As We Leave #10: The Art of Working Hard and Playing Harder

After perhaps the most energetic and eventful final month of college, the serenity of home is something I am still trying to get used to. Two years ago, I decided that I will definitely write an “As We Leave”, but I was not prepared for the nostalgic and bittersweet feeling that comes along with it. Nonetheless, I will make good use of my current ‘khaali’ and ‘vela’ state to write what I like to call my final form of Gyaan Ch***yi. Through this writeup, I hope to cover some key moments from the past four years that may be insightful for anybody who reads, or at the least, puts a smile on somebody’s face.

“Bhartiya Prodyogiki Sansthaan, Bumbai Dvaara Aayojit”

First year for the Y22 batch may have been structured in the most perfect way possible. It had the perfect balance between extra-curricular activities (GC, freshers etc.) and Acads, such that neither conflicted too much with the other and it was perfect for the creation of core memories. I would describe IITK’s lifestyle as very “work hard, play harder” and my first experience of this was the night of the FIFA World Cup Final. CHM 112’s end-sem was at 8 AM in the morning, yet at 2:30 AM, Argentina vs France had gone into extra time and the entire OAT was packed (mostly with Y22s, many of which had to give that paper).

Y22 Freshers Inferno deserves its own paragraph. Greatest GC event of all time and nothing will ever come close. It was our first introduction to the concept of a GBM and for me the first time seeing and being inspired by the HEC of Hall 12. Each and every match had packed crowds, somehow there was no censorship on the ‘naare’ and overall the craziest weekend of first year. I still remember our first basketball match against Hall 2, which was at 8 in the morning and despite it being peak winters, everybody’s wingies had come to cheer. Thanks to Vidit Parmar, Hall 4 janta was also there supporting us. My favourite part of that tournament was the fact that my entire wing was involved in some sport or the other and fully determined to make H12 win. I still remember that Samarth Yadav and I were tracking the entire leaderboard throughout and stressing over whether we could win or not. In the end, Peshwas lifted the trophy and we went on a victory parade around campus. The highlight of that night would have been singing our hall anthem in Hall 3’s Quad and then getting buckets of soap water thrown at us by their seniors. That was the night I decided I wanted to become H12’s President.

One of the best decisions I made during my first year was to pursue basketball seriously from the start. Due to daily practice, I would get tired early, sleep early and wake up early. As a result, while my entire wing was still asleep, I often found myself with nothing to do except study in the library. That is how I started college with a good CPI.

I also managed to go for my first tournament during my first semester along with the outgoing Y19s and Y18s. The stories that came from that tournament (both on and off the court) were legendary and winning it all made the experience just perfect.

All in all, my first year exceeded all expectations and I have my wing, Hall 12 and the basketball team to thank for that.

“Veer Shiva Shamsheer Maratha”

Second year for me was defined by Hall 12. As an aspiring presidential candidate, a series of responsibilities had overcome my life. As part of the HEC subcommittee, I had to do some very obscure tasks. On 14th August, at 11 PM, I was sent somewhere deep into Kanpur City to find kites kyonki patang mangana bhul gaya tha koi.

The day-and-night work I had to do as the Takneek Hall Captain was another
character building experience. I genuinely believe that few things improve your management skills as much as managing something like Takneek. It requires a very refined skill set to motivate people who are far more talented than you to work on something that may or may not directly benefit them.

Unfortunately, during Udghosh I dislocated my shoulder in a match which led to me being out of the basketball team for the next eight months. The silver lining of not going for Inter-IIT that year would have been having time to study well for the end-sem exams and maintaining a CPI of above 8.

Galaxy, General Elections, Riwayat, Inferno, HEC Elections and organizing a Hall Day -my fourth semester was by far the most eventful one of my college life. Galaxy 2024 was something I never hope to relive again. It was a disaster that kept getting worse by each day, but it motivated me to never let my hall get embarrassed in that manner again year. If it weren’t for my wingies – Samarth (my fellow hall cap), Piyush (fine arts), Pragyansh (HSS), Shubham (FMC) and Daksh (Anime), my mental state would have taken a serious hit.

One of the most memorable nights of that semester came about a week before my HEC Soapbox and election. Late at night, I was sent to the campus gate to buy alcohol and deliver it to Hall 1. Unfortunately for me, I arrived right in the middle of a full-blown party in E-Mid, attended by several H12 Y20s whom I respected a lot. They decided to keep me there for the night.

I was later joined by my wingies Shardul, Priyanshu, and Anand, who had come to deliver sutte. After the usual gaand maarna, funny tasks karvana, muski, and technical song sikhana (kyonki bakchod laundo ko yeh aani chahiye), the seniors sat us down and motivated the fuck out of us.

I left Hall 1 the next morning ready to kill anyone who spoke ill of Hall 12.

It was safe to say that I completely ignored my academics during my fourth semester. An SPI of 6.3 brought my CPI down to 7.9 right before internship season. At the time, I felt like I was in a huge crisis but no matter what I have no regrets because that semester I got to know some really brilliant people and learn things that will always stick with me.

“Abbe yeh shortlist kyu nahi aa rahi”

Third year feels like the beginning of the end. Summer of 2024 for me involved new responsibilities as Hall presi, an unexpected but fun relationship, resuming practice with the basketball team and amongst all that, preparing for the upcoming internship drive. After the academic disaster of my previous sem, I went into the intern season with the following mindset – consult shayad aukaat ke bahar hai, software karni nahi hai, ITC/HUL here I come.

First of all, I would like to apologize to all the Y22 girls who I have abused in my mind during the month of August 2024. After two weeks of no shortlists, I started feeling lost in life as if I had failed myself. I was quite glad that Takneek was coming soon because I genuinely needed a distraction. Day and night I was managing things in the hall along with Vardaan (our pool cap) and at the same time giving all intern tests but not having any success.

Then one day a message comes that an opening has been created for the role of FET Intern at Schlumberger (SLB). I knew quite a lot about the company and genuinely had an interest in the oil and gas industry. I still remember telling a friend of mine ki yeh dream company jaisi hai, yaha toh achhe chances hai mere. This is probably the most important story in this AWL for any junior who is reading.

For the first time a company PPT had a dress code; ‘smart casual’. Wearing Piyush’s trousers, Shubham’s shirt and my own shoes I headed to L16 (I was also the first one there). As the PPT started, at every opportunity to answer a question, I answered. At every opportunity to ask a question, I asked. Now I guess it was just my luck that the crowd was very shy that day, because I was one of the only people interacting and this seemed to have annoyed the alum who had come to give the PPT. At the end, he voiced his frustration with the crowd, calling out its dull and disinterested nature. He then pointed to me –

Prakhar (Y11) – You! What’s your name?

Me – Prithvi, Sir. (in an embarrassed tone)

Prakhar – Congrats, you’ve made it to the next round.

Me – Thank you, Sir. (still embarrassed)

The funny thing is, five minutes after the PPT ended, the GD shortlist was released and my name was not on the list. My enthusiasm got me to the GD, my proficiency at gyaan ch***yi got me to the interview. Call it luck, but somehow the same alum who took the PPT and was taking the interview the next day was the Y11 Mess Secy of the same pool as me (Marathas). Seventy percent of my interview was about Galaxy and the things that had ruined my CPI. And that is how I got an internship at SLB.

Life became much lighter after that. I could finally focus on basketball and my Hall again. Around this time, a lot of people suggested I contest for the post of GnS Gensec in the upcoming general elections and I myself was beginning to consider that possibility. In the coming few months we won the SnT Code and Riwayat, our basketball team won a silver in Udghosh. That was when I realised that I love my college life because I am doing things I am passionate about. There is no passion in running a council, at least there isn’t for me. After losing in the quarter-finals against Hyderabad during Inter-IIT that year, my fourth year goals were very clear – Merko Inter-IIT medal chahiye.

The remaining part of my third year may not have been very eventful, but it was important nonetheless. Our HEC was able to make two Gensecs, against all odds. Galaxy results might not have been very favourable that year but I was proud that we gave a strong fight. My Presi tenure came to an end and soon it was time to leave what had been home for the past two years.

“We are IITK Basketball and we don’t ever stop”

– Kshitij Bagga

Summer of 2025 was rejuvenating. After a five week internship in Assam and a chaotic Hall 1 allocation, I arrived on campus ready for the final stretch. Placement prep was on, even though I was quite confident on my chances of getting a PPO. Basketball practice was also going on with full intensity. I would also like to apologize to all the juniors on the basketball team whom I have verbally abused. The motivation to win an Inter-IIT medal may have come across in a very aggressive manner.

Trouble began at the end of August when my manager at SLB informed me that no PPOs would be given that year. Two days later, I rolled my ankle during a practice match which put my foot into a cast and left me off the court for the next month.

“The sky is darkest just before dawn”.

I was in quite a dark place in life when my SLB dreams were dead and at the same time I was using crutches to walk. It was 7th September, Vidit and Piyush were chilling in my room (they would often be there to cheer me through my crippled state). I told them that I feel I should write a ‘Thank you for the Internship’ email to SLB as it might increase my chances when they come in December, for placements. Both of them agreed, saying it could do no harm. So I wrote a very heartfelt email to the Head of Recruitment and headed to the basketball court to observe the evening practice. Next morning, I get a call from the same person I emailed, informing me that they have decided to give me a PPO. Life was good again.

After recovery, I gave my all to the basketball team. I skipped my final Antaragni to go play a tournament at IIT-BHU, and went all the way to Kharagpur for a tournament because the team needed practice. Soon it was time for placements and even though I wasn’t sitting, my entire wing was and I knew that I had to be there for them. A lot of my close friends were not of a very high CPI bracket, but I was hopeful that I could manage to get some walk-ins. With very little success during the first four days of December, I was left helpless and with the feeling like I had failed my wing. That was the first time I felt that maybe having a fourth year POR would have helped me to know more people in SPO. Maybe if I wasn’t caught up in my own selfish goals and helped my wingies more during the months leading up to placements, things could have gone better.

Still, with a heavy heart, it was time to resume practice and then head to Madras for IISM 2025. Our three years of hard work was evident on the court. We dominated matches like we had never before. Our quarterfinal against Hyderabad may have been the greatest match IITK Basketball has ever played. Unfortunately, the semifinal against Delhi just didn’t go our way and we had to settle for the bronze. Still, the feeling of winning an Inter-IIT medal was probably the most peak moment of my college life.

The serious atmosphere of Hall 1 during the 7th semester soon transformed into party mode as the final session began. I met Nishtha, who lit up my life. H12 finally won Galaxy and even though it wasn’t during my tenure, another dream of mine had been achieved. All the farewells, all the batch video shoots, all the partying – there couldn’t have been a better way to close out the final year of college.

“220819 Signing Off”

To conclude this already long write-up, I’d say I had a brilliant college life which made me into the best possible version of myself. To all those reading, juniors specifically, I’m not saying that ruining your grades for a GC event is necessary and nor is playing a sport seriously. But get out of the confines of your room, meet the great people who are there on the same campus as you and find your passion. It really disappoints me how the recent measures from our institute has ended up limiting the traditional
senior-junior dynamics and the cultural legacy handed down by our seniors that we used to enjoy in our times. I know I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for seniors who guided me along the right path and gave me the opportunities I had. Staying bonded as a strong student body and campus community is what makes IITK the place it is. Use the freedom you have been given wisely and always keep your tempo high.