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In the 14th edition of As We Leave 2026, Sidharth Swaroop Mekap, a Y24 MTech student in the department of Mechanical Engineering, shares his heartwarming journey of finding an unexpected family away from home at IITK. What began as a chance encounter over a cup of coffee at CCD grew into a deep bond with a tight-knit community that completely adopted him, supporting him through the grueling highs of powerlifting competitions and the devastating anxieties of placement rejections. It is a crisp, moving reflection on how true belonging transcends cultural barriers, proving that the most enduring things we carry out of campus aren’t just degrees, but the people who stood by us through thick and thin.
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.
Year 1
I was new to campus, and after getting frustrated with the Form A process, I decided to grab a coffee at CCD.
There, I noticed a group of people having a get-together. Despite being nervous, I walked up and introduced myself, mentioning that I was new to campus and looking to make friends.
As it turned out, they were new as well. We started chatting, and before long, I was invited to their gatherings and community events. Despite the language barrier, they never once made me feel like an outsider or left me feeling lonely. They welcomed me with open arms and made campus feel a little more like home.
A special mention goes to Prabhav, who never seemed to miss an opportunity to invite me to community events. Whether it was a celebration, a gathering, or just people coming together, he always made sure I knew I was welcome. Looking back, those invitations played a huge role in helping me find my place on campus.
Over time, these gatherings became something I looked forward to. What started as a chance encounter over a cup of coffee slowly grew into friendships that would define much of my IIT Kanpur experience.
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Year 2
They became an important part of my powerlifting journey as well. From Inferno 2025 and Udghosh 2025 to the Kanpur Districts 2026 competition, I received unwavering support from them. They kept track of my progress, constantly asked about my lifts, helped me during competitions, and stood by me when things did not go as planned.
Anyone who has competed knows that sports are not just about medals and personal records. There are days when months of preparation do not translate into the result you hoped for. During those moments, these friends were always there. They celebrated my successes, but more importantly, they stayed when things went wrong.
One incident that I will probably laugh about years from now was my infamous Feviquick accident. In a moment of peak stupidity, I managed to get myself into trouble involving my eye. The first person I called was Sarang, and without hesitation, he immediately came to help me. He stayed with me throughout the entire process, making sure everything was alright. What touched me even more was how many people from the community checked up on me afterward, asking about my recovery and making sure my eye was healing properly. It was one of those moments that reminded me that these were not just friends I met on campus, they were people who genuinely cared.
The greatest test of this bond came during placement season.
Like many students, I walked into placements with expectations and hopes. What I did not anticipate was the number of rejections that would come my way. Every rejection chipped away a little at my confidence, and there were times when it felt difficult to stay optimistic. Yet, through every setback, these friends stood beside me.
They listened when I wanted to vent. They distracted me when I was overthinking. They encouraged me when I started doubting myself. Most importantly, they never let me face those difficult days alone. When I look back at that period, I do not remember the rejection emails as much as I remember the people who helped me get through them.
Eventually, things worked out, and I got placed. What made that moment even more special was finding out that I would be joining the same company as Adwaith. After everything that had happened during placements, it felt less like a coincidence and more like a fitting end to the journey.
What I appreciate most is that their support was never limited to major life events. It existed in the countless small moments that often go unnoticed, the random conversations, the meals shared together, the messages checking in, the celebrations after good news, and the quiet support during difficult days. Those moments accumulated over the years and became some of my fondest memories at IIT Kanpur.
When I first arrived on campus, I was simply looking for friends. What I found was a family away from home.
As someone who did not share the same language and cultural background initially, I could have easily remained an outsider. Instead, this group of Mallus adopted me as one of their own. They shared their culture, traditions, food, and countless memories with me, never making me feel like I did not belong.
Looking back now, it is incredible to think that all of this began because I decided to have a coffee at CCD on a random day.
Years from now, I may forget assignment deadlines, grades, and many of the routine details of campus life. But I know I will remember the people. I will remember the laughter during community events, the encouragement before competitions, the concern after my eye accident, the support during placements, and the feeling of always having people I could count on.
I came to IIT Kanpur expecting an education. I leave with something far more valuable, a collection of friendships and memories that I will carry with me long after I leave campus.
To my Mallu family at IITK, thank you for turning a campus into a home.
Written By: Sidharth Swaroop Mekap
Edited By: Tanmay Khandelwal, Pratyush Sandhwar
