Ng Point More Than the Flower Itself? the While Frost Forms Below the Freezing Present Article I Have Tried to Show Point of Water

gnypoint the annual reunion magazine of iit-bombay greater NYchapter alumni vol. 2015

Annual Reunion Sunday October 4th, 2015 HYATT REGENCY JERSEY CITY ON THE HUDSON 2 Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ

VAT gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 2 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

United We Stand 4 Message from IITBAA-GNY President

Message from IITBHF President 5

Message from IITBAA Chairman 6

Message from the Director, IITB 7

I sacrificed my heath and Teenage to study at the IITs – 8 But, was it worth it?

Two feet or Not Two Feet? 13

Sequoia and the Banyan Tree 15 A fitting metaphor for businesses in the U.S. and India

Gay @ IITB: Out and About 20

India’s Long Quest for Modernity 23

Dew and Frost have the same soul! 26

Incredible India! 28

Days in the city 31

Clean Drinking Water Project 33

2015 Youth Achievement Awards 36

Agenda for the Day 38

Note from the Editor We present to you the 2015 issue of IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter’s annual GNY-Point magazine. This year we have tried to bring you a diverse set of stories written by alumni and non-alumni alike - ranging from personal topics like existential crises and the experience of being gay at IIT Bombay, to topics on businesses and Indian Economy. We believe there is something here for everyone to enjoy – young and old. As always, your feedback and comments are most welcome, as we strive to make this magazine better every year. Please don’t hesitate to write to [email protected]

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 3 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

United We Stand

Dear IITBAAGNY members and Friends:

On behalf of your Executive Committee, I am honored that all of you are here this Sunday morning for our Annual Reunion. The New York Chapter has a long and illustrious history. We are the earliest and the most active Chapter of IIT Bombay in the US. Yet, for years there was some confusion as to why we were an independent 501(c)(7) legal entity separate from IITBHF, the US alumni umbrella with a 501(c)(3) status in the US, under which all other regional chapters operated.

The Executive Committee of IITBAA-GNY in conjunction with an advisory group spent over 6 months earlier this year looking at the pros and cons of merging with IITBHF, and recommended a merger. In the democratic fashion that we have always operated in, we put the merger recommendation to a vote in early July, and by an overwhelming margin (60 – For and 2 – Against), you voted to dissolve our GNY Chapter’s separate legal entity and become part of IITBHF, with the clear agreement with IITBHF that the funds collected by us over the years would remain available to us entirely at our discretion, our social and other operations carried out within legal bounds to be independent and free of any interference from IITBHF. This is the reason, why I have headlined my message – United We Stand.

We have an exciting program this afternoon and I hope that you will enjoy it. Here are some of the events we have held in 2015, and plans for a few more:

1. Financial Planning Seminar held @ The Indian Consulate in NYC on April 16, 2015

2. IIT Gandhinagar Foundation Luncheon @ The Akbar Restaurant, Edison, NJ – May 16, 2015

3. Annual Family Picnic @ Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ on June 6, 2015

4. Annual Reunion @ The Hyatt Regency Hotel, Jersey City, NJ on October 4, 2015

5. Diwali Dhamaka Dinner & Entertainment @ Deewan Banquet Hall, Piscataway, NJ planned for October 24, 2015

6. IITB Alumna Women’s Forum and Mixer – planned for 4th Quarter 2015

We have also instituted a new program this year, the Youth Achievement Awards, to recognize the achievements of the high school going children of our alumni. The winners have been selected, and the awards will be handed out today.

On behalf of our Executive Committee, I thank our volunteers who have worked to organize this event, publish our acclaimed GNY-Point magazine and many other events.

Regards.

Ruyintan (Ron) E. Mehta

President, IITBAAGNY

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 4 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

From the President, IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation…

Greetings from IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation as you host your 11th annual reunion event!

IIT Bombay Alumni Association Greater New York Chapter (IITBAA GNY) has a long and distinguished history of being among the most active chapters in the US. The chapter has hosted large conferences, happy hours, professional events, summer picnics, and of course the annual banquet.

IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation (IITBHF) warmly welcomes the formal affiliation of IITBAA GNY with IITBHF. We are excited to work together to best serve the alumni in greater New York area and IIT Bombay. We look forward to supporting any new alumni or institute initiatives that IITBAA GNY would like to champion.

For IITBHF, the year 2015 was marked by growth in chapters, activity level of chapters, continued contributions by alumni to IIT Bombay and increased engagement with US industry & Universities in research collaborations and exchange programs. Chapter activities have reached a new high. This year we are on target to have over 50 events in 11 cities. Over 1,100 alumni around the US have participated in a chapter activity this year. We had 3 events focused only on women alumni.

Grassroots support from alumni like you have helped support many important initiatives at IIT Bombay like named Student Scholarships, Research & Teaching excellence awards, Hostel Alumni Team Stewardship, Young Faculty Award. The profile of students entering IIT has changed in recent years. Over half the students come from an economically disadvantaged background. This coupled with the increase in tuition fees (Rs. 90,000 per year) has led to an urgent and critical need for scholarships at IIT Bombay. There is a need for roughly 1200 scholarships. We want to ensure that no student is denied an IIT education for lack of financial resources. I would encourage you to help fund student scholarships at IIT Bombay.

IIT Bombay is facing many challenges as it strives to maintain high standards of excellence while more than doubling the students on campus. New infrastructure and faculty members are needed to support this rapid pace of growth and place in global standing. Our alma mater needs our support in every way we can – through monetary contributions, personal time, help with collaborations through industry and university contacts, etc. Please join your fellow alumni in building a global network of IIT Bombay alumni, students and faculty by participating regularly in IITBHF activities. Not only will you help your alma mater, but you will also help your own career and business prospects while renewing old friendships and making new ones. Please visit www.iitbombay.org to get more information and news from IIT Bombay and IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation.

Sandeep Pandya

President, IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 5 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

From the Chairman of IIT Bombay Alumni Association…

Dear Alumni,

It is a great honour to pen this report as Chairman of the IIT Bombay Alumni Association. The Association has experienced another great year. Our membership crossed the 16, 500 mark in the past fiscal year with 43,000 plus alumni all around the globe. In association with our partners IITBHF, today we have an effective presence in over 30 global chapters. Our landmark initiatives that impact the lives of students, mess workers, new faculty, retired faculty, staff and their families at IITB have thousands of beneficiaries today – a definite sign that we continue to grow and flourish, and are heading in the right direction. Like all other years, we have exceeded performance records in other areas of the Association as well.

We also continue widening the ambit of our activities. It gives me greatest pleasure to announce that preparations for the Global Business Forum (GBF) are in progress with full steam. Scheduled to be held in Goa from 16th-18th October, this annual, exclusive ‘by-invitation-only’ event will aid entrepreneurship, business and networking opportunities for the entire IIT Bombay community — faculty, students and alumni — across the globe by leveraging on the powerful IITB alumni network in an unprecedented way. As per our projection, around 1,500 attendees (including India’s top political decision makers as well as influential players in national / international business) will participate in this year’s Forum establishing a new tradition of bringing representatives from businesses, investors, trade delegations, academia and government on a single platform so that the association can effectively cater to the development objectives of the country, as well as, the evolving professional needs of all those constituting the IITB community.

Now a few highlights from the past year: This year's first Board of Directors meeting was held on 29th August, 2015. We elected office-bearers, Executive Board members and made additions to the Advisory Board. We now have 9 elected Directors, 3 nominated Directors, 6 Executive Board members, 11 advisers, 1 permanent invitee. These 30 members represent all the decades for the 1st time spanning from the Class of 1969 to the current student graduating in 2016. For the 1st time, we have 3 alumnae on the Board to remind us that the gender disparity ratio in IITB is a thing of past. This fiscal year AA also added a new chapter- Kuwait taking the chapter count to 20 for India and RoW. The membership growth was healthy at, 2,000+ in 2014-15.

We also had the privilege of organizing five reunions this past year – Silver Jubilee Reunion Batch of 1989, the Ten Year Reunion of Class of 2004, the Ruby Reunion of Class of 1974 and the 50th (Golden Jubilee Reunion of the batch of IITB class of 1965. In addition, the class of 1969 also celebrated the Golden jubilee of their joining IIT Bombay. It also gives me great pleasure to convey that on the Institute Foundation Day, IIT Bombay honoured 19 of our exceptional alumni by bestowing them with the Distinguished Alumnus Awards (DAA) 2015 and the Young Alumni Achiever Awards (YAA) 2015.

In addition to celebrating the past, we made great strides in our various projects as well. The Financial Aid Program secured the partnership of Tata Motors Limited (TML). Our Bangalore Chapter’s flagship project The Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) added a new center. Mumbai chapter is all geared up for rural initiative with focus on rendering access to basic human necessities such as water, nutritious food, shelter, etc; access to infrastructure such as roads, electricity, telecommunications, education, medical facilities, etc, and access to modern livelihood options.

Overall, we have achieved good results. And, for this I would like to thank the members of the Association team for their dedication and hard work. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all of you who participate in our various programs and donate to IITB and IITBAA.

Dr. Deepak Patil

Chairman, IITBAA

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 6 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

From the Director of IIT Bombay…

September 14, 2015

Dear Alumnus,

Greetings from IIT Bombay to the Greater New York Chapter Alumni. I want to inform you about some of the exciting recent developments at the Institute.

Several new facilities have come up which include H15 and H16 to house 2000 students, the new IITB-Monash Research Academy Building and a new Students Gymkhana Building with squash courts and table tennis tables along with sheds for indoor volley ball, basket ball and cricket nets.

Our faculty are engaged in outstanding research which is making a direct impact on industry and society. Our research contributions are being enhanced through the creation of new centres, examples include the Tata Centre for Technology and Design funded to the tune of Rs 94 crore over 5 years to focus on frugal engineering. The National Centre of Excellence for Technology for Internal Security started this year with funding of Rs 82 crore over 5 years from the Department of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government. We continue to establish new industry relationships, an example of which is the National Centre for Aerospace Innovation and Research supported by DST, Boeing and other industries, being run as a consortium.

On the academic front, I am happy to inform you that this year we started two new programmes: a bachelors programme in design leading to a B.Des. degree and an Executive MBA programme jointly with the Olin Business School of Washington University at St. Louis.

IIT Bombay alumni have been consistently generous over the last many years. More than 2300 of you have donated more than Rs 160 crores over the last several years. Many of you have volunteered your time to help the Institute. Your help in these different ways has contributed significantly towards IIT Bombay's path to excellence - the Institute continues to be rated the top educational Institute of India.

I thank IITB-GNY for its leadership in alumni support particularly for student scholarships and student exchange programmes. I invite your continued support to the Institute.

With regards,

Sincerely,

Devang Khakhar

Director, IIT Bombay

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 7 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 ALANKAR JAIN I sacrificed my health and teenage years to study at the IITs But, was it worth it?

our schools teach commerce or arts mess-owners, street-food vendors— any better, but the science stream almost anyone and everyone you felt the most significant impact of can think of—raked in a lot of coaching classes, at least initially. moolah. With such a huge influx of Kota pioneered the trend of training students, the bigger and more class 10 pass-outs for JEE, the Joint reputed coaching classes started I Entrance Examination, for admission conducting entrance tests for to the prestigious Indian Institutes of themselves and believe it or not, In eighth standard, I volunteered to Technology (IITs). A number of cities new coaching classes opened up revise one of the Anglo-Indian followed suit. to prepare students for these battles for the class. Using the considerably difficult tests. blackboard, I described the various players and events of the battle in Obviously, these These institutions cracked the code great detail, making up for my coaching classes of the extremely competitive and faltering English with infectious difficult JEE and soon became like enthusiasm. had no space for wish-granting factories for students willing to work hard; a large Impressed, my class teacher asked experimental majority of whom consistently put me, “So what have you finally in roughly ten to 12 hours a day. decided? Who do you want to be: a science or scientific cardiologist, a historian or a Contrary to the popular belief, they scientist?” Those days I used to curiosity or did teach fundamentals of science proudly proclaim that I wished to be quite well. They made students a cardiologist, primarily because my individuality solve dozens of problems daily and doctor parents used to tell me that it provided them with a rich inventory Students from distant parts of the was the hottest specialization in of tricks and techniques that made country started flocking to Kota, a medicine. Excited by my teacher’s the JEE tractable. At their peak, city earlier famous for its delectable praise, I went to my father and told coaching classes in Kota kachoris, cotton sarees and him about it. It brought a proud smile accounted for a quarter of the JEE on his face and he said, “Tell her you excellent building limestone. Soon, selections. Obviously, their model want to become an IITian.” these classes became the lifeline of had no space for experimental the city’s new economy. Numerous science or scientific curiosity or The cram schools science graduates (including many individuality. ex-IITians) became instructors in Most of the initial 13 years of my life these coaching classes and earned They merely filled the void created had been spent in Rajasthan’s Kota, fat salaries; renting out rooms to by our low quality education the epicenter of the coaching students became “a thing” in every system to the extent that schools tsunami that engulfed the rotten other neighborhood; numerous were forced to play second fiddle senior secondary science education hostels were built; and autowallas, to them. A number of faux schools system in India. That is not to say that

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 8 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 came up that placed no depressing, despite living at home Having gone through these years, I restrictions on student attendance. with my parents. Any activity apart could very clearly understand why Students visited these schools only from attending the coaching class one of our previous IITian tenants to take exams and maybe to and self-study used to drown me in had scribbled this on his cupboard practice for lab experiments. Many a sea of guilt. Thus, no more before vacating his room: “I spent students, miles away from their reading newspapers, no more the worst years of my life in this homes, away from the protective watching TV for long hours, no room. It’s your turn now.” gaze of their parents, away from more afternoon naps (sports, their much-needed guidance and anyway, were never a part of my There were a few of these toiling, supervision in the formative years, life). burnt out IITians in my family, too. couldn’t handle the newfound One of them, my maternal cousin, independence. Many drifted away Getting up from, and sitting down had cleared the JEE in his first towards cyber cafes in the city, on, my study chair was the attempt but “dropped” a year and gaming and watching movies for maximum amount of movement got himself enrolled in a leading hours at length, ultimately failing to my body went through and as a coaching class in Kota in order to achieve the goal that had brought result, the flab on my belly improve his AIR (All India Rank). them to the city. Many “repeated” thickened manifold. At my worst, I or “dropped” a year, i.e. spent a weighed close to a quintal. Things Parents and their myopia year after class 12 solely preparing moved pretty fast in the coaching It must have been impossible for for the JEE, because they didn’t class, so falling sick was never an my parents to stay insulated from take or fare well in previous year’s option. And if I did, which I did this crazy atmosphere. So, when JEE. numerous times (especially in class 12), catching up became a task in my father told me that he would itself, partly because of my own want me to “become an IITian,” I “I spent the worst flawed studying techniques. And wasn’t surprised. I am sure my years of my life in yet, things were easier in class 11 brother, too, hadn’t been surprised. because I managed to stay on top Both of us went through the same this room. It’s your of things and was among the grind and eventually did manage toppers in my class. Things became to “become” IITians. darker in class 12. Course content turn now.” This myopia was characteristic to suddenly increased and so did other parents of my parents’ Expectedly, the most unfortunate competition, and I found it generation. Most of them took casualty of this system were these increasingly hard to cope up. With these life-defining career decisions students’ precious teenage years, every drop in my rank, my without giving much thought to that led to a lot of them feeling confidence dwindled. My allergies their wards’ skills and interests. A lot “burnt out.” Later, that became a decided to wreak havoc on me of them wanted to send their kids big reason for their poor during the same period and I went to the IITs for bright future prospects performance in the IITs. in a downward spiral of low scores, that “Brand IIT” had come to enormous amounts of backlog, a symbolize. A father whom I met in The worst years substantially reduced enthusiasm IIT certainly falls into that category. for studies and a lax attitude. I’ve spent four years of my life He had come for the admission of studying in coaching classes: Eventually I did manage to pass his son and was already worried Classes 9 and 10 for National Talent the JEE with a rank that was about his son’s placement: “Bhaiya Search Examination (NTSE) and decent-ish, but nowhere close to iska meta mein hua hai, suna hai ki classes 11 and 12 for the JEE. When what I expected of myself and meta mein package achha nahin I look back today, I feel I didn’t lose others expected of me. In fact, milta, galti to nahin kar dee?” He much during the first two years after the results, one of my wasn’t sure if he had made the because there was more to my life insensitive batch mates who had right decision by opting for than just coaching classes. I went cracked the exam asked me, metallurgy (meta) department to school and studied English and “Repeat karne ki to nahin soch because he had heard that “salary Hindi, wrote poems, painted and raha na?” (You aren’t planning on packages” are comparatively participated in debates and repeating a year, are you?), a lower in meta. extempore. The last two years were question for which I still despise him. Then, there were parents who

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 9 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 believed they were sending their degree, had completed a master’s wanted immediately out of college children to the best possible degree by research from one of that I ended up applying for and colleges in the country. Moreover, the IITs, had a number of quality preparing (extremely half- it was a pursuit of pride. “Brand IIT” publications and was all set to join heartedly) for every company I was brought with itself an undeniable the laboratory of his choice next eligible for. I also wasted some days sense of reputation for students, year for PhD. And he was, at most, preparing for and taking the their parents, their uncles, their a year older. Common Admission Test to the aunties, their teachers, their Indian Institutes of Management neighbors, their friends: basically And here I was, without a single (IIMs) despite having no particular everyone they had ever been publication, not in the prestigious interest in getting an MBA straight related to. Students, like me, would program, with only two things to out of college. By that time I had eventually pay the price for their boast of: my IITian tag and my CPI, already secured deferred parents’ decisions. both of which didn’t mean a lot admission to the Indian School of after I had landed my job. That Business through their Young What does my IITian tag actually day, I could only see a past and a Leaders Programme. mean? present filled with failures and enormous amount of mediocrity. I have an absurd habit of googling My imaginary future shimmering “Brand IIT” brought my colleagues and with uniqueness and success that with itself an contemporaries whom I perceive had always enraptured me ceased better than myself. The goal is to to exist that disgruntling moment undeniable sense analyze their academic and and I found myself caught in a professional trajectory with the flurry of existential questions: What of reputation for hope of finding some flaw or area did I really achieve so far? What where they lag in order to discredit does my IITian tag actually mean? students, their them in my mind. This worthless What is it that I want to do with my exercise in self-indulgence life? And the most painful of them parents, their massages my ego and provides all — if my life had been so freaking uncles, their me a momentary sense of relief, ordinary so far, why should I hope except when it backfires. for an extraordinary future? I aunties, their remember weeping at the loss of Last year, I wanted to discredit a the lie that was the edifice of my teachers, their colleague roughly as old as me life. who joined my company a couple neighbours, their of weeks later than I did. Unlike me, I wasn’t facing these questions for he was in the prestigious program the first time in my life. Many of friends. for entrants, the only one in my these are in fact characteristic to office last year. The program 20-somethings of my generation as My “diverse” profile got me entailed better salary and this article beautifully illustrates. Yet, shortlisted for some nine companies somewhat better work with more I had observed that some of these on day-1. These companies were freedom. He specialized in questions were unique to my batch from varied sectors: consulting, arguably the hottest field in mates in IIT Bombay and hence finance, FMCG, analytics and computer science and seemed to seem more systemic than mere “core” electrical engineering. All of have a far better handle on the outliers. The last time I had suffered these were prestigious companies future. More than sufficient reasons such a strong bout of existential that paid well. My utter lack of to get jealous. I googled him and void was roughly a year ago during focus made Dec 1, 2013 one of the the only “flaw” I could find out was campus placements. most nightmarish experiences of my his mediocre undergraduate life, but one that taught me college as compared to “my” IIT. A 20-minute job interview something about myself. From 8 in the morning till midnight, I had On other occasions, this might I spent a lot of time in self- given 13 job interviews. have been enough to soothe me, introspection during my second last but not this time, because this semester at IIT and yet, I was so In my extreme desperation to get a person, after his undergraduate unclear about what kind of job I job, I had pleaded and begged. I felt too ashamed to pick my

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 10 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 parents’ and brother’s calls as the company. The Taiwanese courses, I took in the institute. They towering expectations they had gentleman pointed towards his ranged from creative writing to from me and I had from myself had watch and told my friend: “15 sociology and each one of them been shattered. And yet, the one minutes. Okay?”. The interview that engaged me immensely, providing emotion I felt when I returned to my I was in meanwhile didn’t go well me with that thing called the joy of hostel by around 2 in the night was and I rushed for the final interview learning. I looked forward to that of relief, for the ordeal was of the day and reached, sweat- attending classes, took initiative to finally over. I was starving as I had drenched, to find a couple of find out more on what was being eaten only a handful of biscuits the interviewers sitting idle, waiting for taught, interacted with the entire day. So, I went to our me. Interestingly, I had applied for professors on a personal level and wonderful underground night this company rather casually as I attended relevant seminars and canteen and ate a lot of extremely preferred many other firms over it. lectures outside of curriculum (not delicious and unhygienic food. So, when they say that placements just for the sandwiches and biscuits are random, they aren’t entirely in the high tea that followed). What did I really wrong. Learning seemed fun and almost effortless and surprisingly, exams achieve so far? Was it all worth it? were fun, too. What is it that I want Sometimes I feel I should have heeded the advice of my sweetly In my extreme to do with my life? rotund class 9 biology teacher: “If you wish to become an IAS officer, desperation to get It slowly began to sink in that I had why go to an IIT? I think you should a job, I had failed to secure a job on the first do a B.A. as it would be more day. Failed. The one question that relevant to your preparation for pleaded and troubled me the most that night UPSC exams.” In case you didn’t was: What is it that I want to do? notice, within a year, my future begged. What am I going to do now? This goals had shifted from becoming a lack of clarity must have been cardiologist to an IAS officer and I never felt that magic doing the abundantly clear in my yet it had already sunk in that I had compulsory core courses in my embarrassingly manufactured to be an IITian first. department. They seemed work. replies to interviewers’ most favorite Now, that could also have been questions: Why our industry? Why I recently looked up the 2009 cut- because of our mental association our company? Morning did bear off scores for the prestigious of compulsory and voluntary with better news as I woke up to find I colleges of Delhi University such as work and play, respectively, and had received an offer from the last St. Stephen’s and SRCC and found maybe because engineering interview of the day. There’s an out that I would have got into one courses tend to be more interesting story about how I of those places, had I applied, for technically involved and managed to give that 20-minute my scores in board exams were demanding. But I did experience a interview at around last midnight. quite good. Of course, I didn’t toned down version of even know what “applying” to a Csikszentmihalyian flow whenever I I was busy running from one room college really meant back then. took an HSS course. to another, one floor to another to Heck, I didn’t even know that I was give interviews for the companies going to a “college” after 12th And then when I look at St. that had shortlisted me, and the because my mental picture of Stephen’s alumni, I feel I should be Taiwanese company that college was only shaped by Karan among them some day, in that eventually took me had already Johar’s films and I was sure I wasn’t illustrious ensemble of economists, finished interviewing all its going to any of those places. I only historians, writers, journalists and candidates. One of my closest knew that I was giving JEE to go to politicians. It would be heretical friends, who was a constant a place called IIT. and foolish to claim IIT alumni are in companion during slot-2 of the any way inferior, or even compare day, requested the company to The reason why I feel that, is partly the two for that matter. I guess it’s wait for me for 15 minutes while I because I really enjoyed the HSS to do with the fact that I associate was being grilled by another (humanities and social sciences) myself more with the aforementioned professions.

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 11 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

I feel that deep down, the than just the fact that the grass is opinion on most undergrads taking questions of development, always greener on the other side of up careers not even remotely economics, history, society, culture the fence. Whether we like it or not, related to their core fields of study. are closer to my heart as quantitative skills have become He replied that institute was fine as compared to questions of increasingly valuable in today’s long as students continued to technology. That is not to say that I world and it’s not going to change contribute to the society in a don’t enjoy working on problems of any time soon. Further, a switch meaningful way. Although, it’s an research in engineering. In fact, from engineering to other admirably liberal and pragmatic that’s what I have been doing for a disciplines seems far more position to take, it’s also a bit living ever since I left college and it plausible. I haven’t heard of complacent one as it glosses over has been fairly interesting, despite people going the other way round. the issues we face. the roller coaster that life immediately after IIT can be. Finally, the unparalleled network We can’t be okay with so many of that you inherit by virtue of being our students studying stuff they an IITian could be a reason enough don’t care about. I feel that deep to toil for JEE. Let me take a down, the moment to explain the immense When I say that the institute should power of this network for my own do more for us, I basically raise the questions of sake, as it has taken me some time contentious question what should a to fully appreciate it. I was an college education do for us? There development, enthusiastic literary arts secretary of are no easy answers. However, I my hostel in my second year. Apart feel, our education should provide economics, history, from widespread acclaim and an us some direction for our future, award, I have bagged multiple job and despite everything, that didn’t society, culture are offers from seniors who were really happen for me. closer to my heart impressed with my work during that period, and I am sure, that’s just Today, as I eagerly await that as compared to the tip of the iceberg. It’s a classic elusive direction, I see myself as an example of seemingly insignificant older, more mature and less questions of things leading to disproportionately energetic version of the clueless 18- significant things in life. year old who entered IIT, technology. confidently staring at a horizon full IITs must do more of possibilities — not because being But whenever I ask myself the IITian is my achievement, but question, “Is this what I would want But I can’t help but feel that won’t because despite my qualms with to continue doing in my life and be it be better if we inherited this my education, it has put me in an known for when I die?”, and I ask network by virtue of being in a enviable position where I can myself that question a bit too university offering a wider range of afford to take big risks without the frequently, I feel disconcerted and courses (not just technology)? fear of failure. a little helpless. If and when I make Won’t it make more sense for us to a career switch, I will be joining the spend the crucial four-to-five years I feel much lighter today with the massive club of defector IITians of life studying what interests us, loss of the burden of my lies and my who are unfairly despised for their something on which we could build expectations. Sky’s the limit as I choice to divorce their majors for further rather than starting afresh continue to chart my trajectory dizzyingly varied career trajectories, after graduation? Won’t it be and make sense of the life to not that it is going to prevent me in better if the institute played a more come, a life that seems to begin any way from making my decision. active role in shaping our lives over now, after IIT. ! It’s “my choice” after all. and above its current role as a mere facilitator and as a crucible This story first appeared on Insight, The opposing thought in my head for smart students with diverse the student media body of IIT about the choice of undergrad is backgrounds? Bombay, followed by publication in that I’m probably far better off now Quartz. It is reproduced here with than I would have been had I gone Last year, I asked the director of IIT permission from Insight and the to any of those places. It’s more Bombay about the institute’s author.

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 12 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 Two Feet or About the Author Linjen Neogi is a passionate writer who blogs about Motherhood and anything that keeps her awake at Not Two Feet? night (www.soulconalas.com). She was born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Miami and currently resides in Brooklyn with her two year old loving son, LINJEN PICHARDO NEOGI Ishaan and her biggest critic, her husband Tapas Guha Neogi (IITB-EE’02).

The younger cousins bent down and touched my feet as their hands wine. He returned. I guess he wasn’t then quickly touched the middle of that far away. “I give her a hug and their foreheads and then made a a kiss.” There’s nothing really special swift move towards the center of about our hello as far as making a their chests. It is very similar to the marked distinction between sign of the cross only there is no generations. We hug and kiss gesture for the Holy Spirit. All four of anyone and just about everyone. them did this, one by one, gracefully, Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, naturally, and with no apprehension. Friends, even absolute strangers. It’s It’s a common Indian a co-ed thing as well. Men hug and etiquette. Delicate. Beautiful. kiss women and women in return Divine. Unfortunately, I didn’t always hug and kiss men. There is no perceive it this way. The first time I gender or age divide here when it was introduced to this common comes to that at least. It’s a sign of Indian gesture was through a affection more than respect. conversation with my husband. Perhaps affection and respect can He was lying down on our sofa as his be interchangeable in this case. I’m legs and feet rested on my lap. “It’s not sure. “Show me,” he says with his a sign of respect for the elders,” he boy-like smirk. I walked towards the just know it.” “Well, why don’t you said. People are inculcated with this edge of our sofa where he stood teach me how you touch people’s custom as kids. Many children are ready to learn how people can feet and then perhaps we can expected to greet their parents this invade other people’s space with both suck together," I said, trying to way in the mornings, and before such ease. I got on my toes (we’re console him as he gets lost in what going to bed at night. “It’s the way I talking about a man who is 6’1) and he perceived as a future flop. (His always greet my parents after not placed my cheek against his, put fear stems from several months seeing them for so long.” He looked my lips together and kissed the air. ago, while meeting a friend of up at the ceiling as if regressing back “What’s the noise your lips just mine; he placed his wet lips right to some secret memory he shared made?” he asked a bit smack on her cheek. He felt with them. I let him escape on his dumbfounded but still with as much disgusted and needless to say he own. I’m not a fan of disturbing those intrigue. in the middle of a thought or while was humiliated. My friend and I recollecting a memory long We went on for several minutes as laughed it off as he wiped his forgotten. Sometimes we need to he practiced his much awkward mouth with the back of his hands.) get lost in those memories, to hug and kiss on me. “Here’s a tip,” I “What do you mean? Just touch preserve some sanity. said trying hard not to laugh, “Be the person’s feet," he said as if this subtle when you stick out your butt. was not the obvious part to me. I looked at him admiring his high It’s a hug and a kiss. Not sex.” I took That much I understood. What standards of decorum. “How do you another sip of the Cotes du Rhone puzzled me was how this is done? greet your mother?” He asked as he as we both remained standing, For all I knew, these people were got up and poured us some more smiling. “I’m going to suck at this. I going to swing their feet up in the

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 13 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 air. Did they have to be seated – And although that may sound like against a pillow. I missed my sister first? If so, if there is a man and a a feat, I felt like an absolute idiot. as she had arrived on a much woman who gets to have their feet When you take someone out of his earlier flight than we. I was touched first? Do I kneel down on or her comfort zone, it takes a while concerned about her too. She was both knees? Was it one foot at a to acclimate. It takes time for the feeling ill, and I desperately wanted time? Both feet simultaneously? behavior engaged in to process in to be by her side. Was it the big Was it a brushing of the hands to your mind and then there’s another sister instinct that was troubling me? the feet or was it my entire hand, step. Your mind then has to analyze meaning my fingers and palm the behavior. Is this normal? Can I We arrived at Raipur airport on wrapped around their feet for a actually touch people’s feet? I time. It was evening and I was certain duration which would then loathe feet. I associate feet with experiencing a mixture of emotions. proceed by a nod from them odor and sweat. In a nutshell, they Rarely does one ever experience letting me know, ok, times up, you disgust me, unless you’re my sister. just one emotion, right? First it was may go now. I was very confused She has the cutest feet in the world. anxiety due to my phobia of flying, by this and no, I have never seen it “I don’t think I can do it, “ I said which the Valium tends to wane off in any movie either. So you can with undisguised dread. Me touch a bit and then a combination of safely conclude I was sadly feet? No way. He responds with the following: mental and physical ignorant to the entire concept. calmness, “You don’t have to do exhaustion, unease as I was about anything you don’t want to." to immerse myself blindly into He was laughing by this point, foreign land and customs. In those deep heartfelt chuckles. The I wish we didn’t have to learn our addition, let us not forget I was an one where your breath stops for lessons in retrospect, but damn Indian bride and with that came a sometime, your mouth is wide what a great teacher Hindsight lot of responsibilities. I was open, and your stomach hurts. I’m can be. If only though we had accountable for the name of this glad he found my questions more foresight or at least applied it family. I knew that much going in. I amusing. “You’re a horrible more often to our daily lives. also knew I was going to be under teacher. Teachers are not Perhaps then we wouldn’t have to microscopic lens for the next five supposed to laugh at their feel so crappy about ourselves days and I didn’t even know where students. It can cause irreparable when we flip through those dusty to begin. self-esteem issues.” I gave him a pages of our past. soft nudge with my elbow as he I was snapped out of my thoughts placed his hands on his stomach, I was in and out of sleep on the when I saw two figures waving “Ok. Ok,” catching his breath, “Let plane to Raipur and my frantically from afar. My husband me show you. There really is conscience was digging through and I looked at each other with a nothing to it.” He bends down and my memory until it reached the warm smile and we knew it was barely touches my feet, as the night we spoke about the first Maa and Baba. They were like two same hand met his forehead and lesson in manners all children in kids who caught a glimpse of Mr. lastly his chest. “That’s it? ” I asked India are taught. There was and Mrs. Clause. We eagerly somewhat perplexed. “You barely something unsettling for me as my started waving our hands, with big even touched my feet.” I felt thoughts took a long pause on that smiles and as we started to get cheated. I expected some high particular night. It was like a film I closer to them (yes it was a lengthy almighty ceremony, something of was watching in my mind. It was walk) I leaned in to my husband grandeur. If you sneezed, you our last flight for the next couple of and whispered, “I’ll touch your would have missed it. “Yes that’s all days. My husband was asleep next parents feet.” He looked at me there is to it. Now you give it a try.” I to me. The contours of his face startled as the boy-like smile was looking at him nervously now. I reflected peace and I envied him gradually forms across his lips. He looked down at his feet and then for that. I have to take a fistful of squeezed my hand and picked up back up at him while his boy-like Valium so I can duplicate that level the pace. “Of course, you’ll have smirk gave me that extra vote of of tranquility. I shifted my body to take the lead,” I said jokingly as confidence. I bent down in haste, weight from one butt cheek to we both kneeled down to pay our hand to the forehead, then chest another and stretched one leg respects. ! and ta-da. across my husbands lap. I had traveler’s fatigue. I wanted to sleep Photo credits: Ana Fritsch Steps 1, 2, and 3 were done. I did it. in a bed and place my head (www.luckypennyblog.com)

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 14 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

HARISHCHANDRA promised myself, something I have Gay @ IITB: RAMDAS stuck to till date. But then another problem presented itself – I was certain that by the end of 4 years at IITB my secret would come out Out and About at some time or the other, and the possible reactions I might face filled me with dread and horror. I Editor’s Note imagined former friends saying – This story was written in 2011 when there was not much You bastard! All these years you’ve been staring at us, thinking conversation on LGBTQ issues at IIT Bombay. The story was your unspeakably filthy gay accompanied by the formation of Saathi, IIT Bombay’s LGBTQ thoughts! resource group, the very first known campus LGBTQ group in India. And so I chose the path of aloofness. Under pretense of being Conversation on LGBTQ issues at IIT Bombay has come a long a muggu and having no desire for way since then, evident from a candlelight march that nearly a human company, I sought refuge hundred students participated in, protesting the December 2013 in the Institute library all through my freshie year, scrupulously avoiding Indian Supreme Court ruling re-criminalizing homosexuality. nearly all social contact. I wanted Today, Saathi is very active on campus and holds many events to get a good CPI, flee this god- and has a very prominent social media presence. forsaken country (as I then considered it), and begin life afresh This story should be read in the context of the state of affairs in in the sanctuary of some liberal, 2011, and is very instructive on how far IITB has progressed in the tolerant western nation. (Thankfully, last 4 years, and how much more there is to go. I was not entirely successful in this rather pointless endeavor: for instance, my love for the Literary I graduated from IIT Bombay in 2011 find myself saying just to make sure Arts often drew me to participating my terrible secret remained a in those events.) with a B.Tech. in Engineering Physics. secret. Pretending to be someone This is my story as a gay student at Coming Out to Friends IITB. you are not as a full-time occupation was such a bloody But I couldn’t bear to keep this The Pre-JEE Days nuisance, it sapped me of energy, and made sure a significant fraction huge secret bottled up inside me For most gay people, coming to of my social interactions were indefinitely. In the summer terms with the fact that you are gay entirely superficial. I felt like a piece vacations following my freshie itself is a painful, long drawn-out of sh*t every time I lied; nonetheless, year, acting on an impulse, I procedure – I fully accepted myself lying was such an integral part of my revealed the truth to a recently for who I was only at the ripe age of life, such an essential protection made friend from Insti. This act, my 16. Being gay and closeted is an mechanism that I forgave myself first “coming out”, as it is called, enormous burden, and can be a unflinchingly every time. My was tremendously liberating and I massive pain in the arse. It was like adolescence was no fun, a period felt fantastically good. For the first perpetually wearing a cloak of of confusion, lies and deceit. Lying time ever, I had a friend with whom deceit, like my life was one huge lie. to my best friends, and lying to them there were no secrets to be kept: I so often, made me miserable. could finally be myself! The Doing my 11th/12th at the famous St. following years, my sophie and Xavier’s College, one of Mumbai’s Frustrated Freshie thirdie years, saw me gradually most liberal institutions, hiding my come out to most of my closest sexuality was no trivial matter, and Entering IIT as a freshie in 2007, I friends, one by one. Each time it put me under tremendous pressure in swore off the lies. Never again shall I felt like a dream, each time I felt nearly all social interactions with my pretend to find a girl attractive, I profoundly ecstatic. My second peers. Oh yes, she’s so hot, I’d often

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 20 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 and third years at IITB were happy adventurous side got the better of message didn’t seem to get ones, with my wonderful friends, a me and I signed up for through to everybody – most newfound passion for Physics and GayBombay’s monsoon picnic in posters were torn down within a Maths, and a variety of extra- the Igatpuri ghats, along with 49 couple of days. I bought a couple curricular activities. I even had my other gay guys. Admittedly I of Gay Pride T-Shirts from Azaad first crush – that’s right, on a guy. returned somewhat scandalised: Bazaar, India’s only LGBT (Lesbian Being gay was no longer a despite my most liberal upbringing, Gay Bisexual Transgender) store, handicap, social or otherwise, and the culture shock was a little too and nervously wore them around I no longer felt the urge to much for me to digest. campus, even to lectures, much to periodically wallow in self-pity: I Nonetheless, a week later I found the amusement of at least one was content, happy, and perhaps professor. even proud of my gay-ness. myself at a party exclusively for gay men – it was one wild, crazy dance The Wild Life floor! I also discovered the My objective all this while was to potential of the internet as a tool to get people to at least talk about Yet I was discontent – although my connect with other gay people, homosexuality. The first step friends were all wonderful and and made several gay friends, towards understanding and sympathetic, I craved the both in and out of IIT-B. acceptance is breaking the veil of company of other people “like silence. A few friends accused me me”. During the summer after my The Wannabe Activist of being overtly loud, and too third year, while doing my reckless both for my, as well as the All this while, I continued the internship in the open, liberal community’s good. The best retort process of gradually coming out to German city of Munich, I made my would have been to quote more and more friends. Every single first forays into the gay world, Arundhati Roy, when, in response one of them was cool with my exploring several establishments in to similar allegations, she once being gay: I’d had a 100% success the city’s Gay District. I also declared, “I AM hysterical. I’m rate! After a certain point, I figured mustered the courage to begin screaming from the bloody there was no point being so posting on the GayBombay mailing rooftops. And you and your smug secretive any longer: I had the list (without an alias!), and got to little club are going ‘Shhhh… you’ll support of 20 of my best friends know several wonderful, interesting wake the neighbors!’ I want to people in the process. and felt loved and secure. wake the neighbors, that’s my Eventually, in my final semester, I whole point. I want everybody to decided to abandon all guard, open their eyes.” My objective was and truly “be myself”, for at least 1 out of 8 semesters spent at my dear My secret life was finally revealed to get people to Institute. I became recklessly public to the general public during my about my homosexuality – from valfi (with my consent), with my at least talk about admitting that I am “interested in friends thoughtfully and homosexuality. men” on Facebook, to putting up a symbolically having put up my large rainbow flag in my hostel rainbow Pride Flag up on the stage The first step room. Frustrated at the ignorance background. I felt a quaint, strange and silence on the issue, I took feeling of happiness and light- towards upon myself to educate fellow headedness: I was now officially IITians about homosexuality and out of the closet, and more so, IIT understanding and how completely normal it is. I freely Bombay’s first openly gay student! acceptance posted links to articles on the subject on Google Buzz and on my A Bed of Roses is breaking the veil GMail chat status, scandalising God-knows-how-many people in Life as a gay person has been of silence. the process. Getting up at 5 AM on exceedingly easy for me. Nearly every single one of the people I Day 1 of Techfest, I went on a round of the Institute on my bicycle came out to was understanding and sympathetic. (One of my On return to Mumbai, at the start of putting up Gay Pride posters (Born friends, a self-proclaimed the 7th semester, my reckless, Gay, Follow the Ray. Born Straight, Refuse to Hate!). Sadly, the homophobe, took a couple of days to come to terms with my

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 21 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 homosexuality. All has been reads following any article about If You Are LGBT chummy between us thereafter.) I homosexuality on the internet am extremely fortunate to come sends shivers down my spine. The loneliness, confusion and from a liberal, urban family. Imagine what the case would be in unhappiness that you may be Although not yet out to my parents, more conservative sections of the experiencing can often be quite it is a mere formality: I’m confident Indian society! overwhelming, and it is vital you they won’t take very long to come find somebody to talk to, someone to terms with the matter, and they A widespread misconception is in whom you can confide your definitely won’t disown/disinherit that homosexuality is a western feelings. Ideally, your immediate me. import. The truth is that there are family and your best friends should and always have been gay people be the first to know. Unfortunately, An Appeal in India, it’s just that we’ve been, it’s quite likely you come from an until recently, too bloody scared to extremely conservative family. Also Unfortunately, public awareness in reveal our sexuality to the cruel the 100% acceptance rate I had India about homosexuality is Indian society! Why on earth would with my friends is not always abysmal, with the minds of most anybody want to go through the guaranteed. If, however, there are people choked with myths and ostracism, mental trauma and people in your life who you are misconceptions. Ultimately it boils castigation that would inevitably confident will have no issues, it is down to whose opinion you trust – ensue? Acceptance of strongly recommended you come that of the entire world’s scientific homosexuality, however, is indeed out to them ASAP: doing so will only community or that of a random a western import, as is acceptance strengthen your friendship and assortment of clueless babas, of widow remarriage, abolition of make you a much happier person. preachers, and self-proclaimed sati, and countless other social There also exist numerous faculty healers. reforms of the 19th and 20th members at IITB with a progressive centuries. outlook towards sexual minorities. Contrary to what the Hon’ble Union Minister for Health, Shri Ghulam Many of us lead frustrated, And finally, but most importantly, Nabi Azad may think, unhappy lives, and never reach our you might like to join Saathi: a homosexuality is NOT a “disease”! full potential as human beings. This support group for Lesbian, Gay, Homosexuality is neither a matter of is a consequence primarily of Bisexual, Transgender and Queer choice, nor can it be “cured”. society’s ignorance: the sheer (LGBTQ) people at IIT Bombay. The Homosexuals are not out there to pointlessness of all this suffering group is meant to be a safe space “convert” straight people: you astounds me. According to most for people who’re still coming to either are gay or you’re not, or your estimates, somewhere between 4 terms with their sexuality and/or are somewhere in between (bisexual, and 10 % of the population is confused. The principal aim of the perhaps). Nobody can change homosexual – this may include your group is to help people discover anyone’s sexual orientation, not best friends and loved ones. I beg themselves in a comforting and a even their own! all IITians, please help create an supporting environment along with atmosphere where your friends do people who’re in the same boat. Section 377 was struck down by the not have to undergo this terrible We understand that many of you Delhi High Court on 2 July 2009, oppression! Lift the veil of silence may not like to openly finally acknowledging that and ignorance, and let there be acknowledge your sexuality and/or homosexuality is indeed normal. free and frank discussions on the are apprehensive about The verdict notwithstanding, Indian topic. (Try, at least occasionally, to associating yourselves with people society remains exceedingly cruel use the word “gay” in a non- who’re open. We respect your to homosexuals and other sexual insulting fashion!) concerns: you can be as minorities. All throughout the anonymous as they want. No one country – IITB being no exception – Accept us for who we are, and will force you to reveal your identity homosexuals face a tremendous then let’s all get on with our lives as or rush you into coming out to amount of hostility, ostracism and usual, as healthy, productive people. Please do check discrimination. This is the case even members of society. out www.saathi-iitb.org! ! among the “educated elite” of India: just a glance at the countless This story first appeared on Insight, IIT Bombay’s student media body, bitter, hate-filled comments one in 2011. Reproduced with permission from Insight and the author.

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 22 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 India’s Long Quest DANIEL CURRIE & ATUL SINGH for Modernity About the Interview This is an interview with Atul Singh, the Founder and India is well known for its inefficient Editor-in-Chief of Fair Observer. He teaches Political legal system with archaic laws that Economy at the University of California, Berkeley. He hobble its economy. While the studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford, country is trying to forge ahead by and did an MBA with a triple major in finance, strategy increasing its investment in and entrepreneurship at the Wharton School. Singh infrastructure and curbing money laundering, far too many of its worked as a corporate lawyer in London and led colonial-era laws do not make any special operations as an IPS officer in India’s volatile sense. border areas, including Kashmir.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Modi, as per economy from 24% to 2% of the has been started repealing out-of- a PricewaterhouseCoopers report, is world GDP [gross domestic date laws, he will need up the ante educational reform. Indians on an product]. This colonization of the to keep his promise to axe 1,700 average get only seven years of mind ensures that Indians continue outmoded laws. Reforming a glacial- schooling. The same report goes on with the system the British paced judicial system, along with to point out that India “has the bequeathed them even when it is improving enforcement of existing highest illiteracy rate–33%–in the clear that it no longer works. laws will improve rule of law, which is world.” Changing this requires will, now a faint notion instead of daily reforms and resources. A mix of a Indians pride themselves on being reality. India needs new legislation scientific education based on practical. This is often code for that is drafted clearly and rigorously. experiments and a liberal accepting the status quo. So, there is little questioning about the roots Although foreign investment has arts education modeled on critical of the Indian system, even less been flowing into India recently, thinking is what India needs today. discourse on changing laws that more reforms will increase this inflow India is a land of obsolete and old do not work and hardly any vision enormously at a time when much of laws. Why do laws from the 1800s for new laws or systems that India the world is in economic turmoil. The continue to dictate life to this day? needs to become a modern current government has tried to push Which laws need to be repealed to nation. The lack of cultural through new legislation to attract benefit the country both confidence and bravery foreign investment. economically and socially? permeates all aspects of society. Yet protests have erupted against Atul Singh: The question “why” has a However, I am hopeful things will the Goods and Services Tax bill (GST) simple answer. India has long been change once a new generation and the Land Acquisition Bill. The an exceedingly conservative and comes of age and demands more Indian National Congress, the ruling cowardly country; add to that the rights and better services. This will party for many decades, has taken a continuing hangover of the British happen in the next 50 years. In the populist position and is opposing colonization. Anyone who speaks near-term, I do not see much Modi even on the policies it once English in the proper accent is change. The answer to which laws proposed. All eyes are on Modi to deemed to be intelligent and must go is simple too. Too many old see if he will have the will to push educated, while anyone who laws on the books were signed into through the legal reforms that India speaks the vernacular is considered promulgation when India was still a desperately needs to give its a country bumpkin. This is the Indian part of the British Empire. A economy a fillip. If the prime minister mindset. 1998 report commissioned by the fails to push through these legal government itself recommended reforms, his standing will suffer Surprisingly, there is still veneration the repeal of over 1,300 outmoded a damaging blow. for the legacy of the empire, even laws. The country is still waiting with though it reduced the Indian Another mammoth task lying in wait bated breath for its elected

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 23 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 leaders to act on the to obey. In fact, if all the laws were as cases must be heard quickly recommendation of the report. actually implemented, India would and cheaply. come to a standstill. Yet this means Specific examples of obsolete laws that rule of law suffers. If a country 5) More transparency is essential. A include the 1861 Police Act. has terrible legislation, then a very simple example would be the Contemporary Indian society culture of disregarding laws creation of an online national land cannot use a law that was drafted develops. registry system so that anyone can four years after what the British look up who owns the land along called the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Let’s assume for a moment that with its estimated market price. The Indian Penal Code of 1860 is laws became less insane. Then, ridiculously outdated, and it is someone would need to impose 6) Finally, recruit talented and frightening that no one talks about those laws. Right now, there are skilled men and women into the reforming it. This piece of legislation hardly any institutions upholding government. Once they join, was drafted by none other than rule of law. The police is create a culture of competence at Lord Thomas Babington McCauley, understaffed and underpaid. It is all levels. a man who also created the Indian little surprise that most policemen education system to train natives to tend to be corrupt. The police in What is the role of the private sector be Englishmen in taste and serve many ways are the biggest criminal while the government is in the the British Empire. Another vintage gang in the country. There are no tumultuous phase of passing piece of legislation is the Indian trained prosecutors or a reforms? Telegraph Act of 1885, which prosecuting service. There are few ridiculously governs satellite phones regulatory agencies with teeth that Singh: The private sector has a and radio today. can prosecute wrongdoers and pivotal role to play toward long- penalize them. term reforms. Certain things will Truth be told, India needs a help everyone. A simple and complete legal overhaul. Yet it is Finally, the Indian judiciary is in transparent taxation regime would important that the new legislation is shambles. In an effective improve business climate by drafted thoughtfully and rigorously. democracy, decisions must be mitigating uncertainty and Otherwise, the remedy will be reached in a timely manner. Cases convoluted efforts at evasion. worse than the disease. in India drag on for decades and Better infrastructure would help decisions are reached at snail everyone too. An example of this is the crude pace. Millions of cases are piece of legislation called The pending, and people end up Indian companies can often be Indian Companies Act 2013, which going to bosses of criminal very short-term. They cut corners, was passed by the previous syndicates instead of courts bribe and even intimidate. This Congress government. It is poorly because that is cheaper, quicker might help them in the short-term, drafted and even contradictory in and more effective. but it makes the business climate places. The act adds to India’s uncertain, hurting future potential. infamous red tape. Starting a India needs to do the following if it Indian companies have to realize company is difficult and closing it wants any semblance of rule of that a reformed India would be in even more so. The act creates law: their interest as well. Otherwise, barriers to entry and exit, stifling India’s demographic dividend will business activity. This is a shame 1) It must simplify and rationalize its become a catastrophic curse. The because Indians are outmoded and irrelevant laws. environment in which these entrepreneurial by nature, and this companies operate might become ghastly legislation is shooting the 2) It has to create an enforcement toxic and spill out into violence. So, country in both its knees. mechanism that works. This involves being less selfish might actually reforming the police as well as help the private sector in more India has struggled with the creating civil prosecuting agencies ways than one. enforcement of laws and reforms. and regulatory authorities with Why is it a problem to this day? teeth. The National Democratic Alliance [NDA] government has struggled to Singh: There are many reasons 3) It has to take laws seriously and pass bills such as the land and GST here. As I previously mentioned, combat the pervasive culture of bill. What must be done for these there are plenty of crazy laws that corruption. bills to get passed as soon as no one in their right minds is going possible? 4) It has to reform its judicial system,

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 24 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

Singh: There is a lot of drama in all same holds true for any companies to “Make in India,” but realms of modern politics–even the infrastructure project or even a foreign companies are scared of

US Congress is not immune to defense one. the retroactive taxation policies political spectacles. Each political employed by President Pranab What reforms can be passed to party positions themselves as the Mukherjee during his time as improve India’s shoddy “ease of one fighting for justice and against finance minister. The use of doing business” ranking? tyranny. The main problem with the retroactive taxation is a NDA is that it does not have a Singh: With colonial-era laws, spectacularly stupid idea, and majority in both houses of the Mukherjee can claim the credit for parliament. rampant corruption and red tape, it is little surprise that India is a single-handedly deterring foreign investment into the country. The NDA may be able to get the terrible place to do business. This year, India has dropped two majority in the upper house of the The government has to make it places to 142 out of 189 countries parliament, but in the meantime, it easier for small and medium in the “ease of doing business” will have to practice some quid pro enterprises to do business. India’s ranking. The World Bank places quo to get the necessary votes. challenges are huge and there India at 158 on “starting a While the Congress Party is clearly needs to be urgent reforms. Sadly, business,” 184 on “dealing with trying to obstruct bills, the BJP Modi has not been bold enough. construction permits,” 156 on [Bharatiya Janata Party] has been His economic team is weak, and “paying taxes,” and 186 on “playing politics” in the past as well. Arun Jaitley is proving to be a poor “enforcing contracts.” The BJP initially negotiated a finance minister. The team around nuclear deal with the US and then I have already answered this him is also a touch lightweight with did a 180° to oppose it in a fixation for McKinsey-style parliament. question earlier. The six reforms I mention would go a long way to presentations instead of hardheaded major decisions. The BJP is new to power. It must find make India a better place for business. I would add one more allies and spend more time to work For instance, Jaitley should get rid suggestion. Let us get rid of the on the legislative process. I am of Mukherjee’s idiotic retroactive Indian Administrative Service [IAS] convinced the government is not tax law. Similarly, he could get rid of and Indian Police Service [IPS], and focused enough on this process. Of a number of outdated laws and professionalize the civil services. It is course, it can try to keep winning regulations, many of which have a joke that the system created by elections and gain control of the been enumerated in numerous Macaulay and Jowett survives. Let upper house. Even then, it will have reports. The most terrible sections of us get rid of generalists with little to spend time reading and drafting the Companies Act of 2013 should subject matter expertise and even laws. be redrafted. As a lawyer, this is the less decision-making ability. For least that Jaitley can do. But he has Now, let us look at bills. The GST is instance, let us have people with yet to even mention this issue. I relatively straightforward, but the experience in finance, an have no choice but to give Jaitley land bill is tricky as the latter can be understanding of economics and a “C” grade for his performance as used arbitrarily. If people are going familiarity with accounting sitting in minister of finance. If Jaitley fails to to have their land taken away, the finance ministry instead of the outline a clear blueprint for the then there better be a bona bunch of jokers playing poker with Indian economy, then all this talk fide reason for it. So, safeguards India’s economy. about “Make in India” will remain along with accountability, little more than hot air. transparency and a speedy judicial With the important Bihar elections ! review are essential to ensure some coming up, there are many people This interview first appeared in Fair sort of justice or at least prevent complaining about the NDA’s pro- Observer as a part of The Interview gross injustice. corporate stance. Is Modi pressured to pass more populist series. A part of this interview has The land acquisition bill is necessary reforms to attain the votes in Bihar? been reproduced with permission. for creating jobs in India. Hence, The complete interview can be accessed on Fair Observer at: Modi and his team have to make a Singh: I would not like to use the case for it. People have to be told term “pro-corporate.” Modi is http://www.fairobserver.com/regio that if they want better roads, then under a lot of pressure to create n/central_south_asia/indias-long- some of them will lose their land jobs, and the expectations are sky- quest-to-modernity-23901/ and houses in the process. The high. His bet is to try attracting

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 25 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

SUDHIR SHARMA Dew and Frost have

As the old adage goes beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. However, the same soul! certain physical phenomena violate the age-old wisdom. For example, obviously due to the ambient who would not find dew drops on a temperature - dew forms if the flower to enhance its beauty even ambient is above the freezing point more than the flower itself? The while frost forms below the freezing present article I have tried to show point of water. the beauty of dew drops and frost Dew

The photo on the left shows tiny kalanchoe (a succulent plant) buds with dewdrops. These buds are about ¼ inch in length and 1/8 inch in diameter, thus the dewdrops are very small less than 1mm diameter. The above photo is that of a This is a macro picture and is coriander (Dhaniya) flower. These enlarged to show the dewdrops flowers are very pretty and again clearly. This photo and the following very small. The whole flower cluster photographs were taken in early to is not more than 1 to 1.5 in across crystals by taking macro mid morning hours since as the with smaller flowers within the photographs of condensate on ambient temperature rises with the cluster. These flowers show various surfaces, flowers, leaves, sun both dew and frost evaporate beautiful dew drops condensed on plants, etc. Regardless of the surface and disappear! them. Some drops are larger than the beauty of these nature’s the others indicating these wonders is always visible. nucleated much before the smaller drops. Basically, in very simple terms dew formation is condensation (nucleation and growth) of perfectly spherical water drops on a surface when relative humidity in the atmosphere is high and the surface cools below dew point due to infrared radiation. Though the nucleation of water drops appears to be at random and yet one finds a nice symmetrical pattern and alignment in the condensation of dewdrops. Frost on the other hand The above photo shows tiny wild forms in solid state and grows in a weed flowers and leaves with hexagonal crystal structure shining dewdrops. Dewdrops have also This photo is that of a seedpod of a like diamonds in sunlight. Both are formed on web threads woven by yellow dandelion flower (yes, the chemically the same (hence I call it very small spiders. The white flower is same one that we try to eradicate having the same “soul”), two about ¼ in across which looks like a throughout the summer from our hydrogen atom combined with one giant in comparison to very small lawns). Tiny dew drops form oxygen atom forming water which is dewdrops the web. The ambient wherever the conditions are right. so essential for the life to grow and humidity is very high, about 94% You can see almost microscopic sustain on our planet. The difference resulting in more dew condensation dew on very thin hair like seed in the physical appearance is on the plants.

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 26 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 stems. These drops grow with time below the freezing point and frost seen from the top view looking like until meeting the adjoining drop falls, people say “kal raat ko paala a needle while others growing at when they could become bigger pad gayaa”). The ice crystals have an angle or horizontally show by coalescence or stay the same if a hexagonal close-packed hexagonal type structure. surface tension forces prevent their arrangement of water molecules. merger. The close up macro photos of the frost crystals appear like diamonds from the sky that fell overnight. Here are a few photos of the frost.

The picture at the bottom-left shows frost on mum flowers. Unlike most of the plants these flowers are pretty resistant to the frost damage for the first few times and after that they die of cold. One can see needle like frost crystals growing on the mums.

The final picture below shows frost The above shows a pink mum crystals growing on a dried fallen flower that is totally engulfed by leaf (about 1 to 2 inches in size) on the dewdrops. The ambient the ground. The temperature and temperature is about 40 F and 89% humidity were 20F and 73% humidity. This is a larger flower, respectively. about 2 inches in diameter in full bloom. Frost

As the ambient temperature drops below freezing point, the water in the atmosphere condenses or The crystalline structure of these nucleates on the surfaces as ice frost ice crystals is clearly seen in crystals called frost (which is the above picture where frost has synonymous with “paala” in North grown on a wooden table. The size India, when it extremely cold of these crystals is about the size of rice or wheat grains, 1/8 to ¼ in. These really seem like diamonds fallen out of the sky. The photo also shows shadows of these tiny crystals on the table due to the sunlight from rising sun. Nature’s magic is available to see The next picture shows frost crystals almost every day as seen from formed on a red car body. It was these photographs and one must extremely cold on this day, about enjoy it as often as possible! ! 0F (-17C) with about 80% humidity. These crystals are somewhat larger This article first appeared on about ¼ to 3/8 in. The crystals seem Fundamatics, and has been to grow almost in two dimension as reproduced with permission from the author.

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 27 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

Incredible India! JEAN-DOMINIQUE BONNET

Popularly, India is a destination for travelers seeking spiritual About the Author enlightenment, astonishing sights, or a nonchalant atmosphere Jean-Dominique Bonnet is a third-year civil engineering conducive to practicing yoga and student at the Cooper Union. He recently participated in an sipping chai. But the reputation for its exchange program between IIT Bombay and the Cooper universities and stout companies is Union, and studied in India for a semester. His favorite activities soaring ever higher, and so trips to are running, learning about other cultures, exploring, reading, India will accordingly become studying languages, or almost anything outdoors. He has been business and education-oriented. on the move with his blend of a French and Mexican family What struck me first was the passion since he was born in Pennsylvania, living in North Carolina and of the students in reaching career Sweden before coming to New York. goals unparalleled to what I have

seen elsewhere, spawning terrific Living in another country before and determination. The Indian students I of the host nation. This curiosity also growing up with multiple cultures in met had visions of what they wanted balances out the widespread the same household made the to achieve far into the future as well Kafkaesque bureaucratic transition relatively peaceful for me, as several ambitious, but also realistic frustration, waiting times, and any as did hardly eating meat, loving options in the short-term for how to startling social manners upon Indian food, regularly being around lay the path. In comparison, many of arrival. people speaking other languages, my engineering peers in the United previously learning other languages States are still not sure about the myself, being excited by the exact career they are interested in That being said, I learned a great unknown, explaining and discussing pursuing. deal of course. I learned to be self- differences reliant in gaining answers or among rectifying situations where I knew I countries I was not in the wrong, while also know well, benefiting from numerous and knowing hospitable strangers. By needing to the side not travel light I decided what for tourists in possessions I could do without, and many back home I now feel surrounded countries by a lot of basically useless before India. material. Eating and touring Curiosity in together with other international the target students created a support country network by going through the naturally same process and events. Also, leads to one's Indian students and professors own research became excellent contacts and ahead of are keen to avoid losing travel to be communication. aware of expectations I became very comfortable on both sides forming new friendships merely in addition to sitting next to someone on a bus, fostering and realized the importance of future spending time with people at admiration home. Most surprising to me was for the how the experience changed the idiosyncrasies way I look at travel, and how I will

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 28 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 travel in the future. Whereas before conduct research demands some practice English personally with me I felt I would certainly be happy upkeep, but because of the large no matter the level they studied at moving to any country chosen by a scale of the university unlike the was that with the zest shown by dart thrown at a world map, I Cooper Union, there are resources wanting to improve English, the discovered my own values, needs, and an extended array of people are not afraid to make and wants which are crucial to professional equipment for every mistakes as they try new things. narrowing the job search in subject to carry out studies and Over an eye-opening five months, I carefully selecting where I would research in. My classes met in was able to hike the tea-estates of like to live locally and on a global modern lecture halls and Darjeeling, brave a couple of buses scale. outstanding classrooms, and there breaking down on the way to are ample sporting facilities. To Mysore, stroll around the historic I became very generalize the university is not easy comfortable forming new friendships merely sitting next to someone on a bus, and realized the importance of spending time with people at home.

Having essentially no required text with so many varied students, quarters of Kolkata, explore the readings I suspect promoted more centers, and departments, but IIT group of monuments at Hampi, independent interest in the Bombay and the Cooper Union attend a Tibetan wedding in students, than having assigned or share huge diversity, strong Gangtok, visit old friends in Delhi, even recommended sections of academic programs, and the meditate on the Dalai Lama’s books. In general, the material and promise of launching the next spoken teachings in Dharamsala, procedure was all taught from great minds. hop amongst the many temples of class, so reviewing and doing more Varanasi or tourist hotspots in Agra, In language differences, a clear complicated assignments was left partake in the Holi celebrations in majority of the exchange students up to the student. Tardiness was Mathura and Vrindavan, relax on spoke German and only one or two apparently an issue for more beaches up and down the coast of professors had a troublesome students, but entrepreneurship is Goa, go on a safari in Kutch, and accent to decipher, but in fact more commonly witnessed at IIT marvel at ancient caves at Ajanta because of finding it more difficult Bombay with its many start-ups, site and Ellora among other activities. without my usual habit of speech I visits, and applications of projects Every day held a novel perspective saw areas for improvement for me around the country whose on the far-reaching meaning of to communicate more effectively. example we could follow. As in India. other places, about half the The struggle and benefits of students are glad to coast through learning another language were My personal criticisms include class, but as for the other half of yet again imparted to me, and I handling headaches with banks, students, commitment to work did learn to read Devanagari script poor air quality inducing some certainly shows, and they achieve and basic Hindi words. In addition, occasional coughing fits, the impressive feats in the extra- another lesson evidenced by the irregular small rip-off (though the curricular clubs they are passionate many English translations on signs attempts are regular with rickshaws members of. Some facilities to and attempts by Indian citizens to or shop stalls), and the constant

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 29 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 noise, which I later ironically questioning my ingrained cultural States. In the midst of this, India is discovered was more apparent in habits and expectations for my still changing. The land of forts and its absence because of my ears future if my attributes and way of markets has hundreds of millions of ringing. I became aware of gender thinking could be products of the people using cell phones. From inequality although it is not environment I was raised in. astrophysics to water purification, widespread in cities but not being Improvements to the program India seems to be growing an female I found the only odd would be more subtle like perhaps industry for everything, yielding an approach to me would be to ask a schedule or regular interval for opportunity to learn professionally for a photo or become Facebook meeting in the buddy-system IIT in another culture about whatever friends, and even then solely by the most courageous onlookers The reality is that general issues like these are not specific to India and will not change just for me, and tourist-hungry salesmen will always be able to spot a new foreigner to pester from the end of the street before a chorus repeating the word “friend” and the same predictable finale of halving their named last price within ten seconds. I did not mind using a bucket for warm showers since for half of the duration it was more refreshing to forgo hot water, and I have been in similar situations in Mexico before. Booking trains, the act of getting into local trains in employs, improving the service at field one desires and building a Mumbai, and entering IIT buses the university hospital, rethinking more significant impact where could be ameliorated though you the rather disorganized Hindi class, advances are continuously can buy an inexpensive bicycle for offering a reliable internet establishing themselves. a less dangerous on-campus connection (a rodent caused some commute. Internet outage) or maybe even A single semester at IIT Bombay going wireless, common store and taught me more than just specific A single semester office hours, recycling at least on classes I could not study at the campus, and the creation of Cooper Union. By understanding at IIT Bombay appointments with staff so that firsthand about the transportation documentation and registering is system, celebrations and diverse taught me more not so convoluted. religions, political system, status of public health, competition in than just specific It is easy to disparage the frequent education, position of castes and lack of toilet paper, ubiquitous royal families, gap between urban classes I could not smog, and animals in traffic; and rural life, rich history, dozens of however, these all come from the local languages, young students' study at the Cooper country having a completely outlook, foods, marriages, dances, Union. different origin – though I could do music, and art I clearly was a without the HONK OK PLEASE signs' student in more ways than one. I Differences as simple as the encouragement to honk. Despite am exceptionally grateful to Mr. weather revealed to me how merely becoming a nation in its Ruyintan Mehta for sponsoring much I missed the rain for instance, own right in the lifetime of some generous scholarships to students and these contrasting aspects of senior citizens today, the country and supporting the collaboration daily life would highlight how India has a continuous story that between Indian Institute of was special in being so out of the stretches farther back than most in Technology Bombay and the ordinary in my view leading to the world, and certainly longer Cooper Union. ! much philosophizing in regards to than that known of the United

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 30

gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 Days in the City SNEHA GOENKA Bye Mumbai, Hello New York! I was off to the exchange program at About the Author Cooper Union for the Autumn semester of my third year in Electrical Sneha Goenka spent the Fall 2014 semester in the Cooper Engineering. Abhilash Singh, Akshay Union along with three other students, Abhilash Singh, Akshay Joshi and Prakhar Jaju had Joshi and Prakhar Jaju, from IIT Bombay as a part of the accompanied me. Exchange Program between the Cooper Union and IIT Bombay. She is a fourth-year Electrical Engineering student. My journey started in New Jersey where the serene atmosphere, living in the city. figure out and adjust later) beautiful houses and the much didn’t seem to work around longer days surprised me. Thanks to On 26th August 2014, I moved to the here. Mr. Ron Mehta and Mrs. Monica Cooper Union dorms. The day Mehta, I led the lavish American brought back the memories of “Orientation” is an essential lifestyle for the first week of my stay. when I first moved into my IIT hostel. beginning to college life. The initial interaction with the The parents at Cooper Union had Interesting, I relived mine in a alumnus took a lot of getting used to similar anxieties as my parents did, 4 camp just outside the city. I calling them by their first name, years ago. It had been an awesome came to know that most of the especially because of the huge age journey at IITB, meeting people from students had been accustomed to attending such “sports camps” since their high school and were well prepared for it. Living in the cabins, the harsh cold weather at night, water sports, American food – burgers, juices, lots of fruits - was a new experience for me. It came as a surprise to me that the school Deans also attended the camp and interacted with the students. In contrast, the Deans at IITB always have an aura of “authority” around them. Students around us had been quite friendly. But on the other hand, they were always concerned with the fact that I, difference. The concept of “respect” all over India, and now, I being from a different country, being associated even with the “first anticipated meeting people from all may judge their lifestyle or name” had always been alien to over the world. I shared an actions. me. apartment with girls from Spain and Philippines. People here seemed Alas! The fun was over as soon Soon, my friends and I started much more forthcoming about their as the classes began. It took exploring New York City by visiting ways of living. An agreement was some getting used to the really the majestic Lady Liberty, paying signed among the people who lived small classes, 30 students as homage at the 9/11 memorial and in the apartment about bringing opposed to 120 back in IIT. A join the colorful multitude of people guests, the use of kitchen, times for minor concern about at the Times Square. It was very taking a bath, turns for cleaning the comprehending the American exciting to visit the places that we apartment, etc. The idea of accent of professors did surface had only read about. But, being a “baadme adjust kar lenge” (We’ll in a few courses but I soon got tourist in a city is very different from

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 31 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

used to them, thanks to the American TV shows I watched so frequently. People multitasked here, no time was kept aside for having a meal. It was often a part of the class hours. Coffee was an essential part of the early morning and the late night classes. I cannot help but mention how the class was interrupted each time someone sneezed and the entire class said “Bless You!” The classes were indeed very informal. One of my professors even brought his son to one of the classes. It was hilarious to see him say, “Stop eating the chalk. So coming back to the point, the Fourier transform...” the students as future engineers. All meals with Ron, Indian buffet with the students were given The courses here were much more Sreedhar, dinner at Jignesh’s house opportunities to learn about the engaging. The professors treated and stimulating discussions at the ongoing industrial standards in GNY meetings with all the alumni. software, develop some work ethics They taught me a lot. I felt as Ball Room Dancing through the group projects and though I was still at IIT, although acquire soft skills through presenting By Prakhar Jaju with a more skewed female to our work. It was a great relief to male ratio here. finally meet students who worked An exchange is always hard, and moved ahead as a class. incomplete without getting Helping out other students was not The four months involved into club activities, it seen as a threat to one’s own gives you the opportunity to grades. Career fairs gave me a shaped my life in a interact with more people and familiarity on how to interact with very different way make new friends. Most of the people in the industry. clubs at Cooper were similar to The city was really a dream to me. This new world also came with a lot that at IITB, except a few - The energy around, saying “Good of times when I missed my home ballroom dancing was one of Morning” to strangers, $1 pizza, back in India. I thought about Indian burritos, late night coffee, lively them. As a newbie, I thought food, speaking in Hindi, etc, only to weekends at St.Marks place was this is the best chance for me have my alumni to the rescue. nothing like anything I had to open up and learn Other than the fact that this imagined. I felt the sophistication of something new just for fun. exchange program would not have the midtown and uptown, After doing some samba been possible without them, they craziness at the Times Square, were family to me in the unknown sequence and Argentine peace at the central park and the world. Subodh uncle and Rani aunty tango figures, I realized these change in culture as soon as I had helped all four of us set a dance forms were more about crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. kitchen to cook Indian food with communicating and Prakhar as the MasterChef. expressing yourself to your The four months shaped my life in a Everyone said that Thanksgiving was very different way and gave me dance partner rather than the a time we should spend with our audience. I constantly an opportunity I had never family, and so I did with Subodh imagined before. I totally agree received feedback from my uncle’s family at his house in the with John Steinbeck’s words, partner about being more Long Island. On a lighter note, I did confident. Later these turned not want to return back to my home “Once you lived in New York and into compliments about me back in India after that. I always made it your home, no place else being a great dancer. looked forward to the occasional is good enough” !

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 32 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 Clean Drinking Water About the

AYUSH AGRAWAL Author Project Ayush Agrawal is a second year student studying industrial and approximately 5000 residing in an is an absolute necessity for operations engineering at the Water estimated 1100 homes. human survival. In developed University of Michigan - Ann countries, the fact that the water is Most people work on agricultural Arbor. He is focusing on the clean and safe, is often taken for lands as farmers and raising the engineering and employment granted. This is not always a livestock. Along with their own lives, generation aspects of the clean guarantee that can be provided in much of the work they perform is drinking water project in Burgula, the less fortunate regions of the predicated on the availability of India. During his school years he world. Around the world, water. According to an initial survey volunteered in the VA hospital at approximately one in nine people do done in 2014 by students Dayton. Apart from volunteering, not have access to safe water. volunteering for Engineers Without he enjoys playing basketball and Because of this, approximately Borders (EWB) - India, water in listening to music. 850,000 people die every year. These Burgula contained approximately 10 statistics are appalling considering mg/L of fluoride. This primary issues related to fluorosis in the amount of clean water wasted contaminant has ignited long term many residents. Fluorosis causes while performing common, everyday weakening of the bones tasks. As it is, water remains an Contaminant Mg/L leading to eventual bowing of irreplaceable commodity and the legs and damage to tooth human beings will continue to Arsenic 0.05 enamel. Along with this consume what is available to them, condition, several people regardless of the quality. Fluoride 1.5 experienced stomach pains Unclean Water and diarrhea because of Cadmium 0.010 bacterial contaminants. In Unclean drinking water comprises of December of 2014, a team of 0.05 suspended particles, organic and Chromium engineers from Wheels Global inorganic impurities giving it foul odor Foundation (WGF) visited the and murky color. The bacterial Lead 0.002 village and performed water contaminants can lead to a variety analysis, confirming the findings of diseases like cholera, typhoid, and Mercury 0.001 of the EWB students. severe diarrhea. Excess amounts of Subsequently, a clean drinking some minerals in water can lead to Nitrate 100 water plant was set up in conditions like fluorosis with teeth Burgula. and bone deformities (figure 1). All in Iron 1 all, the risk to human health is Technology extremely prevalent when Edrin 0.0002 The method used to filter the consuming contaminated water. ground water uses a process Lindane 0.004 Burgula, Telangana State called as reverse osmosis at its core. To understand the process Methoxuchlor 0.1 Many villages in India have water of reverse osmosis, a brief explanation is provided. When a sources consisting of the organic and Toxaphene 0.0005 inorganic substances depicted in particle moves from an area of higher concentration to that of Table 1 in large quantities. The village Acetic Acid 0.01 of Burgula in Mahbubnagar district of lower concentration, the Telangana State of India is no movement is known as diffusion. Turbidity NTU 1 – 5 different. It has a population of For example, when someone

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 33 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

then reaches the reverse osmosis system. A high-pressure pump increases the pressure to approximately 100 psi in order to perform the reverse osmosis. This is the final step of filtration as about 98% of dissolved solids are prevented from passing the semi- permeable membrane. Two separate streams are then formed from this step. One is of “clean water” and the other is highly contaminated “reject water” which is drained out of the system. The stream of clean water then goes through ultraviolet radiation to kill the microbial organisms and ultimately enters the final storage tank as drinking water, ready for use. A panel is present indicating opens a bottle of cologne or is in essence, the lack of clarity of the following: the pressure inside perfume in a room, the people the water. The water then goes the reverse osmosis system, the flow sense it without actively attempting through a carbon filter. The carbon within the reverse osmosis system, to smell the contents of the bottle. bed within the filter removes color, the total dissolved solutes (TDS) of In this scenario, the particles that odor, organic chemicals, chlorine, the water, the percentage of comprise the odor have traveled and fluorine from the water. reject water, and the total running from a state of higher Performing a backwash on the time of the pump and system. The concentration, the bottle, to a system cleans both of these beds panel also includes an automatic place of lower concentration, the daily. This allows the trapped switch to turn off the pump should air outside the bottle. Similarly, particles to be flushed out of the the pressure exceed the necessary water moves across a system. Once a year, this carbon levels semipermeable membrane in a bed is to be replaced. The water container from lower to higher concentration of the solute by osmosis. Reverse osmosis occurs when higher solute (contaminated) water on one side of a semi- permeable membrane moves to lower solute concentration under pressure generated by a pump yielding clean drinking water.

A three-way partnership was developed between the villagers, Global Pragathi, and WGF. The villagers agreed to provide a shed for the design of a water plant. Unclean water is taken directly from the ground source, chlorinated, and collected in a storage tank. The tank is connected to a pressurized sand filter. The water travels through the sand filter where large and small turbid particles including rust are trapped. Turbidity

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 34 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

Impact youth have been provided is important. This idea is no different employment. School children and from the ancient proverb, “Give a The primary goal of Global Pragathi the rural health center get water man a fish and he eats for a day. is to provide preventive health care free of charge. Currently, Teach a man to fish and he can in impoverished communities. approximately 50% of the water feed himself for life.” By learning Because of this water plant, the initially placed in the raw water how to create clean water, the residents now have access to storage tank is not effectively villagers are able to expand upon palatable water produced at a cleaned and is considered “reject existing knowledge. This allows relatively fast rate. This will prevent water.” This reject water is currently them to not only help themselves in gastrointestinal bacterial infections being used to flush bathrooms in the situations where the process and fluorosis, reducing the mortality school. Previously, some bathrooms malfunctions but also to eventually rate. Additionally productivity of the were not in use due to the lack of actively partake in the everlasting residents will increase. To make this water needed to flush the toilets. quest for newer methods that are self-sustaining project cover the Another area of use being explored all in all, better. It could result in the costs of manpower and is the irrigation of certain crops in water becoming even cleaner, the maintenance, the water is made the field. purifying process becoming more available at Rs. 2 for 20 liters (3.3 efficient, and/or the technology cents for 5 gallons). Also, at a cost Simply providing the people with becoming cheaper. Finally, it of Rs. 8 for 20 liters (13.2 cents for 5 methods of purifying the water is not promotes social entrepreneurship. gallons) to cover the employment enough, however. Educating them The successful implementation of a and transportation expenses, water on how to sustain the flow of clean self-sustaining clean drinking water is supplied to those who desire the water, repair any issues in this flow, plant with all the benefits outlined delivery service. Through the and eventually establish further above will serve as a great model revenues collected, three village renditions of the supplied methods, for future endeavors. !

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 35

gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 2015 Youth Achievement Award Program

In 2015, IIT Bombay Alumni Association - Greater New York Chapter established a new program to recognize the achievements of the high school going children of its alumni members. The initial program was expanded to include the children of all IIT alumni, not just IIT Bombay.

This program recognizes the achievement of high school children of IIT Alumni in academic, arts, sports, performing arts, innovation, extracurricular and/or public service areas.

Eligible students were requested to submit entries detailing their academic and non-academic achievements together with a short essay describing their achievements and the lessons learnt, what advice they would give to others, and unique learning perspective, if any, being a child of an IIT graduate.

Awards of $250 for each winner and $100 for each runner-up were given at the October 4, 2015 Annual Reunion event. 2015 Youth Achievement Award Winners

Grades 11 - 12 Sukhmani K Minhas First Prize Tarung G Bhimnathwala Runner-up

Grades 9-10 Prianca A Nadkarni First Prize

Aditya Mehrotra Runner-up Brahmteg S Minhas Honorable Mention

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 36 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 37 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015 Agenda for the Day

Registration & Networking 11.00AM

State of IITBAAGNY – Ron Mehta President 11.35AM

Youth Achievement Awards (YAA) – DC Agrawal, Shweta Bhandari, Mala Ganapathy 11.45AM

YAA Award Winners Essay Reading 11.50AM

Giving Back – Victor Menezes (Retd.) Sr. Vice Chairman Citigroup & DA IIT Bombay 12.05PM

Cooper Union Exchange Student @ IITB – Jean-Dominique Bonnet 12.15PM

Lunch Break & Networking 12.25PM

Fireside Chat with Q&A – Current Economic Conditions in India under Modi Government 1.10PM Panelists: Arvind Sanger – Managing Partner – Geosphere Capital Viral V. Acharya – CV Starr Professor of Economics – NYU Stern Business School Navroz D. Udvadia – CEO – Falcon Edge Capital Moderator: Gagan Singh – Exec. Vice President & Chief Investment Officer – PNC Bank

Bharat Natyam Dance Performance – Prianca Nadkarni & Ananya Sankar 2.20PM

IIT Bombay – Status Update – Professor Ravi Sinha, Dean – ACR 2.35PM

Thanks & Closing Remarks – Kicha Ganapathy, Vice President IITBAAGNY 3.00PM

IITBAA-GNY Team

President Advisory Board Members Jude Netto ‘66 Ruyintan (Ron) Mehta ‘70 Sivaram (Ram) Chelluri ‘74 Maneck Master ‘77 Subodh Batra ‘72 Sreedhar Kona ‘97 Vice President Vikas Tipnis ‘74 Kicha Ganapathy ‘67 Active Volunteers Mita Patel Shweta Bhandari ‘02 Vrinda Master Treasurer Sushil Bhatia ‘66 Sonurita Parmar Raj Singh ‘88 Vinay Karle ‘96 Jeanne Karle Uday Nadkarni ‘78 Mala Ganapathy Trustees Kumar Shah ‘70 DC Agrawal ‘69 Suhani Shorewala ‘14 Managing Editor Nivvedan S. ‘14 Jignesh Patel ‘92 GNY-Point 2015 Gagan Singh ‘95 Nivvedan S. ‘14

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 38 gNY-Point Annual Reunion 2015

Diwali Dhamaka

Don’t forget to register for our upcoming event! To register, please visit www.iitbgnychapter.org

Annual Picnic 2015 The IITBAA-GNY family at the annual picnic in Liberty State Park June 6, 2015

IIT Bombay Alumni Association – Greater New York Chapter 39