Think Beyond The Horizon

Hi Friends!!!
I did my B. Tech computer science in a city near Tanjore. Yeah, people call my college a city only, because of its incredible strength in all departments.
Its none other than SASTRA UNIVERSITY (Shanmuga Arts Science Technology Research Academy). In this article I would like to pen down a few stuff regarding some gaps that I found in my college days. I would like to point out a few dark spots that have to change, only because of the reason that I would like to have the name that I was a pass out from a world class university.
OK, before I come to the point, I would like to ask our Alumni a few questions....

Are you really proud to be a SASTRA alumnus?
Did you get a quality education with right amount of pressures that made you fit to face the corporate world?
Did the corporate world recognize you for the reason that you are a special guy which is because you are a SASTRA pass out? (As the IITians get from the whole world).
Did the faculties really take part in motivating you to gain a good exposure such that they can be given the pride to share your success?
Do you think our college can be prepared by us and the management to compare with IIT standards? (Even I don't like comparisons, but to achieve certain standards we have to do it ).
And finally, are you really associated with our University after our Convocation day?

I am sure that the answer would be 99% "NO" for the last question but it would be 100% "YES" for the last but one question. I would say I am extremely happy that I got my education done in
SASTRA UNIVERITY and that my university had provided me placement opportunity to work in one of the world's reputed firm through which I am able to earn my livelihood. But I am not proud that I did my graduation in this university unlike the IITians or BITSians do because of the reason of , the privileges and the recognition they get in their work environment and the priority they get for higher studies.

So why shouldn’t our college be prepared to get that global standard?
And when will the IITians look at the SASTRITES and say "These guys are exceptional and I missed this college by border and joined IIT". Will this be only a dream or is it achievable? Is it on the hands of the management or on the hands of the students?
I think a little support from the management to the students and a little support from the Alumni to the management can make this achievable.
Yes, it’s not too far or no rocket science is required for this leap. A little planning and a little organisation of few things will help us to first follow their standards and then its in our hands to bring them up.
Ok, now let me ask my junior guys, the Alma matter of SASTRA a few questions...
Do you think you are equipped enough to handle the pressures in the corporate world? (Or still thinking that the company will prepare me for handling pressures and knowing all technology)
Are you just studying to score good marks and get into the companies like TCS, WIPRO, INFOSYS or wanted to get into MICROSOFT, IBM, YAHOO, GOOGLE or equip yourself to become Entrepreneurs?
Do you think after getting placed in a company, the duty of you as well as the college is over? ( I mean the company's call at the right time and not after a year of graduation that is happening in most of the cases. The excuse cannot be recession because even before the recession my seniors faced the same problem. I would say its only because of the priority that the company gives to our college. Though its bitter to hear its the fact)
How many of you guys have contacts with at least one Alumnus who was a pass out 10 years back? OK, 5 years back at least?
Hey guys do you think is it really necessary to have contact with the Alumni and because of it there will be a change in you as well as the college standard?

I also crossed your stage guys and I knew it’s easy to question than to answer. And these are not
Technical questions, these are a few questions not just to answer within you but to take steps in order to build global standards
(Don’t think my article is full of questions. These are easily answerable in one word and if we decide to convert those questions whose answers are “NO” to “YES” then, yeah... I would say we are on the right path to achieve what we want).

I would like to share a few instances that happened to me with the higher management, the alumni and my juniors to show the mindset of the higher management about alumni and how the faculties misuse their power as examiners for the lab exams.

“I was on my second year and that was my third semester lab exam on computer Organization. The HOD was my external examiner. I finished my lab exercise and got my output verified pretty soon and was waiting for my viva. The microprocessor lab exam was happening to the opposite side in the same lab. We heard a guy's mobile ringing who was attending the microprocessor exam. His examiner told to place the mobile on the table. Before him doing so it rang again. Everybody in the lab laughed (though nothing so humorous in that). After him keeping the mobile on the table it rang again but I thought it was their examiner's mobile ringing and started smiling. Whose ever it may be, I accept it was not the right place to smile or laugh at some one when the examination is going on where everybody is expected to maintain the decorum. So I had been asked by my external examiner the reason for the smile. I replied, I thought it was the mam's mobile ringing which became a sense of humor for me after all the chaos happened before getting the mobile in the microprocessor lab. My external examiner who was a good friend of the other who was handling the microprocessor lab told her the same. The microprocessor lab examiner asked my HOD,” Why don't you send the boy out and ask him to write the exam again?” Thank God, my HOD was not that bad and told her that this guy has finished his exam and think he won’t repeat this again. After coming out of the exam, my HOD advised me not to behave like this and have to be aware of what's happening around you and then behave to the situation which I consider as a very valuable one”.
After a year, at my third year (6th semester), for my advanced microprocessor lab, the same mam who was the examiner for the microprocessor lab at that time was my examiner then. Unfortunately I was not able to bring the output. My internal marks were decent and I require only 6 marks to clear the paper. I was called for viva. The mam remembered what happened in my 2nd year and told the external examiner “This is the guy who laughed at me last year during the exam. See how bold he is. These type of guys have to be failed and then only they will learn how to behave with the faculty.” I was asked a viva question for which I was not able to answer. For that the mam told these guys think they don't want to study after their placements. They have become proud that they going to earn more than us.” and asked me “What are you going to do in your company? If you are like this you will be chucked out of your company. Don't spoil our college name by joining the company without knowing anything like this.” and more till the end of my viva.
After these humiliations I was totally dissuaded and lost my morale. I wondered how teachers were like that instead of being happy for our placements they were the other way round. The faculty was an authoritative person, an experienced faculty who knew the subject pretty well but rarely teaches and very good in demoralizing and taking revenge on students. But if you know her personally then you will be the kings or queens in her subject.
The second instance though was not a great one, but only the words that came out hurt me. It was from our Dean of planning and development. Myself and one of my friends in our final year wanted to start the alumni meet at least at a smaller scale with KurukSastra 08.So we were doing some ground work like sending mails and getting replies from our Alumni whether they will be comfortable on that date decided. We were being called by our dean who came to know that we have started doing something on Alumni meet. We went to meet him. We were appreciated by our dean, but he said,” The Alumni meet should not be conducted for time pass. It must be really professional and must have to bring some impact financially which can never be expected because I know our Alumni are hopeless and not even one turned back when we sent the emails for the financial help for building the auditorium.”
I thought he might have said in frustration but I thought he was a bit right, because I too don't know any alumnus who had given any financial help or guided the students to get some industry exposure by arranging any trainings or helping them in getting some final year projects.
After my analysis, I just found that the college don't bother what happens to the students and don't have any clue whether the students have got their call from their companies at right time or how many students are going for higher education or how many are becoming Entrepreneurs. The same is in the side of students also who dont look back the college which has given us a decent position in the society.
Let's don't want to think beyond horizons. Let's at least start thinking “Beyond engineering” and “Beyond Convocation”. I would like to say behalf of the Alumni that everybody will be able to do something for the college financially or technically. And I request the university to take steps to improve the standard of the students by creating them opportunities to bond with the Alumni that would at least help them to get some training, projects in the industry, workshops and more stuff to improve the mindset and skills of the Alma matter.
If my article is able to change the mindset of at least one alumni and one junior of my university then I am sure the time has come for me to start getting proud to be a SASTRITE or the words of our dean would become true and we would remain hopeless Alumni forever.
So come out of the dark and enlighten the place which gave us future. Be the trend setters and great guides for our juniors who are waiting for the bright future. And don't wait for the management to come forward to. Let’s go forward and I am sure all student initiatives will end in success like our KurukSastra and Daksh. I also appreciate the management for the alumni meet organized in Philadelphia and in Chicago and I request the management to organize one in Bangalore and/or in Chennai for us to get along helping you to fulfill our dreams.
All the juniors and Alumni please feel free to contact me regarding anything that you require. I would be always ready for any discussions. You can mail me to
ram_jram @ yahoo.co.in and my phone number is +91 9611531063.


“START THE SPARK FOR ENLIGHTMENT GUYS. THEN START A WEBSITE FOR ALUMNI AT THE BASE TO BRING ALL OF US UNDER ONE PLATFORM. LET’S ROCK”