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Journalism of Courage
– Anjali Antil
My inclination towards mathematics and science developed more while I was in Class 11. Unlike many students who wanted to become a doctor, engineer or teacher, my only dream was to study at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). I enrolled myself at a coaching institute in Kota after my Class 12 was over in 2019. I followed the timetable suggested by the coaching institute. Being regular with my studies, taking mock tests and going through the NCERTs helped me crack the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
I dropped a year to prepare and appeared for JEE Main and JEE Advanced in 2020. After JEE Main was over, I mainly focussed on solving questions and analysed my weaknesses to work on them.
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I cleared JEE Advanced and got admitted to the Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay in 2021. I filled four other branches in IIT Bombay as my preference in JoSAA counselling and during the first round, I obtained Civil Engineering so I did not think much and took admisison. I am in my fourth year now.
Unfortunately, the classes in the first year of my admission were held online due to the restrictions imposed by Covid. I came to IIT Bombay for offline classes in October-November 2021.
IIT Bombay has not only taught me things about my curriculum but also developed my interpersonal skills and broadened my outlook on life. I am from Mehandipur Village in Haryana’s Sonipat. Coming from an orthodox society in Haryana where women are restricted to household chores, my outlook towards life and everything, in general, has changed after getting enrolled in IIT Bombay. Here, there is so much equality between boys and girls. We are encouraged to participate in events and think out of the box.
Most of my school friends got married long ago and are mothers now. I remember only three to four male students in my village who were preparing for IIT JEE Main in their Class 11 and Class 12 from my school and I was the only female student.
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At IIT Bombay, I engage in various activities that bring me joy and fulfilment. Cycling and badminton keep me active while jamming sessions with friends allow me to explore my musical side. Dancing is my passion and I actively participate in dance competitions at InSync.
InSync is a dance club at IIT Bombay where ample opportunities to explore our interest in dancing. Additionally, I cherish late-night hangouts with friends in and around the campus, creating cherished memories while enjoying good company and conversations.
These days, I am working on a high-performance autonomous fixed-wing UAV for Vishwakarma Prize 2023 (unmanned vehicles) founded by Maker Bhavan Foundation. It is a nationwide challenge to encourage students to build innovative, deployable prototypes rapidly and with impact. I have completed with preliminary design and analysis followed by manufacturing and setup of final prototype. We will be soon conducting flight tests as well.
My experience with the Vishwakarma Awards is exciting and challenging at the same time. It demands innovative, efficient and impactful solutions to real-world problems.
After my BTech in the IIT is over, I am planning to appear for the GRE and go abroad for masters. I have a developed interest in aerospace engineering and would like to see what Oxford, MIT or other foreign universities have on offer. I am not focussing on the selection process but on the projects I have in hand.
The transition from Haryana to IIT Bombay was relatively smooth for me due to my prior experience living in a hostel in Kota. However, the shift from online classes during the initial days of Covid to offline classes marked a significant and positive change. Studying in an offline mode was essential and beneficial for me as it allowed for a more immersive learning experience. Being able to engage in face-to-face interactions with professors and peers enriched the educational journey considerably.
Beyond academics, this transition also brought the opportunity to enjoy quality time with friends, creating memorable experiences and holistic life experiences at IIT Bombay.
