t’s the season of Hall Days for against each other for the same post. India. I agree that our elections are and every activity that goes on in the IKGPians. My friends are inviting There would be two alliances with free from political goons getting campus. That would include me over to their halls of residence, each hall inevitably aligning to one involved for ulterior motives. placement polices, creation of the to their rooms which present a mix of them. So the actual fight would However, there are certainly academic calendar, the creation and of hurriedly cleaned shelves and be between these two mega aspects which, I feel, might need renewal of maintenance contracts, affectionate hospitality. The alliances. From an organizational some degree of contemplation. amongst others. He’s going to be my enthusiasm is quite evident, and point of view, the pact system was, best bet if the administration perhaps more so when it comes to and is, one of the more efficient subjects me to a disciplinary I always see the candidates and their visiting the halls of the opposite sex ways of handling elections. The hearing. He’s the one who’s going to teams trying hard to shroud their - a no entry zone otherwise. speak, and have impact, for our proposals in secrecy till the very last However, along the sidelines, I see a cause. I would never want this minute. They always have this fear, At some level, I began to greater element at play here. I see enormous responsibility to be and a legitimate one at that, of the realize that the first years for nervous faces in black and white forgotten in a hurry.opposition camp stealing and us were mere commodities busy introducing themselves to bettering their proposals. However,

from whom we had to people - people who are considered, this habit deprives the junta of time The same would go for the General extract votes one way or the or rather whom they consider to be, to go over the proposals and Secretaries who, by and large, are

“influential”. With every passing other. They were mere accordingly clarify their doubts responsible for the organization of day, the anxious drops of regarding the same. Wouldn’t it be our annual fests. This entails hectic pawns in the grand scheme perspiration on their skin, the better if we had the option of the coordination between different of things. Only later did I creases on their foreheads and the Gymkhana taking the proposals of teams and making tough decisions realize that we are not very streams of their ardent followers the candidates well before hand, in a short span of time. I would want

different.seem to be increasing. Annual KGP and making it public? And maybe someone who can command Elections are round the corner. even giving them a limited number authority, is rational and has the

resources and campaigning efforts, of chances to better their proposals f irmness and determination as well as the actual votes end after the freezing? I ask you. I necessary to ensure progress. And The faccha year…adding up. A pact winning would recognize the concerns of the although the candidates contesting ideally mean all winning candidates candidates who think that making for the post of a secretary might be I still remember the election month being on the same wavelength the proposals public might give just in their first year, their during my time as a Faccha at which, consequently, would result some ideas to the opposition. responsibility, in my opinion, is no MMM. I remember the tingle of in better coordination and However, shouldn’t elections be all less.excitement we would feel when implementation of proposals. about how good and feasible the “seniors” would come to visit our While this methodology might proposals are rather than whose What I do…hall. They would invariably talk sound good on paper, it does have proposals are better? about their success stories which some serious flaws. Not only does it

we would listen to in complete awe Coming back to my approach to discourage independent candidates However, shouldn't elections and admiration. Some of them were voting during elections, I have from contesting, and halls weak in realistic and some fantastic. I realized that there is no path which all be about how good and strength from fielding candidates, remember our batch mates from is flawless. And there’s no solution feasible the proposals are but it also ignores a crucial point- senior halls accompanying these which can be called perfect. What I the capabilities of the candidates. rather than whose proposals

do strive to do is maintain an We, second years, would see certain are better?optimal balance among different Their speeches were people choosing the candidates approaches which, in my opinion, infectious and our minds, based on their various ambiguous Although our elections are gives the least bad results. I make it a parameters and equations. Neither gullible conducted under the umbrella of point to attend the soapboxes of the did we properly know the people the Gymkhana which has a well- candidates. This is the place where I choosing the candidates, nor the seniors who would try to mingle defined constitution, I have seen get to hear their proposals. I get to people getting chosen. Still, we amongst us and would tell us the some of the rules getting tweaked hear them speak in front of a large were expected to blindly support unbelievable qualities their seniors over the years for reasons, I feel, audience. I analyze their responses them, and as a matter of fact, we possessed. We would be asked to inexplicable. Case in point being to the hard hitting questions comingmostly did. Factors such as the other visit their halls, and on many the CG criterion for candidates

candidates being more deserving occasions, were made to believe standing for the post of Vice I wanted to vote and I were inconsequential for us. We that people residing in those elite President. Last year’s tweaking

would be sent to halls, especially to desperately wanted my vote halls had some fundas which would, made it possible for a candidate to MMM, to campaign for our pact to reach the right candidate.like a magic potion, give us contest the elections which he and we would go to absolutely any something remarkable, like an otherwise might not have been able length to convince the facchas that internship abroad after our first to take part in. It also worries me from the panel. Although I do our candidates were the best. The year. I remember some of our when I look at the plight of the girl sometimes get a feeling that means would vary - either the batchmates, dressed in formals, candidates. Although they enjoy the members of the panel are being success stories of which some going to senior halls at night, their same rights and privileges as a male biased against certain candidates, would again be realistic and some hands full of chocolates. We were candidate on paper, the prevalence there always seems to be almost an fantastic, or the glorious track told that they were contesting for of the pact system and the sheer equal number of members on the record of our hall, or even the the post of secretary , the majority of males in the system panel biased against the other incompetency of the unfriendly significance of which we had no prove to be barriers to a female candidate which, in turn, makes the candidates. We would take great clue about. We were told that candidate contesting for various questioning even more thorough. I pride in boasting the fact that we voting for particular candidates posts including that of VP. try to gain some insight into the had managed to take into w o u l d c h a n g e o u r l i v e s personality of the candidates by confidence and, in certain ways, also dramatically. Their speeches were asking friends, batch as well as hall The answer…brainwash the first years, and that a infectious and our minds, gullible. mates. I am wise enough to particular block was now “secure”. Herd mentality was a fashion and understand what to believe and While I always had the option of At some level, I began to realize that questioning, unstylish. If only I had what not to. There’s also, to an blaming the system for the fallacies, the first years for us were mere known better! extent, an instinctive feeling I tend I figure that a more practical and commodities from whom we had to to go along with. All these factors reasonable approach would be to extract votes one way or the other. put together is the way I cast my The pact poltu… develop a way to extract the best They were mere pawns in the grand vote. This may not guarantee out of what the system provides me. scheme of things. Only later did I victory for the most deserving Second year followed; I was I wanted to vote and I desperately realize that we were not very candidate but it most certainly does inducted into a senior hall. After wanted my vote to reach the right different! increase the probability. And being infused with inordinate candidate. A want which might not

although this process works for me, amounts of enthusiasm and seem very relevant on a superficial The flaws… something else could work for you. patriotism, the Hall became my level but is, I feel, definitely worth

What’s important is that, at the end ultimate priority. During elections, looking into.As I look back upon my years spent of the day, I do get the satisfaction of we were introduced to the concept here in KGP, it’s not very difficult having made the best possible of pacts. Halls would develop an What they do…for me to identify some definitive choice. However, there’s always informal understanding amongst flaws in our election process. room for improvement. There’s themselves to contest elections The Vice President is our voice Granted, our elections are not at all always scope for better results. If wherein they would support each throughout the year. He represents violent, a point in direct contrast to only this “I” would give way to a other’s candidates, and at the same the student body in virtually each the scene at a lot of colleges across “We”.time, would not field candidates

2 EDITORIAL THE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² WEDNESDAY , 23RD MARCH , 2011

Eyeing the I

ŸWon the freshers' lawn tennis tournament 2008-09.ŸVice-Captain of RK Hall's athletics and lawn-tennis teams. ŸIn athletics, have participated in long-distance running events – 5 km open-IIT, inter-hall 6 km road race, 5000 mts and 1500 mts. ŸMember of RK Hall's gold-winning Hardware Exhibition team in 2009-10 and bronze-winning Choreography team in 2010-11.ŸMember of the RK Hall's Hindi Dramatics and Case Study team.

Internships:ŸInterned at IBM India Private Limited after 2nd year and has been offered intern at Oracle Financial Services Software Limited after 3rd year.

Frequency Iden t i f i c a t i on ) technology that not only prevents unauthorized pilferage, but also makes the issuing of books less of a hassle for the students. The flocks at the start of the semester are too familiar a sight that might just become the past. The perennially updated section of “New Books On Display” with 50 average requisitions each month, the plethora of global and local magazines and countless new journals in the current periodical section all bear testimony to the immense resource which is at hand for all of us to utilize. TSA urges you to recognize this reality and make at least more frequent visits to the library. You could even take an appointment with the librarian and discuss your suggestions and ideas for the library over a cup of tea. (Coffee, for the weak-stomached.) You could also visit t h e w e b s i t e a t http://library.iitkgp.ernet.in Above all we should realize that we are personal stakeholders in this institution and try our best to contribute to its improvement.

and he revealed his ambitions, future plans and vision for the library with bubbling enthusiasm. M u c h o f t h a t h a s b e e n implemented and exists for one and all to marvel. However, he has his own share of anxieties which he felt the students ought to know. A rather disheartening complaint was the fact that hardly a few hundred

students use the library on a r e g u l a r b a s i s , (though the c r o w d s thronging the library during the exams is quite a sight!) leading to the staff feeling

like their efforts are in vain and a thorough wastage of electricity.He seems disappointed by the lack of feedback from the students despite the intense effort which has gone into the library over the past few years. Unless we as a community, contribute to it actively, he may not be able to bring the library up to its full potential, he reckons on a pensive note. A case in point is the implementation of RFID (Radio

Technology Robotix Society

ŸAt present, a Head in Team Robotix.ŸConducted robotics workshops and lectures all over India.ŸHeaded two teams of first years on robotics projects as part of the annual TRS winter workshop in December 2009.ŸWa s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e participation of Post Graduate students and Research Scholars in the winter workshop for the first time in December 2010.ŸWas responsible for designing, organizing and conducting events of Robotix, which are conducted during Kshitij.ŸPublicized Robotix events in Delhi, Indore, Gwalior and Jhansi, and for the first time teams from Gwalior participated in Robotix.ŸHeaded the manual events Pirate Bay and ASME SDC in Robotix 2011, which together accounted for 171 teams/592 participants.ŸDesigned the path-breaking manual underwater event eXplore in Robotix 2010.

Others:ŸFinance and Sponsorship Head in the Kharagpur RoboSoccer Students Group under the Dept of CSEŸCoordinator in the team which brought RoboCup Challenge to India for the first time in 2009 and brought sponsorship worth 5.5 lakh INR.ŸWon first prize in the personality contest Kharagshetra in SF 2009

TEAM SCHOLSAVE

ONINE NEWS

sacrosanct atmosphere for the serious academic-head. Time to bid adieu to the never-ending serpentine queues at the bank for paying library dues! The imminent introduction of a POS system at the issue counter, where library dues can be paid with a swipe of a credit/debit card, is indeed grounds for cheer. Of the many proposals to bring in the new decade - a glass partition between the computer and t h e r e a d i n g section in Hall 2, is one. Another is the digital section of the library, which is now dig i t iz ing and archiving theses of IIT Kharagpur, right from the 50s! To preserve this intellectual gold-mine for future access, an Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) has been created. These are the brainchild of the librarian, Dr. B Sutradhar with the kind support of our very own Director, Prof. Damodar Acharya, responsible for transforming the library into a centre of excellence. TSA met up with the man himself

go to my library and all history Iunrolls before me - screams an Alexander Smith quote on the title bar of the new chic website of our very own central Library. Once only “the biggest technical library in Asia” is now a fully modern and semi-digitized haven for students and intellectuals alike to explore the written word as well as its electronic counterpart. The Library resources stand at around 3,50,000 volumes including books, back-volumes of periodicals, micro forms, video forms, theses, patents and standards. Journal subscriptions go beyond 10,000 covering all major publications. The numbers, we believe, speak for themselves. This year, taking in view the feedback of first year students on the scarcity of resources for internet browsing, more terminals were procured. Hall 2 was re-organized to house 80 new terminals that are primarily aimed at enabling students browse the e-resources of the library. The Digital Library (DL) can be accessed if one wishes to create a power-point presentation or perform any type of data processing. Beyond this, an underground reading hall and a newly renovated Hall 6 provide

The Central Library: A Wonderful World Indeed!

Department of Mathematics ( SI)R.K. Hall of Residence

Core Team Head, Spring Fest 2011

ŸHeld the position of Sponsorship Head. ŸResponsible for getting corporate sponsorship worth 8.8 lakh rupees.ŸSuccessfully carried out the job of guest reception and transportation during the fest.ŸIntroduced an online event, 'Labyrinth' in Spring Fest.ŸConceptualized a new night event, 'Lake Side Dreams', an acoustic jam competition.ŸDesigned posters, magazine advertisements, t-shirts and sweats for fest publicity. Core Team Member, Spring Fest 2010ŸInstrumental in accumulating a

Ÿcorporate sponsorship of 12.35 lakh rupees in addition to securing alumni contribution.ŸPublicized Spring Fest in colleges of Bangalore.ŸDesigned the logistics for the events: Cyber Arena, National Level Debate and Ad-dict.ŸDesigned posters, newspaper advertisements, hoardings, souvenir, and the Grand Preludio video.

Member of the following Inter Hall teamsŸAthletics: Silver in 6km road race ('09)ŸHindi Dramatics: Gold ('09)ŸProduct Design: Gold ('10)ŸAd design ('10)

A c a d e m i c a c h i e v e m e n t s / Internships:ŸHas been able to maintain a CGPA of 8.09ŸInterned at Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Mumbai in second year

Others:ŸMember of the Hindi Technology Dramatics SocietyŸCoordinator of Patel Hall Alumni CommitteeŸSecured 2nd position in Open IIT quiz for two years in a row ('09 & '10)ŸSpring Fest 2009 volunteer in the Participant Reception teamŸHeld the position of Journalism Prefect in The Air Force School, New Delhi

Department of Industrial Engg.Patel Hall of Residence

RESOURCES3,50,000 Volumes, 10,000 Journal Subscriptions, 10,000 Full-Text Online Journals, 40,000 E-books, 7 Abstracting Databases

USERS8000 UG/PG Students,700 Faculty1500 Technical and Medical Staff

AkshatVerma

Prateek Agarwal

MEET THE CONTENDERS

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NEWS AVENUETHE SCHOLARS’ AVENUE ² WEDNESDAY , MARCH 23RD 2011 3

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