| WORSHIPPERS | Those under the misconception that "IIT is heaven and IITians are Gods." Perhaps the only sources of solace to the IITians(!?!), the constant eulogising by these people can nevertheless get on one's nerves sometimes. |
| PERSECUTORS | The "just missed IIT" types who, at every opportunity, try to prove why they or their college is one step above IIT in some respect or the other. Undoubtedly, a species to be ignored, if not avoided. |
| ATHEISTS | Those who can’t distinguish between IIT and ITI. Their ignorance provides comic relief to many IITians. The most comfortable group to be around with. |
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THE IIT
DREAM : JUST ANOTHER CUP OF TEA ?
There was a time when being an IITian was a matter of great pride and prestige. The feeling of superiority, that engulfed one when he wore an IIT T-shirt and went out into the open, was not very much unlike what Bruce Wayne feels on donning his suit to become Batman. But then, those were the good old days. Times have changed and the glory of IIT is fading. Sujith Paul from IIT-M reveals why...
EXCLUSIVITY: Under political pressure, the IITs have decided to double their intake gradually by the next millennium. So, JEE will no longer be a 'survival of the fittest' battle
SOPHISTICATION : Till a few years ago, the typical IITian was a multi- talented, eccentric genius who lived in a world far removed from the mundane realities around him. He read Richard Bach, Ayn Rand and Tolkien, and listened to Zappa, Hendrix and Floyd. The 2-3 years of gruelling coaching that precede JEE has eradicated all extra-curricular skills latent in the current crop of IITians. Kreyzig and Barron's are their bibles and their musical taste is limited to KKHH and Daler Mehndi.
FUTURE : In the past, getting a seat in IIT was synonymous with getting a greencard. Today, every Tom, Dick and Harry from XYZ Engg College is pushing off to the States for his MS. Ironically, more and more IITians are turning their attention towards CAT and S/W jobs!
- Sujith Paul