I spoke with several IIT alumni and these conversations made me realise the extent to which students currently studying at IIT Goa are missing out on campus vibe and life.
IITian Sanjeev Kerkar who studied at IIT-Madras and is currently based in Mumbai, spent three quarters of an hour in a telephonic conversation trying to explain the vibe of living on a full-fledged IIT campus.
“Every student, and every teacher, is on campus. It’s like a township that over time develops into a community,” Kerkar tried explaining with as much passion as he could, but I’m sure even now, I can understand only half of the emotion and nostalgia an IITian feels towards his/her alma mater.
“The story of an IIT is not only that of the degree, but of learning, and of living on campus, which is completely different from a non-campus environment,” Kerkar explained, elaborating further that IIT Madras alone has a strength of around 10,000 students.
“The campus adds tremendous value to the holistic development of the student, and the success of IITs, many believe, comes from this,” Kerkar added.
Calling the Goa government’s over five-year delay in handing over the campus site to IIT Goa a “colossal delay,” Kerkar said this would cost the IIT not only in the quality of students, but also in attracting the best faculty as well.
“The Goa campus is currently supported by IIT Bombay, who’ve been deputing staff. But how long will they continue sending teachers? Teachers will also tire of foregoing their time on the Bombay campus,” Kerkar said.
Strongly sharing Kerkar’s views was Dinar Bhatkar, an IITian from the Bombay campus. Bhatkar, a Parrikar buddy, was among those present when the foundation stone of IIT Goa was laid in 2016 by Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, and the late Parrikar.
“Javadekar had then said that the permanent campus of the IIT would be inaugurated within 1,000 days. After a commitment like that if not even land has been handed over, it is very demoralising,” Bhatkar said, reminiscing that in 2016, students who opted for Goa were ranked as high as 3,000 in the all-India JEE merit list.
“I had welcomed the first batch of students, and had motivated them by saying they would soon get their own campus. But little did I know of the intentions of the powers that be,” Bhatkar lamented. Speaking of IIT Goa’s rank (which is 21 of the 23 IITs in India), Bhatkar said, “By virtue of its location, it should have figured in the top 15 IITs in the country. But the current ranking is not a good sign.”
Nilesh Nayak who studied at IIT Madras said, “Three years down and no campus is not great at all. These kids are missing out on campus experience. Goa seems to be the worst off because at least in other places they’ve started some sort of construction.”
And Nayak thought back to the time BITS was set up in Goa.
“At least basic infrastructure and amenities was in place before BITS Goa started accepting admissions,” he said.
Going by the feedback of these three IITians, it should come as no surprise that the students at IIT Goa are feeling cheated,and didn’t hesitate to vent their frustrations.
