll have a requirement to complete some credits in your department, but you can also use elective courses to explore other departments you’re interested in. Choosing electives can be a tricky task, as there is a variety of variables that factor in. In this article, we try to break down these variables and provide an algorithm for choosing suitable electives.
Interest This sounds trite, but one of the most important criteria is to choose electives as per your interest. This, however, becomes doubly important because often, courses offered in even-numbered semesters are advanced courses, and have pre-requisites. So you need to plan ahead, and check out courses you may want to take in the following semesters as well. Of course, the critical question becomes figuring out which courses will interest you. Here the department website and ASC website (asc.iitb.ac.in) come in very handy. More about this in the Course information section. Relevance to Thesis If you have decided a specific subfield you want to pursue your thesis project in, it’s important to start taking courses which build up to it right from the first semester. This is important for two reasons - the first, obviously, is that you want to pick up on as much general information as you can on the field before starting your independent research. The second is to be eligible to take up seminars or projects in the field. A number of professors require students to have completed a few courses in the field before taking students up for these ‘mini’ theses. A seminar can be supremely important in either confirming your liking for a field, or as early warning in case you are not meant to pursue the specific field. Feedback Sometimes, courses look great on paper, but aren’t all they are made out to be. Sometimes, it’s even the reverse. Taking the feedback from seniors who have done the course you’re planning to take up can give you insights into things like course contents, how much fun the course is, and what, if anything, to watch out for.
Grading Statistics This one is last for a reason, but important nonetheless. Knowing how a course was graded the last time it was offered can be quite important. Fortunately these statistics are available freely on the ASC website. Course Information To help you in the process of finding an elective of interest, you definitely want some information about the course content. The ASC website, and sometimes even your department website, has course content readily available. BEWARE: The course content may not be up to date. So, the verify the accuracy of the contents from the course instructor or seniors. Faculty members are usually very forthcoming about this information and very approachable. Some departments maintain their own database which have more accurate details. A few like the Electrical Engineering Department have even collected student feedback in detail (EE students, ask your peers and seniors about the course reviews page!) Exploring courses The registration adjustment window is open well within the first week of instruction. So it is not uncommon for students to register for a lot of courses and try them out in the first week, and deregistering before the window closes. This way, you can attend a couple of lectures of courses you are planning to take, but are unsure about. Make full use of the window, but be sure to check the registration adjustment deadline in the academic calendar before trying this out! Course Dropping If you realise a little later that a course is not meant for you, there is still a potential opportunity to punch out. Courses can be dropped till the mid-semester exams, without affecting your CPI in any way (Refer to the academic calendar for exact dates). While this creates a great opportunity to sample courses, it is highly recommended to have registered for only as many credits as you can reasonably handle in a semester. Feel free to discuss this with seniors or your faculty advisor. Audit and Sit-Through Courses Auditing a course can be a handy way of acquiring some knowledge about a particular field, without as much pressure to perform as taking a course up as a full-fledged elective. An audit course allows students to attend lectures, interact with the faculty, and get feedback, with much few-
11 er requirements to attain a passing grade. Note that an audit course will not contribute to your CPI. Do talk to the course instructor for additional requirements and conditions on awarding of an Audit grade (AU). If even auditing a course seems too formal, and what you’d really like is a brief overview of the field, often professors allow students to simply sit-through a course, with no official requirements and no grades awarded. You may or may not be able to get feedback on assignments and exams, depending on the professor.
can be taken up in other departments as institute electives. Like any other course, these may have prerequisites. Consulting the course instructors is advisable.
Going Offbeat
Sometimes, all you want from a course is for it to be fun. Check out the article on some wacky electives in this very newsletter for some handpicked delightful options!
Happy picking!
Interdisciplinary Courses
If interdisciplinary work is your cup of tea or a career in a field different from your own seems lucrative to you, courses
! s e v i t c e l wa c k y e So, now that you know what an elective is, your next question is which one to choose. This is NOT the article to answer that question. Or maybe it is. You decide. IITB has about 40 departments/centres and interdisciplinary programs giving rise to courses across a wide gamut of subjects. So if you thought you were stuck with Micro-electronics for another 2 years, think again, because we show you some of the most hatke courses you can elect.
(TD 654) Rural Environmental Services : Planning and Design This course is taken by the Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA) as part of the Unnat Bharat Program of the Govt of India. Under the program, IITB has adopted 27 villages across Maharashtra to help develop their infrastructure and resources. The course involves a lot of field work and is experimental in nature with assessment completely based on project submission based on field visits. Also, decent grading. ;) (NT 401) Introduction to Nanotechnology The name makes the course content pretty obvious, but the empty classrooms belie the popularity of this course. NT 401 has consistently seen some of the highest number of registrations for an elective. Taught by the venerable Prof. Aiyar of the Centre for Research in Nanotechnology & Science, the course has a very positive reputation. With a lax attendance policy and a favorable effort-to-reward ratio, it’s safe to say Nanotechnology will continue to interest insti for quite a few years to come. :P (CM 792) Communication Skills The student enrolled into this course, being taught about work ethics and plagiarism, along with workplace mannerism, is what makes this course particularly unconventional. Communication in office environment is of the essence. You can like the course or hate it, but you definitely cannot ignore it!
(HS 848) Sankhya Metaphysics in Classical Indian Philosophy For all junta who are interested in ancient Indian philosophies. With the mathematical derivatives of rise of yoga and Ayurveda w.r.t time being positive, it can easily be said that this course has tremendous value. Ultimately, it is important to remember that, “Gyanam Paramam Dhyeyam.” (HS 702) Law, Governance, Rights and Development Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage, and junta is part of this spectacle. In their future endeavors, all insti junta necessarily must have the knowledge of law of the land along with their basic rights, and one is terribly mistaken if one thinks that the course is just for the Arvind Kejriwals and Manohar Parrikars in here. Quite literally, this course with its teachings on rights and governance as well as debates on current developments, will ensure that you no longer remain an AAM AADMI! (ET 801)Introduction to Educational Technology Here, quite literally, they teach you to teach! It is an exclusive elective course in which the student learns about what learning actually is. For all the teaching enthu junta out there, the course also gives an insight into usage of open education resources and intelligent tutoring methodologies, which undeniably are essential in this tech-savvy world of the 21st century! (HS 807) Phenomenology and Existentialism Phew! Pronouncing the name of the course itself is a daunting task. Literally speaking, phenomenology involves trying to understand the essence of a phenomenon by examining the views of people who have experienced that phenomenon. It’s like studying the phenomenon of being the US president, by apprehending the experiences of Mr. Obama. Isn’t it awe-inspiring?
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R U O V A S O T W HO SOBO (SOUTH BOMBAY)
BOMBAY
Delhi Durbar Mughlai food experts. You just can’t miss the Biryani. Please note; be sure to make reservations, there’s a chance that you’ll be waiting for a good 40 minutes if you don’t. Relish A perfect date place. Calm, quiet and beautiful. The must-order list includes garlic bread and at least one Fondue.
Narayan Dosa People might tell you to keep a few medicines handy, all false claims. This place serves the best street dosa you’ll find in Mumbai. Bade Miya Open night and day. This palce redefines wraps(especially chicken wraps.) Perfect for night out food down in South Mumbai. Leopold No matter which city they hail from, everyone has heard about this iconic tourist attraction in South Bombay. Though expensive, they serve the best pasta for miles. Also note, if you want to go up to their exclusive first floor lounge you should be accompanied by a female ‘friend.’ NCPA Iconic, historic and amazing are just a few adjectives for this place, This place should be reserved for one of those days when something legendary is going to happen here.
BHANDUP-MULUND-THANE & FURTHER UP Rasna Cheap and cheesy. Unbelievable quality, quantity and expectedly cheap prices. Brilliant place for wing treats and when you’re bored of the usual Dominos/Pizza hut. Tip N Top Veg Buffet that includes everything from South Indian food to sandwiches. Reaching this place will require you to change a couple of autos but it’s worth it if you have to treat more than 20 people. Zaffran Zaffran is THE place for mughlai food. Open till late this place is worth a visit if variety in this cuisine is what you’re looking for. At par with ‘Apna Dhaba’ if you’re looking for dinner at 2am, though, it’s expensive. 5 Spice The quantity they serve is unparalleled across Bombay. You will be full but be sure to save some space for desserts (plural is intentional.) Be sure to order a Mission Impossible and a Death By Chocolate - you shall not regret it. Cinepolis The opening of this place now combines the best of R City and Huma for all IITians. While you may all know about the place, what you might not know is their brilliant loyalty program. Ask about it at the ticket counter the next time you visit. GOREGAON-MALAD AND FURTHER UP Water Kingdom You were told about this place by your aunts/uncles back home. If you’ve not been there yet, it is strongly recommended that you go soon. Mini Kashmir Chilling place. For the minor out-of Bombay experience. Its free and has boat rides but you’ll be probably be going here to chill with someone special.
13 JUHU PARLE ANDHERI Candies 3 Outlets in the Bandra Juhu area alone, this place can serve club sandwiches one night and switch to Sushi on another. Do check out their ‘Angry Birds’ based cupcakes. Red Box Cafe Good Music, Good food and a great ambience. When your friends from other cities are visiting and want a lounge to chill, this is the place to be.
MATUNGA-DADAR-PAREL ZONE Sigri Buffets don’t get any better than this. Many IITians are already huge fans of this place and quite rightly so. They claim to serve Greek food but well who can tell, though whatever they serve is a must have. One slight problem- the price tag. Sardar Pav Bhaji The name has it all. Pav Bhaji place open till 2am. Just find its location and GO. Enough said.
Irish Pub When you need a place with loud pumping music with a DJ who knows his stuff, this is the place. The theme and ambience is pretty good too be warned this place is on the costlier side.
Ram Ashray Authentic South Indian food. The place is always busy -always. We’ve given you a lot of places that open till late, this one is open as early as 5. Do not miss the coffee.
Road House Bluez The name should be enough to pull you there. Anyhow, if you’re free on a Thursday or a Sunday, just go there and sing your heart out in this small cozy place. Food and other things are decently priced, making it a place worth going to.
Madras Cafe If South Indian food is what you crave and you are not that packed with cash, just grab all the change you can and head on down here. Dosa is their speciality. Order one even if you’re full and you will not regret it.
Global Fusion / Barbeque Nation Buffet-Buffet!! If you have a bit of extra cash on you, then starve yourself for a day and just GO! BBQ Nation offers the finest grilled food (Veg and Non-Veg) while Global fusion has one of the best spreads you’ll find in Bombay.
Mysore Cafe To rival Madras Cafe, there is Mysore Cafe. Similar in quality and price, but they serve the better filter coffee. Even huge foodies find it hard to distinguish between the two, but you’ve got to decide which is better for yourself.
Prithvi Theater If you ever feel the need to embrace something intellectual, Prithvi theater will give you what you seek and more.
Blue Frog For the best music in town. Get a taste of the Mumbai rock scene. Always check what’s playing before visiting. Filling up before leaving is advisable.
Worli Sea Face If you haven’t checked this place out yet, you’re missing out on something really good. The best time to do so would be the half Mumbai marathon but in case you can’t go for that, there are a lot of places from where you can appreciate this creation.
Hard Rock Cafe The second best place for music in town. Marginally cheaper than Blue Frog though their setup is marginally better.
IMAX There are two of these now in Mumbai. TWO!! The IMAX experience is unbelievable and watching a movie like ‘Gravity’ there earns you serious street cred in the movie buff community.
Smaash Everything you wanted in Gaming zone is here including a special surprise from IIT Bombay students which is something we’ll let you explore by yourself.
worli sea face
Mumbai Suburban Map
Map data from OpenStreetMap.org July 2016 Map to scale; landmarks plotted are approximated. Prices indicative.
Tip N Town Thane | Rs 180
Water Kingdom Malad | Rs 800 per person
Zaffran Mulund | Rs 500
Mini Kashmir Aarey Colony | Free
Cinepolis Bhandup | Rs 80–150
5 Spice Saki Naka | Rs 250
Prithvi Theater Juhu | Rs 150–300 Red Box Café Juhu | Rs 400
IIT Bombay Powai
Sigri Global Dadar/Powai | Rs 80–150
Road House Bluez Andheri | Rs 700 Global Fusion Andheri | Rs 500 Sardar Pav-Bhaji Matunga | Rs 100
Irish Pub Juhu | Rs 500
Candies Juhu/Bandra | Rs 300
Mysore Café Matunga | Rs 200 Madras Café Matunga | Rs 300
Phoenix Market City Kurla
Ram Ashray Matunga | Rs 80 HardRock Café Parel/Andheri | Rs 500 per person
Bandra–Worli Sealink Worli
Smaash Parel | Rs 1000 per person
Worli Sea-face Worli | Free
Blue Frog Pub Parel | Costly
Narayan Dosa Grant Road | Rs 100 SoBo South Bombay
Relish Nariman Point | Rs 300 NCPA Nariman Point | Variable Delhi Durbar Colaba | Rs 400
Bade Miya CST | Rs 200 Fort Area Mumbai Leopold Colaba | Rs 200
North That Way
Juhu-ParleAndheri Zone Matunga-DadarParel Zone Bhandup, Mulund, Thane and Above Goregaon, Malad and Above
X X A R C O T HOW
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S T N E M PLACE By Akanksha Manghrani Sandeep Upadhyay
They say “ Don’t be a slave of your problems, be the master of your fate” but only an arrow shot with the direction in sight hits the target and captures it. Every successful crusade is preceded by a speculation, of the plan of action and the road to be taken. Being a postgraduate student does not , always, imply that one is certain of one’s career. But the two year time constraint does demand the complete abandonment of procrastination. Beginning with figuring out one’s interest, one needs to quickly move to building a work profile that complements one’s ambition. Unfortunately time is a scarce resource, thus putting off decisions is not a very good idea. A journey is always commenced with a destination in mind. Identifying where you want to go,should be the top most in your priority list. But this does not call for hurrying past the decision. As there is a wide spectrum of opportunities,to exploit, avenues for higher education, campus placements and start ups, so is the bewilderment that accompanies the plethora of choices.Interacting with seniors working in various spheres, is like fetching maps for territories,you would like to go to.Getting acquainted with the challenges faced, mistakes committed and lessons learnt, gives you comprehensible details of the work profile, helping you make an informed decision. To understand a man, you must first walk a mile in his moccasin. And if this man happens to be pursuing what you aspire to pursue, you would want to understand his professional profile. Reading their internship and placement stories, where they share their experiences, is a good place to start. These stories are available on the institute’s placement and internship blogs. But there is no denying to the fact that experience is the greatest of all teachers , to get a hands on experience , one must try internships both during the summer and the winter. Departments vary in their policies concerning PG internships, consulting the FAC-AD , is highly recommended. Once the destination is decided, you need to gather a knapsack that has the essentials for your journey. Build a profile that compliments your choice of profession. As a general guideline, CPI is an integral criterion for core placements. Whatever you pursue, academics should never take a back seat. Even for non core placements, like those in Finance, Analytics, Consulting and Public sectors, a decent CPI is a must. Apart from academics these firms also look for leadership skills, thus taking up positions of
responsibility , would serve to bring forward the leader in you. Engagement in extra curriculars, like culturals and sports, is reflective of your strive, to achieve all around development and being proficient in numerous skills , apart from your area of study. Taking up activities equips you with dynamism of decision making and harnesses your creativity, making you more resourceful for a firm. Make full use of your potential and do things you have always wanted to do, Knowledge is not a prerequisite anywhere , you can start fresh and excel. The students’ body cater to students with interests in finance, consult and analytics through their facebook pages and Google groups. Participate in online interactions to connect to people with the same interests as you. These groups keep conducting sessions by eminent professionals and strive to connect students with investors and industries. Online propaganda and outreach is very efficient and you can easily obtain all the information you need regarding the events and activities of these clubs. Ecell – the entrepreneurship cell and SINE are bodies that help aspiring entrepreneurs to get into the market. All you need to have, is an idea and you can get mentorship from professors and funds from investors. If you aim at going into a profession , that does not primarily matches your field of study, taking up courses in departments that certify , you are good for the task helps immensely. It gives the recruiter an assurance of your capabilities and helps you overcome the stereotype of not belonging to the conventional department, from which the company recruits. A resume speaks a lot about you, but not better than you. No recruitment occurs without an interview and thus it is very essential to have commendable communication skills. The confidence in your speech reflects the integrity of your self and thus leaves a detrimental impact. Working on speaking skills helps you present your intellect in the best way possible during interviews. There are numerous talks and seminars going on, in the institute during weekends, an exclusive opportunity to sit back , listen and absorb like a sponge. Life is never easy for those who dream ,for they are always on a conquest, but that does not stop us from dreaming. Dare to dream big and move that mountain of doubt you have placed between who you are and who you wish to be.
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H W TO
TA BETTER By Akanksha Manghrani Mihir Kulkarni Prakhar Gupta Apart from lectures, courses at IIT Bombay have tutorial sessions as learning platforms where students work on their problem-solving skills, based on the concepts covered in the class. These sessions are not presided over by the professor himself, but by Teaching Assistants (TAs), who are either postgraduate students from that department or the undergraduates who have done exceptionally well in the course. Many departments have PG freshers as TAs for UG courses from the first week itself, and it’s certainly not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Putting ourselves in your shoes, we thus bring to you the beginner’s guide to be a good TA.
What does a TA do? The role of a TA in a theory course is largely at the discretion of the instructor. Though in some cases, instructors have invited TAs to play a more vital role than the usual grading/tutorial/revision classes, etc., though the number of such cases has been quite low. Owing to this and the fact that new entrants to the M.Tech./Ph.D. programme are not familiar with the TA system (which is limited usually to the IITs), TAs may view their weekly duties as essentially filling-up of a job timesheet which enables them to receive their monthly stipend/scholarship from the institute. This results in an increasing socio-academic gap between the students and the TAs. Do not do this -- it’s much better for everyone concerned if you view your TAship as a learning experience. A large section of Ph.D. students consider their future in academia, and they should thus take their TAship very seriously, almost like a job training for future. Picking Courses As much as possible, courses will be allotted to you keeping in mind the preferences you fill. However, due to the higher demand of TAs for certain courses, the authorities are sometimes forced to overlook these preferences and allot in a manner such that the required number of TAs are available for these courses. However, the importance of picking the right courses cannot be underestimated. It is advisable to take up courses you have some passion about as it keeps you motivated . Overcoming obstacles such as communication gaps, presentation skills, etc. becomes easier in such a case. Ideally, your determination to pass on your knowledge will infuse enthusiasm in students and you’re likelier to go the extra mile of your own volition - a win-win situation. On the other hand,
if you take up seemingly “easy” courses you are not really interested in, you may end up procrastinating even the little effort the course demands from you.
Getting to grips There is a chance that the course you are allotted may not fall into your area of expertise, and postgraduate studies do not give you an opportunity to learn from a wide spectrum of fields. Thus, you can easily use this as an opportunity to learn new subjects and evaluate yourself from your performance in the tutorial sessions. Try to optimally use the mandated 6 hours allotted to your TA duties weekly. Go through the lectures to get an idea of the teaching methodology of the professor, and try solving tutorial problems. If you get stuck somewhere, do not hesitate to ask your fellow TAs who are well-versed in the course content to help you out. We advise you to plan your entire tutorial session in your head, and decide which problems are conceptually important, require discussion and should be solved in the class. Encourage your students to ask doubts. Even if you don’t know the answer, evading the question rarely helps. It’s better to tell the student that you will look up, discuss and get back to them -- in the case of which it’s best to make sure you do get back to them. Consider yourself as a mediator between the professor and the student community. Students can sometimes tend to perceive professors as being “rigid “ in context of their thinking procedure. However, a TA can and should be more approachable, accessible and friendly, since being a TA gives you the advantage of the ability to understand and bond with both the professor and the students. If your duty requires you to set question papers for the course, you should make sure that you are conceptually sound with the content. Try figuring out what the student is expected to know by the end of each module. Design questions that judge basics as well as applicative aspects of concepts. Also, you could solve the questions before finalizing the paper, as you might have included problems that seem simple but boil down to lengthy calculations, which is not what you’d want to test. Remember that many concerned and hard-working students will use your question paper and their approach towards it as a criterion to measure their abilities and skills. Also some of your students might be introverted -make an effort to reach out to them. They might have prob-
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lems with the courses and still will not talk about them. Go around in the class and try striking a chord with them. Make your students believe that mistakes are the proof of their effort. Patience is quite essential when it comes to answering doubts that seem stupid to you. Skipping questions by declaring them stupid kills curiosity in the students and gives some students a sense of low self-esteem.
thus optimize coverage of course content. You might request your instructor to assign a few experienced students as “head TAs” who coordinate between the rest of the TAs, handling things like extra sessions and problems, and substitute TAs if the appointed ones are busy. This is something that’s been implemented with a good deal of success in the undergraduate MA courses.
Lab Courses TAs play a highly significant role here because they do not function as an assistant to the professor in a lab session, but more like a doppelgänger, only more functional. As a lab TA, you can start the session with a brief explanation of the concepts involved in the experiment. Try making this interactive by asking questions. You could tell the students what exactly to look for in the experiment and how it validates theoretical concepts learnt in class. To accomplish this, you could try performing the experiment before the lab session and also roughly perform associated calculations, for resolving any issues that could come up with the students during the actual session.
Inputs from past popular TAs Most PG students who are admitted to the insti have never been a TA before. We talked to Debapratim Ghosh, an M.Tech./PhD dual degree student who’s been a successful TA for the Electronic Devices lab and the Analog Circuits course and lab, Raaz Dwivedi, a 2014 graduate of the institute who was a popular TA for the undergraduate maths core courses during his stay in the institute and Chinmay Kulkarni, an M.Tech. student, who was a TA for CS101 in the last two semesters with quite a positive response from his students. Here is what they have got to say:
Evoking Interest in students A classic method of involving everyone in the tutorial discussions and evoking interest is assigning initial minutes of the tutorial to a recap of the concepts covered in the class. This gives students who have not solved the tutorial beforehand a fair amount of background knowledge to think about problems and understand the solutions you provide. While solving a problem, ask for students’ participation at some stage of the solution. You can call them to write a few steps on the board. Let the class solve some trivial problems, and while they are doing it, go around inspecting their books, giving insights wherever they are stuck and complimenting them wherever you see some new and creative solutions coming up. To cater to every stratum of students, you can encourage them to meet you in non-tutorial hours. During those informal sessions, you can recommend reading material to them, based on their interest and grasping power, and also assess their progress. Working Together Since no one is omniscient, different TAs might have a different field of expertise, even in the same course. It’s often best for all of you to collaborate and work as an integrated unit. Have meets, discuss solutions and let the combined output of all your minds be delivered to your students. Take full advantage of one person’s excellence in some topics and
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Encourage hard work among students. Try to identify students who are particularly hard-working, weak or bright, and keep them informed about their progress throughout the semester. Use online platforms like Piazza, Moodle and Facebook for discussions and efficient dissemination of information. Also, make sure that you are never late in responding to students’ queries. In order to bridge the communication gap between you and the students, try to be friendly with them. Whenever you see them outside the class, look to engage them in informal non-academic conversation. Make sure that your presentation and communication skills are always as good as you can get them to be. Speak a lot during the sessions and sound confident. However, don’t hesitate if you don’t know something . Forward questions you can’t satisfactorily answer to another TA or the instructor. Remember, it’s your duty to ensure that every doubt is resolved to the best extent possible.
TAship at IIT Bombay is what you make of it. It’s an opportunity to learn academic and non-academic, hard and soft skills. We’d advise you to put in enough effort to enrich the experience for both you and your students. But don’t forget to have fun in the process.
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The What, How & Why of PORs By Eeshan Malhotra, Shardul Vaidya and Shreeyesh Menon Why? Positions of Responsibility or PoRs, as they are referred to, informally, are positions in the student administrative bodies that a person can take up. IITB has a culture of giving students a big stake in the administration of the institute, and encourages student participation in the process. PoRs are also a great gateway to meeting new people across various areas. For example, conveners have to handle events that cater to a large target audience. This provides them managerial experience in public relations, along with a knowledge of the workings of institute bodies and a general sense of awareness of your environment apart from studies. “PoR (position of responsibility) is a learning opportunity for everyone to experiment with being a part of the decision-making in any sphere. In addition to training us to work in a team and solving critical issues on ground, it makes us aware of real world challenges. After having experienced holding various administrative posts in 2 Central Universities and 2 IITs, I found that a PoR is instrumental in helping a person to socialize, evolve and become a better person in life, who can contribute towards continuous growth of his/her organization.” Pankaj Kabira (Overall Coordinator 201516, Research Scholars’ Forum) How to take up a PoR? Most clubs and institute bodies usually send out forms for applications for their PoRs on student notices, Google Groups and Facebook. If you’re already a part of a club/institute body, talk to the respective manager/secretary about when the forms will be released. The selection process differs from body to body, but usually has a standard interview process. Eligibility A Ph.D. student has to have completed at least one semester to be eligible for any PoR. Selection process Institute elections are held for the following posts : • General Secretary Academic Affairs PG • General Secretary Academic Affairs UG • General Secretary Hostel Affairs • General Secretary Sports Affairs • Overall Coordinator, Mood Indigo • Overall Coordinator, E-Cell • Overall Coordinator, Student Alumni Relations Cell All other posts are nominated for, and selection is usually based on interviews. For cultural secretaries, there are elections within a closed electorate comprising nominees from each hostel.
Council PoRs General Secretary (GS): Student head of the respective council, responsible for the conduct of activities and events pertaining to it. The General Secretary is answerable in the General Body Meeting or GBM (every council has its own GBM every semester) for the work done by the council. Works in consultation with the Chairman/Faculty-in-Charge of the respective council. • Institute Secretary : Helps the GS ensure the smooth functioning of the council. Institute Secretaries are usually assigned specific areas of administration, and together with the GS, form the mandate for most of the decisions of the council. • Convener : Ensures the execution of events, working in coordination with the GS and the Institute Secretaries. Hostel Affairs Council The council deals with issues related to the administration of campus facilities for students such as hostel infrastructure, tumtums and the IITB hospital. The council, comprising of the GS, the Institute Secretaries and the Hostel General Secretaries, works in coordination with the Main Building on the upkeep of the institute infrastructure. • General Secretary Hostel Affairs (1 post) • Institute Secretary Hostel Affairs (3 posts) • Institute Secretary International Relations (1 post) • Institute System Administrator (3 posts) PG Academic Council The PG Academic Council works for the welfare of PG students, helping them by taking up issues and voicing students’ concerns in decision-making regarding academic policy, and also by conducting sessions and events meant to help students with their academics and career. • General Secretary Academic Affairs PG (1 post) • Institute Representative Academic Affairs, Ph.D. and M.Tech. (1 post each) • Overall Coordinators, Institute Student Com panionship Programme (ISCP) and Institute Research Scholar Companionship Programme (IRSCP) (2 posts each) • Academic Unit Representatives for Academic Affairs (AURAA) (1 Ph.D. and 1 M.Tech. from each department) • Web & Design Nominee (1 post) Cultural Council The Institute Cultural Council (or the ICC) comprises of the GS Cultural Affairs, the Institute Cultural Secretaries and the Hostel Cultural Councillors. The ICC conducts events and activities aimed at increasing the exposure of students to various genres of art including literary arts, photography, folk arts, film-making, speaking arts, music, dance and design. The council promotes cul-
19 tural activities among students by conducting workshops for beginners and organizing events at the institute level (including the General Championships) to showcase their talent. • General Secretary Cultural Affairs (1 post) • Institute Cultural Secretary (1 post for each genre) • Cultural Club conveners (Number of posts depends on the policy of the council) • Institute Cultural Nominee - Administration (1 post) • Institute Cultural Nominee - Events (1 post) • Design Nominee (1 post) • Web Nominee (1 post) • PG Nominee (1 post) Students’ Technical Activities Body (STAB) The Students’ Technical Activities Body (or STAB) promotes interest in various areas of technical arts, such as electronics, aeromodelling, astronomy, robotics and coding, by organising events and conducting workshops, introducing the students to them. They also conduct institute-wide expositions and the Tech General Championships to provide a platform for talented students to showcase their technical prowess. • Overall Coordinator (1 post) • Club Managers (1 post for each club) • Club Conveners (Number of posts depends on the policy of the council) Sports Council The Institute Sports Council seeks to promote sports among the students by organising events and competitions (including the Sports General Championship) under various sports that include track & field, table tennis, squash, lawn tennis, basketball, football, cricket, board games and traditional Indian games. The council also maintains the institute sports infrastructure, working with the Main Building on administration. • General Secretary, Sports Affairs (1 post) • Institute Sports Secretary (1 post for each sport) • PG Nominee (1 post) • Web Nominee (1 post) • Girls’ Nominee (1 post) INDEPENDENT BODIES (IBS) IB PORs • Overall Coordinator: Responsible for overseeing the workings of the body throughout the year. This includes formulating the vision of the body and coordinating activities of different departments headed by the respective managers/core group members. • Manager/Core Group Member : Heads a specific department of the IB and forms the core team responsible for planning and executing events of the body, along with other Managers/Core Group Members. Drives the principal plans of the department for that year, and heads a
two-tier team comprising of Coordinators and Organizers, who are junior students, that handles the events. You can get in touch with any Manager/Core Group Member, and sign up to be a Coordinator/Organizer. Mood Indigo : The annual cultural festival of IIT Bombay. It is a 4 day fest that takes place during the month of December, bringing in students from colleges all across India to witness cultural performances from artists coming from all around the globe and also participate in competitions in various genres. • Overall Coordinators (2 posts) • Mood Indigo Core Group Members (22 posts) Techfest : The annual technical festival of IIT Bombay. The 3-day event sees exhibitions showcasing the latest developments in technology, competitions, workshops and lectures by pioneers in technology. Takes place in December-January. • Overall Coordinator (1 post) • Techfest Manager (22 posts) E-Cell: The entrepreneurship cell, or the E-Cell, is a body that promotes business incubation and entrepreneurship among the students by conducting relevant activities and sessions. Also organises the flagship event, the E-Summit, bringing together entrepreneurs and business leaders from around the country. • Overall Coordinator (2 posts) • E-Cell Managers (22 posts) Abhyuday : The social festival of IITB. It started in 2013, and has seen a huge participation from social and humanitarian groups coming together for sessions on social entrepreneurship and issues facing our nation. • Overall Coordinator (2 posts) • Abhyuday Managers (14 posts) • Overall Coordinator, TechGSR (1 post) Insight The official student media body of the institute. The forum for all discussions pertaining to IITB, keeping you informed about all that’s happening on the campus. • Chief Editor (2 posts) : The head of the Insight Editorial Board. Responsible for the print and web content that goes out, and also the dissemination of information among students pertaining to matters related to the institute. • Editorial Board Member : Responsible for ideation of the content that goes out on the web and the print edition. Also responsible for heading articles and supervising content, along with panelists. • Panelist : Works with the Editorial Board members on articles and is responsible for article research, putting data together and drafting the article along with the Board Members.
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INSTI PARAMPARA By Chinmay Sankhe, Chandrapreet Singh, Palka Puri, Devang Thakkar, Mihir Bhosale & Yashika Kapoor As expected from any renowned college, especially one with such a profound legacy, IIT Bombay has its own set of ‘traditions’. These range from completely mundane things like purposely annoying your colleagues during (and out of) exams to events unique to the institute (AKA insti) like PAF, which demand and obtain the full devotion and enthusiasm of the participants. Here’s a look at some such things which you will encounter throughout your stay here. Lingo Like most residential colleges, IIT Bombay too has a distinct culture of its own. An inescapable part of that culture is the slang or ‘lingo’ used by the residents, with a distinct Bambaiya flavour. These, in addition to some unprintable, are a staple part of every IITBian’s vocabulary. A word to the wise - regardless of how much you try to resist this ‘IITBfication’ of your language, you will soon find yourself embracing and enthusiastically using the lingo (“Really? Infimaxxx dayaa yaar!”). Most of the lingo used has a very interesting story or explanation to go with it, its meaning in ‘insti’ often being quite contradictory to its actual one. Take for instance, ‘scope’. A word with very subtle connotations, it is often used to imply no ‘scope’, i.e., nothing doing or no way. “Have you finished your assignment’’. * scoffs at the absurdity of the question* “Scope yaar”. Nahi chamka? Here’s an easier example - ‘crack’ (or as it is more commonly used, ‘craxxx’). This word, whatever its connotations be in the ‘real world’, has a very positive meaning in IITB. Use of this term by an IITBian implies that the person is referring to somebody’s excellent performance or stroke of good fortune e.g. Let’s say if Santa got a foreign intern or any good internship opportunity, his friends will put a tagline on his fb timeline “Santa craxxx!!!’’ Department Trip This is the trip with your department mates where you find yourself enjoying the breath-taking beauty of the hill stations or beaches near Mumbai. The fun you’ll be having can’t be explained by anyone else but you. Usually the department trips are organised after the midsems are over, funded partially or completely by your department, and are organised in every semester - so don’t worry if you miss one if you are ill. It’s advised to remain in good health during that time so as not to miss them, otherwise you’ll find yourself feeling jealous of the friends who went for one.
Cultural festivals While the institute has ample opportunities to immerse oneself in the type of cultural activities one likes, these reach their most energetic moments during the various annual genre-specific cultural festivals that happen across the year. While not all genres have their festivals, the ones that do are on a pretty large scale. Photography and Fine Arts have Kaladarshan with its massive exhibition and road-painting, dance has AIDS (it stands for Annual Insync Dance Show), dramatics has Ann Prod, while music has Surbahar and Swarsandhya. Nevertheless, there are hostel GCs (General Competition) in which you can represent your hostel. Participation is often very large as well, and these are great ways to showcase your talent. Inter-IIT Sports Tournament Having been blessed with a 500+ acre campus and a huge ground with ample sporting facilities has its advantages, but this is what it very often boils down to. Inter-IIT tournaments are held annually in differing IITs and are probably the most significant avenue of competition that insti students aim to participate and excel in. The 50th edition of the tournament was hosted last to last year by our very own Institute! The 51st edition did not happen due to Chennai floods. PAF Performing Arts Festival is, as it says, a gala of the performing arts: theatre, music and dance. All this is also accompanied by extensive creative and fine arts work when it comes to making the stage and the props (known fondly as ‘prod’), and it happens on a very large scale. All the hostels are distributed into four groups, and each of these strive and compete to present four shows over a week in March. The performances are judged on all of the above criteria, and each spectacular performance ends in a not-so-spectacular breaking of the prod work. In this period, you will get to know why PAF is called ‘God’, with posters like ‘PAF God hota hain!!’. Treats For the uninitiated, ‘treats’ are an essential part of the campus culture at IITB. From late night frankie treats at H1 canteen to fancier ones in Chilli’s, from birthday or intern treats to council treats; irrespective of reasons and budgets, treats form a major chunk of an IITian’s social interactions, both with peers and seniors. For example, the months of December and April see numerous treats by ecstatic, recently placed seniors and ‘senti’ graduating ones respectively. April is also the month of the most extravagant of treats, the so called ‘handing over treats’. Whenever a new set of members for a student council or body is elected, institute traditions dictate that they must give
21 a handing over treat to the previous members (the ‘baap’ council, so to speak). With unimaginably high budgets varying from council to council, these ‘typically IITB’ treats are something everybody should experience atleast once. RG Speak of the devil and the devil is here! RG is a term coined by Satan himself. You might have already seen an example in the movie 3 Idiots: the part when they talk about Chatur and what he does the night before exams. RG stands for Relative Grading - the idea that your grades are decided by how many others score more than you. To make your line appear larger, you can either increase its length or shorten the other - the second one is the RG approach. You may be greeted by a friend at 5 in the morning for help in solving a hard problem, and while you are solving the problem for them, they’d be busy learning other stuff. Or an RG friend may barge into your room in the middle of your study session and exclaim,” Yaar ye video dekha hai kya. GOD hai!”. Before you realize, you have watched all the suggested videos as well. Or you may find yourself locked in the bathroom by some RG person in your wing, or you’ll be forced to watch films like Gunda (please do). The methods are many and we hope you too create some yourselves too!
After the gathering has started, starters and aamras are served to everyone present. They are stuffed enough to finally talk about the ‘raja’ of the night. You are staged on a huge throne and then all your friends describe their version of your journey in the insti. In the process, some bogus and some genuine incidents of your time in insti are displayed or read out. Also, be prepared to hear some gibberish which is meant to have no offence towards anyone. Valfis are inclined to let the graduating students travel back in their journey of the institute on the day which is reputedly their own, and this is supported by visuals and handwritten notes brought about by their friends and fiends. It is an illustration of not just you but the people you had spent time with, including your friends, roommates, mentors, professors, seniors and guides. Memories aren’t the only things flowing and being shared. Remember to get the recording of your valfi and keep it safe as it’s unlikely that you’d remember what transpired. If you receive mails and invitations for a valfi, don’t get agonised by the terms like ‘public humiliation’ and ‘open field view’. Go and have a sight of it, because soon you will be the one mounting the throne.
THE TEAM Chief Editors
Shreeyesh Menon Shreerang Javadekar
Editorial Board
Valfis Once you enter insti, you would undergo the process of stalking the timelines of your fellow mates and seniors, and certainly one of the seniors would have a display picture of their valfi session. You might also witness the popular valfi theme photos strewn across Facebook. To bring into context, Valedictory Functions, popularly known as Valfis in IIT Bombay, are conducted for the graduating students (conducted in the fourth year for Dual Degree students), where they are the maharaja/maharani (on a stage) and gather their praja (your friends) in their respective hostels (yes, there are actual thrones involved). Each group of students usually embarks upon a theme and everyone in that group appears in their valfi picture and dresses for the valfi as per that. Valfis happen across a span of a couple of weeks just before the Spring semester’s endsem week.
Aakriti Varshney Abhishek Andasu Akash Chikalikar Avinaash Anand Chinmay Sankhe Chintan Salva Febin Mathew Himani Mehta Harshit Sahay Jay Mardia Karthik Sankaran Kewal Bhat Pratyarth Rao Pranjali Gupta Rahul Ramchandani Sapan Shah Yash Mehta
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