Life in an IIT | ‘Exploring challenges, meeting deadlines,’ IIT Indore BTech student shares experience

The first time I appeared for JEE was in 2020 when I ranked among the top 26,000 rank holders. I opted for counselling at the IITs but in vain. I did, however, get admission at MNNIT Allahabad Civil Engineering Department. While I enrolled in their programme, I kept preparing for my next attempt at JEE as I was not ready to give up on my dream of IITs.

Since my classes at MNNIT Allahabad were held online amid the Covid and the lockdown associated with it, I was able to manage time and prepare for JEE, along with my BTech classes. I appeared for JEE again in 2021 and got around 15,000 rank. This time, I got a seat at IIT Indore’s Civil Engineering department and I left MNNIT Allahabad. I am now in my third year of BTech at IIT Indore.

Read | JEE Main 2024 live updates: City intimation slip soon at jeemain.nta.ac.in

‘Mock tests are important’

I hail from one of the smallest districts of Bihar, Sheikhpura. I appeared for my Class 10 board exams from Patna and Class 12 from Munger. I took a JEE Main coaching from a local study centre in Munger in Class 11. Till Class 10, I was on the ICSE board, and for Class 11 and Class 12, I switched to a CBSE school to help me with my JEE Main preparation. 

Appearing for mock tests right from the start of my preparation, scaling and marking myself in the exam helped me grab a seat at IIT Indore. I used to take two tests in a day during the last two months of the exams.

Life in IIT Indore

When I came to the IIT Indore hostel, I was surprised to see the rooms were so systematic and cosy. We were provided with single rooms.

Initially, I was nervous as I had never lived alone. After admission, I came to know that there were a few students from Bihar as well who were admitted to the IIT-Indore in the same batch. We booked tickets from Patna to Indore together. Knowing that there were more students from my region, brought a comfortable feeling of familiarisation. After coming to the institute, I made more friends from other regions, started hanging out with them on the campus, exchanged ideas and developed a bond.

In the beginning, I found the flavours here were different from that of Patna but later I got used to the taste of the canteen food. No matter what, the craving for home-cooked food is always there.

Our classes usually start at around 9 am and continue till 12-1 pm. After that, we get an hour’s lunch break, after which we head to our practical sessions which carry on till 5-6 pm. I used to eat snacks, take a nap, have dinner by 10 pm and head to laboratories for the club activities. We used to discuss ideas and do project work till midnight at the labs.

I became a part of the ConCreate Club at IIT Indore. The club helped me in exploring the facets of civil engineering through activities, lessons and field trips in and across the campus. As part of the club activities, several competitions were also held, like analysing a building etc. Our team from this club also won an overall first prize in the Inter-IIT Civil Conclave 2023 held by IIT Roorkee.

Taking on new challenges

I have had various experiences of facing challenges in the institute and overcoming them like an expert. When we have our exams approaching in a week, the schedule becomes very hectic. We have quizzes, projects, assignments and practical submissions and presentations and preparing for them needs a great deal of pressure and a systematic approach. 

We used to spend sleepless nights happily making power point presentations for the next day and preparing who would present what part of it.

With my planning skills and preparedness, I have not yet failed to miss any deadline as given by my teachers in submitting a project or delivering a presentation.

Future plan

Under the Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF), I have taken part in the Vishwakarma Awards. I, along with my teammate, Tarun, were among the finalists of the Vishwakarma Awards. We presented our product at IIT Delhi on January 6, 2024. We were planning to get the product patented if it would have been successful. Now, if we get resources, Tarun and I will also explore start-up options. I am also part of the entrepreneurship cell of IIT Indore.

Anshu Ratan and his team member, Tarun at IIT Delhi presenting their product for the Vishwakarma Awards

I might also explore higher education options in foreign universities. My parents want me to appear for the UPSC CSE exams, which I may consider after my BTech. For now, I am not restricting myself and I am embracing all the opportunities IIT Indore is bestowing upon me during my undergraduation.