Feeds August 2016 by Feeds

Director

Contents

Dr. G. Kannabiran

Dean ( Students’ Welfare )

Swathi Chandrasekaran Co-Editor

Dr. A.Venkataswamy Reddy

Faculty Advisors

Calorie consumption in local eateries

Pg 4

Torn Apart

Pg 6

Dr.V.Sathyaraj Dr.V.Vinod Balakrishnan Content Developers: Kaushik, Shruthi S, Ashwin, Sumukh, Swathi, Abinesh, Sriram, Diptisikha, Adityan, Srishyam, Neveditha, Nishit, Jeswin, Nived, Shashank, Anirudh, Sandeep, Gautham, Shreejaya, Anirudh, Suriya, Arvindmani, Ajay. Cover Story: Swathi, Gautham, Arvindmani, Suriya, Diptisikha, Srishyam Creative Writers: Snigdha, Gautham, Ajay, Kaushik, Ashwin

Intern Talks

Pg 16

Illustrators: Shakthi Hari, Neeraj, Ayush Designers: Arun, Sri Harsha, Thilak, Arun Kumar, Abhinaya, Swarthika.

Doping in Sports

Pg 18

Ruining of Childhood

Pg 20

Coffee with Feeds

Pg 22

Pg 26

Editor

Abinesh Kumar

Co-Editors

Associate Editor

Shreejaya Bharathan

Founders

Exclusive pullout poster of Festember’s Rock Night by Guns & Hoses is inside

To the first years who’ve spent just over a month in college, welcome to college- one that will push you well out of your comfort zones, force you into unknown places, challenge you with unexpected problems and constantly coax you into maturing and earning your place in campus. Welcome to NIT Trichy. ‘Peace podu’, ‘RG’, CCD meets, Sangam breakfasts and Dhabha treats are just a few of the million things endemic to our college. You’ve all probably already settled into the drill- the 8.30 classes and the afternoon siestas- perhaps you have your list of favourite associations in college picked out and are waiting for inductions. This is the instance where people realize their aspirations, and struggle to find their passion. For the few of you who already know where it lies, congratulations and good luck on your pursuit of it. For the rest, welcome aboard.

Sandeep Krishnakumar Swathi Chandrasekaran

Curse of Opportunities

Over the years we spend here, each of us learn our ways around the campus, work the ropes and begin to play with (and over) the rules. We slowly establish ourselves in campus, whether it’s on the pursuit of an eluding Ivy League admit, frenzy of organizing fests, getting placed with top notch offers, learning new skills or widening our circles of friends.

Karthik Selva and Deepak Valagam ( ICE 2012)

Right now, you’re at the best place possible- at the very beginning. You get to sculpt your four years in college. The choices you make now will come to define you. You’ll make mistakes, lose friends, quit clubs and fail at finding your passion- that’s alright because each time will teach you what you shouldn’t be doing. So go ahead, make some gambles, take risks and just try. You won’t get a better place for it. Flip to our cover story: ‘NITT 101’, to find a few friendly guidelines: some NITT hacks to a comfortable living on campus, and a list of must have NITT experiences.

Freelance

The Invisible Third My hostel is a mini-prison where three girls stay in each cramped room. The prison-cells are spread over two storeys. For someone in the second storey, escaping would involve navigating two whole flights of stairs. In the sweltering heat of the ancient town of Tiruchirapalli, this can be quite a task. So most times, there aren’t too many people going up or down and the second floor is a semi-haunted, secluded place. And in a secluded corner of the secluded floor of this god-forsaken place is my room. Room 318. This degree of seclusion has meant that we spend a significant proportion of our time in the cramped place with two tables, three chairs and three beds with three girls sitting atop them. Why the asymmetry in the number of tables is a matter for another time. Point in focus is, there are two faces each of us stares at for a disproportionately large segment of our life. Of course which two each one sees, varies. Since the two faces belong to our much-loved cellmates. Oops. Roommates. In my room, however, two of us stare at one face notably more often than we see the other. From atop our beds in two ends of the room, we have intellectual debates on topics varying from whether watermelon is a fruit to why vampires must exist. The unseen face, belonging to our other roommate, moves from side to side, a vacant expression fixed upon it. This silent moderator usually goes unnoticed by us. 02

Feature

NSS… A term commonly misconceived for

easy grades and an afternoon under the sweltering sun of Trichy, yet very few people take notice of this up and rising club. Though they work in the background, their involvement and contribution to the college cannot be overlooked. NSS was officially affirmed as a club this year and has augmented its existing presence as a manifold group. This time around the activities undertaken by NSS not only diversified from its original clean up campaigns but also sought to make its mark more pronounced.

? Not that we mind her joining our cerebral talks; she just doesn’t. Perhaps she would prefer banters on who died in the latest soap opera or who went out with whom. But since the other two (being the majority in this diminutive population) are as concerned about these as for bacteria in Neptune’s atmosphere (do they exist?), the unseen’s choice goes unheard. A tyrannical majority we make. But it isn’t as bad as you would think. The undetected face often goes AWOL. She prefers faces in the idiot box to their real-life counterparts. What effect her neglecting roommates have had on this preference, I know not. That is another topic we choose not to debate on. But I have often wondered, in my rare solitary reminisces: how would it be if there was no third face? What if the unseen didn’t exist? Would our debates be as fulfilling without the silent moderator? Would the room feel more secluded if the population dropped by one (33.33 percent!)? Would life be more lonely if there was one less face to see (however less often), one less voice to hear (however silent)? I think it would. For sometimes, silence speaks louder than all words. And the invisible can make their presence felt.

- Ashwini

NSS conducted various events on key days throughout the year starting on the auspicious day of Gandhi Jayanti with the regular clean up drives and rallies throughout campus abetted by serious initiatives such as sapling plantation near the hostels and skits to bolster awareness of Swachh Bharat and inculcate the feeling of service to the nation. To further enhance their work they teamed up with other clubs such as LEAP to pull off the event without a hitch and was certainly the initial motivation it required to get other ideas in motion. Following their initial triumph NSS pursued their goal to motivate young India by conducting another event during the prime of the republic day showcasing the pride to be an Indian. This event showcased a myriad of initiatives from speeches and rallies to dances and skits in a nearby village vazhavandhankotai, to deliver a heightened understanding of the role of primary education in society and the curse of child labour. These efforts have not gone completely unnoticed as the Director congratulated the team for their valiant efforts and wished for them to continue actively with respect to the current set up in India. Hence NSS had ventured forth to participate and got shortlisted in the Sociathon event which pits various NSS groups from other colleges against each other in the effort to bring out true change to society. The team however could not go forth due to unforeseen constraints but however wishes to move forward with valor by conducting a camp for first years in the hope to spread the spirit of NSS. Perhaps this is just the beginning for the change to come as NSS hopes to further its horizons by affiliating with the villages adopted by the college, a change for the better upholding the true spirit of “not me but you”.

- Jeswin 03

Infographics VEGETARIAN DISHES

INFOGRAPHICS

NITT’S DHABA CALORIE BUDGETER !

ALL DATA HAS BEEN CALCULATED USING THE RECIPES OF DISHES SERVED AT DHABAS.

CALORIE/RUPEE

6.3 1 No

220 Grams

Malai Koftha

372 35

10.6 1 No

250

tips

50 5

If you are in need of instant energy after a rigorous workout session, paneer is your best bet. It can fulfill your body’s calorie and calcium requirement.

1 No

185

3.7

Noodles Dosa

1 No

220 4.4

egg DISHES

Counting calories and planning doesn’t necessarily help, but it sure does let you make informed decisions. The following infographics will tell you how much some dhaba dishes are considering your health and wealth. You’ve been given enough food for thought. So be a smart foodie.

NON-VEGETARIAN DISHES 80

200 Grams 176

12.5

1 No

300

12 1 No

78 10

Half boiled

Full boiled

7.8

tips

1 No 10

If you want food that satisfies your hunger,then go for an egg dish. It offers fat and protein for satiety. So, we could cut short on some of those starters and save some cash then right?

6.8 1 No

Cheese omlette

150

1 No 30

drinks 1 Can 330 ml Rs 35 Calories per 330 ml

1000

Egg veech

*Based on a 2000 calorie diet *Calories per serving

7.8

Egg kalki

Food can be classified into three categories GREEN, YELLOW and RED foods, based on the amount and type (Necessary/Unnecessary) of CALORIES present in them. GREEN - THE GOOD YELLOW - THE NOT SO BAD RED - THE UGLY

500 Grams

500 Grams 390

Egg kothu

Note

Now, why should I watch what I eat? Or can’t I diet? Truthfully, an ineffective dietary strategy can lead to nearly 95% weight gain over 5 years. Only a balanced diet, supplemented by a lot of physical exertion can help an individual to formulate an ideal strategy for leading a healthy social lifestyle

COST

Aloo Fry

Thus, an order for dinner at dhaba has been placed, even though some may feel that it hardly qualifies to be one. Dhaba food is branded as unhealthy, but that is not going to stop us from eating out at the dhabas on a regular basis. Feeds brings to you stats on dhaba food to help you make informed decisions.

Chicken biriyani

7.8

230

Cheese Dosa

“Oru Kalaki Oru Chicken Dosa Oru Aloo fry” “Avalavu dhana Thambi?” “Aaa! Aprom ANNA Oru Sunny Leone!!” (“ 1 Kalaki,1 Chicken Dosa,1 Aloo fry” “So,Your order is complete?” Oh,I almost forgot.One Sunny Leone too!)

Chicken dosa

CALORIES

220 Grams 315

Paneer 65

Contains information harmful for Dhaba lovers, foodies and health freaks. Readers are asked to continue at their own risk.

Chicken gravy

390

FRENCH FRIES

Warning

Chicken 65

250 Grams

Paneer Butter Masala

Butter Veech

Chicken kothu

SERVING SIZE

A 100ml glass of German flag would contain 50 calories on an average. A 100ml glass of Ninety cut would contain 40 calories on an average.

400

143

150

180

170

140

Coco Cola

Pepsi

Miranda

Mountain Dew

7 Up

Slice

Drink water before taking in carbonated drinks. Many a times, people take fizzy drinks just because they are thirsty. After the glass of water, you may reconsider the need for a soft drink, thus taking a step towards a healthy lifestyle.

tips

173 Grams 285

4.07

400

1 No 50

300 Grams 400 5

If in a desire to eat chicken, however wishing to go light , you could have chicken curry with dosa/chappati or just half of chicken kothu or a chicken dosa.

IN ONE DHABA MEAL You consume 1000 calories Rs 150 (As a big group) Rs 200 (individual)

I CAN BURN IT ALL…..WAKE UP! To burn 143 calories you need to go for 40 mins - walking 16 mins - jogging 12 mins -swimming 22 mins - cycling

NOT SO SIMPLE, RIGHT? HERE’S WHY When you eat more calories than you need, your body saves them as fat.When you eat fewer calories than needed, it will use up those calories and burn them off as fat. Exercise doesn’t create the deficit as easily as you think it to.

- Deepti, Shruthi S 05

Creative

Torn Apart Today turned out to be the most terrifying day of my life. I had been imprisoned in this dark, damp place, with barely any light or ventilation, because I had served my purpose for them. We had only minimal nutrients for the past four weeks. I was not alone, however. It had taken a while, but I made a few friends once I was thrown into the dungeon. Some of them had a rough personality, while others were prejudiced. But, they all make great companions. Too many days in prison without food had made us thin as sheets. We sometimes joked that if someone forcefully unlocked the prison, we would float out with the wind; that’s how thin we had become. Yet, we endured. We had passed the time by sharing our dreams and hopes with each other. All of us yearned to see the sunlight and feel the breeze against our bodies. The day started out routinely enough. Those of us who were awake watched the sunlight burst through a minuscule crack, indicating another dawn. As the day trudged on, I experienced a sense of foreboding, one which turned out to be undeniably true. We heard them coming before we saw them. There was a clicking sound, as the prison doors unlocked. My premonition now grew into fear, and later into terror, as the jailers entered. They wordlessly proceeded to yank away my closest friend, Seth, who was mashed, and left to collapse from lack of energy. The wrinkles on his body tightened, as his shouts of protests fell upon deaf ears. I stayed there, watching helplessly, paralysed by terror. They forcefully took Seth out of the prison, and towards a contraption which could only be described as a guillotine-like machine, that made a whirring sound. They had left the prison doors ajar, confident that none of us would attempt to escape. They were right in that regard. We were completely weak. All we could do was watch what happened to Seth. It was horrifying: with their guillotine machine, they tortured him and cut him up into many pieces. Those pieces were then collected at the bottom of the machine. The sight was sickening, but I could not avert my eyes. Alas, my ordeal had barely begun. The jailers returned for more. This time, they took two more of my friends, Rus, and Pap. They offered no resistance. I wanted to shout at them, ask them why they didn’t to fight back, but my frail body could barely hold itself. I continued to witness the slaughter taking place before my very eyes, as they shredded more and more of my beloved friends. After fifteen minutes, the whirring sound came to a halt, and the torturers spoke. “What happened? Why did it stop working?” said one. “The sheets of paper have completely filled the shredder. I’ll dispose them in the recycle box and return in ten. You take a coffee break,” said the other. It is now that I must bid farewell and embrace my fate. I feel satisfied with the life that I have led, and I am glad that they’ll be sending me for recycling – I shall be reborn into this world with a new goal. And who knows, I may end up being the sheet of paper you are reading from right now.

- Srishyam

- Ashwin, Kaushik 07

Creative

Cover Story

NITT 101 HELLO

LEARN THREE JOKES You’ll never need more than this (refer step 2). 1. Insulting joke. You’re the popular one, you’re better than the rest of them. a. “Your birth-giver looks like a hairy undersized beetroot.” 2. A joke based on current events. You’re not an airhead, you know things about a lot of things. Popular AND informed. a. “Leonardo Di Caprio’s birth-giver looks like a hairy undersized beetroot.” 3. A self-deprecating joke. You’re popular, but let people think you’re humble. a. “When I wake up in the morning, I look like a hairy undersized beetroot.”

JOIN FIVE CLUBS. When you’re involved in a whole bunch of things, you’ll hardly have the time to talk to people. Now, either you don’t have any friends, or you’re too cool to indulge in banter. In either case, people will still line up to talk to you, because you’re funny (refer step 1).

Develop your own distinct style of delivery. You need hand-eye-mouth coordination, honed with careful practice. Your hand must rise to its peak and your eyes must focus on your target at the precise instant your mouth expels the breath of the ‘h’ in your hello. Even consider appending a word of camaraderie – “man”, “bro”, “dude”. Example: Sup, mah nigguh! Pro tip! In case you wish to mind your language, you may use our PG-13 version. “What is above us, my dear black friend?” Pro tip! (Again) It is best to not refer to someone as a hairy undersized beetroot. Good luck! BUY EARPHONES The ultimate style factor. If you’ve got the money to spend, invest on Beats. If you don’t, the ones you got with your phone will do. Or else, ask your significantly less-popular friend – he’ll help you, because you’re on your way to becoming popular. Worst case, walk around with your fingers stuck in your ears. FIND COOL WHATSAPP STATUS This is slightly harder. You need to look up trending things in the world – movies, TV shows, songs. Now get the first five words you see, string them together, and put it up. We’ll show you how this doesn’t go. (Avoid references to hairy, undersized beetroots.) a. Hymen for the weekend (Avoid spelling mistakes) b. Some people just want to watch the world turn (Don’t mess up epic quotes) Pro tip! Avoid statuses like “Mah lyf mah rulezz” and “I am the one who roxxxx”.

- Kaushik, Nived

Hello, first years! Unlike most materials directed to you in college, this article wouldn’t be a long exposition about your hard lives preceding your admission here, your tiring academic schedule of tests and assignments completely destroying any hope of a social life you had hoped to have in the last 2 years, or your unbridled joy (or not, depending on how much you regret not joining IIT) on coming hereat NIT, the Pride of India! Willingly or unwillingly, you ended up here a 778 acred, bovine heavy flatland which happens to be drier than Satan’s front lawn. A pretty picture, isn’t it? Despite the isolation, hunger and homesickness, thousands of happy students graduate every year with fond memories of a campus they could proudly call their home. Here, we hope to give you a little insight into this amazing college - a small preview of the things to do, places to see and everything else you need to know about NITT. We present the easiest, but most important course your college has to offer NITT101!

Places to visit While Trichy may lack huge shopping malls, there are quite a few places in and around Trichy that make up for it. Quite a few of them can be visited with only a day in hand. Here, we bring to you a few tourist spots which can be explored during short weekends.

NITT Lingo RG (noun, verb) Definition:

Definition:

An act of social suicide which involves seeking personal gain from the downfall of others, usually for academic reasons. (Not to be confused with treason. This is worse.)

The most common phrase you’ll hear spoken at NITT. It basically means to lie back and let things be. It’s almost exclusively used when one doesn’t want to pursue a certain task.

Usage:

(noun) He who does not share his notes is a prick, he who shares the wrong notes is an RG.

Friend 1: Dei, where is that 40 rupees you owe me?

(verb) The most common method of RGing is spreading false information.

Atti (adjective)

Friend 2: Peace podu/put peace da.

Paint (verb)

SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE

One of the most well-known places in Trichy, it is located in Chatram and is one of the highest points in the city. The temple at the highest point (the Uchipillaiyar temple) is dedicated to Lord Ganesh and can be reached by climbing close to 400 steps.

It is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world and has Lord Ranganatha as its principal deity. The temple can be reached after a short bus trip from Chatram to Srirangam. The queues are usually long and it is advisable to plan accordingly so as to get back to the campus on time.

RAILWAY HERITAGE CENTRE

BUTTERFLY PARK, SRIRANGAM

It is a heritage centre-cum-museum and houses many old archival documents as a part of its indoor exhibits. The outdoor exhibits include old locomotive engines along with a fully functional toy train. It is located close to the Tiruchirapalli Junction railway station and is open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm on all days except on Mondays.

A relatively new addition, this park houses over 39 varieties of butterflies and also has a ‘Nakshatra Vanam’ containing trees related to the zodiac signs. The park can be reached by taking a cab from Srirangam and is open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays and 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekends.

Places to eat at KUMBAGONNAM IYER KAAPI

SRI SANGEETHAS

Closer to Sastra University, this coffee house is literally that – a cosy home-like destination on the TrichyTanjore highway serving authentic Kumbakonam Degree coffee and ‘hot-hot´ snacks.

Easily the most popular pure-veg restaurant in the city, this is a godsend for those travelling due to its proximity to the Central Bus Stand and Trichy Junction. A 10% discount for all NITT students doesn’t hurt either.

Definition:

GURU HOTEL

PARTHASARATHY VILAS

Refers to that person who has the proclivity to haughtily snub those that unknowingly approach him. It is the short form of ‘having an attitude’.

To extensively strive to get on the good books of any person [usually a senior]. Most commonly involves flattery and an extra sized portion of lip implants on the posterior region.

The hotel and its rooms may not feature in lists by travel advisors, but its restaurant has cemented spot in this list. A great choice for lunches right before afternoon buses or trains for its location – Trichy Central Bus Stand, and its primary offering – its thali. The dishes served with the thali change daily, but the satisfaction the full course meal offers doesn’t.

A must-visit, this restaurant finds itself close to Thiruvanaikoil Temple in Srirangam. The Super, a name it earned from customers, is its signature dish which is a ghee roast cooked on a stone pan using log fire. The thought of these dosas and the homemade ghee dripping from them should suffice to get you out of bed to make in it time for the breakfast.

ROSHAN ARABIAN RESTAURANT

DIMORA

With a couple of branches on the highway to Trichy and a sure spot amongst the food stalls for every fest in NITT, this restaurant is a little hard to miss. And not without reason. As the name suggests, Roshan serves Arabic grilled and barbecue dishes, but also extends its service to North Indian and Chinese.

Arguably the premier destination in the city to treat oneself at, DiMoRa offers a true fine-dining experience to its customers. Located close to LA Maris (and Chatram Bus Stand), it can also serve as a precursor to or a follow up for a movie.

Usage: “I asked Kanakkasabapathy for his notes and he blue-ticked me. Atti fellow.”

Beast (adjective)

Usage: “Looks like Shiva really wants to get into the football team. I saw him painting his seniors at Juicy.”

Slug (use your imagination)

Definition:

Describes the inhuman nature of an achievement or task that was initially perceived impossible to do.

When you’re too sluggish to define sluggish.

Usage: Vimal got 7 golds in SportsFete swimming. What a beast!

Peace Podu/Put Peace (verb)

ROCKFORT TEMPLE

Usage: Friend 1: It’s lunchtime da. Mess? Friend 2: No da. Slug.

MICHAEL AND SONS One of the oldest ice cream parlours of Trichy with a history of more than a century, this establishment serves tasty and affordable desserts for every taste.

While the places to eat at in Trichy seem to be a brilliant way to spend your time and cash, it isn’t the only thing to do here. For those who are not up for braving Trichy’s heat or are hesitant to shell out from your pockets, here are a few things you can do right here in campus!

HANG OUT

EARLY MORNINGS

Perhaps you’ve done this enough already, but the best thing to do on campus is embrace your new group of friends and hang out and CCD is probably the perfect place to do so. With amicable servers and a brilliant ambiance, you could spend all your evenings in there. Try a new board game here and settle into a corner for a few hours of undisturbed fun.

To those who haven’t walked around the early mornings of our campus yet, add this into your bucket lists. The calm of the surroundings with its mild cold winds, the lack of loud student activities and the general stillness of the campus is a sight worth waking up for. If you’re one for long thought stirring walks and exploring, we urge you to put on your walking shoes or take your cycle for a long solo adventure outside.

FESTS

MOVIE TIMES

You’ve seen the promos, you’ve heard their talks and you’ve seen their publicity teams at work on Facebook, but trust us- you still have no idea what you’re about to experience. Festember, Horizons, Aaveg, Pragyan, Sports Fete or NITTFEST, each fest will leave you with unforgettable memories and a longing for more. Mark your calendars and count down to these days, because even if you choose to not participate or organize, they’re all mostly days of guaranteed holidays!

Gang up for a couple of hours of movie time. After hours of intense debates on which movie to watch and a couple of disappointing failures, you might just get your way. Conquer the common room of your hostel and connect your laptops to the television for an even better experience. For the more daring ones, learn to make popcorn out of your electric kettles (we assure you it is possible) and enjoy your own wholesome movie watching experience.

C R O S S

ACROSS

PICK UP We’d love to tell you that NITT presents a large number of learning opportunities for you to pick up a new sport or skill, but we might be over optimistic. While NITT boasts of a wide array of interest groups and associations, you may not always find your place in your favourite team. Maybe none of the clubs here align with your interests, or you simply haven’t found your passion yet. That’s alright! You can still pick up a new sport, go swimming, learn a language or train to play a new instrument! With hours of free time every day, you could become a pro at it by your final year NITTFEST/ Sports Fete.

Words of Wisdom Printouts at Octagon are not and have never been free. Use the facility wisely. To take a print, go to run and type in ‘\\gold’. Select A4 printer and give your document to print. Collect it from the printer’s room after giving them your roll number. Conclusion So, there you have it. A simplified, easy-to-use guidebook, your first course as a student of NITT. These are just some of the things which would make your college life more convenient, but the best teacher is going to be your own personal experience. Living in a place like this isn’t easy, pleasant or comfortable. It doesn’t offer the warmth of your home or the convenience of your city; but it does offer something most of you wouldn’t have experienced before – freedom, and truth be told, there’s no better catalyst to make your independence more productive than NIT-T.

W O R D

9A 10A 11A 12A 13A 15A 16A 17A 19A 20A 23A 24A 25A 27A 29A 32A 33A

Enormous order stuffed with drugs (5) Make well-known popular leaders of Industrial Systems Enterprises (9) Acquit a crumbling submarine (7) Skullcap knocked off by primarily undiscovered element (7) Place second step (5) Worker from Indian territory (3) Girl has stitch, reportedly (3) Bong butchers 13 (3) Small cartoon dog lacks a curse (7) Source of socially oblivious boss’s cry (3) Yap about income (3) 13 distorted displays Dance for a setter (5) Brusque letter we hear, is a sign of social respect (7) #druglabel (7) ..... captures drunken Negroes infiltrated by Secret Service (8) 1,2,3: not x, y or z? (5)

DOWN 1D 2D 3D 4D 5D 6D 7D 8D 13D 14D 15D 16D 18D 21D 22D 26D 28D 29D 30D 31D

Interestingly, one wandering aborigine leads this state (4) Greek woman is strangely amused (6) Following trap captures ten (4) Great English film (4) Half spins by runts (5,5) Machine next to a European city (4) Mister Li confused by devices (8) Sycophant who would not refuse a lady? (3-3) Unhappy bearing notice (3) Article (Arabic maybe?) buried in shady assets (5) A space ploy is dismantled? It’s the end of the world! (10) Reportedly gives up inspirations (5) Freudian model to grope Sue awkwardly (5-3) Behold, O Anaconda, first of the snakes! (3) Characteristic of a witch and a candle, perhaps? (6) Flash in the sky? Alien enters the ruins of Rome! (6) Preferably quickly, etc.. (4) Bacchus hates some silence (4) Small pain for auditor’s use (4) Oddly, grown men vanished! (4)

- RV, Aniruddh, Kaushik, Swathi, Gautham 13

Travel

Feature

TRAVEL PAGE - INTERNSHIPS S.N. Bose scholar This summer I interned at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University at Pittsburgh, USA. I was fortunate enough to get selected for the Robotics Institute Summer Scholars Program and got my funding through the S.N. Bose Scholarship. The Institute is at the forefront of robotic technologies, constantly pushing the envelope on what machines can achieve. I worked on a vision system for space rovers in the Planetary Robotics Lab, a group in pursuit of the coveted Google Lunar X Prize. The 11-week program redefined how I look at research and robotics. I was able to work on the cutting-edge and rub shoulders with pioneers in the field. I also got a taste of an intense research culture, right from hourly rendezvous with the coffee machine to weekly team meetings. It was refreshing to move from an environment that pre-emptively shoots down your ideas Sudharshan Suresh due to its rigid hierarchy, to a more inclusive, collaborative one. There was a good mix of research presentations, field tests, barbeques and picnics. Pittsburgh, once the Steel City, is now a wonderful confluence of technology and history. Amidst the hectic work hours, the city had much to offer – especially a vibrant jazz scene.

Senthil Hariharan

MITACS intern The stereotype of the fundamentally polite Canadian is a bit of a cornball cliché, but it does have some basis in reality. They are spontaneous in helping you and value honesty, sensitivity and humility over anything. My professor insisted that we spend some time off the project every day to know each other better. We used to hang out every day during lunch and discuss on random topics and sometimes even spent time trolling Trump. The research environment is way different from that in India; getting the work done is given more importance than being regular to the lab. With excellent work-life balance, Canada is a highly welcoming place for Indians to pursue their higher studies.

DAAD programme DAAD-WISE programme gave me a two-way ticket to study robotics, travel and learn about the intricacies of life. I interned at the Hybrid Control Systems department of Technical University, Munich, Germany. The internship work involved designing a framework for implementing a closed loop position control on Khepera-4 Robot to make it navigate between the states on an Urban-Like Environment Platform using live camera feedback. The experiments that I conducted made me realise how almost anything can go wrong and one requires gigantic doses of espresso and patience to get by. Germany made me feel more Indian than usual. From walking on the right side of the road to drinking milk straight from the carton, Germany did affect me in myriad ways and to variable degrees. I learnt how to cycle for more than ten kilometres, be honest while playing extremely intellectual German board games, sometimes eat pretzels for all three meals and mostly be grateful of my life and achievements.

To read more about internships and projects done by our students abroad, check out the Feeds blog. 16

Himanshi Yadav

A Philosophical Approach To

SUICIDE No one asks to be born. We are delivered into this world, not necessarily healthy nor whole. We go through the motions of life; some better than others. Some achieve greatness. Some write their names in history. Some waste their lives away. Others use theirs for destruction. But in the end, everyone dies. Regardless of how well or how badly a life has been lived, it eventually comes to an end. This cycle will go on, if not forever, for at least an immeasurably long time. We are pushed into this cycle with absolutely no say. For most of us, leaving this cycle is also out of our hands. But what if it wasn’t so? What if there was a way out of this involuntary cycle?There actually is. But the topic is enormously taboo, especially in an engineering institute. But we shall still discuss it. Suicide is the only way a human can opt out of this involuntary cycle with his own hands. But this article does not seek to romanticize suicide. Regardless of the nature of the gift, life is surely more precious than anything else. And it is easy to argue that throwing it away is a wrong decision in every case. But as a philosophical, theoretical problem, suicide is interesting. In a way, it is a very brave thing to do. It involves the severing of every single tie, every single connection and a plunge into something entirely unknown. Why do this? What guarantee is there that the removal of oneself from this cycle doesn’t lead to dropping oneself in another involuntary cycle?

There is none. But one could argue that the same solution (for lack of a better word) could be applied in that cycle as well. And so on for as many cycles as one may encounter until one ceases to be. One other aspect of suicide is the irreparable pain it causes to those related to the doer of the deed. In this way, suicide is selfish. It affects more people than necessary. But one may argue that in the same way that one doesn’t ask to be born, one doesn’t ask to be loved. The effects are collateral damage. Inevitable. It is the price that is paid for the cycle to end. One can also say that death is inevitable, so the manner of death doesn’t matter. But it does. Suicide takes a much larger toll than a natural death. Or even an unnatural death from outside. Suicide is viewed as a way out; as an alternative when life just seems too bleak. And this is possibly what contributes to the worldview that suicide equates to a troubled soul. But what about when life is taken into one’s own hands, and eventually taken away, for the sole purpose that it was a gift unasked for? I would like to argue that regardless of the nature, life is an amazing gift. Regardless of theory, I believe that every individual owes it to life to live and make use of their time on this earth. Because at the end of all cycles is nothingness, and it would seem that something is better than nothing; even when that something is unasked for. Note: The author does not seek to romanticize or support suicide. It is a serious issue, and the article does not make light of it. It is merely a view from a different perspective.

- Ajay 17

Sports

SUPERFICIAL ANTI -DOPING SYSTEM Eight of the most gifted sprinters in the world are settling into their blocks on the start line of the 100m final at a major championship. The tension is almost unbearable. To the millions of spectators in the stadium and fans watching on TV, it is a spectacle without an equal in sport. But what very few of them will suspect is that it is statistically likely that at least one of those runners will have a genetic make-up allowing him/her to take performance-enhancing steroids for his/her entire career — and never fail a drug test. Science fiction? Far from it. The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list is a comprehensive document, internationally accepted for certain substances and methods in sport. A substance is categorized into the prohibited list: . if it violates the spirit of the sport. . if it poses an actual risk to the athlete’s health. . if it enhances the performance of the athlete. Despite such stringent regulations, there have been several controversies surrounding substance abuse by athletes. One of them was WADA’s whereabouts clause, which created a lot of ruckus among the biggest sporting bodies. Essentially the clause dictates that every athlete must be ready for an anti-doping test for an hour every day – seven days a week, without any prior notice served by the local doping agency authorized by WADA. This also means every athlete’s schedule, current location and other private information does not remain private, thereby infringing on their privacy and posing a security risk.

Another incident involved Andre Agassi, who on publishing his autobiography in 2009, came out with the truth that he had consumed drugs and deceived the system, to continue playing tennis. In 1997, he received the call stating he had failed the drug test. He sent a letter to the authorities saying he had ‘accidentally’ ingested soda spiked with crystal meth which his assistant often did. The anti-doping agency did not progress with the investigation and he proceeded to win the French Open in 1999, apart from other titles. Once he confessed, WADA sent a letter to ATP regarding the status of the inquiry into the drug use, to ensure clean athletes are protected and such incidents shouldn’t to happen again. More recently, Maria Sharapova broke the headlines on live television, admitting to using a banned substance, Meldonium. A 2015 documentary revealed that 17% of athletes had the drug in the system and when an expanded cohort of 8320 athletes were studied, 2.2% were found to have the substance while competing. WADA decided to ban the substance on January 1st, 2016 after confirming its enhancing capabilities.

The extent of WADA’s incompetence is quite incomprehensible. Again, not to shift the blame entirely from the athletes, but the controversy surrounding Russia’s ban from the Rio Olympics surely calls for a revamped administration. This is how compromised the system actually is – say, a Russian athlete who competes for the ARAF (All-Russia Athletics Federation) [which is a part of IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) and the Russian Ministry of Sport] will have to undergo tests from their own anti-doping agency, RUSADA, which is credited by WADA. Now, they receive funding from the IOC (International Olympics Committee) and the Russian government. Recent investigations disclosed that a secret hole-in-the-wall (literally!) was used to switch drug test results and that a part of RUSADA was responsible. Also, officials of the same body were seen taking bribes from athletes in exchange for advanced notice on when the ‘surprise’ drug tests were to happen. The IAAF is supposed to sniff out any malpractice, but the head of their anti-doping department was banned for five years due to an ethics investigation. Somehow the only governing body here which could do something about this is WADA, but their inefficiency and lack of action has done nothing but aggravate the doping scandal. In effect, they should act as an independent and robust monitoring system, preventing such scandals and thereby keeping the spirit of the sport intact.

Sources -- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

- Adityan 19

Creative

DEXTER'S He hadn’t expected it to happen. He’d made the best arrangements and ensured she’d stay out. He knew it was all his fault, after all, he built the damn place, now, he’d rather take her place. He could never look at his parents ever again, what would he say? How could he live on without hearing her voice ever again? Dexter stared at the charred building before him, the firefighters covering what remained of DeeDee. ‘Dexter! What does that button do?’ Never again.

HARRY POTTER

ruining of childhood SCOOBY DOO “Run for it!” shouted the lookout. The DEA had found their base of operations, all their goods were as good as gone. “Leave the kids, head out the back!” “Go after them!” Exclaimed the DEA Officer looking around the broken down building. “Tend to these teenagers, they seem to be hooked on to some pretty crazy stuff.” “Where’s Scooby Doo?” Muttered a boy in green, struggling to see straight as a flashlight shone in the distance. The last thing he remembered was straying near a mysterious van, a van with pretty flowers on it.

LUIGI It had to be done. Yes, her screams still echo in these halls, but, it had to be done. I was desperate, after all, he’d killed most of my allies and was approaching the edge of the castle. Lucky for me he’d strayed into unventured territory, his lust for gold driving him off course. That fat fool. If only I was the chosen one. She was all that I’d dreamt of, the perfect one. If only he wasn’t my brother. Don’t you worry Peach, you’re mine. Mario will never find you. *Laughs Hysterically*

The boy who lived, they called him: the one who survived it all. He’d defeated the dark lord, cured the world of a future of darknesshim, just him. He’d worked it all out in the end, he was married now, with a family for the first time. He was no longer a boy now though- no. he was no longer the innocent boy with a scar destined for greatness, all the greatness he’d ever know was in his past now. Just a bunch of stories and speeches to give him any credit for it... or maybe not. He’d survived his own death once- why can’t he do it again? His green eyes shone under his invisibility cloak as he charmed open the dead man’s tomb.

FF She was losing her patience again, “I’m not to be called MISS!”, she screamed. It had always been her his dream to be a guy. His reflection looked back at him, the hair cropped to an inch, a loose shirt and pants, he threw a scorn towards Anne, watching her get them their pudding. “I will not be addressed as a girl”, she stomped. Julian tsked at the girl as she stomped around the room pretending to be a boy- gender dysphoria was the diagnosis, she can’t adjust to being a girl. Often she was affected with extreme hallucinations, pretending adventures, believing she owned a dog, pretending everything. He looked around the garage where they always met. Georgina’s cousins who’d been ordered by Aunt Fanny to make her feel comfortable, the Famous Five she called them.

POWERPUFF GIRLS They’d always failed him, in spite of everything they did. A long list of things that was too, they were quick, smart and could do some real superhuman things, but they were not what he wanted. All he wanted was a perfect girl. He’d worked long and hard on that project, having been alone all his time. He’d studied all the ingredients needed, factored every possible component that might affect his experiment and finally arrived at the formula, he’d created a flawless method to get his girl- he just had to create her. So he started, adding each ingredient, spicing the brew just right, he’d just overloaded one thing. In all his urgency and excitement he’d moved too quickly and made a blunder- releasing Chemical X too early. Instead of his perfect woman, instead of his soulmate- he now had three little girls. He’d have to wait many years before...

- Suriya, Swathi 21

Feature

Fake News

- Abinesh, Diptisikha

- Stealth Shiva 25

Feature

- Nishit, Shruthi 27

C R O S S

W O R D

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