Sunday, April 24, 2011

Comments on Assos and a Fresher’s role @ NIT


In recent times we are witnessing a phenomenon of over protectionism, something which any free being would feel disrespectful about. We are forced to be over-submissive to the authorities.
(The recent naïve piece of mail which lies in ur insti’s mailbox was a quite a message and a driving force for me to jot down my understanding of the problem.)


Quite unaware of the total scenario, a fresher who enters this so-claimed elite institution falls prey to a system common to some NITs and IITs across the nation, the system of Asso(read State associations). A fresher having lack of gadget+internet+rock culture+galla activities and above all a whole lotta warmth of a senior-junior relation, which he has never seen in his school days seeks gratification and respite from an already existing load of academics and peer-pressure. Being submissive (hez a bichara fresher), joins up a State-Asso eg.UP, CB, KSA.. thus falling prey, himself totally unaware or may be inconsiderate, to the whole damn effect of "regionalism".
Now lets have a broader picture, What on earth makes me think that Asso is bad, is it because I never joined one?

When we join a ‘National’.I.T. seldom do we give a thought of the talent pool we are surrounded by. We are sadly pessimistic of any good/great that can possibly germinate here. Under the system of Asso, we tend to lose our abilities to actually interact with the best brains of higher years. We, out of obligation tend to meet up people and seniors of our own communities thereby gaining and cultivating warmth in this small group which parties together, raggs together(read Intro), dines together etc. Regionalism does no good and it’s a lesson which is the need of the hour. With the authorities taking good interest in stopping the menace and the present fresher batch evolving out with lesser effects of Assobaaji, we can expect to have the renunciation of the Institute’s values and ethics.
If we want our students to be responsible, ethically sound and timely exposed we shall put an end to the system of Assos, however making new ways for senior-junior interaction which plays vital role in a fresher’s upbringing and thinking abilities. The system of Year-wise hostel allocation does more harm than good and we need to learn from IITs in this regard, where students of all the years live together in single hostel. Don't authorities over there have scare of ragging?
We need not be over protective.
The Proud feeling of Oneness of being an NITian for all the inmates, rather than being from Mumbai, Chennai or remote Northeast is the only thing that can pave way to agree for the claims, of the Institute become an elite one.

-Parker