An IIT student is not different from others

I am a student from an IIT and I think I can write something about an IIT lifestyle. IITs are established to nurture 'bright minds' of our country so my focus will be on the students rather than on the faculties and staffs. I would not like to mention my identity and I will not focus on any particular IIT because I have visited four IITs and I have found all of them to be same, apart from minor, some differences in infrastructure and facility. 

To common people, IIT is an institute where only geniuses reside. In the competitive world, we see today, cracking an IIT exam is considered the most difficult. It is in fact very competitive and requires a lot of hard work to enter one. With new government policies, almost every Indian state now harbours an IIT. With more and more number of seats available, I would like to say that the quality of IIT is not as good as it used to be. However, it is for the greater good, because, with increasing number of IITs, the chance to become a ‘better country’ also increases.  

When I was selected for pursuing an M.Tech course in an IIT, believe me, I was in the seventh heaven and everyone around me treated me like I have achieved something which no one can achieve. Only after I had spent few months living a life of an IITian, I came to realize that is not different from most other centrally funded institutes in our country. If you think that people who are living inside an IIT campus are genius, intelligent, and advanced, think again. You are wrong here! We are not what a common person thinks; rather we are just like a normal person. In fact, in IITs, you will find some of the most irresponsible, careless and arrogant students. Following are the types of people you can find in an IIT and I hope after reading it you will not find it a place only for geniuses or extra-ordinaries. 

1). The Nerd

These types of students are present not only in IITs they are present everywhere. Our world now runs on nerds. Google, Facebook, Microsoft all run smoothly, thanks to the ones who are constantly updating and upgrading technologies and ergonomically making life easier. 

Identification: They are shy, probably wear spectacles, talk about virtual worlds of comics and superheroes, wear Marvel/DC t-shirts, and know everything about computers. They are the first point of contact in case of re-installing Windows on your PC.

2). The Delightful

Everybody likes nice and down to earth persons. These kind of students are most helpful and easily cherished. They are always smiling, speaking politely, coming with solutions and so on. 

Identification: They will meet you with a smile and good gesture. They are the model IIT student. I have nothing more to say about them.

3). The Intellectual

There is a reason that these kinds of students are not classified as nerds. Nerds generally behave awkwardly around others, while the intellectuals do not. They are great in philosophy and have a clear awareness of everything happening around them. 

Identification: 'Speech is silver but silence is golden'. The intellectuals follow these kinds of rules. Whenever they speak, it will be brief and to the point. They know how to solve an issue considering everyone's opinion. 

4). The Couple

Easy to identify as they are found mostly near girls hostels. I have nothing more to say about them, you all know it well. 

Identification: They are the ones who make life around girl’s hostel happening. You can find them holding hands and walking together, making notes, scorning better than most of the class. Sometimes they are annoying too. PDA is also annoying to many. Anyways, they are a necessary part of IIT, without them, singles will have nothing to gossip. 

5). The Arrogant

Yes! Sometimes with intelligence comes arrogance. There are many 'arrogant' around on the campus. The best way to identify an arrogant is to observe and see how he/she treats under-privileged. To prove the point, I shall discuss an incidence happened on my campus. We have a coffee parlour on our campus, which closes at 11 P.M. Once around 12 A.M., a group of students arrived at the parlour and asked for something which was not available with the shopkeeper. The manager politely asked them to order something else to which they denied and dragged him outside the shop and started using abusive language. Yeah! It happened and it will continue to happen until differences are removed from the society.

Identification: They are the ones who are always ready to fight and consider others unworthy. You do not need any special skill to identify them; you will just know when you encounter one.

6). The Euphoric

Like any other institute, IITs are not free from people indulging in drugs and alcohol. Although substance abuse is banned, alcohol, ganja, sutta (cigarette) etc. are all used. Hiding beer bottles in bags, smoking in toilets, Friday night room parties, drunk dancing in the crowd, breaking things, shouting and so on are all part of an IIT. Recently, IIT Kanpur was in news because of illegal drug usage in the campus. 

Identification: These type of students cannot be found so easily. They are like Batman: most active in the dark. However, occasionally you can identify a group having a booze party by counting the number of shoes outside a closed room. If you find someone on a Friday/Saturday night buying a cold drink along with Chips packet, you can be sure he/she will be drinking later at night. 

7). The Brainless and the Insouciant

The diffeence between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limit - A. Einstein

Ahh! I hate them the most. Have you ever noticed someone leaving all the tube lights on, brushing teeth while the water is pouring from the tap, stealing utensils from hostel mess, spitting in the corridor, leaving eggshell on the dining table etc.? For some students is it difficult to comprehend, that they are a part of society and the most discouraging thing is that their thoughts are irreparable. 

Identification: If you find anything not in place or happening how it should not, you will see an insouciant there. If you are one of them, come on! At least close the tap while you brush your teeth! 

8). The PhD

Image credits: PHD Comics/JorgeCham

I feel sad about them. They come as if they will conquer a particular field of science; however, the reality is not as glittering as it seems in the beginning. 

Identification:  They are always found in the academic area. I guess a major part of a coffee parlour's earnings is contributed by PhDs. I find them toiling 12-14 hours a day and even on holidays. Let it be Holi, Diwali, or Christmas, they are forced to work. PhD life is frustrating and most appointments in the counselling cell are by PhDs. Pray for them!

So far, you have found no difference between the students of an IIT and other colleges. So why do students from an IIT end up earning seven digits of income? In my opinion, it all comes down to the prospects given by an IIT ecosystem. Indian government spends 400-500 crore rupees every year on a single IIT. Given this much investment, it is highly likely for an IITian to accomplish well in their life endeavours.