Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

IIT’s Message: ‘To all the aspiring young engineers and scientists in India and elsewhere, come help push the frontiers of technology and science, and improve practice in India through research and education.’

Many students have fulfilled their dreams of gaining admission into an IIT by travelling the path to success through sustained, grueling intellectual hard work, regardless of their background, status and place of origin. True, IITs are held in high esteem not only within the country but all over the world. It has almost been an obsession for many Andhraites to get into this premier Institute and work for it day in out for the same. Whilst IIT did many good things to us like establishing training institutes , bringing out the ‘cream’ in the student community, and aiming for ‘stars’, it has also made things go overboard by creating excessive fixation for admission into this Institute. While there are only handful coaching centers which truly groom the students and unleash the real potential in them many others (especially ones those mushroomed of late) lure the students with ‘IIT’ coaching garb from 5th grade onward!

IIT Kharagpur (1950)

IIT Bombay (1958)

IIT Madras (1959)

IIT Kanpur (1959)

IIT Delhi (1961)

IIT Guwahati (1994)

IIT Roorkee (2001)

And Now at

IIT Hyderabad

Upheavals and successes are a part of the journey of any institute in the process of metamorphosing itself into a world class establishment, so is it with IIT. After its steady growth over 3 decades, expanding step by step, IIT came to Hyderabad now. With Japan announcing its aid, IIT Hyderabad is surely gearing up itself for a technological revolution.

TCG meets Mr. C.V.R. Murty, Co-Chair, IIT Hyderabad Task Force, IIT Hyderabad, to find out all about the Institute…

TCG: The reason for choosing Medak is political or apolitical?

CVRM: This is a decision of the Government. In any case, we hope to make this Institute at par, if not better, with the other IITs and meet people’s expectations.

TCG: As reported in Times of India, said by a student “in every established IIT, there are traditions which will have to be followed. At this institute, we will get the opportunity to set the rules and what we do will later become tradition”. Please explain / elaborate as to what these traditions mean to be.

CVRM: There are two parts to the traditions in the Institute – academics and non-academics. Again, in non-academics, there is Institute and the students. There are many things that students can make new beginnings in. Student Gymkhana, our students’ body, is probably the first place where students can set traditions. It is a special feature of all IITs that constitutes a group of elected students for running all co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. A novel tradition started at IIT Hyderabad is girl student will definitely be elected to the Students’ Gymkhana as one of the representatives; one of the two General Secretaries will definitely be a girl student. No other existing IIT can claim this…

TCG: It is learnt that out of 116 students who joined IIT Hyderabad, 35% of them are from the state, the remaining seats are lapped by students from other states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. What is the criterion adopted in allotting seats apart from the ranks. Is there a rule that gives preference to locals?

CVRM: Eighty nine students out of 111 are from Andhra Pradesh and rest from the other states. No preference is given to people from Andhra Pradesh. All students are given ALL INDIA RANKS at the JOINT ENTRANCE EXAMINATION. First, the RANK 1 makes his choice of place and/or branche, then RANK 2, … then RANK 5000, and so on. This is called ELECTRON FILLING process.

TCG: IITs, the premier institutes are noted for excellent facilities. Now, since this institute is housed temporarily in ordinance factory campus, how are the facilities provided?

CVRM: We are still establishing the facilities and will grow in an organic manner. We set our class rooms first, hostel rooms that cover dining and other facilities next, and then the teachers, non-academic staff, etc., The facilities will grow with time, and will be of the same standard, if not better than those at the existing IITs. For example, our Chemistry Laboratory is already better than the one at IIT Madras. Six boys from IIT Madras were visiting us here, and even they say that we have excellent facilities here, and I agree with that too, since I lived there for some time. Now, we are inside a premium campus, i.e., the National Defence campus, which has all basic civic amenities in place. Though we did face water crisis in the initial days, we came over it now (with a new direct water line from the water tank and a large capacity sump). There is no power or water crisis now. We may not be having 15 hostels like IIT Madras and the camaraderie amongst the large group, but we do have a closely knit batch here with all beginners sailing in the same boat. Girls always get special treatment at IITs. They stay close to the faculty housing, away from the boys hostels. The students have recreational facilities in their hostels, like television. Since the campus is in the lap of the nature, they can take nature walks. Some have already started bird-watching!

TCG: The classes in IIT Hyderabad started much later than the other IITs. If this is the situation in IITs, which strictly adhere to their schedules, how would IIT Hyderabad make up to match with other IITs in meeting the schedules?

CVRM: Starting IIT Hyderabad on 20 August was a conscious and planned agenda. We needed time to make the necessary basic facilities available; we had just 8 weeks for it. Further, there is no need to match schedules with other IITs, since we don’t have any activity except the INTER-IIT SPORTS MEET in common. Each IIT has its own LOGIC to its schedules. But, yes, in general, the schedules are not very different from each other... We are only one month behind the others. We will make up 2 weeks in this winter break and two more in the summer; then we will be at par with the others.

TCG: It is reported that Ministry of Human Resources would spend Rs.18,000 Crores in first three years? What is state Government’s share apart from allotting free land?

CVRM: It is reported WRONGLY by some irresponsible organization. Rs.700 Crores have been set aside for IIT Hyderabad in the next FIVE YEAR PLAN. This is a Government of India Institute and will be the responsibility of Government of India to build this Institute. The partnership with the State Government is in terms of providing land (free of cost to Government of India, which they already did by spending about Rs.19 Crores), and helping in providing utilities (water, power, etc., which they have always done for ALL IITs).

TCG: When are the permanent buildings expected to be completed? 

CVRM: First set of buildings are expected to be ready by summer of 2010. First phase of the Institute will be all set by 2018.

TCG: Why was a Task Force constituted?

CVRM: Public perception of IITs is that things happen in order and it’s a transparent system where the system is fair to all. People like me, who breathe IIT, are always there to keep the ball rolling. Hence, we have set up a core committee called the IIT Hyderabad Task Force comprising twelve members, most of whom are long term associates of IIT and have comprehensive understanding of the system. We learnt the value of running the things systematically. The members have been appointed to streamline the system. It was too early even before the Institute started to give official designations to individuals. Hence, this core group is called by this name, where each one of us has an important role to play. Our job is to look at the needs and put systems in place for the eventual smooth running of the Institute. Now, the Task Force Hyderabad will be putting forth the entire plan of the Institute. Many things need to be done, and one amongst them is the amendment of the Institutes of Technology Act of the Government of India; once this take place, IIT Hyderabad gets recognized as a Government of India Institute, and not just a registered academic society. In the next couple of months, we are expecting that a full-time Director will be appointed for IIT Hyderabad.

TCG: Why does the IIT name carry immense weightage?

CVRM: Immense discipline, schematic functioning and strong administration is mandatory for any educational institute to run well, which is seen in IITs. Academic calendar is strictly followed at IITs. Precision is seen in every program, plan and schedule. Parents are positive that their children stepping out as graduates are well equipped, confident and disciplined individuals

TCG: With so much hype about IITs many parents are sending their children for coaching classes from grade six. How do you see this?

CVRM: It is the mindset of the parents and the smart businessmen nationwide who are raising this possibility. People are falling prey, because graduating from IIT is seen in typical Indian middle-class households as a business investment and not so much as technical and scientific human resource development. Students who have joined the IITs have truly scaled heights. In fact, it has been the main attraction for the bourgeoisie as it elevates their economic status. When you see it on a larger scale, it is only about 1% of the students getting into IITs, but the madness is rampant. Again, if you see the largest contingent comes from Andhra, and that is another interesting story to tell some other day! 

TCG: How do you deal with the problem of ragging at IIT Hyderabad?

CVRM: There will be no problem of ragging in the coming years; we will strictly implement the DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES of Government of India. Students found to indulge in ragging in spite of this will be dismissed summarily from the Institute.

TCG: Since it is a newly formed institute, moreover having started functioning late in August, how did you manage to recruit faculty?

CVRM: We have released the faculty recruitment, and have received good number of applications. The shortlisting of applications is in process and the selection committees will be held. In the short run, our courses are being taught by the faculty members from IIT Madras. Our arrangement is that IIT Madras would mentor IIT Hyderabad. This mentoring, as decided by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India, is again not a one day affair; it will go on for couple of years till the engine and all bogies are completely on main line, as the Indian Railways say.  

TCG: You said that IIT Madras is IIT Hyderabad’s mentor. What exactly is mentoring?

CVRM: IIT Madras is helping IIT Hyderabad set up the system and help overcome the challenges in the initial years. For example, we need teachers to run out courses. Colleagues from IIT Madras come here and teach our students. Also, they help in setting the curriculum, selecting faculty members, non-teaching technical staff, and hand-holding the research activity in the early years. Faculty members from the Madras come here, once a week for three days at a stretch and go back to take care of the things at IIT Madras. We have structured the time table that way. This entire process is planned, executed and supervised by the team of faculty colleagues, I mentioned earlier called the IIT Hyderabad Task Force – two from IIT Kanpur and rest from IIT Madras.

TCG: Are there any students who aren’t hostelites? How do they commute?

CVRM: No, there are none. Only if their parents stay within 5 km radius, they can make an appeal to the Institute saying that they would like to commute everyday on their own as hostel would be unaffordable. We do have two children from the Ordnance Factory who qualified in the JEE, but they have not opted for this IIT.

TCG: Do tell us about the medical facilities available for them here.

CVRM: We have Ordnance Factory Hospital on the campus for minor problems, and we can ferry the students to good hospitals in the city in case of emergency.

TCG: Is there a provision for internal transfer for the students?

CVRM: Every IIT is autonomous and there is

no provision for inter-IIT transfer. In the past, this has happened in very rare cases, and that to under very exceptional circumstances.

TCG: Do the students have any sports facilities? How do they spend weekends?

CVRM: We have a football field that belongs to the adjacent school, Sarat Vikas School; our students are allowed to use that. We will soon be making a new basketball court, and getting a cricket pitch ready. Also, we have indoor games, like table tennis. Everyday, 5pm-7pm is the time for sports. By the time students move in to the second year, everything will be well in place.

TCG: It is learnt that Japan has promised to help the newly come up IIT Hyderabad. Would you please tell us as to what sort of help they offered to extend?

CVRM: Different financial instruments are being contemplated. The Indo-Japan collaboration is on academic front, and includes exchange of personnel (faculty members, experts and students), grant of equipment and joint collaborative research. The two governments have signed the agreement, and details are being worked out by the joint working groups consisting of academic and technical leaders from the two countries. The advantage of this exchange programme is special. We Indians are known for good theory, but not so much in practice. IIT Hyderabad wants to go towards improved practice in technology, and we can learn this from experts who are already into it. Japan has proved itself to be leader in technology, so it perfectly fits the bill.  The collaboration will be in five areas, namely energy & environment, manufacturing & automobiles, nanotechnology, telecommunications, and civil engineering.

TCG: Are you taking any special initiatives to help some students weak in some subjects?

CVRM: A good number of our students are

weak in English language and communication. Since our medium of instruction is English, we have identified two faculty members from the University of Hyderabad to tutor the students in communication skills, which are very important for the students to conduct themselves in public. We wish to build a minimum set of skills in the students through this.

TCG: Lastly, will C.V.R. Murty, the Co-Chair, IIT Hyderabad Task Force, take over as the head of the institute?

CVRM: Currently, I am given the responsibility to run the activities here as Co-Chair of the IIT Hyderabad Task Force. The full-time formal Director is likely to be appointed soon by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. If he desires that I should continue to serve IIT Hyderabad, then I will do so very gladly.

Students Speak….