“The increase in student strength on campus this year has created its own challenges.”  - from our August ’09 issue

“If stories about the increase…are giving you jitters…” – from our April ’07 issue

“A new….is being planned…”  - often makes an appearance“The increase in student strength on campus this year has created its own challenges.”  - from our August ’09 issue

“If stories about the increase…are giving you jitters…” – from our April ’07 issue“A new….is being planned…”  - often makes an appearance

Rather than harp on the visibly apparent problems thrown up by a rapidly expanding student population, Prof. N. Dhang prefers to accept the fact in all its reality and prepare to meet the challenges that will undoubtedly present themselves. As head of the Civil Works Department which carries out all the construction-related tasks, he’s made available to The Scholars’ Avenue a comprehensive and detailed master-plan of all intended expansion projects. A vision of the future: in one place, in one map, for all to take note of.  Agreed, it’s only a blueprint with artists’ impressions and there aren’t accurate deadlines set for each of the projects, but the very scale is impressive: from a Nalanda to complement Vikramshila to new circulation routes that could expand our conception of a world of 2.2 kms. Furthermore, a plan laid down also becomes a plan that we, as a well-informed campus community in general, can expect and demand results from.

To be sure, there are still areas that remain fuzzy, for example the idea of a food court. Over the years, we’ve seen its location being juggled between the PAN loop and behind the Gymkhana and its form vary from an eatery to a three-story plush hangout. Or making Jnan Ghosh SF-friendly (with the help of a concrete stage, for one). As per Prof. Dhang, the student body coming forth with suggestions or specific opinions on the matter could make a difference, and he is interested in presenting his ideas to them and receiving their feedback. Prof. Dhang was in fact eager to see these designs disseminated among people of the campus.

And what is his take on the labour problem? “It’s a myth. One must not make up his or her mind that it is something which cannot be solved. The work in RP, Azad and MT halls being completed on time is proof that with effective management, these problems can be solved.”

Sometimes it is existent, like an inconspicuous needle in a hay stack, sometimes like an ostentatious parade of unity. For decades, if not centuries, this phenomenon, pervasive to say the least, has managed to veil itself in an imperceptible cloak of self deniability. It’s been one of the few practices of man (or to keep the feminist at bay, mankind) that has been able to survive the test of time without having any complaisant reasoning to substantiate it. A vast majority of today’s Indian society perceives it as an occurrence which must be eradicated under all circumstances. However, a seemingly equal majority, surprisingly, extends a silent but steady support to this one-of-a-kind tradition which, more commonly, goes by the name of ragging in our Subcontinent.

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It is no well-kept secret that the JEE this year was rather eventful, with much fodder for gossip provided to the media, print or otherwise.  An entire nation was entertained by the latest shenanigans of the education ministry and the IITs, what with all the JEE bungling. Alarmed students crossed their fingers, a disgruntled Nitish Kumar hankered for re-examination, Kapil Sibal gasped for air despite all his glibness, and JEE chairmen scurried for cover. To add to the list of goof-ups, 52 students were wrongly invited for admissions, only to be shown the door later. Et cetera.

That JEE 2010 might have unwittingly resulted in random selections is not an unjustifiable concern. The situation could not have been salvaged by any degree of corrective measures, the assurances of the JEE chairman, and Mr. Sibal, notwithstanding. All this at a time when everybody is complaining of the deteriorating IIT standards. 

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Career Launcher will be holding registrations for their online CAT Test Series on August 22, 2010 (Sunday) from 3 PM to 5 PM.

Venue: Veggies

For details, please contact: +91 9874194346  (Mr. Gopinath)

DAAD  is an association of higher education institutions and student bodies of the Federal Republic of Germany for promoting international academic co-operation with Germany through the global exchange of students, research scholars, professors and scientists. DAAD has been working in India for over 40 years, providing fellowships and research grants, supporting guest lectureships and helping to establish university collaborations.

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The 56th Convocation Ceremony will commence at 12:00 noon on 17th July 2010. The Chief Guest will be Union Minister of Human Resource Development Dr. Kapil Sibal.

The proceedings will be webcast live. To watch, visit http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/topfiles/convo_live.php at 12 noon today.

Do you know about the Dhirubhai Ambani Stanford Fellowship? This is a golden opportunity for MBA pursuants who wish to study at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

On 15th May Dr. Anurag Mairal of Gurome engages in an online chat with the Dhirubhai Ambani Stanford Fellowship recipients from 2009. Sign up to reserve your spot.

Also present among the panel will be Nitish Bandi, and IIT Kharagpur alumni. Find more details on these links -

http://www.gurome.com/info/dhirubhai_ambani_stanford_fellowship_event.html

http://www.facebook.com/priyanka.lakhani#!/event.php?eid=122442874437091