Our Patron Director
Dr.S.Sundarrajan
Raghav S Chakravarthy Editor
Dean ( Students’ Welfare ) Dr.G.Venkatesa Prabhu
Faculty Advisors
Dr.V.Sathyaraj Dr.V.Vinod Balakrishnan Content developers: Rithvik, Dinesh, Parameshwar, Satish, Shanal, Srivathsan, Suhas, Salil, Vignesh R, Shubham T, Anirudh R, Shubhadeep, Pompi, Aditya Prasad, Keshav Goud. Cover Story: Vyjayanthi, Priyadharshini, Vrindaa, Athira, Priyanka Garg, Sai Priyanka, Sharanya, Shruthi M. Creative writers: Abhinav, Sibi, Lakshmi M, Abhishek, Abinash Padhi, Arvind Ravindran, Devika, Mike, Subramaniam, Sanjana. Illustrators: Proteek, Shubham Gupta, Sidharth Designers: Abhay, Angels, Ezhilvel, Jishnu, Nithish, Pradyut, Raghuram, Santosh, Sriram. Photos : Pixelbug
Editor
Raghav S Chakravarthy
Co-Editor
Mohit Asnani
Administrative Head T. Gowtham Kumar
Associate Editors Lakshmi Po Priyamvatha S
Blog Heads SriKrishnan T.N. Veena
Creative Head
Anirudh Bharadwaj
Founders
Karthik Selva and Deepak Valagam ( ICE 2012)
T
he famous adage: Population of Boys > Population of Cows> Population of Girl is one thing that continues to be relevant even now. This particular sex ratio has in some way or the other affected the entire ecosystem of the college so to speak. Five decades of celebrating excellence and close to three decades since the first girl entered this institution. Has the perspective of the average guy on women changed over this period? Mostly not. I have a half a mind to pin the blame on the society like how we always have for every unsolvable problem there has been. But then what good can come out of it by merely blaming it. A bunch of ideas well feasted upon and at times infested over generations together is not only difficult to lose but excruciatingly annoying for the womenfolk. So, what do we do when we have such a problem at hand? We try to go to the roots of the situation, analyse it impartially, comment at the current situation, compare different perspectives, list facts, identify significant contributions, annotate with examples and discuss corrective measures. And that is exactly the story behind “Y comes after X” – the cover story of this month. Sometime last month, there was a controversial status put up by a girl. She was denied food from across the gate after curfew hours because it was deemed unsafe for her by the security guard present there. Although this does not make the environment here hostile as it was made to seem, it is appalling to see the stigma that is still present in this modern era. On another side, there is this dark unexposed underbelly of this society, where women are treated as objects of desire and status. A horde of associations and clubs on campus having induction processes that are only skin deep and special quotas for the visually appealing speak volumes about the life of girls on campus. Yet, for many the most unacceptable elephant in the house is indiscriminate favouring of girl students by certain faculty members. All of these point fingers at the unabashed double standards our society possesses and how we are not doing anything to eliminate them. We set high standards for ourselves. We aim high and dream big. But it is important for us to know that to reach the zenith, it is going to take more than half the population.
Printed at Safire Offset printers, Sivakasi. © Feeds NITT 2014. All rights reserved.
Editorial 1
Nitt News 02
Nitt News 03
- Keshav
How To 04
- Sharanya, RV
Etymology 05
Feature 06
- Shubhadeep
Feature 07
An Affair with a Smar��hone - Subramaniam and Abhinav
T
he street was silent, strewn with pale, zombie-esque people; all of them immersed in their own bubbles. Their tasks on hand outweighed any other mundane happenings around them. They had sold their soul to a devil, a devil who kept them comfortably dumb. Their unwavering gaze and lightning fast fingers danced across the surface showing how the object deceived its user so well, covertly controlling his mind whilst draining him of his human attributes. When scowls treated his entrance, the newcomer wondered how mere objects could turn his own kind against him. Liveliness replaced by eerie silence was not the way of his world. Lost in thought, he walked along when a flashy object caught his eye. He picked up the seemingly harmless curio. The moment he laid eyes on the flashing lights, he was hooked. The look on his face was reminiscent of a man who had just seen Medusa. Shocked yet awed. The object was suddenly his superpower. It gave him the feeling that anything and everything he wanted was within his reach. All he had to do was to swipe his fingers across it and the mysteries of the world would unravel before him. Time seemed to coagulate. Nothing mattered anymore. All that was important was the object. And every second that he spent with it seemed like an eternity. He then noticed an annoying disturbance. It turned out to be dirt. He cursed the wind for having taken his attention off his muse, every pixel of which had kept him mesmerised for so long. Time again blurred as he began twiddling his fingers over the screen. It took an unexpected ping to set into motion the alarm bells in his head – this was code red; yes, his battery was critically low. He felt his very soul being sucked out of him, and the melancholic switching off tune began to play. His muse was dead.
Creative Space 08
- Subramaniam
Tech 09
- Sanjana, Vyjayanthi
Coffee with Feeds 11
Freelance 12
- Avinesh Kumar Ist Year
Freelance 13
- Stealth Shiva
Fake News 14
Disclaimer : Don’t believe fake news. If someone says fake news isn’t fake, don’t believe him either.
rs a St
d n o y e b d n a - Mike
O
ptions on emotional venting for the recently potty trained are few . And as I sat aghast and perplexed with this sudden dislocation from a homely confine to the discomforts of a hostel, I took the passive option out. I cried. There is only so much a four year old could bear. Initially ignored as a usual happening, it’s continuity coupled with the high pitches the wailing struck impressed the care taker about the gravity of the situation. I was quickly rushed in for a standard treatment. It included a sojourn in the principal’s cabin and a walk through a vine yard where the patient could have his heart’s fill of grapes. Sobbing intermittently now, my tear glands having almost run their full course, I sat apprehensive, staring at the charts hung on the walls. “Hey there!!”. I startled and saw the principal at the door, smiling and carrying a pack of my favourite snacks. That was the first time I saw her. Meekly peeking from behind her father’s knees, she stood dressed in pink overalls. My first emotion was that of envy, a bitter sense of injustice meted out by god in displaying a happy family to a home sick child. Her father quickly forced an introduction and cajoled us into shaking hands. An hour and half of cartoons, grapes and counselling later, I was as all children are meant to be. Smiling and happy . Circumstances contrived happy coincidences and we turned out to be the best of friends. Playing the good friend’s part she would sneak me goodies from her mom’s cooking and I in return would listen to an endless narration of her home place in the south. The days ran by and winter came. Winters in the mountains are a dry affair and the skies maintain a profile clear of clouds throughout. At nights these skies are a wonder to behold. And one such night, a week ahead of Christmas, the elders had all the children gather around a bonfire. Naive is what a child is and seated there me and my friend had a sudden impulse to count all the stars dotting that December sky. But before long the bell declaring dinner time cut our endeavour short. We made a pact not to give up on the venture and some day the world would hail us as pioneers. I left that school the next summer. Years go by not for nothing and the changes they bring may leave much which is desired a dream. Yet walk on we must. And if counting stars every time I walk underneath a particularly beautiful night can stroke memories of a mid-winter night and a pact made between friends whose shenanigans now seem like a distant lore, then it is only small change for such a treasure.
Creative Space 15
Photography 16
Photo Courtesy : Pixelbug
Photo Courtesy : Navaneeth Krishnan, Santosh Sankaran
Photography 17
Cartoon 18
- Shruthi
Pragyan 19
. .. .. o o o o o t s e o g R A C And the OS - Shubhadeep, Shubham
W
ith a controversial host in Seth MacFarlane last year, the Oscars needed to reinvent itself but not at the cost of losing the fun element in an otherwise somber event. Who better than one of the most popular talk show hosts Ellen Degeneres to do the honors. And the moment she stepped on the stage, you knew the Academy Awards organisers had got it right. She took not so innocent jibes at the nominees who were a varied bunch from old timers to an 84 year old first timer June Squibb as well as two African actors who were nominated for best supporting actors. She didn’t even spare the film fraternity as a whole taunting them as ones who end up here once they don’t have love, life or family. The most iconic moment of this Oscars was when she took a selfie with some of Hollywood's biggest stars from the audience and tweeted it to her 25 million followers. It broke the record for most retweets, crashing the popular micro-blogging site.
Buyer’s Club. The best supporting actress deservingly went to a teary eyed Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave. Disney finally struck jackpot both financially and at the Academy Awards as “Frozen” won the ‘Best Animation Feature Film’ and its song “Let it Go” won ‘The Best Original Song’.
This edition of Oscars also had a musical ring to it. U2 performed an acoustic version of "Ordinary Love," their Oscar-nominated song from "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," a tune penned in tribute to the late South African leader Nelson Mandela. Pharrell Williams made the entire audience dance to his tunes by crooning to "Happy" from "Despicable Me 2”. Pink was applauded for her version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," as part of the 75th anniversary tribute to "The Wizard of Oz."
But movies like Philomena, Wolf of Wall street, Captain Philips, Nebraska and even American Hustle with multiple nominations returned empty handed and Leonardo di Caprio despite the whole internet fraternity backing him, the Golden Statuette once again eluded him.
The first award for the night was bagged by Jared Leto for his “pretty” performance in the movie Dallas
Oscars 20
Cate Blanchett beat Amy Adams and Sandra Bullock to win Best Actress award to double her Oscar tally for her scintillating performance in the movie “Blue Jasmine” . Matthew McConaughey won the ‘Best Actor’ for Dallas Buyers Club. The biggest winner of the night in terms of numbers was clearly “Gravity” bagging Oscars. Gravity bagged all the technical awards as well as ‘The Best Director’ for Alfonso Cuaron. “12 Years a Slave” took the big one by winning ‘the Best Film’ Academy Award. Dallas Buyers Club also fared well winning three Oscars.
It was a glittering night at the new Dolby theatre with a witty Ellen Degeneres ensuring humour but not at the cost of anybody’s dignity and even a= pizza delivery boy return home rich with celebrity tips and his 30 seconds of fame. If there was anything to complain about it could only be about Leo missing out again.
lipst
ick +
cover story
y
o see t t n wa don’t ng things e l p Peo doi nk women don’t thi o. they should d t women Joan Jet -
comes a ft e r
x
Being a woman in a man's world is not easy. Women are ignored easily though they might be the first ones to be rescued form a sinking ship. Being a woman has its pros and cons but the one thing that shall always remain the same is society's restrictions on them. They are bound by its ideas and perceptions and should they cross that line, they are stereotyped.The blame does not rest on anyone; it’s just that ideas cultivated over generations are difficult to lose.
21
f e m i n i s m 22
W
hat comes to your mind when you think ‘feminism’? Pop-stars dressed provocatively just to ‘assert rights’ on their bodies? Wikipedia-Edit-a-Thons to make the ‘too masculine’ website less sexist? Or campaigns to ban the use of words that discourage girls from becoming leaders? Of late, feminism has been receiving a lot of flak for being overrated and duplicitous. But it didn’t start out this way. The human tendency to categorize information helps us make sense of the world. But that’s also how prejudices stemdiscrimination based on religion, caste, colour, gender too. Women have been considered to be the weaker sex since man’s hunter-gatherer times. Why? Blame biology. The male body secretes testosterone, which gives men their aggression and physical strength. Testosterone is the reason why men went hunting and women stayed back looking after children; testosterone is the reason why men were by default given the more laborious chores. However, over the years, biology and prejudices sunk their roots so deep, that women began to be denied of basic opportunities. They were not considered ‘worthy’ enough for education, suffrage and property rights. A movement was needed-something that would convince the world that women were humans too, for they were in fact being shorn of ‘human’ rights. That’s how feminism came to be. Feminism dates back to 1837, when Charles Fourier coined the term. It is the collection of movements aimed at establishing and defending political, economic and social rights for women. Because of feminism, in most parts of the world, women now have the right to vote and own property; have easier access to education and contraceptives; are given more equitable pay and also have the right to initiate divorce proceedings. But today, because attention-seeking pop-stars and politicians suddenly see themselves as crusaders of feminism, the essence of the movement has been lost. Miley Cyrus called herself as ‘one of the biggest
feminists in the world’, for (according to her) her skimpy outfits to award functions and for music videos empowers women. North Ireland’s actress and ‘feminist’ Cara Park gave a speech on International Women’s Day with just a necklace of feathers covering her chest. That was supposed to be a message to all the floggers who stone women for exposing their body. Beyonce, Condoleezza Rice and Sheryl Sandberg have started a ‘Ban Bossy’ campaign to ban the use of the word ‘bossy’, for it apparently discourages little girls from leadership and ambition. News like these make people forget the more pressing problems facing women today. Stars seem to have forgotten, that while they bring up inane issues on the pretext of feminism, there are women who still suffer in countries that provide marital exemption in their rape laws, where marriage of 9-year old girls is legal, where women who drive are branded as terrorists. The Y chromosome’s take on Feminism Feminism is an ideology that is very much the need of the hour in today’s world. Some might say that it is exactly what is happening right now. However is that really the case? For instance, take the example of the proposal to place reserved seats in the LokSabha. It smacks of a subtly condescending attitude to women, one that states that they aren’t good enough to compete on an equal ground with men and that they need a special allowance to be given any position of responsibility. One can find a myriad of such examples in society, one that has always been historically patriarchal. So what then is true feminism? Interestingly, feminism is not just about pro-women policies; at the heart of feminism lies gender equality. Equal opportunity, equal footing. Bringing this about will still require time, undoubtedly. It will take at least an entire generation before such a status is reached. However, one can afford to be cautiously optimistic. Our world is slowly, but surely reaching such a state. The fact that we as a society are inching towards a reversal of decades of narrow-mindedness is one that truly gladdens me.
e l b a m t i u oo s r g no y !!! et f sa m
a
pe
rr
ia g
e ?
ac e
Daughter: Ma, did you read that article in the newspaper, the one that questioned the safety of city buses in Bangalore. It also told that some girl was thrown out of the bus even after having bought the ticket. Grandmother: Well this is what happens when girls travel all by themselves. I still keep telling you, what is the need to even go outside? You have everything you need at home and if you want something your dad will get it for you. Mother: Leave her alone. Daughter: No Ma let her speak. Just because you guys did not have the current level of freedom we enjoy does not mean you have to restrict us too. Mother: We are not restricting you from doing anything. As parents it is our right to worry and with all that is going on right now and all that you read in the news every girl’s parents' are going to be worried. The maximum "amusement" we had was travelling back and forth from school and once we went to college the weekly trips back home. Grandmother: I did not even go to college. I got married when I was 18 and that's it, that was my life. You should be happy that you continued beyond grade 10. Daughter: Any girl can finish all 12 grades and still be stuck in this oppressive cycle. Just the other day when I went to get my Aadhar card I saw this couple with their baby. The lady shocked me when he told her date of birth. She was younger than me by a week! Grandmother: Oh! That reminds me. You are 24 and we should start finding a groom for you. Daughter: Ma tell her to stop otherwise I am going to walk out of this room. Mother: Okay, okay! I got married at 26 if that's any consolation. But then again I did study later and work for a few years too. So all in all I can say that I did a pretty good job of experimenting with feminism. But at the end of the day I still want my family. I want my peace and I also want a tension free life. But with you and your brother it seems impossible. Grandmother: Enough of all this maudlin talk. Now dear child please do go on and try that new dress I got you. I think you might like the length. It just skims the knee and the lace top is simply exquisite. Daughter: Really? You're 70 years old and I really don't think you're supposed to buy me clothes like this. Not that I am not happy. Grandmother: Well just because I was not able to enjoy all this does not mean you shouldn't either right? Mother: You both are crazy! 23
Freelance 26
1 251 273 18 7 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
vox populi
What do you think is the best way to prevent crimes against women inside campus?
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
lighting better security inside campus self-defence for women curfew blank curfew for men hope educate men moral classes for boys rules for boys cultivating better attitude smart choices by women all of the above nothing
Freelance 27
304
370
230
294
Do you feel curfews are a necessity for women safety inside campus?
261
Do the women specific rules (curfew,dress code etc.) make you feel safer?
327
Survey Courtesy : Cognito, NIT Trichy.
Does the fear of expulsion, suspension or controversy stop you from speaking out publicly against discrimination within campus?
190
Have you ever, personally, lost out on opportunities in your personal, academic or professional life due to the curfew system?
253
378
Do you think women lose out on opportunities due to the women specific rules?
183
Do you think the administration can opt a bettersecurity system that ensures women safety without causing distressto women?
486
71
389
284
Do you feel you are receiving unfair treatment with the women�specific rules?
272
Have you ever felt that you were being treated unfairly due to your gender, by any faculty (teaching or non�teaching) within the campus?
174 375
* The total number of students participated in this survey = 563
- blank
- no
- yes
Do you feel the campus, in the current scenario, is safe for women?
182
“All girls please move to the barn or go back to hostel by 9”.
The one line the girls of Opal dread hearing when they are in the middle of something. Although roll call has been implemented to ensure safety for girls, it has its downfalls too. While girls are dedicated to their work in various clubs, they are forced to leave them halfway at 9. They are restricted to limited options and miss out on a lot of opportunities and all the events that are extended overnight. Despite the bus service, girls are only allowed to stay for very few events and end up pushing and fighting over an early trip on the bus. Very few girls in NITT have positions of responsibility since there is a drawback like roll call that is out of their hands. Although roll call is necessary for the safety of girls on campus, it would be fairer if the campus was safer. If the campus was devoid of strangers, on-campus curfew would be a viable option. Dress code is another vestigial rule that is meant to keep girls safe, but is emphasized on at the wrong times. Why are certain outfits worn on special occasions, frowned upon in campus, while they are accepted in modern times? It has always been inconvenient and a topic of complaint to have to change into a more formal wear, just for buying a shampoo bottle or an ice-cream. Although it is fair to dress appropriately in the academic zone, to restrict girls from wearing shorts or sleeveless tops on campus is considered unnecessary by many. If the safety on campus was improved, it would be easier to relax on such rules.
Scope and activities of Ladies Club of NITT
Ladies club of NITT brings together women folks of the campus through its various activities pertaining to women development. Ladies club serves as a forum of dissemination of knowledge and enthusiasm among the women of working community, house wives and girl students of the campus. This year the Ladies club has focussed on creating awareness of the health and hygiene for a better living. Programs such as physiotherapy and yoga sessions, cancer awareness camp, and visit to the local temples were conducted. To promote the social activities within the institute, a one day visit to Mukkombu for the family of women folks took place, movie screenings were organised and was well received. In addition to this communication classes in English were jointly organised by Ladies club and Spirit Ed club for the wards of faculty and staffs of NITT community. Ladies club in coordination with the Primary Health Centre, Thuvakudi organised medical camps on Vitamin A dosage for kids, cancer check up for women etc.
26
He’s the Woman “Ask your father”, Isn’t that the usual response to questions that matter, in every household across the country, if not most parts of the world? Well, the Gharo and Khasi tribes from Meghalaya defy this general order. In fact, the matriarchal laws in these tribes are so stringent, that men aren’t entitled to take part in family gatherings. The youngest daughter inherits the property and children take their mother’s surname and once married, men move into their mother-in-laws house. Quoting KaithPariat, a Khasi,”all a man can do is play the guitar, sing, take a drink and die young”. In this male dominated era, finding matriarchal societies is a rarity. Certain sects of people in Kerala, like the Nairs, follow a matrilineal society, where women don’t hold power but are favored more than men. What’s surprising is that, the men in these areas vouch for this system. They believe this norm not only protect women, but also ensures their welfare and inclusion into the system. Incidents of men beating up women are completely unheard of. Likewise, a small tribe in China known as the Mosuo follows an intricate arrangement of matriarchy. Women are encouraged to have a ‘walking marriage’, a custom where the girl is given the choice of taking lovers from men within the tribe, having as many or as few as she wishes. The terms father and husband are unheard of, instead all men are known as “uncles”.
6
Interesting Women you didn’t know about
Theodora
(From Lowly Harlot to Byzantine Empress) Theodora (AD 500-548) was a child prostitute in Constantinople. At the age 20,after being abandoned,she took up wool spinning as a profession.She then caught the eye of Justinian,heir to the Byzantine throne. Though she had a reputation for being ruthless, Theodora became the most powerful woman in Byzantine history, imposing the death penalty for rape, giving women the rights to initiate divorce and own property, abolishing sex slavery and the exposure of unwanted infants, and opening convents where ex-prostitutes could go to make an honest living.
Vanitha Rangaraju
Vanitha Rangaraju is an Architecture alumnus of NITT. She went on to do her masters from the University of Texas at Austin. During her graduate course, she did an internship at Industrial Light and Magic. Instead of completing her degree, she joined the company to work on animations. Vanitha along with the rest of the team won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film for Shrek in 2002. She was credited as the Lighting Technical Director for the film.
Rosalind Franklin
1920–1958 Rosalind Franklin was a brilliant scientist most notable for her work on discovering the structure of DNA. Watson and Crick, who were credited for this should have actually been credited for “discovering” the papers Rosalind Franklin had been working on.
Pat Summit
Pat Summit is THE most famous female coach in female sports. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,she ended her 38 year coaching career with the Tennessee women’s basketball team with a stunning record of 1098-208 wins and 8 National Championships. It was announced that Summit would be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian award given out by the US government).
Dr. Ponni Concessao
Dr. Concessao is a world-wide renowned architect and interior designer. She started her illustrious career at NITT, being a part of the first batch of female students. She went on to study at Cornell and Harvard University. She has recently received an Honorary Doctorate in Architectural Science from Universita Milano. She has won more than 45 International, National and State awards in architecture and interior design. She currently runs a leading integrated architecture and interior design practice, offering award winning work across a wide range of disciplines.
Laverne Cox
The Game-Changing Badass Cox was the first African-America transgender woman to appear on an American reality show. She went on to produce and star in her own TV showTRANSform Me. Her encouraging and enlightening response to invasive questions about her sexuality just made her even more famous. Now she’s winning hearts as an inmate in “Orange is the New Black.”
Women from all over the world have made their marks in history, transcending the barriers of a largely patriarchal society. Be it a women at a successful managerial post, or a simple housewife, they are the driving force that propel the day forward. When it is established that women own the day just as much as any man, do we really need just one day to celebrate women? 27
FRUSTRATION STATION - Vrindaa
W
riter’s block is probably the worst syndrome that afflicts writers (after maybe a paralyzed writing arm and weird mental diseases). You may get all sorts of incredible ideas while walking or cycling or studying; but when the time comes to pen your thoughts down, you suddenly hear a ‘WHRRRR CRNNK CRNNK WHRRR *fizzle*’. That’s the idea-generating machine in your brain dying. Then you hear a ‘SWOOOSH’. That, is your deadline flying right past you.
Stress Reduction Kit
Bang Head Here Directions 1. PLace this on FIRM Surface. 2. Follow directions in circle of kit. 3. Repeat step 2 as necessary, or until unconcious. 4. If unconcious, cease stress reduction activity.
I was frustrated. I had an article to submit in two hours, and all my ideas seemed to be insipid and unoriginal. I almost made myself one of these Creative Space 28
This wasn’t good; I needed to do something about it. Soon. I had already gone from room to room, grumbling about my problem to anybody who would lend me an ear. Not only had I exasperated some of my closest friends, I was being tagged as borderline crazy. But one thing amazed me-the sundry ways in which people reacted to my frustration. Person Type 1: ‘It’s okay, stop being so hard on yourself. It was a long day. Sleep on it; you’ll get a new idea tomorrow!’ Really nice people, these Type 1s are. So concerned, so caring, except that they just don’t get it. Sleeping on it does not always work. What is the guarantee that something terrific will strike you the next day? Maybe if you had stayed up for an hour more, thinking, you would have stumbled upon a brilliant idea. But sleep, and you’ll wake up with that idea tucked in the obscure recesses of your mind, inaccessible, and find yourself back on square one-being idea-less. Person Type 2: ‘Let’s just taaaallk, no? It will calm you down.’ Ah, I see what you did there, Type 2. Notice how they say ‘Let’s just taaaalk’ and not ‘Let’s taaaalk about what’s bothering you’? That’s the catch, right there. With Type 2s, you have exactly two minutes to pour out your woes. After that, the conversation takes a surreptitious U-turn away, on to their lives. Their problems. Their emotions. Not exactly the kind of comfort you were looking for. After a long, depressing conversation with them, you will find that not only do you have lesser time now, but also, your writer’s block remains-even more stubborn than before.
Person Type 3: ‘Enjoy life, yaar. Look at the bigger picture. Is this stress really worthwhile, in the long run? Zoom out, look at your problems from different perspectives. Does it still seem overwhelming?’ Yes, Type 3. It is still back-breakingly, nerve-wreckingly overwhelming. Especially when you have given your word to people. What you say is wise, but there is no time to think over the ‘big’ questions! The only thing on my mind now is the looming deadline, not the long run. No philosophy attached. Person Type 4: 'D""o you enjoy doing this? (You conveniently decide to reply with a negative then.) Then just quit! Simple! What’s the point of stressing yourself over something that you don’t enjoy?' No. Absolutely not. Don’t you make that mistake of treading that oft-regretted territory. Quitting is so easyit is its simplicity that lures us in. But, quit, and you risk of being touted as ‘the guy’ from this t-shirt quote I read-‘Remember that guy who quit? No one does.’ Person Type 5: 'I can’t take this any longer! You are stressing me out! You’ve changed! Are you going to remain like this forever? *breaks down crying*' Whoa, Type 5. I was just looking for comfort. And possibly, an idea. But definitely not a nervousbreakdown. So what does a frustrated person, afflicted with writer’s block do, with the submission less than an hour away? She turns her friends into test subjects and observes their reactions. And then pokes fun at them. Just like this one. Creative Space 29
Vikings War at O
ver the past one month, the NITTFEST fever engulfed the campus and a Viking aura hung in the air. With every clan preparing for the storm, the department rivalries were at an all time high, but NITTFEST’14 was nothing short of extraordinary. In the inauguration ceremony, our beloved director, Dr. S. Sundarrajan expressed his hope that NITTFEST ’14 would outdo all its previous editions. He was not disappointed. This edition of NITTFEST came in with a sea of change. The coupon distribution system was revamped. A number of new events like boat making, Oodles of Doodles, Flash fictions and Treasure Hunt gave NITTFEST a refreshing change of pace. The first years, though not allowed to participate in the events, made their presence felt. Their enthusiastic help as part of the NITTFEST Team ensured the smooth conduct of the fest. Also, for the first time in NITTFEST history, informal events found a place in NITTFEST. The Tug of Wars and Dart Wars kept people intrigued. The main events were kicked off by the soulful Sufi music of Qawwali night. Being the first major competition, it attracted large audiences and zealous cheering. It was the Civil Engineering Department that came up trumps at the end of the day. But well begun is only half done. And there were many more twists and turns to follow… Day 1 had many popular events like Dumb C and Event X. Fun events like Rock Mime at the informal stage kept the audience entertained. However, the most awaited event was the Battle of Bands and the bands did not disappoint the audience. With students of all departments cheering like there was no tomorrow, the Chemical department showed its class. A beautiful blend of western and Indian music won them the ‘bandtastic war’. The competition had reached dizzying heights. The end of the first day saw a single point separating ECE and Civil. The next day saw some amazing performances in Nukkad Natak- the Hindi street play event. An impressive show in the music section took ICE department to second place. But all eyes were looking forward to arguably the most awaited event of NITTFEST’14- the ChoreoNite. The hype was worth it. An array of mind-numbing dance performances left the spectators dazzled. EEE department took it a step forward and walked away with the coveted prize. However, the day belonged to the Civil department. Consistent victories through the day saw them sitting pretty at the top of the table with a comfortable lead. The contest though, was nowhere near over. Day 3- the ultimate day, took the show to a whole level. Before everyone realized it, the Department of Architecture was surging ahead. A near-complete sweep of the Arts events brought them to the pinnacle. A historic win was within grasp. But ECE and Civil were breathing down their neck. Such was the situation when it was time for the finale of NITTFEST’14- Manoranjan. It was winner takes all- or rather, entertainer takes all. Every performance left the audience dumb-founded and amazed. When the time came for the results to be announced, pin-drop silence was an understatement. The entire barn hall waited with baited breadth for what seemed like an eternity. Finally… E… C… E… And all hell broke loose. The defending champions had won again. The war of the Viking clans had come to a fitting end. NITTFEST ’14 crossed milestones in all fronts. Never had the competition been so fierce. Never had so many flocked to the PR desk, their eyes scrounging the scoreboard. And finally, never before had spirits been so high, flying higher than the soaring temperatures. NIT-Trichy had seen something new. NITT had just lived, breathed and experienced NITTFEST’14…
Nittfest 30
- Aslam Kouther
Feature 31
Feature 32
- T. Gowtham Kumar
Feature 33
Creative Space 34
- Lakshmi Manoharan
- Parameshwar
Tech 35
Crossword 36
Creative Space 37
Where is the PLOT ?
Creative Space 38
Feedback The cover story on the electoral system in our college which appeared in the February issue of feeds received a lot of comments and stirred up a lot of people to think about the present scenario. Overall the response was a positive one and people did want a change in the way things are happening right now. Here we present a few of the comments and feedback.
" Best article I've read on Feeds. It was about things I didn't know. And wasn't just praising the college and its faculty. It spoke about the problems as well. The bit about how other colleges elect their councils seemed unnecessary. It seemed out of place. Basically, you can't really attempt to change the entire system. We can only try to make the present system better. I'd have like a comparison altogether with a college where the council is working very well instead of just stating how three other colleges do it."
"In its last edition, Feeds echoed the national sentiment with a cover story on Elections. The issue threw light on the process of elections on our campus with a window into the work of our representatives. Plaudits to the team for that. Even though the comparative study was an interesting read, there was no mention of any takeaways from it and the recommendation for status quo was disappointing. In short, Feeds cover story was informative, well-researched and non-controversial."
Swathi Chandrasekaran First Year, Civil
Harish Karthikeyan Third Year, Comp Sci
" Our Institute can think of implementing a system similar to that of IITB where there are different people responsible for diffferent fucntions. This ensures the responsibilites are equaly shared and problems are efficiently sorted out. Each function may have students from different years and branches thereby making a sound representation of their interests. In our college, the Cultural Secretary is not able to carry out his duties properly due to lack of bye laws. The office bearers do not know what comes under their purview and what does not. Also too many responsibilites are being given to few people. The admin can consider a foolproof way of bringing the Cultural Secretary into the Student Council so that he can discharge his duties to the fullest."
"The cover story portrays the current student council system quite comprehensively. This edition was a good read for all those who weren’t aware of the existing system. The idea of comparing and contrasting with systems from other college was really good. The need for decentralization of power was nicely brought out in the cover story. However, more emphasis on the role of students and their contribution could have been highlighted. Also, views of the previous Student council members on the new system and possible suggestions from their end could have been touched upon. Overall quite an informative cover story with great relevance to the student life at NITT"
Mohameed Fasil Final Year, Prod
S.S.Raghu Ram Final Year- Civil
Feedback 39
Solutions 40
on
off
Use your power wisely..... The future is in your hands