The IITians - Sandeepan Deb

The book definitely makes you think if you are from IIT and particularly if you have lived a pseudo Bengali life in IIT, Kharagpur. When I made the comment pseudo bangali there is nothing wrong I mean. One most important thing that Kharagpur has taught me and I guess to many of the fellow alumni as well is to not to have fear to voice a fact and strong motivation towards cultural activities of all kinds (a strong Bengali trait).

The book of course is a really excellent read. But, certain questions still arise which I do not think has a coverage in the book.

1. What would have happened if the people had not been to IIT but had been to somewhere else?
2. Are IITians all that good as claimed?
3. What does IIT really teach?

Answers:

1. The particular person would have been lost in achieving very little in life as mostly the people who we are discussing are middle to upper middle class good student bookworms who make it to IIT in large numbers. The set up provides them to grow to individuals who have ability to choose and reach to where they aspire.

2. Not sure. IITians are good in analytics and problem solving. Staying in a residential campus can make you a bit tough as well. But, all said and done IIT campus is quite far away from reality in many senses. A strong meritocracy which society finds hard to value and respect. Many IITians in real life and jobs have complaint of monotony, struggled hard to get to the right position they want for themselves. Whether, good or bad is a different question but definitely they are different.

3. I cannot say for others, but the only thing that I have learnt from my stay at IIT is only one thing you are just a mediocre. The guys around you are so smart that they actually make you look like a mediocre. Believe me the guy next to you feels exactly same of you. Hence, every appreciation or reprimand is purely transactional and goes away after the instance of discussion is over.

I think every IIT aspirant, their parents and IITian must read this book.