I really regret for taking engineering in one of India Today’s top 100 colleges of India (rank 97). The quality of education is sub standard. Here campus politics is strong, and teachers oppose the students participating in politics. So you can imagine the life of a student entrepreneur.
So after I landed up there, within a couple of weeks, I figured out this is not the place I wanted to be in. Why? Because I am a student of computer science and unfortunately there is no subject called Computer Science in the first year. This is very weird considering the fact that most people who complete engineering with decent marks end up in the IT industry. It is weirder because, I had computer Science right from my class 5 in school and do not have it in my engineering syllabus.
I am addicted to Computers. Naturally, I stopped attending lectures… for improving my … ahem … programming skills. I thought (and still believe) that it was a better thing to do than go to college and literally waste time talking to people and drinking milk shakes. But none of my teachers liked my way of thinking for reasons I am still not able to figure out. In fact, there were a couple of instances when teachers asked me to be “normal”.
Moving on to the second year, there were 4 computer science papers. Teachers were blabbering that we have moved on to our “core” subject and we should be more serious. For a few days I said to myself that things are getting better! Meanwhile, me and a good friend of mine, started off something where we used to design sites and code WordPress themes for clients.
My attendance started to fall below the minimum required and I got an attendance shortage that year. Fortunately, my parents were able to understand me thanks to results in front of their own eyes. But unfortunately the teachers couldn’t. They started advising (once again) that all what I am doing can be done by anyone and I should concentrate more on my studies. I had a very tough time trying to convince them and in the end I gave up. None of them were even willing to help me or guide me, or point me to places from where I can get help. Instead they kept telling me to learn (meaning mug up) the architecture of the 8086 micro processor and the advantages of AC over DC (or was it the other way round). I confess that I was not regular at college, but that said I have to add that I obtained decent marks for the university exams.
Things moved from bad to worse in third year when teachers started advising again. Advice is free isn’t it? When it gets counterproductive, I began to wonder if there was something wrong with me. It was like all of them against me. Teachers would give me internal marks as low as 12 out of 50 (for the record, I cleared that paper!)
One day suddenly an “Enrepreneurship Development Cell” sprang out of nowhere in college and boy, I thought my day has finally come. I went and talked to the Principal about it.
Me: Sir, I came to know more about the EDC
Principal: It is there in our college, but it is not active. We do not have enough facilities for it and we know that our students won’t need it.
Me: Sir, I already have a business but I do not have the minimum required attendance (75%). It will be great if you can do something through the EDC.
He said he will consider it if my staff adviser agrees. I am excited and approach my adviser. I am surrounded by four other teachers asking me where I was the last two weeks. I was in Delhi to meet a client. They start telling (yet again) that all his can be done after college. One of them added “You have a CGPU unit here that has a good placement record. You can get a good job in Infosys or some good company like that.”
However, one teacher says we should encourage things like this and she comes with me to the Principal. When she recommends me, the Principal asks her, “do you mean we should give attendance for students who do their personal business? Then teachers can also go somewhere and then ask me for leave. We will follow University rules. I cannot help you sorry. It has to be either your business or your studies.”
This really upset me because when they can give attendance to people who go for dance competitions why not for people like me. He also says everyone cannot be Bill Gates and that I have to go through the system. I tell him that I flew down to College from Delhi to discover that there is a strike by teachers. He replies that all that is a part of the system and I have to live with it. Huh!
All this happens in a college where mechanical students come to class once in a while and still have 80% attendance on their records. This happens in a college where
- “young politicians” call strike at the drop of their hat.
- teachers do not care to stop their vehicle on seeing their student lying on the road after an accident.
- teachers have called strike against the administration. This happens in a college that is ranked A by the AICTE council.
- there are only 100 computers for 1600 students.
- there is no single playground.
At times I feel it is because of our educational system that our country has not been able to reach where it should have. We speak of our country being developed by 2020 but it will happen only if we have more youngsters who can dream like Narayana Murthy and Abdul Kalam.
Yes, I have totally lost faith in the current system.
As I am typing away, I am in a Coffee shop in Brigade Road, Bangalore waiting to see my US client, while my friends are writing the Semester 6 university exams.
Like every other thing only time can tell if I am right or wrong, but I believe that one day I will succeed. Young Kerala is big support system for people like me. I wish there was more support available
Tit Bits: Here is an interesting piece of info on why I stopped believing the university. I didn’t study for Advanced Maths exam (semester 5) and also had low internal marks of 21 out of 50 (read low attendance and no assignments). I still wrote the exam for the fun of it and got out in 30 minutes. I was sure I would flunk big time but the results surprised me. I got a whopping 97 out of 100. I am sure I didn’t attempt more than 5 questions. Whoa.
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aliya kalipppppp……..
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nee aagrahikkunathu pole aakuvan daivam ninne anugrahikkatte….
one of the best article i hav ever seen..this’s whats happening in the college..hearty congrats 2 u man..everything happening in college has to come out.partiality towards certain students,partiality in giving sessionals,hindering a student’s freedom to work in party,making unnecessary allegations against students without any proof..computer science is the only department which really kils any student in the college..i advice everyone not to join for computer science&engg in thuis college..let god bless you to acheive what u really desire!!!
You are right. College education in Kerala cannot proceed unless and untill politics is rooted out.
Keep up your good work!
I knew it was you when I read the first line!
As you always say, it’s all part of a mundane, dysfunctional system. Nothing much one (a single person) can do about it. But collective action would sure help change the world!
All the best, buddy! May the force be with you!
P.S.
Didn’t know that the meeting with the Principal and all happened. Cheers to that!
I am thoroughly impressed with your path of doing what you want. Most people are scared to just take risks. I am glad you have made your decisions and not let what other people think affect you…
Its really great and sparingly rare to come across this kind of daring moves and thinking… Greatly appreciate it.
FYI, I was also looking to take up entrepreneurship but the difference between you and me is that I gave up and decided to be normal while you dint! I know the amount of courage it takes… Glad to see that at least some people still have it!
Great and simply great
partiality is the most brutal thing in colleges..and its extreme in the above said college..especially in computer science department.here teachers give 45+ internal marks for their pets(even if they fail for both internals/doesn’t submit assignment/bunk classes etc)..i personally know a senior(he got placed too) who is still trying for 3 papers in s5..he was made under sessional like anything..he was given some 25 marks for these subjects by some nice teachers!!!this is a college where teachers do all they can to make a student fail like anything(in a condition where he/she won’t be able to join a company),if they go against their so called bloody ‘ethics’!when they sit at home jobless..then only they will feel what we are really experiencing..and i request everyone to sincerely join hands together to fight these bloody things in any college..every student should be treated equally!!!
Unprecedented!
Never before, has any collegiate talked up so frankly @ this college! Right at the FACE, friend. There is veracity at each and every words written here, my friend. Sympathizing for the atrocious incidents that has taken place.
Hi,
Beautiful..its applicable to every one who has chosen to stand up and question the meaningless and blind system we are in….
looking forward to meet you..
Ashwin
I see confidence in u.
believe only what u feel right coz it’s your life and your career.
I feel that u r right.
best wishes
Hmmmmmmmmmmm……………
Just awesome…
Everything which I felt in the last few years…
The real fact about eng colleges in Kerala.
Also the matter of attendance,a mech student will get 80% attendance as a compliment for creating strikes,making clashes in the college with other batches…
Me to a blogger,but not much ahead…
Our college doesnt hav a campus blog,they are planning one,and I hav seen the published empty layout a yr b4..But still it have no change…So I hav started one for our batch…Just amature one infocek.blogspot.com ..Tats all an engg student can manage along with getting attendance and completing assignments…
Anyway hats off to this post…Just awesome truths…
All the thoughts which are burning in an engg student…Especially CS and IT…
And hats off to ur confidence…And ur progress…
Best wishes…….
u r right………..
follow ur path……
dont b discouraged okkkk
my prayers n blessings r always with u…….
I don’t know u now, but surely everyone will know u one day..
Never give up for ‘any reason’ and always stand for that ‘your mind says true’ and never allow your mind to think twice for that!
Best wishes
I have read your post and its nice to read it. I can really understand what you had gone through and you will face more hindrance in your path; but don’t stop just follow your instincts. When I studied Engineering in IT , I had no aim or dreams. I wasn’t aware of the possibilities ahead of me ,even didn’t know why I took B.Tech in IT. I was just following the trend( Lot of people opt for IT; I did also).But at least your parents can understand you . We need to change the system for people like you. Some of our teachers weren’t competent enough to land in good job so they took teaching profession ; some are old traditional teachers just following what they are used to.They are unaware of the opportunities available in our country.I think they need insight to our market and future opportunities.
I can see you are well determined and ambitions to go after your dreams. I wish you all success ahead
As you told, I don’t know whether we can call every colleges as Engineering college for many lacks facilities. Don’t know how many colleges in Kerala got AICTE affiliation .
As you told we learn different things which are not our core subject . Lectures fails to answer why they teach us the subjects like Electronics in 3rd, Signals and Systems in the fourth semester etc for an IT student. Every Engineering student may be having a story to say .
I believe you are on the right path, Wish you all success.
Hi there. This article gives a very good insight on the Indian educational system. Unfortunately the Indian educational system does not foster innovative and critical thinking which is a prerequisite for any young person. The system as pointed out in the blog encourages rote learning and there is nothing beyond the books.
Best of luck with your venture.
Regards,
Dilip.
Brilliant! it’s nice to see people think out o the box.. nd who can remain confident in their thoughts nd beliefs even when you are patented abnormal and aberrated. But the best thing u’ve done is putting up this post… kudos ta ya!
hey man.
this is nothing but awesome article. I too a of the same opinion. I happened to write such a post in our campus blog. I too am so much against this flawed system.
here is the link, http://www.cealive.com/2010/02/16/im-a-hard-luck-engineer-am-i
i got this link posted as a comment for my post. please comment on it.
not bad but you have to be more briefly.
This s an awsome article
i am also a student in the same clg (your immediate junior) i totally agree 2 u
btw hu was dat teacher hu supported u
Kick ass post!:)
And you’re SO right! The need for a system primarily stemmed from passion,I don’t know why people forget that and let rules rise above genuine interest.Baseless rules turn into an excuse.Sad.
Keep writing btw,
Cheers,
Akanksha.
u r right mate… I think we are neighbours on the same block. I’m also facing exactly the same problem… Not even a single word differs from my story..
Only diff is that I’m forced to sit down in classes for attendance because I need this degree completed to do better things and to be on the way to my aim..
Stick on to what you feel is right… Good luck mate…
How can I contact you?
Dude… I FELT THE EXACT SAME SENTIMENTS… I cannot say how much I agree… But I rather chose to conform… And i regret that…
Nice topic in concern with your desire and goal , but we can’t blame to engg college or education system alone…the system should change from the school days itself .. Kerala’s school education system upgraded only within some years back , before it was just like ‘pusthaka puzhu’ model ….so the same system followed in the colleges too …
If the college education system is so professional what you and others dreams , most of students those coming from Rural village area including reserved categories will not pass the hurdles … Only some talented-dynamic jut like u can pass the exams … That point also to be considered.
Right now new education system implemented in Kerala , that will surely change the current system in Engg stream too.Hope the best !
Just close your eyes and follow what your heart says. I’m sure you, me and lots of promising youngsters are supposed to do the same for themselves and for the country, to attain the so-called development.
All the best…
Rejin
09747653333