T5E's Winter Newsletter 2020

THE FIFTH

ESTATE

Winter Newsletter 2020

HOW INSTI LINGO CONQUERED THE WORLD an in-depth (secret) interview page 17

THE HAPPINESS OF PURSUIT an inside look into the life of a research scholar

cup ce ds a a c i a e n t ro p

page 10

ae fund

put

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

macha

for some good ol' nostalgia page 2

rg

MISSING PIECES

enthu

gawd

da pu peace t liteth rg ill g ulp ch

cup

c

oc chill g lin cd p

funda eace e

Contents 1

Letter from the Editor

2

The Missing Pieces

6

Finessing the King

Neha Susan Cherian

Neha Anand

10

Happiness of Pursuit

13

Monochrome Rainbow

17

How Insti Lingo Conquered The World

21

Personalised Advertising - 'Ad' Hominem?

26

Tomorrow's AI, Delivered Today!

33

Vox Populi Vox Insti

34

Meet the Team

Mahima Sharma

Rohini Dikshit

Gowri Raj Varma

Abhishek Sekar

Sreekar Sai R

The T5E Podcast

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hi Everyone!

“How to get people to read?” - every Exec-Ed ever

r e t t e ls w e N r e t n i W

Let’s face it, 2020 was a tough year for all of us. Here at T5E, we struggled too. As is the case with most insti teams, we hired after the pandemic hit in April, and as a result, our 40+ strong team hasn’t met in real life. As a bunch of highly opinionated and (mostly) introverted writers, this probably didn’t help our social skills (or the lack thereof). Furthermore, it was a challenge writing about happenings in insti and beyond in the face of the dynamic situation, without being physically present on campus.

However, T5E grew by leaps and bounds this year. We carried out a major restructuring - introducing separate departments of design, research, and podcast, thus greatly diversifying our content. Since May, we have written 50+ articles, carried out two large scale surveys, and produced a brand new podcast, Vox Populi Vox Insti. In our mission to highlight all that is insti, our content covered everything from sci-tech to culturals, from sports to entrepreneurship, from research to satire, from freshie toolkits to placement guides, along with extensive coverage of insti adapting to COVID.

E5T

In T5E’s Winter Newsletter, we present our best content so far (arrived at after a LOT of editorial fights discussions). We have a hit-you-right-in-the-feels article with Missing Pieces, a deep dive into the PhD world with Happiness of Pursuit, and an extensive feature on the LGBTQ+ community in insti with Monochrome Rainbow.

At the sci-tech side, we are featuring the rollercoaster journey of insti-bred startup Hyperverge, Tomorrow’s AI, Delivered Today, and explore the tech behind personalised advertising with Ad Hominem. To round it off, we have a look at insti’s little known Bridge club with Finessing the King, and we also investigate How Insti Lingo Conquered the World. We also feature some of the best episodes of Vox Populi Vox Insti, and some comics from our short-lived, yet beloved series, Filter Kaafi.

I hope you enjoy the newsletter as much as we did making it! Happy reading :) Sharayu Shejale Executive Editor 2020-21 The Fifth Estate

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 2

The Missing Pieces

Editor's Comments This article is so close to my heart, a very wholesome trip to "rediscover" all the insti traditions and shenanigans that

NEHA CHERIAN

have existed through changing times. This article intended to dig into the inbetweens and casual moments of the lives of insti students amidst all the hustle. What personally motivated me to take this up is that I felt like there was this sort of drain of culture/interaction happening between different generations of IITians, like the nicknames our seniors used to get back in the day, that just doesn't happen so much anymore. We've had a rich and thick history of traditions in the past being a culturally old institute as well that Neha brings out very gracefully. She draws a beautiful imagery through her writing that was made possible due to the extensive research that's gone into the making of this immensely nostalgic article. Hope you have a fun time

edited by Mahima Raut design by Hardhik Pinjala and Swati Sheenum

reading it!

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 3

Congratulations,

In medieval insti history i.e. the pre-LAN age, when computers only existed in the library and

Insti student! You have discovered, in the span

departments,

of a few months, a new category of existence.

different.

the

OAT

culture

was

quite

Call it what you will, but it is that halfway land between what is sem time and what is not sem

endsems while your treacherous heart insists

The archives tell us how different areas were earmarked for each hostel and OAT was THE scene, not just of movie screening, but of loud hostel sloganeering, with the big screen used for some healthy LitSoc/Schroeter grandstanding during the interval .

on wallowing in the good ole days. There,

Of course, now that OAT is not the only avenue

there, we know. Ergo, offering some comfort,

for cinematic content, we can stroll in every

we’re going to indulge the nostalgia and take

other

you on a trip of some insti traditions-

blissfully ignorant of a tradition of rivalry that

time but also not a vacation or a typical internship or a convivial summer school or anything really. Your brain tells you every day to get down to business and prepare for your

the

living,

the

dead,

the

terminal,

the

Saturday

with

cross-hostel

friends,

once thrived there.

resurrected, and everything in between.

Perhaps the best way of describing LAN-era insti Remember all those times in the last few months

was ‘sharing is caring.’ Indeed, seniors who lived

when you couldn’t attend online classes because

before the age of unlimited insti Wi-Fi are wont

of ‘network issues’ (cough, cough)? In your data-

to reminisce about DC++, a peer-to-peer data

starved mind, did insti morph into a promised

sharing network on insti LAN. Large hubs with

land of free Wi-Fi and unlimited data? There was

creative and not-so-creative names existed to

an insti before unlimited Wi-Fi, just like there will

share everything from movies, TV shows and

be an insti post-COVID, and it was a very

video games to acads and fundae. It is said that

different place

students who went on semester exchanges would procure top-notch content abroad and share it with insti folks via DC++ when they got back home.

Unconscious thoughts can sometimes bring to the fore ideas one might easily dismiss as unrealistic.

We know for a fact that the increasing number of classroom naps and grand slams (cutting all four morning slots) prompted the admin to cut the LAN connection for a few hours every day.

Why, one might ask, with an equally vibrant content-sharing culture on social media, would you mourn the passing of DC++? The nub is that where earlier, engagement with fellow students was

absolutely

necessary

content, now it isn’t.

to

obtain

good

JWINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 4

In 2012, Narmada freshies were required to come attired in a shirt with green patches, half pants, a handkerchief tied around their foreheads, and a bathroom slipper and a shoe apiece Observers chalk up the decline of certain traditions to the separation of freshie hostels.

While

the

decision

to

segregate

freshies

stemmed from a valid concern about ragging, some

students

observe

that

it

created

a

disconnect between different batches and an entire culture of freshie-senior interaction and mentoring is on the decline, to say nothing of an Of course, not all traditions die a premature death

all-consuming passion for LitSoc and TechSoc. It

because of that boomer diagnosis for all that ails

appears that without the customary inculcation

Gen Z (need I spell it out?). A few, like the Saras-

of a hostel spirit in Sem 1, much of the inherited

Godav Independence Day water fight, which some

rivalry cannot be passed down.

students prophesy will soon become the stuff of legends, fall prey to bigger issues. When Sangam ground was built between the two hostels, the existing rivalry and lack of a booking system demanded that they have a face-off to stake their claim to the ground. Thence came the tradition of having a water fight on Independence Day.

You remember that time a few million years ago when you were asked to ‘put intro’? Did you wonder then, before you were enlightened, why the

divinely

demanded

a

mandated, ‘nickname’?

set-in-stone Pre-2012

format students

remember the nickname culture fondly as their initiation into insti. Seniors, in all their wisdom and creativity, would christen freshies with

Alums remember how enthu hostellers,

names that became their instant insti identity.

fired up with hostel bhakti, would gather at midnight to battle it out with water balloons and

The tradition of nicknames inspired its

choice expletives. Several hoarse voices and sodden

own

clothes later, they would sing the national anthem

otherwise –often capitalising on individual quirks

and disperse.

or unforgettable gaffes.

But seniors note that there have been fewer and fewer participants in recent years because given the constant water crisis, it is difficult to justify such a tradition.

None of this is by way of eulogizing all our cultural inheritance. Regarding some traditions such as outlandish hostel-specific dress-codes for non-participants during Freshie Night, we leave you to decide whether they merit a revival.

brand

of

humour-math,

science,

and

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 5

The tradition plunged into decline with the advent of freshie hostels and consequent

As far back as 1962, Campastimes used to

constraints on freshie-senior interaction. With

publish cryptic crosswords for the average bored

another graduating batch or two, the plug will

engineering student and the enthu ebbed and

have been effectively pulled. RIP nicknames.

flowed till informal crossword-solving in dining spaces was institutionalised as ‘thuncc.’

The persistence of all traditions is contingent on a degree of interest, especially from the

Today you can still find a handful of WGC

freshies. Some, like intros, nicknames, and insti

enthusiasts in places like CCD (food is a constant)

lingo

and while copies of The Hindu may have been

need

a

large

number

of

students

subscribing to them to remain relevant, while

replaced

others like the HS department’s Dead Poets

tradition of solving remains.

Society

endure

with

a

small

number

of

participants. But given all the competing claims on one’s interest (I defy you to find a single coord app that does not prescribe tapping into freshie enthu), there is little time left for the kind of spontaneity that inspired events like the erstwhile informal jam sessions in Ganga’s quad.

with a little enthu are easily resurrected, even trip to the Heritage Centre’s

archives betrays the long crossword-solving tradition in insti.

Circumstances

interactive

might

online

have

grids,

the

precipitated

a

paradigm shift in the insti student life, but, to paraphrase the Bard, our creativity in interacting with others is inexhaustible. The endless wisdom of Harry Potter tells us that time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead, like the prospect of an online semester. And yet we have always forged connections that endure,

There is precedent to show how some customs, transformed. A

with

traditions which adapt to the times and perhaps on a blue day, a glimpse into the past will remind us of this.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 6

Finessing the King: A Peak into Insti's Bridge Scene

Editor's Comments The third article in the MyIITM series, our first hurdle was finalising on the theme of the article. Once we agreed on elucidating about Bridge, getting the right contacts of the current and former Bridge club conveners was the next challenge. The author, Neha did a commendable job getting

NEHA ANAND

through to the right people and setting up interviews with them. Finally, I was able to guide the course of the article towards the nuances of Bridge, what separates it from other card games, and insti's Bridge legacy.

T

he Oracle of Omaha, billionaire Warren

.............Buffett is reported to have said, “Bridge is such a sensational game that I wouldn’t mind being in jail if I had three cellmates who were decent players and who

edited by Siddharth design by Hardhik Pinjala

were willing to keep the game going 24 hours a day.”

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 7

What is Bridge?

Bridge, or Contract Bridge is a popular card game based on a standard 52-card deck. The goal of the game is to win the highest number of tricks, which is a series of finite rounds or units of play wherein the player plays his ‘hand’. Generally played by four players forming two competing partnerships, it consists of several deals each consisting of four phases. The cards are dealt to the players in each deal and the players ‘call’ or ‘bid’ in an auction and establish a ‘contract’. They also specify how many tricks a partnership must play in order to score for the deal.

does

entail

combinations

and

a

good

IITM's Bridge Legacy A haven once brimming with Bridge players, IITM

This might not sound too trivial, and sure, the task

The Alumni-Student Tournament

knowledge

probabilities,

but

of the

fascinating part about Bridge is that the game in itself is quite simple to understand and could be learnt in just a couple of hours playing for the first time. However, it takes years of experience to master it.

boasts of several alumni who are professional bridge players of the day.

Insti alumni walk down the path of nostalgia when they come down to the institute for placements and presentations, and ask about the Bridging culture in the campus. They share stories of how they spent hours playing the game in their undergrad and grad years at IITM.

There was a tournament where I

Bridge serves as a great platform

participated with professional players and

for networking as well. Interacting with our

alums and ranked last! In my defence, they

seniors

had 10+ years of experience. But after each

tournaments, I picked up several life lessons

game, they told me about my mistakes politely,

and quips- especially from their 1990s dot com

which encouraged me to think more about

stories!

probabilities in the game. This is what makes Bridge more fun despite being complex:

and

esteemed

alumni

in

the

-Vinitkumar

getting those few extra points that make all

Having been an extremely popular game at the

the difference.

Godavari Hostel in 2016, owing to the graduation of the wing housing Insti’s Bridge veterans, the

-Vinitkumar Jain,

next few years saw a decline in the number of

Institute Bridge Club Convenor (2019-2020)

Bridge enthusiasts on campus. To revive the game, the Bridge Club sought external help by

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 8

tying up with the Tamil Nadu Bridge Association

A common misconception that majority of

(TNBA) and brought in the Bridge Guru and

beginners fall prey to is: “It is a card game; I

renowned mentor, Mr Sunil Varghese, to teach

won’t fare well if the cards dealt are not good.” It

Bridge in the institute. TNBA followed the

is believed that Bridge is a sport that prioritises

progress enthusiastically, seeking the betterment

over skill, but Vinit dismisses this theory. In a

of our players. This was solely due to the

tournament, the same combination is played by

impressive legacy that our alumni left behind in

every team and points depend on your relative

the Bridging community.

performance. Your points are compared with a person who has played the game with the same

Presently, there are about a hundred Bridge club

combination as you have, and hence, completely

members with some good participation from

negating the luck factor in the game. (Here’s a

M.Tech students. Sadly, only ten of these

quick shout out to the relative grading pattern in

hundred players are active and seven in those ten

Insti!)

[1]

are UG and M.Tech freshies . The club conducts an Open Bridge Tournament where institute students play against alumni and professional players in a formal tournament setting. The most recent edition saw a team of students being placed third in the tournament.

Governing Bodies and Beyond Card Games

Inspired by my grandfather, I ventured into card games and parallelly used the concepts in my daily routine. Initially,

Having been invited to partake in a Bridge

Bridge was incredibly difficult to master.

Fortunately, I was taught and guided by one of the finest teachers of Bridge, Mr Sunil Varghese who simplified things. I’m glad that Bridge is now a part of my life.

the country was a highlight the club was looking

-Bhaarat, a former Bridge Club member

given the resources provided by The Tamil Nadu

tournament in the Madras Cricket Club with a chance to meet some of the best cricketers in forward to, but the current pandemic triumphed over.

The

World

Bridge

Federation,

the

international governing body for competitive Contract Bridge, recently introduced the ‘Under 21’, ‘Under 26’ and ‘Under 31’ categories, and Bridge Association, the teams from IITM now have a chance to represent the country at an international level. The Bridge Federation of India too will start conducting university championships from next year, wherein the winners will be trained to represent the country.

Overcoming deterrents such as COVID-19, Bridge club members and several enthusiasts

Mr Sunil Varghese and the Bridge club after a session

have sought solace in several online portals and websites to play Bridge.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 9

To the players, it is much more than just a card game. It is an integral part of their life: constantly honing

their

decision-making

skills,

and

advancing their analytical and strategic calibre. It weaves into their personalities and provides them with a very inquisitive outlook on life.

I find bridge to be a very mind-absorbing game. For me, sometimes it becomes so intellectually demanding that I tend to forget all the worries and stress in my mind. A game or two of bridge online after a hectic day at work always refreshes my mind.

-Onkar, Institute Bridge Club Convener (2018-2019)

***

Filter Kaafi

By Niharika

[1] As of May 2020, during the interview with Vinitkumar Jain.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 10

Happiness of Pursuit Animative moments in a research scholar's life

Editor's Comments The very first research article of the semester, and my first article as an editor, I truly had an enlightening time understanding the nuances of research life. In the beginning, we were unsure of how to structure the article because of the vastness of the theme, but once

MAHIMA SHARMA

Mahima, the author who is a PhD student, submitted the first draft, we gained better footing and were able to polish and refine it into an anecdotal article.

O

ver two millennia ago, in the city of Syracuse, the

ancient Greek scholar Archimedes was believed to have had his celebratory ‘Eureka’ moment while in a public bath. Although there are different versions of the story,

edited by Siddharth design by Shreethigha Ganesan

it can be agreed that legendary discoveries are often made, and unsolved mysteries solved in the unlikeliest of places and times.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 11

August Kekulé, a German chemist, postulated

And while you are still thinking about your

the benzene ring structure after a dream he had

unresolved questions of the day, you hit the

of

sack, hoping to let your dreams do the talking,

the

ancient

symbol

of

the

ouroboros,

depicting a serpent eating its own tail.

just like Kekulé’s did. Ah, the pipedreams in a

Such great ‘Aha moments’ in life and research

research scholar’s life!

often have their humble origins in the mundane.

Ask any research scholar, and this is what they

These are frequently the culmination of the

would have to say.

seemingly

minuscule

accomplishments

of

everyday life, which we often shrug off as

Getting past the abstract of the paper you have

unimportant.

been

reading,

washing

glassware

without

breaking any, completing the simulation before

True fulfillment is not just in the big ‘Eureka’ moments but is realized in everyday strides, struggles, and accomplishments This conviction is clearly palpable in the life of a research scholar. Reaching the lab on time, having a productive day at work without glancing at the lunch menu or the constant social media notifications deserve a pat on the back. Needless to say, there is no feat too big or too small.

question ‘what am I doing with my life’ when you see old friends getting another promotion at their jobs –these are the signs of a perfect day. And when you successfully manage to book a slot to use the busiest instrument, it is equivalent to winning the lottery. There are greater pleasures that make your week, such as surviving paperwork, getting just the right amount of sleep, scoring free-food, catching up with an old novel like a long lost friend or

Imagine a day when you get your methodology right in your ‘very fourth attempt’ and fewer things go wrong in the experiment, or you finally figure out what was wrong with the code that you wrote three weeks ago.

Furthermore, you collect enough data (sample size > 1 that is) to analyze, and the data finally begins to make sense, and the theory from the textbook comes alive. You arrive at ‘almost’ significant

the computer freezes, successfully evading the

results

to

discuss

with

your

supervisor for the next weekly meeting. After a pretty productive day at the lab, you jog your way to the guitar class and later hit the gym. You then grab a healthy meal and a cup of coffee to keep your brain at optimal functioning to write your paper before writer’s block strikes.

binge-watching

your

self-prescribed

therapeutic TV series during the weekend to prepare your TA nerves.

You ceremoniously trot to the classes, which demand your attendance as the TA, only to leave open-mouthed that the undergrads’ questions aren’t just about the tests or attendance Or when the students surprise you with their duly turned-in lab reports just before the deadline, and don’t make you feel skittish every time you see their precarious handling of the lab instruments, and actually pay attention to what you are saying without the occasional haggling for a mark and a half, it is nothing short of a promising week.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 12

Then there are some momentous milestones,

Then there are the anxieties clouding a

such as getting emotional when you meet your

resubmission,

perfect results for the very first time, when the

comments from the reviewers, and the delight

search results for papers reporting exactly

of receiving a ‘Congratulations, your paper is

similar work show zilch, writing your first paper

accepted’

with

the

seminars, during which you surprise yourself

supervisors and finishing your manuscript just

by enjoying the questions the audience throws

before the deadline.

at you. These moments throw you over the

This list simply goes on;

moon.

not

too

many

corrections

from

Getting accepted to participate in conferences (especially those, which ‘coincidentally’ happen to be on your ‘places to visit’ list), completing the presentations on time even during the hunt for the lowest ticket prices, having a good time at the conference, meeting new people, discussing and exchanging ideas, only to realize that you aren’t alone in your struggles

These

are

getting

email,

‘not

enduring

superseded

by

so

the

even

boorish’

frightful

bigger

moments. Hearing the most awaited words from your supervisor, ‘You can start writing your thesis’ is exhilarating, and so are the times when you write the last page of the last chapter of your thesis. Then you reach the acknowledgments section and get teary-eyed remembering it all - the support of your family, your supervisor, and the people who never gave up on you: friends and lab mates who helped you stay sane. Eventually comes the

The fortuitous vacations, seldom as they come,

ultimate Eureka moment when you defend

are equally endearing. Your mother’s magnum

your thesis, asserting how your research

opus filmy style welcome and a transient

matters. On that day, you reminisce about the

transition from the customary ‘Maggi’ to warm

journey that you braved, count all your

home-cooked meals coupled with insightful

blessings, and realize that it was worthwhile

banter from your self-proclaimed wise siblings,

after all.

cumulatively begin to put your brains at ease.

But while still on your break, you inadvertently obsess with the poignant questions of your research, leading to the serendipitous discovery of a new concept or perfectly drafted plans for your next experiment. These remind you that vacations sans work are an illusion in any research scholars’ life.

Then comes a day when you find yourself crying over your first paper rejection and question your self-worth. But, when followed by some ice cream with your friends who celebrate your efforts, it reminds you that such moments are but blessings in disguise.

However, the magic only lasts a while, until someone pops the question, “So, what next?”.

winter newsletter 2020| PAGE 13

Monochrome Rainbow: the LGBTQ+ Community in Insti

Editor's Comments An article about the LGBTQ+ community in insti was definitely something I wanted to work on as soon as I became an editor. So naturally I volunteered for it as

ROHINI DIKSHIT

soon as I saw the article idea in the roster. The fact that Rohini was a part of Vannam was an added advantage.

We had a lot of editing to do the day of publishing, checking for the tone of the article and polishing it, and we were rushing to get it done, but we think it came out pretty wonderfully in the end!

edited by Anna Dominic design by Shreethiga Ganesan

In an era where rainbow capitalism allows companies to conveniently showcase their token support for the LGBTQ+ community for one month, pat themselves on the back, and call it a day, it is easy for one to fall under the illusion that all the major battles for the community have been won and the future is nothing but rosy.

However, the reality is that even today, homosexuality is illegal in 74 countries and punishable by death in 11 of them. Same-sex marriage is legal in only 29 countries.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 14

In addition, millions undergo ostracisation and lifelong distress, even in countries where their rights are acknowledged.

According to the figures of the Government, there were around 2.5 million gay people in India in 2012. The community achieved a significant victory when the application of Section 377 of the IPC, that criminalized ‘intercourse against the order of nature’, to homosexuality was deemed unconstitutional. Though acceptance of homosexuality in India is increasing, especially amongst the younger generation, the struggle is far from over. According to a study conducted by the World Bank, an estimated $30 billion was lost in 2012 due to homophobia in India. In addition to the challenge of overcoming deep-rooted stigma in all spheres of life, the lack of affirmative action forces many to choose between having a secure livelihood and living freely.

For many members of the LGBTQ+ community residing in India, legal battles are secondary to the deep inner conflict they must first overcome.

Due to the imposition of gender roles and heterosexual conditioning, it often takes years for one to even reach the stage of selfrealization and overcome their internalized homophobia.

There’s also the possibility that being open about their identity might lead to them being shunned by society or disowned by family. All these factors are possible reasons as to why depression and suicidal behaviour is much higher in LGBTQ+ individuals than in cisgenderheterosexuals.

Insti and the LGBTQ+ Experience To scrutinize the condition of LGBTQ+ students on our campus, a few current students and alumni were surveyed earlier this year

in August about their experiences through Vannam, the student-led LGBTQ+ space at IIT Madras. The results are insightful.

Less than half of the respondents were out to their friends, and many admitted feeling doubtful about being accepted. “It’s scary whenever I think of coming out”, a student added. As a corollary, there seems to be a unanimous belief that there is potential for the campus to become much more accepting and that the institute can work towards creating a conducive environment and educating the student population. Many students are entirely unaware that the words that they use as jokes can cause deep trauma to people.

“It is a common culture in the hostels to tag people as ‘gay’ without really considering the effect it might have on them.

Many people are homophobic and use gay/lesbian words as derogatory comments.

It really had a toll on my mental health as I was mostly closeted during my time in insti”, -an Alumnus narrated A third-year student elaborated on her experiences: “Too many straight people see you in some wildly different light once they get to know you’re queer. A lot of straight women think you’re some kind of predator if you’re queer which is misleading.”

Even students who identify as allies may feel the need to play along with the jokes to fit in, elucidated in this experience by one of the anonymous respondents: “When I befriended an openly gay student, I was hesitant to meet him casually over coffee. I felt terrible when I constantly refused his calls. I felt handcuffed with social/peer pressure.” Another recurring phenomenon is that of people feeling uncomfortable with students’ expression of their identity.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 15

There is a tendency to associate a single kind of appearance and mannerism with the label ‘gay’ and then use that image as a standard to make judgements.

“I was quite surprised to see that there’s no active and functional LGBTQ group in insti. I had a hard time making gay

Outing students’ identities without consent is also a troubling concern. “My time in insti as a queer person who isn’t completely out but not in the closet either has been an interesting experience. I feel apprehensive wearing it like a label. I have been told I’m ‘too gay’ and I should tone it down. My sexuality has been outed without my consent, and I feel like I exist in two parallel universes: one at insti and another one at home. I feel like I can be entirely out at some point within insti, but I fear judgement and my friends turning distant.”

to meeting people privately… I believe that those who’ve just realised about themselves need a better medium to approach the LGBTQ persons in the campus. Of course, they may not come out in public to attend

The Way Ahead What steps can be taken to help the community on campus? Although campus counselling services are already in existence, additional efforts can be taken to ensure they are LGBTfriendly and utilized sufficiently. Currently, the campus does not have an official student group for LGBTQ+ students.

Vannam, an entirely student-initiated body, was formed in 2014 and has been conducting minor events such as panel discussions and movie screenings in collaboration with other institute bodies such as Saathi. Many other campuses in the country such as BITS Pilani, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, SRM, etc. too have active groups to create awareness and provide a support system for LGBT students.

However, most of these- including Vannamaren’t officially recognized by the administration, though their activities are allowed to continue. Recognizing these bodies might go a long way in creating an environment where the community feels validated and would help closeted students come out of their shell.

friends in the beginning … and had to resort

any meeting by the group, but the publicity through it would help them get to know the people and maybe approach them privately,” -a respondent remarked.

Large-scale events, such as pride marches or art exhibitions, can also be held on campus to inculcate sensitivity among the general public and to generate a more open and welcoming environment for the community. Educating the student body would be a crucial mission. “I think one of the key reasons why people oppose alternate sexualities is because they have a lack of exposure to such ideas.

Therefore sensitizing people and educating them would go a long way”, added a respondent. Activities of a functional LGBT group like Vannam would contribute immensely to this, but another convenient way to do the same might be to simply include it in a Life Skills session for the first-year students.

A large portion of the campus population may not even be aware of the distinction between ‘sex’ and ‘gender’, let alone be mindful of the labels that are in use.

There’s no such thing as an ideal queer person. A lot of queer people hide aspects of their personality fearing judgement. Mostly when people say that dressing or talking in a certain way makes them uncomfortable, it usually stems from their own internalized homophobia.

-said one of the respondent.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 16

There are certainly some positive aspects that the campus environment offers to LGBTQ+ students. It serves as an oasis for those who may be closeted in their homes. “I miss insti because I didn’t need to hide my identity completely. At home it’s tough to hear homophobic stuff casually brought up in conversation”, added a student. The opportunity to meet people from the community without the constant worry of their families finding out is a breath of fresh air for many. Although there is still a long way to go before widespread and mainstream acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, collective efforts in understanding and empathy are sure to help immensely.

“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.”-Jason Collins, first openly gay athlete in U.S. pro sports.

Filter Kaafi

By Niharika

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 17

How insti lingo conquered the world GOWRI RAJ VARMA

Editor's Comments This interview was conducted in English with as few Insti Lingo words as possible because the reporter is a Grammar Nazi who simply didn’t have the heart to deconstruct this rather simple yet verbose language.

W

orld famous author Prof. Dhana-Dhan, whose previous works include

the massive flop-busters “How To Imbibe Life Skills In Uninterested Students”, and “The Practices of a Perfunctory Professor”, has decided to pay no heed to his past failures and embark upon yet another book, titled “How Insti Lingo Conquered the World”.

Here’s an interview taken by our star reporter, Ms. Uninterested Umavati, where Prof. Dhana-Dhan spills

edited by Mahima Raut design by Abhiram Pavithran

all the beans about the story behind the language that runs contemporary society, the bizarre “Insti Lingo” of IIT Madras.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 18

Ms. Uninterested (yawning): Good morning.

Before we begin, may I ask why you insisted upon holding this interview so early in the morning?

Prof. Dhana-Dhan: You see, I base all my important decisions on pseudo-science, and I believe that the cosmic forces align perfectly at 8 am to provide optimal levels of productivity.

Ms. Uninterested (looking uninterested): Ah, I see. Anyway, let us proceed with the questions.

A thesis on insti lingo

How did Insti Lingo become so widespread?

Prof. Dhana-Dhan: This is a very fascinating socio-cultural-linguistic-psychological-historical study. It all started around the time of the IT Revolution,

which

is

when

several

Ms. Uninterested: Was it a well-known mode of communication within the campus at that point?

IIT-M

Prof. Dhana-Dhan: The lingo evolved when

graduates decided to ditch the country and move

students realised that their brain cells could not

to the States, with high hopes of making money

comprehend proper sentences anymore. It was

in Silicon Valley. The aim was to send as many

commonplace in daily conversation, but it

students there to take over the IT industry and

morphed

establish a monopoly. And then, one fine day in

Thayirsadham’s master plan. So he and a bunch

the summer of 2010, a hyper enthu freshie

of other equally enthu kids formed a secret cult

member of the E-Cell called Thayirsadham

that specialize in training Silicon Valley aspirants

Ramasamy chanced upon an idea: what if the best

in skills such as ‘how to infiltrate codes with Insti

way to ensure complete dominance was through

Lingo’ and ‘how to brainwash Americans into

perpetuating an entirely new language that no

accepting the superiority of our language’.

one else in the world is aware of? And then it struck him— why look anywhere else when we have our own Insti Lingo?

into

a

full-blown

language

after

A rather extremist sect also taught lessons involving ninja techniques to murder anybody who found out about this mission (with monkeys being used as dummies). The cult also had a few

Thayirsadham Ramasamy chanced upon an idea: what if the best way to ensure complete dominance was through perpetuating an entirely new language that no one else in the world is aware of? And then it struck him— why look anywhere else when we have our own Insti Lingo?

HS members, who were heavily inspired by the Communist

Manifesto’s

call

for

revolution,

seeking to destroy American neo-imperialism.

Mr. Thayirsadham himself was the first member of the cult to begin carrying out the operation when he found a million-dollar package waala job with Twitter immediately after graduation.

When placed in such a high executive position, the mission was all too easy to carry out.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 19

He replaced every senior official with a graduate of the cult, and outlawed the use of English because apparently, high ranking officials can do whatever they want. Soon, Insti Lingo started gaining immense popularity amongst the Gen-Z and

millennial

bunch.

And

since

Of course, there was initial opposition from older puritans of the English language, but they were squashed by the collective cry of “ok boomer”.

this

demographic rules the Internet (or so they think), every single website and app were quick to change languages. Insti’s E-Cell Twitter page gained 1 billion followers, because they got

Ms. Uninterested: It’s rather astonishing as to how quickly the language caught on, don’t you think?

official access to circulate the Insti Lingo

Prof. Dhana-Dhan: Not really. Like I mentioned

Dictionary and Rulebook (rendering the Oxford

before, people were too tired of stringing long

dictionary obsolete).

sentences together. Everyone likes shortcuts these days. And look at how versatile the Lingo is!

Soon, Insti Lingo started gaining immense popularity amongst the Gen-Z and millennial bunch… they (Insti’s ECell) got official access to circulate the Insti Lingo Dictionary and Rulebook (rendering the Oxford dictionary obsolete).

The United Nations has foregone both English and French to make Insti Lingo their official language. Their motto is now “put peace”. Queen Elizanodeath the immortal one) now refuses to address her subjects with any other phrase except “British Junta”. The voting process in Parliaments are now extremely simple- all they have to do is raise a placard that says “+1”.

Ms. Uninterested: Was there no opposition to such a revolution?

Prof. Dhana-Dhan: Lady, you underestimate the strength of Indian engineering graduates who want to make money. The Ivy Leagues wish they were as creative as our lot. Of course, there was initial opposition from older puritans of the

The oath-taking ceremony of the Prime Minister has been renamed as the “Put Intro” procedure.

Instead of calling each other comrades, Kim Ding Dong-Un has decreed that the citizens of North Korea will be beheaded if they do not refer to each other as “macha”.

English language, but they were squashed by the

In fact, the only thing that’s spread faster than

collective cry of “ok boomer”.

the Lingo is the coronavirus. The entire world

Soon, in a desperate attempt to reconnect with their children who seemed to be mumbling incomprehensible gibberish, several parents were assimilated into the Insti Lingo Fold.

Popular books such as the Harry Potter series began to be translated into the Lingo. JK Brawling protested by claiming that Insti Lingo wasn’t a “valid language”, and she was cancelled by everyone all over again.

has collectively taken to Twitter to express their anger at China for “cupping” the covid situation so badly. World leaders are going on news channel interviews and asking their panicked citizens to take lite when asked about public health and the economy. Only New Zealand’s Prime Minister seems to have thulped in terms of handling the crisis.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 20

And the American President Donald Dump finally resigned due to massive public pressure after covid deaths reached ten million in the US, by releasing a statement that merely said “Kay, gonna pack”. In way of celebration, Lil Pump released a brand-new single titled “Gult Gang” which hit #1 on the Billboard Top Hundred because people just can’t get enough of the

IIT-M’s administration were so proud of them that they started a whole new Bachelor’s Degree program that trains both moderate and extremist Insti Lingo fanatics, because the job market demands for it these days, and it’s replaced CS to become the most sought-after branch.

amazing combination of Insti Lingo and mumble rap.

Anyway, I’ve given too many details away. To know more about the socio-cultural-linguistic-

spread

In fact, the only thing that’s faster than the Lingo is

psychological-historical story behind the Insti

the

Lingo Revolution, be sure to buy my book! The

coronavirus. The entire world has collectively taken to Twitter to express their anger at China for “cupping” the covid situation so badly.

monkeys of IIT-M have given it very good reviews. I’ll also be appearing on Koffee with Karan to spill some tea about the intimate details behind some of the training techniques employed by the cult members. Have a good day, and don’t

Ms.

Uninterested

(not-so-uninterested

anymore): So what are Mr. Thayirsadham and his cult doing now?

forget to attend your 8 AM classes.

Ms. Uninterested: Thank you for your time, Sir, although I seriously doubt this book will fare any

Prof. Dhana-Dhan: Oh, IIT-M’s administration

better in comparison to your other…uh…projects!

were so proud of them that they started a whole

(mumbling to herself): So this all started because

new Bachelor’s Degree program that trains both

of an enthu freshie, huh? I wonder if Mr.

moderate and extremist Insti Lingo fanatics,

Thayirsadham is single.

because the job market demands for it these days, and it’s replaced CS to become the most

***

sought-after branch. Mr. Thayirsadham’s net worth is rising exponentially and he’s RGing Jeff Bezoz maxx to become the richest man in the world.

In fact, he plans on sending some of these cult members to Mars, to establish the first colony in

DISCLAIMER: This article is a work of satire and fully fabricated. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the

space that converses solely in the Lingo. If that

author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

mission ends up being successful, he will join

These stories based on or surrounding or

them to take his rightful position as the

about these people or figures are almost

“Supreme Stud”.

entirely fiction and are intended as satire and entertainment.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 21

Personalised Advertising: 'Ad' Hominem?

ABHISHEK SEKAR

Editor's Comments This was the first article in the Back to the Future series and my first article as an editor for T5E, so I had no idea what to expect going in. The aim of the series was to integrate pop culture with science and technology, and I was very excited to see the ideas that would come out of it. We picked the theme for the first article - we wanted to look at the movie 'Minority Report' and the astonishingly accurate predictions it made that inspired quite a few advertisement campaigns. Working on the piece itself was a great experience, and it threw up a lot of interesting tidbits of information. Abhishek did a great job with the writing, and the final piece after a bit of editing was both informative and very entertaining, and definitely set the tone for the rest of the series!

edited by Amrita design by Hardhik Pinjala

"W

e don’t choose the things we believe in; they choose us.� This powerful quote is

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 22

from the movie Minority Report, released in

wrong about these predictions is that we don’t

2002. This award-winning science fiction and

have to wait till 2054 to experience this

action drama made by legendary filmmaker

technology. For the making of this film, Spielberg

Steven Spielberg stars Tom Cruise in the pivotal

had organized a three-day conclave of 15 experts

role of John Anderton. It’s loosely based on the

from diverse fields of science and culture to

famous science fiction writer Philip K. Dick’s

envision a plausible future society and the

short story with the same name. Here’s a spoiler-

technologies involved. This and the perfect

free premise of the movie – it is set primarily in

translation of this vision could be the reason

Washington DC in 2054, where ‘PreCrime’, a

behind its technological accuracy.

specialized police unit, apprehends potential criminals

based

on

prescient

information

provided by three psychics called ‘PreCogs’, and through this means have successfully eliminated murders. The chief of PreCrime, John Anderton, is predicted to murder a man he doesn’t know which causes him to go on the run. What happens after forms the crux of the plot.

This movie was critically acclaimed for its layered and dark plot questioning free will (that’s a topic for another time though.) It also won accolades for its accurate predictions of future technology. Our focus is on one such prediction, namely, personalized advertising.

So how does personalized advertising work? Am I being watched by Big Brother? Is it good or bad? These could be some questions that are still bothering you but fret not as by the end of this article, everything will hopefully become clear.

A Short History Ads have always been important since time immemorial

as

they

have

served

as

the

preliminary interface between consumers and vendors. The first big leap in advertising came with the advent of radios and TVs. The first advertisement on radio was in 1922 and eight years later, the first noteworthy attempt of

The scene from Minority Report that had the

personalisation came from advertising pioneer

advertising world captivated is one in which John

Rosser Reeves who introduced the idea of a

strolls through a mall, and he is followed and

unique selling proposition, known today as USPs.

bombarded by ads that mention him by name.

A USP describes how your company would

‘The road you’re on, John Anderton, is the one

resolve a consumer’s problems and why the

less traveled,’ a Lexus billboard whispers at him

others

as he passes. This tells us that the billboard is

toothpaste company claims that their brand

updated dynamically and targets customers with

destroys 99 percent of germs while their rival’s

a personalised quote, meaning John’s database is

percentage isn’t worth mentioning. Companies

instantaneously obtained with a single scan. He

gradually started putting in more research for

walks into a store where an AI system scans him

advertisements and attempted to forge bonds

and then greets him by enquiring about his

with the public. Fast-forward to 1994, when the

previous purchases. The one thing the movie got

first internet ad was put out by AT&T.

wouldn’t

–

just

like

every

second

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020| PAGE 23

You might find this ad boring, but believe it or not, about 44% of the people who saw this clicked it. The click then led them to an AT&T web page. Personalised advertising as we know it today was born after companies started playing around with the consumer’s psyche, and the focus was directed at the customers rather than the products.

This is an ad on Facebook from 2008. The reason such ads were successful, at least in their inception,

was

because

consumer-consumer

trust is stronger than consumer-brand trust.

Fast forward to the present day, and Facebook now has 98 personal data points on its 2.2 billion users. Google collects enough personal data from

numbers are then crunched and digested to use

users which, when printed on sheets and stacked

for hyper-targeting or delivering extremely

would be as tall as a 16 story building. All these

personalised advertisements to interested

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 24

individuals.

be shown after thoroughly analyzing information

Shown above are different kinds of targeting used by companies. However, all theory and no application is no good. Therefore, let us dive into some real-life examples and understand how companies implement the above ideas with some additional masala of their own.

with

good

consumer

relations. A big factor contributing to their goodwill

among

consumers

you’ve noticed, the longer you spend time on this site, the better the recommendations you get.

The reason behind this is that these algorithms thrive on data which is accumulated with every

Timing is key: These algorithms use behavioural

Considered here are Netflix and Amazon, two companies

recommendation is a good example of this. If

instant spent on the site.

How do companies use this data?

buzzing

from these data points. Amazon’s product

is

how

they

personalise content. Their process is quite similar and could roughly be divided into three

and time targeting (targeting based on timeactivity relationship of a consumer) to the fullest.

For instance, if you spend a lot of time watching thrillers on Netflix, you’re bound to get yet another thriller as a recommendation. This would seem obvious, but what’s not obvious is that by

steps.

incorporating data from both these modes of

Testing: Every time you log onto these sites,

programs or something that you’ve watched

especially Netflix, chances are that you’re part

halfway late in the night since your activity is

of human trials to improve the personalisation

bound to be minimal then.

targeting, Netflix is bound to recommend shorter

engine. This trial is called ‘A/B testing’ where users

are

presented

with

two

different

experiences, and their behaviour is duly noted.

Netflix runs roughly 250 of these tests every year with 100,000 people involved in each trial.

This

testing

process

is

given

maximum

weightage in personalizing content, and a perfect example of this is the landing page of Netflix,

which

entices

you

to

linger

by

displaying appealing content.

Using AI to power the recommendation engine: These companies have a vested interest in AI and machine learning, and deep learning is their go-to process. It is a method in which algorithms

are

behaviour,

given

used some

to

predict

human

information.

This

information is obtained by analyzing user behaviour

through

targeting

mechanisms,

some of which are mentioned in the image above. Netflix, for instance, has about 80,000 ways of zeroing on the specific content to

Nearly 560 billion USD is spent every year on advertising worldwide. Advertising is not that predictable a field and is becoming extremely competitive since better/more personalised ads get a better spot for a cheaper cost and can impact customers efficiently.

Therefore companies are scrounging every last piece of data on the internet to create the perfect ad. Scandals such as the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook ones are being unearthed on a regular basis. Privacy could be under threat with cookies (pieces of data stored on your computer when you visit a site, that could then be used to track or analyse you sometimes) being the real-life parallel of the FBI in memes (For the unaware, FBI is touted to be extremely nosey and

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020| PAGE 25

supposedly

follows

your

every

move

by

controlling your tech.)

Mini, the automobile company, ran a billboard campaign in 2007 which targeted Mini drivers with a personalized message on their billboards

The above statements make it clear that personalised advertising is a mixed bag and comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. With personalised advertising, consumers only get ads that they’re interested in and this increases the efficiency of product delivery to the consumer. However, an efficient personalisation algorithm requires a lot of data points to work with which might lead to the compromised.

consumers’

privacy

being

Similarly, advertisers benefit with a decreased

in real-time. They did this, unbelievably, with a human crew which depended on other people to relay messages to them as and when a Mini was approaching.

In 2013, Tesco installed face-scanning technology at their gas stations to target personalized advertisements to their customers based on the information obtained through said technology. Tesco, however, said that this scan would only be taken with the consumer’s consent after issues regarding privacy breaching were raised.

advertising cost, since they only advertise to potentially

More recently, a Manchester-based startup

improve the return on the money invested in

called Bidooh has been raking in big moolah

advertising. Personalised advertising also helps

owing to their Minority Report-style billboards.

the advertisers understand the psyche of their

The startup uses facial recognition cameras

target

proper

within billboards to identify characteristics of

personalisation algorithm, a lot of time, money

passers-by which are then processed by deep

and effort has to be invested in the research and

learning algorithms to produce tailor-made ads

development phase compared to a conventional

in real-time, emulating the Lexus billboard from

advertisement.

Minority Report. Companies are now striving to

potential

customers.

groups.

This

could

However,

for

a

reach this pinnacle of advertising, where they’re Not so fictional after all Reverting to Minority Report, the movie actually inspired a bunch of companies to develop novel

able to sell a product instantaneously after the consumer develops a want for it, just as shown in the movie.

advertising methods which could potentially be

Targeted advertising aside, this is just the tip of

the preferred ones in the future.

the

iceberg

as

far

as

the

technological

predictions in this movie are concerned. So, if you haven’t watched Minority Report yet and had no motivation to – well, now you do!

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 26

Tomorrow's AIdelivered today!

Editor's Comments The third article of the startups of insti series, is a very special one! Quite impressed by the journeys of the first 2 startups, I assumed Hyperverge would have a similar trajectory. But boy was I wrong! Been around for a bit longer time, theirs is interesting

SREEKAR SAI R

because of 2 main reasons. One is their beginning as a humble student club, who stayed together, built together, and even now they work together!

Second, it is truly amazing how they align their ikigai (which is to focus on the fundamental problems) with their strengths and interests in technology. Honestly, even with their own ups and downs, it has a fairytale touch to it. Of course, Sreekar has brilliantly captured all the facts (and has lent a fine structure to them :D) after hours spent in watching their videos, reading their blogs and talking to different people from Hyperverge.

We are sure this would make an enjoyable and motivational read, and we hope Hypervege (and

edited by S Vishal design by Abhiram Pavithran

other startups of insti for that matter :P) continue flying high!

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 27

I

magine yourself waking up every day to

work on cutting-edge technology problems with handsome returns. What if, at the same time you could be directly contributing to the well-being

When a lot of these folks dropped off, there were a bunch of us who were left and we were like, okay, so what do we do next? Because a competition just

of society? As satisfying as this might sound, this stands in stark contrast with typical companies we see today – purely profit-driven entities for which giving back to society is oft symbolic, rather than

can’t be the end of all of this, right?

After weeks of contemplation, an idea had sprung up in their minds. Why not use their expertise in computer vision to provide consulting services to

meaningful. Perhaps it’s a conflicting objective to

companies? That’s when they realized that they

making a successful business. Or is it?

could

HyperVerge is a deep-tech startup from insti

do

something

together

that

could

potentially create revenue

that has now cemented itself as a market leader in cutting-edge technologies, delivering highaccuracy AI solutions at scale. At the same time, it is setting an example by actively working towards the upliftment of society.

To dig deeper into their story, we reached out to Kishore Natarajan, one of the co-founders, who gave us some great insights into their journey, from being an enthusiastic group at CFI to the growing economic powerhouse that it is today.

The Origins Kishore mentions a specific incident that was pivotal in shaping their thoughts about what they wanted to do in their lives. It was that time of the year at insti when CFI is bustling with activity.

Among the different groups pulling off allnighters to make their innovative ideas work, CVG (Computer Vision Group – now known as CVI) was preparing to represent insti at the IARC (International Aerial Robotics Competition). As fate would have it, right before the competition, their module got heavily damaged, forcing them to drop out of the event. When this happened, a number of people left the team. At this point, Kishore said that there was a common feeling amongst the rest:

The then Dean (Students), Dr. L.S. Ganesh interacting with animated characters at the augmented reality exhibit The team then began experimenting with a variety

of

small

industrial

projects

using

computer vision. It was at the CFI open house, where the group got to showcase all the work that they’d done; of which their augmented reality (AR) exhibit generated a lot of excitement.

To their surprise, the very next day, they received a call from the Dean (IC&SR), Dr. Krishnan Balasubramaniam, asking them to take a shot at a project given to IIT-M by the Indian Railways. Working on such a high profile assignment while in college was an incredible experience for them. They spent days and nights experimenting with various solutions to the problem and realized that they could actually be solving real-world problems while making revenue at the same time.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 28

In due course of time, they gathered experience by working on a number of industrial projects

When we did our research,

and wanted to see what the corporate world

KV (Vignesh) discovered that there was

looked like. So in their third year, the members

something called deep learning.

took up interns as an opportunity to gain such insights.

Most

of

them,

however,

were

disillusioned with the experience. The feeling of excitement that they had while working on challenging problems together was almost nonexistent in their interns.

At that time, almost no one had heard of one of the most pervasive terms of today. It was an exciting new tool that had promising applications in image processing that had never been seen before. Around the time, with camera phones becoming popular, and Instagram going viral, people were taking tonnes of pictures. With a cocktail of circumstances coming into play, it seemed like the most opportune moment to develop

a

smart

photo-sharing

app

that

leveraged the capabilities of deep learning. If it worked out, there was virtually nothing stopping them from there. In addition, they had also come up with the idea of a cloud-based video processing platform for enterprise customers.

Members of the CVG with their AR exhibit At that point, they were very clear that the logical way forward for them was to work towards starting up. But there were other concerns looming. As most of them were from middle-class backgrounds, their parents were, naturally, anxious as well. At the time, starting up was not as ubiquitous as it is today. As many

A part of the group working in 2016

insti startups can relate to, it wasn’t an easy call.

To make themselves an independent entity that could sustain itself, they needed to find a way to bring in revenue. They had to answer a crucial question: What products should they spend their time on building? Kishore doesn’t recollect going on a tour during his final year. The team was working

extremely

hard.

After

scrambling

through loads of business models, publications and experimentation, he says that they had a hunch they’d discovered the ‘missing piece’.

Taking the dive Convinced that the market that they were looking for was in the U.S., they decided to travel half-way across the globe to raise funds, and hopefully find customers. While Kishore and Praveen took over all the responsibilities in India, Vignesh and Kedar booked the cheapest flight they could find to New York.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 29

Kedar (the CEO), in a blog post, mentions that

It almost seemed as if the HyperVerge dream was

this was one of the most important trips they had

falling apart. With less than a year’s worth of cash

ever made:

[1]

left in the bank, the future seemed obscure.

Kishore says that it was unimaginable for them to

While we never thought of it in

think that they may have to lose the wonderful

that way, deep within we knew this trip would be

group of people they had been working with for

the make or break event for HyperVerge.

so long :

Talking to several insti alumni and others from

When we looked at our team

industries and universities brought them clarity

and said, boss, we can’t get to work with

and

confidence.

Presenting

their

ideas[2] to

potential investors for the first time, it took a while before they could get their act together and make that perfect pitch. In another post, Kedar’s words express that transformation :

Our journey so far had taken us to extreme lows where we were starting to believe that our ideas did not seem to excite anyone except us. It only took a few incredible conversations for that to change.

such amazing people who are so driven and motivated by the same kind of things that you think will work. And that meant we could just not let the team down.

Looking Inwards If you’ve ever been in a group in such trying times, you begin to think deeply about why you got together in the first place. That’s exactly what the team decided to ask themselves. In what they

And it changed in a huge way. Finally, our

consider one of the most critical meetings during

pitch started working. More importantly, we

their journey, in December 2016, all the thirteen

had found a story, a vision that we ourselves

members of the team got together to meet at the

could honestly believe in.

cafeteria to answer one question :

Back from a fairly successful trip, the hunt for customers continued. Ideas were floated all over

If we were all to work together

the place, from marketing, food, healthcare and

on something together important that

almost every other sector they could think of, hoping to bridge the problem-solution fit. Talks with potential customers were simply not getting [2]

converted into deals. Most importantly, having to educate them about the new technology was a challenge. The photo-sharing app hadn’t been [3] picking up either, and to make matters worse, Google

Photos

introducing

the

had same

released photo

an

update,

categorisation

feature that they’d released just a month ago – and it was available for free.

would mean a lot to us in our lives, what would that be? We asked ourselves that question very hard.

There was a consensus that they wanted to work on fundamental issues in society: education, healthcare, rural unemployment and the like.

Making their intentions clear to their investors, they looked to them for guidance.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 30

That’s when a lot of advice came in from several quarters,

and

in

particular,

from

Technology was our hammer

Venky

Harinarayan, who made it clear to them that

and we were hitting every nail we could

even making a dent in any of those areas was not

find, hoping that one or two could go in…

practical for a startup. To make a fundamental

and that’s how we ended up working in

impact in this world, mere intent wasn’t enough.

It needed money, the capability, and most importantly – time, which is exactly what startups don’t have. They needed to stand the test of time.

[6]

Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and CEO of Zoho, heard them out as well. What he had done with Zoho was and still remains a huge inspiration to them. From being a bootstrapped company, Zoho is now setting an example with unconventional training programs at the Zoho University (see

Fintech and geospatial services AI solutions built by HyperVerge are powering applications for large enterprise clients in financial services, telecom, energy, security, and defense. Today, the company has over 80 clients including Jio, Vodafone, SBI Card and Bajaj Finserv amongst many others. It leads the market in V-KYC (video-KYC) services, with over 280 million KYCs in 2019, and the highest accuracy of [4]

99.5%.

Zoho Schools of Learning), which takes in several talented students who are unable to pursue

higher

studies

due

to

financial

constraints, and equips them with skills to build a career, coupled with a source of income, actively bringing their families out of their cycle of disadvantage. They’d gone on to do things that a government could not hope to do. Kishore says that this example gave them the clarity they needed :

We saw that we could be

A part of the group working in 2016

building a business and at the same time contributing to people without confusing both of these in our heads.

Sridhar cut out the task for HyperVerge and suggested that they relentlessly focussed on their revenues to become a profit-making entity.

They set out with the monumental challenge of making half a million dollars in the first year.

Pulling out all the stops, the team succeeded, and [3]

in fact, doubled their returns in the next. Zoho became one of their first clients.

Giving Back Having achieved formidable success, they began to bring their focus back onto the fundamental problems they had been looking forward to work on. But when should a startup begin contributing to society? Is it when it reaches a certain level of economic independence? Or when it becomes a unicorn?

For HyperVerge, the answer was loud and clear – now was the time to do it.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 31

HyperVerge has now begun working towards

This happens especially when building a startup,

achieving its ultimate goal. They now have two

where there is no written ruleset. It’s very easy to

people (also insti alumni) working with the job

get lost and people could be saying anything that

title of ’contribution’. Eevera, who has been

comes to their mind.

working on grassroots education for the past seven years, with first-hand experience trying to understand

education

in

rural

areas;

and

Gayathri, a CSE graduate, who after working at Goldman Sachs realized that making money couldn’t be the purpose of life, and discovered

Advice comes free of cost.

Everyone gives you advice. You need to have the clarity to filter out and take what works and not what doesn’t. Sometimes, you’ll be absolutely wrong.

ways to create real impact herself. The two are now working with a cohort of 20-30 people from rural

areas,

seeing

how

they

could

be

empowered with a career trajectory that could make their salaries three or four times more than what they earn now.

two thousand people out of their cycle of disadvantage. How, you ask? Kishore elaborates that some effective ways are to help them get a or

enabling

entrepreneurs

CEO) played a pivotal role in this, making sure that the team stayed together through all of their highs and lows, sticking to what they believed was the right direction when the times ahead

Over the next year, the team hopes to bring over

job

In their case, Kedar Kulkarni (co-founder and

them

through

to

become

funding.

micro-

The

most

powerful way, however, is to provide just one person in the family an education who would ensure that the rest of the family gets educated.

were blurry. ‘His calm-headedness, and ability to convince and give confidence to anyone was an interesting

ability’,

says

Kishore.

When

HyperVerge needed cash to survive, simply the conviction and confidence that Kedar had expressed to the clients gave them the belief that this, indeed, was a group of people they could pay money upfront to work with.

One of the biggest advantages that people at insti

Every year, several thousands of people continue

have, is what Kishore calls ‘crazy optimism’.

to migrate to cities in search of job opportunities

There’s almost nothing to us we would call

and the hope of a better income. This is mainly

outright impossible. But starting up is no walk in

because companies set up offices in major cities.

the park. Being college kids with zero experience,

To reverse this trend, HyperVerge also plans to

how do you learn the ropes?

open an office in Coimbatore, which would stand as a model that goes into other villages and towns around the district. Food for Thought

Food for Thought One of the most important things to keep in mind while starting up, Kishore points out, is having clarity and a sense of direction.

One way is to simply do what you think is right, get bruised by your mistakes and learn from them. If you, instead, decide to hear from people who have traversed that path already – you get a heads-up on what to expect. Finally, the most essential way to learn is to read documented literature on the subject. Reading about isolated instances may provide inspiration, but these don’t give you the complete picture, akin to the parable of the blind men and the elephant.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 32

Comprehensive studies, on the other hand, show you common patterns of what works, and what

Just make sure that you stay joyful,

doesn’t – something you can find in a book, and

whatever it is that you’re doing; That is

not a blog. “It’ll open you up to new ideas and

the baseline. Most people don’t talk about

contexts you were never aware of”, he says.

it, but if you’re building a startup, and you’re yelling at your teammates, I don’t

In all of these years, what has remained constant is not the problems that we started with, nor is the technology that we started out with at the core. The only thing that [2]

has remained in all these years is this set of people who are crazy enough to say that this is what we will do.

think

you

might

want

to

do

that

journey.You become sad, disappointed and anxiety levels shoot up – then it’s probably not the right thing to do.

For me, the biggest takeaway from their journey is not just the fact that they succeeded in their pursuit of becoming a startup. I stand in awe of

This, to Kishore, is the most important thing they

the quality of human curiosity and drive to

had, for which they continue to be immensely

explore the unknown; and the wonderful things

grateful for:

that could happen when a group of people come together and put all their might into doing

We’re extremely grateful

something they truly believe in.

for having the kind of company that we’ve had, where you can look to your left and right and still be like, man, these are an amazing set of people to be working with! Not just because they’re smart. But because they’re driven for the right reasons and the right motivation to fight.

You’re probably a starry-eyed student hoping to achieve your dream of starting-up some day. It’s certainly no cakewalk, and it’ll be riddled with potholes where you’d least expect it. To the future startups of insti, he just has one last piece of advice : Talking with Kishore opened my eyes to the thought process behind a successful startup, and what a gruelling, yet exciting and rewarding expedition it could be.

***

VOX POPULI VOX INSTI Assignment Overdue!!!

In this episode, we talk about how the modified evaluation methods of the semester have been impacting student's lives.

Finally, we speak with Prof. Jithin John Varghese, a faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department, and speak to him about how he has had to change how courses work this semester.

Listen to it here!

Social Life in Insti In the very first episode of Vox Populi Vox Insti, we talk about social life at IITM! Listen to it here!

In Her Shoes- 1 & 2 In this bonus episode of Vox Populi Vox Insti, we have six amazing graduating women talking about their time in insti. In their highly engrossing conversation, Kowshika, Naomi, Niharika, Nikhita, Pravallika, and Ramya talk about careers, being a ‘Woman in STEM’, diversity quotas, PoRs, hostel wings, and much more!

Listen to part 1 and part 2 here!

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 34

MEET THE TEAM PRESS SHARAYU SHEJALE

AMINA MEHBOOB

Executive Editor

Correspondent

Maker of spreadsheets

If the expression "meh" was a person.

JYOTSNA VARKEY

AMRITA MAHESH

Correspondent

Editor

grandma in a midi skirt and

Anonymous Quagga

bucket hat with an incessant chicken wing obsession.

VISHAL S

DEVIKA DINESH

Editor When not musing about my destiny, I gossip just about everything under the sun :3

A subliminal coffeeshop, the right type, also serving comic relief on the side.

ANNA DOMINIC Sisyphus lives in my head rent-free.

gives her a sword; even a fancy

Correspondent The

carousel

never

stops

turning.

Correspondent Living the manga life!

Correspondent

Editor

music!

who

GAYATHRI S

SIDDHARTH D P

and

anyone

HRISHIL SHINDE

Editor

literature

appreciate

NEHA ANAND

Editor

from

Will

dagger would do really.

MAHIMA RAUT

Anything

Correspondent

math poetry

to and

Mentally shooting down people who

think

"how

many

females/HS students it takes to change a lightbulb" is a joke.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 35

MAHIMA SHARMA

SREEKAR SAI RANGANATHAN

Correspondent I surf, ski and live life to the extreme, but only when I daydream.

Correspondent Silly little grey cells digging into the unknown.

GOWRI RAJ VARMA Correspondent sucker for filter kaapi, long walks, personalized playlists, and

emo

conversations

at

SAHIL HALARNKAR Correspondent I overthink, therefore I am.

midnight

ROHINI DIKSHIT Correspondent life aspiration is to be a Korean fire noodles dealer

ABHISHEK SEKAR Correspondent The ability to lie is my liability.

LAKSHMI PRIYA S L Correspondent Waiting

for

that

relative to leave me a caste in the mountains.

ANVITH PABBA Correspondent I threw a boomerang a few years ago. I now live in constant fear.

NEHA SUSAN CHERIAN

PREETHA DEVI

Correspondent

Correspondent

adj. that yellow book-fountain

Hopelessly INFP.

pen-vintage

barrette-empty

crossword grid aesthetic.

CALVIN Correspondent "Jolly Good Show!" ~ Pops Maellard, 2020

unknown

JAI SANTHOSHI S Correspondent I need coffee in an I.V.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 36

VIBHU SHARMA

SHREETHIGHA G

Correspondent

Correspondent

Hoops afficionado. Sharmaji ka

It might seem like I'm 32.148

beta.

seconds behind.

DESIGN SWATI SHEENUM Design Head I just want to drink coffee and make pretty things

SHAURYA RAWAT Design Correspondent If my hairstyle had a name, it'd be called "I tried".

SHREETHIGHA G Design Correspondent But really, I'm 1.481 ahead.

ABHIRAM PAVITHRAN O Design Correspondent I'm just a vampire in disguise :')

HARDHIK PINJALA Design Correspondent

GADARLA ROHIT

I sure do smile a lot for

Design Correspondent

someone who has no clue

aspiring recluse.

what's happening.

WEBOPS ARYAMAAN Webops Coordinator The only secret there is to creativity is knowing how to hide the sources well.

WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020 | PAGE 37

RESEARCH SARVESH SAKHARE Research Head Just tell me when and where and

I'll

be

there

fifteen

minutes late :) SARVANI CHEVURU Analyst I have a way with words, but only until I am expected to use them.

AAYUSH RAJ Analyst Anonymous Alligator

ARVIND CAR Analyst I occasionally do stuff, but more often, I do not.

KESHAV RAO Analyst

ROHAN GHANTY

Anonymous Zebra

Analyst Anonymous Octopus

PODCAST SAI GUHA Head/Host

LAKSHYA

I panic, I panic-organise and

Producer, Co-Host

then I panic again. It's a

I could easily get under your

vicious cycle.

skin if I tried, but I don't.

SAKSHAM Producer, Co-Host I want to do stand-up on Mars.

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