Abhishek Dhanda (Feb 21, 2004 01:45 p.m.):
Note: This is a platform to discuss individual viewpoints and not a platform to downsize, downgrade or to belittle others.
Some facts as per my knowledge:
1. IITs have the highest government funding/subsidy per student in Indian Techical/Engineering Institutes.
2. IIT gets the better part of the cream of the brightest students (1-2% of the 200,000 approx. applicants). The distribution of the bright student is no way closer to be even, for what ever reason there might be.
3. IIT stands ahead of other engineering institutions in India.
4. It was a politician who started IITs and it’s the Government funds that an IIT thrives on. So if another politician does something different why does this politician become worse than the other? This doesn’t mean that I personally approve the political decision to rename Rookree U. to an IIT-R. I think that the politicians should have given better funding to Roorkee University and gave it a chance to compete with an IIT rather than bringing Roorkee U. under the IIT umbrella.
5. I know many students who get through the JEE just wish to be a part of an IIT just because it’s an IIT. I know students doing MSc from IIT as they cannot get any engg. Department in an IIT. I also know students doing/done Mtech from IIT trying to impress to create a perception of being IITians (B. Tech) knowing very well that M. Tech. program is not as good as the Undergrad program at IIT. So I guess it’s human nature to use the best of what they have got.
i agree with you guys that IIT r shouldn't be considered any way different that other IITs (well I think its the tragedy of IIT Guwahati, its not able to catch up with other iits at right pace), anyways, but i have some points to mention
1) I dont like the attitude of roorkee's guys to cash on the name of IIT. Its my opinion that you need to clear JEE , and only then you can say yourself IITian, so the way these roorkee guys (51% of them got in roorkee by means of UP state domicile/SC/ST reservation) just changed their signature overnight with 'Student, IIT Roorkee' , sounds like they had no confidence on Univ of Roorkee, which was, I believe one of the best univs in India.
Answer: I know you don’t like it, but that’s your personal opinion. I am sure that is the opinion of majority of the IITians. But ask this question to yourself. If you were a recent Roorkee alumni, and would you have not encashed or benefited to be a part of the better school, if you had a chance. I know you may reply saying “NO!! I would have kept my identity and the identity of my institute.” But just be practical.
2) The idea of converting all good engg colleges into IIT is totally vague. Govt is just trying to cash in the name of IIT, which is going to dilute the 'brand name'. Look at USA, here we have MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and every univ has its own 'brand name', so why can't india follow tha same step, why just IIT, let Roorkee be another 'Brand Name', and 'REC's' be another brand name, The only way to make a 'brand name' is not to just join the existing wave. Govt should provide more facilities and autonomy to RECs , if Mr Joshi likes the name "NIT" more then REC, thats fine with me !!
Answer: I concur with you. I don’t like it myself. It’s not only government who is trying to encash the IIT brand. Most of the individuals/insititutes does try to encash do it one form or the other. I don’t like it. But it happens in practical life.
3) To be very honest, the reason for grand success of IITians is not that they have got something like 'einstein's brain' in them, I know couple of REC's guys, who, I am sure, are much better then some IITians, but the way things work in REC's, their curriculam, the faculty, everything hinders the making of REC at par with IITs, DOnt make them IIT, just create the same environment their, and then you would see the real comparison.
Answer: I totally concur with you here.
4) Going back to roorkee stuff, i believe that roorkee was among the topmost engg colleges of India always, so by converting it into IIT has destroyed whatever uniqueness it had. Like I know that in civil engg, no other engg college in india (including iits) can compete with roorkee, thats should be the aim, to have diff univs having excellence in different fields, not that convert all into IIT. Also, once you say JEE is the standard , but onviously if you increase the intake seats to 6000, even a guy getting something like 5000 rank would proudly be an IITian. But does he deserve that, thats the point
Answer: I get your point here. But why do you have to decide if the 5000th rank in JEE deserves to be an IITian. Since you know your capabilities, why don’t you just pay attention to yourself and do the best you can for yourself and the society/resources/community who helped you reach here.
5) To choose IIT r comp sc. vs say iit kgp mech, well I dont think thats going to be the case. Looking at the present comp sc boom, its not fair to compare that field with anyother, but just for the information, its not that you want some degree from any IIT, in my time (199 , no one was willing to prefer for IIT g comp.sc. over say iit kgp mech. So i think iitr is gonna take some time too
Answer: I don’t think, it was “NO ONE”, but may be the majority of higher rankers in JEE compared to lower rankers in JEE.
Thanks.