1. As We Leave

As We Leave #5: A Sentimental Sojourn

Devang Uniyal is a Y19 graduating student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In this piece, he paints for us a picture of how he found his ‘New Home’ within the cultural ethos of our campus. As he leaves, he relives his sleepless nights of performing nukkad natak and reminisces about late-night hangouts on rooftops.

 Disclaimer:- The views presented below are the author’s own and are not in any manner representative of the views of Vox Populi as a body or IIT Kanpur in general. This is an informal account of the author’s experiences at IIT-K

 

From waking up at 5:00 a.m. daily to not sleeping for 2-3 days straight, from bargaining for 1-2 marks to praying for a passing grade and from not being able to speak in front of 5-6 people to performing for hundreds, I most definitely grew up in the 4-year rollercoaster ride of IITK. I went through a wide range of positive and negative feelings while I reflected on my college years for this article, which is another evidence that IITK changes us in ways we never could have predicted.

 

20-July-2019:

A fresher entered hall 13, nervously walking behind his Baapu, and reached E212 to see one Bihari and one Tamil roommate (both watching me as a common language communicator). The IITK express took off from there with passengers (firstly wingies, then club mates, then so on…) getting on board at different places and times to add meaning to this journey in their own ways. Despite the hectic and time consuming acads, life was getting broader as I started playing badminton and joined Dramatics. Gradually, the call duration of family members kept decreasing as I was getting more and more accustomed to ‘My new Home’. Everything was going smoothly until…..

 

13-March-2020: 

The COVID phase begins.

Lockdown, online classes, online labs, Mookit, zoom, webmail, mic-on/off, #call_back_campus, etc. became our day-to-day conversation topics. Though this phase took a heavy toll on our physical, emotional and mental health, the silver lining for me was that I got time to explore those aspects of IITK which I never knew existed. This broadened my perspective in terms of career prospects and IITK’s non-cultural legacy. Apart from making a few pen friends, I explored the research culture, Alumni network and political know-how of the campus during that survival period.

 

29-December-2021

After what felt like an eternity, we finally returned to campus. Even the raw grass of Hall 13 smelled like the happiness and freedom we had been craving for so long. The train which had suddenly stopped due to COVID, was now running at super fast speeds. In just 3-4 months, I got heavily involved in a stage play production, street play, election planning/campaigns, Policy Conclave and Humour Hour.

 

1-December-2022

The last important date in my college journey. Placement vibes in the air and pressure waves in the brain were evident everywhere. Thankfully, I had to personally face it for one day only but placement stories could make a great book in itself (P.S.: A note to Vox).

 

Dramatics

 

A huge chunk of my college life was witnessed by this club called Fursat Mandli. The loud intro audition from OAT top stairs still echoes quite clearly in my head. Voice exercise, 5 rounds of foyer, 2 a.m. chai and parathas, 0/1 expressions, emotions on 1-10, medley, par/ floodlights and many more routine things will be hard to leave all of a sudden. A group of individuals coming together to create something out of nothing but themselves and their voices (i.e., nukkad natak), is something that awes me even today. Many people discouraged me from continuing the club because of rational reasons like the intense practice hours, pressure on acads, club-centric life, etc. However, the emotional center always wins out and now here I am. Acted, directed, produced, wrote, sang and performed a decent number of good plays/mimes/monologues, with zero regrets, because in the end it all worked out in miraculous ways like it always does. A few productions that will always remain close to me: ‘Andhera Hone tak’, ‘Akhandta ka Dhol’, ‘Baaki Itihaas’, ‘Then there were none…’ and ‘Dharam Sankat me hai’. 

 

I am most proud of the circle that I was able to establish for me at the club, which is among the numerous advantages that the club has provided for me. Whether it be surviving endsems, facing intern/placement season or crashing at Antaragni after-party, these people always had my back. So, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that there will always be a piece of my heart hidden between the four walls of the Drams Room.

 

 

Clubs and Culture

 

Apart from the academia, IITK has a very rich culture and legacy to offer which only the ones studying there and exploring understand. Events like Galaxy, Takneek, Inferno, Inter IIT meets and fests are the breathing proofs of the culture everyone talks about. Having seen the galaxy very closely in my first and last years, my advice to anyone from IITK reading this would be ‘Do participate’. Whether your motivation is Hall jehaad or wanting to perform or anything else, those sleepless nights will be embroidered in your good memories for a long time.

 

Even the whole Gymkhana structure is designed in a wonderful manner. Clubs, societies, cells, hobby groups, senate, etc. make the students alive even after a bone-breaking academic day. I personally was a part of PPOC and Humour House, the places where I met the most organised, skillful, humorous, enthusiastic and charming set of individuals, who stood alongside me against some very challenging situations on all levels (administrative or club level).

 

Campus Life

 

Leopard sighting, peacock flying to rooftop, Bholu (dog) sneaking under my bed, etc., sums up just another day at IITK. Going to L7, L20 or Tutorial block on a regular day was something I saw as a highlight of the day since it rarely happened. As a person who went from waking up before sunrise to opening eyes after noon, I would undoubtedly say that night life campus experience is much much better. A whole new spectrum of places and people unlocks as the moon rises and one can see high density of masses roaming around OAT, academic area, MamaMio, etc. The night life for the initial part of my college journey was restricted to the LHC foyer or Drams room, which was not that bad except for the treacherous amount of mosquitos. But in the final months of college, I explored various places like the LHC rooftop, Mech building rooftop, Technopark, etc., which forced me to appreciate the architectural beauty of our campus. Even the smallest symmetries of rooftop structures are just mesmerising. So, do explore the beauty of campus while you can.

 Last but not the least, I would say, IITK showers you with a ton of opportunities, exposure, knowledge, lifelong memories, most amazing people and much more, so make your stay worthwhile and leave with a few parting tears but absolutely no regrets.  I remember one of my coaching teachers in JEE days saying, “IIT is IIT because of IITans and absolutely nothing else.” While leaving, I can see how true that line is. You are in the good old days, appreciate them before they move away quickly. Cheers

Written by: Devang Uniyal

Edited by: Mayur Agrawal, Gauravi Chandak

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