Personal Experiences - Soma Banik
I had "IIT Mandi" placed,9th in my priority list of jee counseling. It was not that I wasn't getting old IITs, basically I just needed a change. Tired of studying in the plains and the same old boring polluted city life, I opted a new beginning for me.
In the beginning I ,along with my batch mates stayed at IIT ROORKEE which is a well-established body. We were always cared and remembered by the seniors here.They were very kind and considerate in guiding us. I was spell bound by the beauty of the campus and sports facilities that meet the international standards. The huge central library with thousands of books, journals and publications is worth mentioning. I joined the Cinematics and Audio sections of the cultural council and worked with the Roorkee peers. I was also a member of the Techno creative cell in NSS.
Recently, a trip was organized to Mandi city (Himachal), to visit the Transit and main campuses. It was a twelve hour journey from Roorkee. We experienced the true depths of enjoyment during the journey. When we reached there, I was mesmerized by the beauty and elegance of the surrounding nature.
I couldn't take my eyes off the majestic sights and the glimmering waterfalls that ran through the mighty hills and valleys. It was far more exciting than expected. Our Director sir was highly generous and friendly with us. The trip was a platform for greater interaction and we had a great time. The temporary campus is being renovated at a much faster rate and the classes commence in the coming July. The sight of the permanent campus is a true blend of various shades of nature and overwhelms with scenic and thrilling experiences all around.
The markets at Mandi are quite reasonable and well organized. We find no signs of any chaos or disturbances in the city. It is sparsely populated with all the required resources and needs. The food is really nutritious and hygienic. The climate is calm and suites all individuals from various zones of the country. Being a valley, there won`t be any snow fall .The spotlights of Indian tourism Shimla ,kullu and Manali are very near .
As the city dwells with Temples, Gurudwaras and Mosques in every nook and corner,it is often referred as "varanasi among hills". Ethical values here are highly remarkable. Moreover, the place is considered to be one of the most literate and least corrupted.
All my colleagues are very cooperative, determined and friendly. I am really happy that many cells have been already formed like culsoc,sports council and many others. As a part of the institute, I see IIT MANDI growing at a much accelerated pace. It would soon establish its own identity among the various renowned institutes of the nation and the world. To begin with, we the first batch students, strive to make it the best among the new IITs in the near future. I am very happy and proud to be a part of the IIT MANDI family and I never regret my decision to join this wonderful institute. I must proudly say, we IITans are just having the best days of our life and IIT MANDI added a sweet smelling essence to it.