How It Feels To Be In IIT As A Student At Any Level

During 2004 Jan I was standing in a queue waiting for my turn to submit the registration form, fees, and enroll myself as an IIT student. I was about to get a new identity called IITian, an identity that I was searching for last 6 years.

I tried JEE and then GATE but both the times IIT was not destined for me. I never gave-up nothing was more lucrative than the top institutes of the nation that contributed in reshaping the world. I ran to IIT Madras several times, which was 400 km from where I was studying. Every vacation before going home I used go to IITM to look for the possibility of getting an internship, but I failed every time.

After doing a job for several month I concluded that, what I m doing will never make me happy in life. Decided move on again, this time I saved money from the job I was doing and applied all IITs. Got interview and written test calls almost every IIT. As usual dates clashed and I decided to attend three of them, IITK, IITR, IITD and left rest of them. Because they fall in same route and dates were one after another.

To cut the long story short, finally I made it IITR as PhD student in Electronics and Computer Engineering department. Resigned from my job and completed the formalities and was getting ready to start for new journey. Mom and dad came to Warangal station to give a send off their child, who moved on and trying to learn flying. Dad always told that never compare education with money, and told that a butcher make more money than a professor. But the contribution a professor makes to the society is not possible with thousands of butcher. He always told us that money can buy books but not education, and education is granted to the chosen people. His big hand written mails always kept me alive and motivated.

Tears came out of mom’s eyes, I was expecting it, and dad was strong as ever, and asked me to concentrate, work hard, and try to be best there. I got into train and cried a bit but decided to perform my best in IIT. I was so happy that I made it to IITs, a dream came true. (All the iits were same to me, as I never moved there to learn maths, computer science or some other technical subjects, I moved there to learn how to live a life I dreamed for, will tell you about this more in coming posts.)

I also had an offer from BITS Pilani during that time, they offered me teaching cum research position with great pay. I was very clear what I was looking for and just blindly moved on to IITR. May that was the happiest day and life since them life too so many turns, everyday became an adventure. A very happy dream that I lived for and enjoyed every single second in my IIT. The more important thing is you are chosen one among one billions of people. Everyone who register for any course will be damn happy that day, may happiest day of their lives and their parents life. But the most important thing that matters rest of your life is how you carry this happiness and multiply it or divide it.