Having done my schooling and graduation in Mumbai (a period of 16 years), I really wanted a “change”. A change that would make me fiercely independent, confident and motivated. Today, almost in my last month of Master’s Program in DESE, I can scream to the world and say that I have achieved most of the above. Meeting people with different attitudes and knowledge has made me more open-minded. Despite being an electronics student, my realm of knowledge increased not only in one domain but also in several others. My interest in birds and wildlife especially was triggered by interactions with friends in the biology and CES departments. My determination to be physically fit was imbibed here. I started to learn kung-fu and swimming. I played badminton and am currently being coached for lawn tennis. I realized the importance of staying healthy for a good and happy life. I also got the opportunity to be a part of the women’s welfare committee and help my fellow mates with their problems; this made me more considerate and thoughtful. Whenever I felt low or wanted a break, a walk near the Main Building, listening to the melodious birds in Jubilee gardens or even a coffee at Prakruthi could heal every bit of it, which showed me that you do not really need fancy things to cheer yourself up. Nature will do it in its own mysterious way. IISc is truly one of its kind. Lucky are we, to have experienced and learnt from it 🙂

Casting magic spells at Hogwarts was my aim, the little day dreamer that I was back then. Now that I see Eigen values floating in my dreams, I can firmly justify that life has changed a lot after coming to IISc. Life works in mysterious ways, sometimes accidentally, sometimes brutally, sometimes vehemently and sometimes wonderfully. Research at IISc is the same! The word “Re-search” itself says repeat your search. When you are not getting your results, you repeat your experiments or simulations multiple times, each time implementing a new idea. Thus, passion for your work and hard work are indispensable bounties of life at IISc. Asking the right questions, at the right time, to the right person marks the difference between success and failure. For that, understanding the mood of your professor is one unique thing that I have learnt here. I have learnt to optimize not only my simulation results but also all the aspects of my life since time management is not optional. Working late nights in the labs, loitering around at Gym Café and Prakruthi, occasional walks around the campus especially near the main building, blurting out all the frustrations while sitting at Sankey lake with friends, eating at NIAS and BEL road, all sum it up. But the most important thing that IISc has taught me is to compete in the right direction. Be it studies, research, play or relationships, it has made me realize how each one of us follows different paths. Not everyone has a girlfriend/boyfriend, but everyone sure has a friend in the form of their research!

On my first visit to IISc, I saw only things serene, Verdant Gulmohar Marg would make Cubbon park go green. My admission to IISc being on July fourteen, There was more to explore than the Prakriti canteen! In my coursework, I realized that the professors were keen, And of stellar ken, so it took time to get what they mean. But once we grasped the concepts, we could beat Einstein, And with state-of-the-art labs, we could make Frankenstein. The talks and seminars I attended abounded with caffeine, Revolving around bosons, photons and every kind of protein, And machine learning, quantum mechanics, and things unforeseen, It gives immense pleasure to know a researcher’s doctrine. The students here are not confined to a monotonous routine, When I leave my hostel and mess food’s salad green, I’d reminisce about the day when IISc was first seen, Thank everyone here who may make me known to the Queen, But in my heart I’ll forever keep the spirit of IISc evergreen!