Inside this Issue Interview with Director Induction Programme Hindi Pakhwara Convocation 2016 Central Instrument Facility Office of Dean, Resources & Alumni BHU Centenery Global Meet In Talks : Deputy Librarian Office of Dean, R&D Faculty Achievements Invited Talks GIAN Courses IMPRINT, MoUs, and Patents filed Sponsored Projects Appointments & Retirements Publications Students Achievements Students Parliament Volume 2, Issue 1 The Institute Newsletter Student Council Activities Feb 2017 Spardha'16 2 Editor's Desk The inaugural edition of the Odd Semester of 2016-17. Articles we did in preparing it. Feedback and newsletter IIT BHU Connect was a are more interactive in nature this suggestions are most welcome. The comprehensive issue covering the time. Many of them come with short t e a m c a n b e r e a c h e d a t vibrant elements that make up an interviews, and we hope this will [email protected] and Institute like ours. It was a perfect provide the readers an insight into [email protected] starting point for this biyearly the vision and objectives of the The editorial team would like to thank publication. IIT BHU Connect is a initiatives under consideration. the Deans and their Offices for medium for sharing the efforts and Needless to say, a publication their cooperation and valuable successes of the Institute community. encompassing so many aspects of suggestions. In this second edition, we have made the Institute requires cooperation The team also thanks the Film and efforts to cover, in greater depth, from many quarters. We are grateful Media Council of the Institute. We activities in the various domains of for having received full support from are also grateful to the team of The the Institute. Along with the regular the faculty, student and staff Chronicle, the Newsletter of IBGAA. sections, special emphasis has been fraternities. We hope you will enjoy laid on events and activities in the reading the Newsletter as much as Editorial Team : Chief Editor : Dr. Indrajit Sinha, Department of Chemistry Student Editor : Prasanjan Mitra Team : Bhavya Pruthi, Yenegu Dhanushmanth, Adit Aggrawal, Snehanshu Harsh, Sourabh Kumar, Shekhar Shivhare, Abhishek Singh, Piyush Dhakar, Shravani Eleswarapu, Anandita Gill, Abhimanyu Soni, K. Sriram Design and layout : Rajasvi Vinayak Sharma, Sanjeet Giri, Param Doshi, Khush Chopra 3 In Talks : Hon'ble Director In Talks with the Hon'ble Director, Prof. Rajeev Sangal on some contemporary matters pertinent to the Institute. The Induction Programme for the freshers accomplish our goals and through those, Mathematical Sciences, work is currently was a huge success. It has been the subject we evolve, become better and contribute underway. But lack of space is still an of extensive media coverage and there is to the society. It consists of both issue for some of the departments, and talk of replication of the programme in ourselves, as well as the society, with the the need for provisions is evident. There other IITs and Central Universities as well. family in between. To initiate this thought is an acute shortage of faculty and staff What was the idea behind the initiative was an important goal of the induction quarters. Due to some obstacles, the and how well would you say have we programme. work has been stopped but we are achieved the objective? I am very happy with the overall hopeful that it will resume as soon as The success of a programme is judged by feedback. The students are pleased with possible. Next in the line is, as you are all its internal parameters. The fact that the concern shown towards them. They aware, the installation of solar panels external appreciation comes is just a enjoyed learning the art forms, be it which use renewable solar energy. It is confirmation or verification of our singing, painting or dance. They felt the worthwhile to note that the installation is conclusion. Internally, I felt that when discussions held during the Human done on the rooftops. So, it does not take new students arrive at the institute, they Values courses were useful as well as up ground space and the installation can immediately start going to classes and enjoyable. The entrants were also be done easily, ensuring safety of the listening to lectures. We wanted to delighted to get the opportunity to go equipments. Their capacity is 1.5 MW change this, and started thinking of ways around the city. We organised lectures which probably makes it the largest to make the new entrants more a b o u t Va ra n a s i , wh ich d rew installation amongst all the IITs. Based on comfortable first. The students enter a appreciation from the students. Some, the available roof area of our institute, new atmosphere after years of hard however, were a bit apprehensive about we can add one more MW and thereby work, and there should be some space the Physical education course, probably augment the capacity to 2.5 MW. for them to reflect on their own selves. because many of them did not have the Secondly, they should understand the habit of playing and exercising. We will culture of the institution, the working take suitable corrective measures in the atmosphere, and what to expect out of future. But as a whole, the overall their studies, as there is a drastic change impression was good. when one moves from school to college. We also wanted to promote the spirit of A lot of infrastructural developments like bonding with each other, and with installation of solar panels across the faculty and senior students. We were of Institute, and an extension of the library premises are under progress in the the idea that this is an appropriate time There are many student-driven social Institute. What is the progress in this for the vision of the students to be initiatives being taken in the institute, regard and what are the plans for the near enlarged with aspects such as how both within and beyond the ambit of the future? things are in the larger section of the Gymkhana - like blood donation drives, society, and also getting them to think It is true that we lack in infrastructure, and cloth collection drives for the poor. A new beyond themselves; beyond “What I will so we are continuously working on it. The Social Service council is also being do?” or “What will I get?”, and to think library has been expanded. Extra space established under the Gymkhana. What about the society as we all are a part of has been created for an administrative are your thoughts on such voluntary student initiatives? it. It is necessary to develop a broader block and it is almost ready. There is a vision of the society, and as I said in the requirement for new hostels. The It is excellent. As I have been mentioning, beginning, think about themselves and construction of a new girls hostel is about development of ourselves, our qualities, what they wish to do. Thus these two to start. If funds are allotted, a boys hostel and connecting them with the society for aspects of ‘’What I want to do in my would be constructed next year. In case the greater good is what gives us a life?” and “What the society expects me of departments, various departments holistic happiness. If I develop my to do?” ultimately connect. The have undergone expansion recently and qualities and use them for myself by convergence of these two elements is, in some departments like Computer being primarily engaged with myself what according to me, success is. We Science and Engineering, and and my family and not contributing to the 4 society, then such a life is incomplete. besides being a good engineer, a good the institute has been done. If better Many people, later in life, say that they scientist or a good researcher, we also performance is put up, external funds do not find purpose in life. When we should be a good son, a good spouse, a can be obtained. On the innovation connect with the society and good parent and ultimately a good front, Project Varanasi has been started environment, our picture becomes human being with regards to the society. and the Design and Innovation Hub has complete. That is what makes our living This larger vision requires that we have been set up, through which a large part more worthwhile, happy and holistic. humanities and social sciences in our of the student fraternity gets benefited. The council of social service is one way curriculum. Unfortunately, humanities is Further, this builds an environment of to emphasise the social component, seen as something which is very soft, excellence. By doing whatever we do, where we do voluntary service for the something to be learnt and forgotten. But well and trying to improve what we have society. That engagement is necessary done before, we attain excellence. any knowledge, until it is of some use, is as it teaches us many things. We learn not valuable. If people interpret We had talked about the NIRF rankings by and become more satisfied. humanities in such a fashion, then the the MHRD when we met last time. Can you question to ask while they are learning is, tell us about the significant steps taken in “How is this applicable to me?”, “How is the meantime to improve our performance in that regard? it applicable to the society?”, “How does it affect my role?”, “If I understand things One of the shortcomings we noticed in which are outside, how do I play my the NIRF data we provided last time, was role?”.