“From getting lost in the institute to stealing refrigerators and mistaking drunk drivers for kidnappers, our graduating junta have done it all. But as a final word of wisdom to the juniors, our graduating seniors agreed that insti life should not be a rat race to attain the highest CGPA, get all the major PoRs or climb the insti ladder to be a ‘stud’. Even though there are no disadvantages in having a decent CGPA, several felt that it should not be the only driving force behind your existence in insti and it is those memories you make on the way with your peers that stay with you longer than your CGPA.”

‘The Last Bencher’ was a venture to collect the best stories and writings from the batch of 2011 and bring it out in the consolidated format of a book. A wide range of people from all parts of the country, of different viewpoints and of different habits had contributed to this book, making it a truly pan-Insti publication. Opinions, articles about events and happenings inside IIT Madras, eye-ball grabbing anecdotes, all found their place in this book.

“Armed with a bag of stones and accompanied by Rehna, my mom’s youngest cousin who lived nearby, I used to climb up the plantation. If lucky, twenty aims of stone would send a mango down. The most important thing, however, is not to bring a mango down but to get it from the neighbor’s compound before the kids there grab them. “

An interview with Ms. Kalpana Jayanti, who has been teaching Kuchipudi on campus for nearly a decade now, on her dance journey and the classical arts scenario on campus.

In conversation with Mr. Ramachandra, owner of the Tata Book House, on his 10-year long stint in insti and why the shop had to close.