Litsoc has been the cornerstone of Insti’s hostel rivalry. The start of Litsoc every year sees hundreds of people running around the institute performing silly challenges, dancing to the latest trends, and being a general nuisance in the Phoenix Mall area, all to maximize their hostel’s chances of winning the “Queen of Sheba” treasure hunt.
However, this enthu has dwindled for the events that follow. The fast-paced rapids of the semester and looming quizzes or deadlines wash away any remaining passion from the average student and leave literary secretaries scrambling to field even a single team for events coming two months later. Over time, Litsoc became another event attended only by niche groups and cultural contingent teams.
In the hopes of maintaining the initial wave of eagerness from Queen of Sheba, the model of an “accelerated Litsoc” was implemented last year. Each club conducted one or two events per semester in a fortnight-long sprint after Quiz 1. Additionally, each event carried prize money for winners to entice more participation. Did these measures increase the involvement and event quality, or did trying so hard and getting so far still not matter, in the end? We look at a few winners and losers of this change:
Unseeded Fandom Quiz, always a crowd puller
Winner: Publicity, Perception, Participation
The rise of T20 cricket and 20-second reels sets us clear guidelines to maintain people’s attention. With a short burst of intense publicity immediately after an exhausting quiz week, participation in events saw an apparent increase compared to previous years. Events like “short film making” also had an increase in quality submissions.
Loser: High-Prep, Low Priority
Events like “Stage Play”, which require significant time for team formation and practice, were left by the wayside, with a maximum of 2 weeks given for preparation. With limited time for preparation causing a decline in performance quality, such events are in danger of being phased out in favor of new ones.
Winner: Successful contingency plan
Greater participation in events brought more lateral entrants into cultural contingents through strong performances, boosting the strength of the Inter IIT Cultural Contingent. Postgraduate participation also rose to new heights last year. The success of our contingents is contingent on Litsoc’s success.
Loser: Allegiances
While hostel lines used to be among the fiercest battlegrounds in the past, hostel loyalty is lacking (in lieu of a better word) in recent times. The new avatar of Litsoc does little to counteract this loss of hostel culture. Friends unite to form teams across borders, and chants, cheers, and banners supporting hostel teams are forgotten as relics of a past era.
Litsoc JAM, conducted at Himalaya Lawns
Winner: Spectacle and Spectators
Increased budgets and hype allowed teams to set up for spectator satisfaction to soar. The Oratory Club’s “Just A Minute”, usually relegated to just the participants in a dusty CRC classroom, drew a sizable dinner-going crowd at Himalaya lawns, bringing more attention to a lesser-known event.
Loser: The gift of Plenty
With the whole of Litsoc limited to 2 weeks, each club can conduct only two events per semester. Clubs are forced to cut down on their line-ups to the dismay of contingents, who view these events as an arena to test new strategies and combinations before their eventual journey out of IITM.
Litsoc will continue to sprint this year immediately after Quiz 1, and there is more in it for you than just bragging rights. With strong performances, you can win (glory), treats from your hostel’s literary secretary and even be selected for cultural contingents to represent IITM at inter-college events like Festember (NIT Trichy), Mood Indigo (IITB), the Inter-IIT Cultural Meet, etc.
“For better or worse, Sprints are here to stay. I’m excited to see how they evolve. So, let the Games Begin!“ – Megh Maheshwari, ex-Sangam Core.
written by – Anirvin Srivatsan
edited and designed by – Siddu Sriram
