IITBHU : Such a long journey

Vide Notification no. F.No.8-5/2008-TS.I (Vol.-IV) from Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, the Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2012 (No.34 of 2012) has come into force on 29th day of June 2012 and consequently, the erstwhile Institute of Technology, BHU has become Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi w.e.f. June 29, 2012.

IT-BHU has always had the trait of becoming independent and autonomous. Now, that goal has been achieved. Speech given by Jawaharlal Nehru on 15th August 1947: 'Tryst with Destiny' is coming back to my mind. In 2009, IT-BHU was slated for conversion into an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) by amending the Institutes of Technology Act 1961 through The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2011, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on 24 March 2011 and by the Rajya Sabha on April 30, 2012. The institute is now officially known as IIT-BHU.

To once visit Varanasi is a very desirable fate, and one accepts the fact that nothing is outside the realm of possibility in India. Irrespective of this, I don't know why I despise Varanasi while loving the college in equal proportion. The river Ganga that flows through Varanasi is a reservoir of filth, chaos, and poverty, but also a meeting place for memories and belonging. I had expressed much anger in Banaras: A Bitter Memoir. The Holy City of Kashi is the most sacred place for millions, but my love is limited to my college only.

An average ITian is a self-contained creature and sometimes desires an extra 'I'. However, an ITian richly deserves more than the quasi-IIT status. We all have indeed walked on the roads of IT-BHU with a question in our hearts. Why are there many bureaucratic and political hurdles in one small conversion? Maybe an Indian state can bear anything from corruption to nepotism, but an 'autonomy' to make its own decisions is blasphemous!

There is always a pivotal moment of self-awareness in a society that is held together for so long by the belief of superiority. We all know thoroughly about the rise of new IITs and the gradual fall of ITBHU from its peak position. The fall was initiated long ago with internal politics, low funding, and shoddy appointments. Even though ITBHU introduced the entrance pattern of IIT-JEE in 1971, it could not update itself with the changing times so quickly. However, a much-deserved yet over-hyped IIT brand continues to elude the institute. Administration, Faculty, and Students of IITBHU need more interaction with the honest, progressive, modern, and reasonable world outside of its own citadel.

The imminent effect of IIT Status is already visible through an upward movement in JEE ranks for IIT BHU. [Quick Analysis Here]. It appears to be a name change for many, but the first step towards great change has already been taken. There were a few questions raised previously about the future of ITBHU. See, the winds of change have already started flowing among the faculty, alumni, students, and administration. After IIT, What Next?

'The Old order changeth, yielding place to New'

I cherish the 'IIT tag' for ITBHU, not because of the 'brand value' but because of the wide spectrum of 'autonomy' enjoyed by them. The tag will naturally attract higher-ranked JEE candidates and procure high funding levels for faculty. I dreamed of college, which should be identified with liberty and opportunity. I dreamt once of ITBHU as such a place for me. I no longer cherish the dream and am driven by a different ideology. Yet, this was a cause close to my heart. Opening of new IITs and up-gradation of old Institutions is a slow step towards reform in the higher technical education. I was personally much against people who were opposing the opening of new IITs, as this may dilute the 'IIT' brand. It is shameful that our best minds were more concerned about brand than the scarcity of good institutions. Only under the umbrella of IIT, the autonomy could have been achieved and has now been achieved.

“The job of the university is to not give society what it wants, but what it needs.”

A good way of spreading brand awareness and also making the best out of the time in the institute is to try to do something out of the box, such as travel abroad for internships, leverage the IT-BHU network in securing jobs, etc. The journey to this red-letter day for the IT-BHU fraternity has been long and full of roadblocks. This could not have been possible without countless& well-wishers, proud alumni, ITBHU administration, esteemed Professors, and current students. They protested, lobbied, and even went public with their demand for the conversion. Kudos to all of them. There was opposition and protests from the section inside BHU that saw a threat to the heritage of Madan Mohan Malviya. With persistence, the milestone for the upcoming glorious years has been achieved.

I am not yet convinced about how this move will benefit thousands of poor students. To be poor is to be without any entrance exam coaching or good schools. Already, there is a huge information gap between the middle class and the lower class. People with good information and money are less dependent on government spending and public goods. They are in a much better situation to get admission in any of the IITs at the end of their school education. I hope that IITs should make a reservation of seats for a youth from a BPL card-holding family. That will be a good initiative from such an old and prestigious Institute.

Changes are slow but inevitable. As time passes, either we adapt or get left behind. The widespread serenity of VT has taught us to endure and be patient for the cherished moment. I am happy to be a tiny part of the heritage of both BHU and the IIT system. Yet a question remains unanswered in my mind at this happy hour. Do the best students need the IIM or IIT stamp to be seen as special?