move image

Ronin/talkwchac

_data/categories.yaml

@@ -63,3 +63,5 @@
       title: Summer 2021
     - name: summer2022
       title: Summer 2022
+    - name: summer2025
+      title: Summer 2025

_data/categories_name.yaml

@@ -23,5 +23,6 @@ summer2019: Summer 2019
 summer2020: Summer 2020
 summer2021: Summer 2021
 summer2022: Summer 2022
+summer2025: Summer 2025
 memoirs: Memoirs
 report: Report

_includes/footer.html

@@ -20,6 +20,6 @@
 
 
   <div class="container copyright">
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+    <p>&copy; Copyright 2025 &#8212; Watch Out! News Agency</p>
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 </footer>

_includes/navbar.html

@@ -105,17 +105,20 @@
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-    const mobileToggle = document.getElementById('mobile-menu-toggle');
+  
     const mobileNav = document.getElementById('mobile-nav');
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-    
+    const mobileToggle = document.getElementById('mobile-menu-toggle');
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             mobileNavOverlay.classList.add('show');
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+            if (toggle) {
+                toggle.parentElement.removeChild(toggle);
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             document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden'; // Prevent body scroll
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@@ -125,9 +128,29 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
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             mobileNav.classList.remove('show');
             mobileNavOverlay.classList.remove('show');
-            mobileToggle.classList.remove('active');
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_posts/2023-08-22-the-freshman-guide.md

@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ Watch Out brings to you the painful yet insanely awesome realities of college li
 
 We have all the answers, so dive in!
 
-<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lj5P4O5bAH8nRYja4heDd3yUUBtKa_5j/view?usp=sharing" style="text-align: center"><button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-block btn-lg">Download the Guide Here!</button></a>
+<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lj5P4O5bAH8nRYja4heDd3yUUBtKa_5j/view" style="text-align: center"><button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-block btn-lg">Download the Guide Here!</button></a>

_posts/2025-07-05-intern-diary-ayush-p.md

@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "Bhadrachalam Over Munich?"
+category: summer2025
+tags: [wona, column]
+author: "Ayush Pradip"
+image: ayush-p-intern-cover.png
+excerpt: "To anyone preparing for ITC, here's what I’ve learned: confidence and authenticity go a long way. I didn’t chase the PPO. I just gave my best to the project because I genuinely enjoyed the work. The offer came later. What mattered more was the experience, the learning, and the people I met. Not every effort gives instant results, and not every setback means failure. Just keep showing up and giving your all. It may not work out right away, but it always adds up in the end.
+"
+---
+
+## Finding My Path: Background
+
+When I first joined IIT Roorkee, I never really thought I would sit for the on-campus internship drive. I had seen a few seniors land research internships at top universities abroad, and somewhere deep down, I felt I would follow a similar path — that being at IITR would give me that opportunity too. 
+
+I know my friends won’t believe me, but I never really stressed about academics — at least not in the conventional sense. I wasn’t someone who skipped every fest, outing or fun just to stay buried in books and sit in the library. In fact, during my entire time at IITR, I’ve studied in the library just twice — both times before ETEs. I never blindly copied tutorials either. I used to attend all my classes — well, except the 9 AM ones :/ 
+
+I usually didn’t jump into solving tuts right away, but whenever no one was able to figure them out, I’d step in to help — and I was always able to score decently in exams. 
+
+In my second year, I got to know about programs like MITACS and DAAD-WISE. Around that time, I was spending a lot of time at the Tinkering Lab, where I was genuinely invested. That space gave me more than just hands-on experience. There, I had the chance to interact with an IITR alumnus who was pursuing his Master’s at MIT. His advice and suggestions significantly shaped the way I approached my academic and professional journey. 
+
+To anyone reading this: never hesitate to reach out to your seniors. Sometimes, clarity from someone who’s been in your shoes is the exact push you need.
+
+Coming back to the programs — I found DAAD-WISE more competitive and challenging to get into than MITACS, so I decided to aim for that. Back then, it required a CGPA of 9.4+ along with a solid profile. I already had the CG (well above the cutoff), but I knew that strong letters of recommendation would be crucial. So, I started approaching professors in my department to work in their labs — which I eventually got to do. I also began mailing faculty members at other Indian institutions, looking for summer research opportunities. 
+
+Eventually, I received two offers — one from IISc Bangalore and the other from IIT Kharagpur. The Kharagpur offer came first, and fortunately, the professor allowed me to work remotely from my hometown, Ranchi, and visit the campus only when needed. Since Kharagpur is just four hours away from Ranchi, I decided to go ahead with it.
+
+By the end of my 4th semester, I decided to give the on-campus internship drive a shot too. I knew the research internship would enhance my resume, but I didn’t want to be labelled as a “research guy” who would obviously go for higher studies and get rejected by companies on that basis. So, I started exploring corporate internships as well.
+
+Through a referral from a senior, I managed to secure a Market Research internship at Loopworm Pvt. Ltd., a startup founded by an IITR alumnus. They were exploring expansion into the Tasar Silk market, and since the Central Tasar Research & Training Institute is located in Ranchi, I was a perfect fit for the role. The experience was rewarding, and the Loopworm team was incredibly supportive and generous.
+
+So, during that summer, I was juggling between two internships — one research-based and one corporate. Alongside, I was also working on building my resume. I reached out to many seniors for feedback, refining and improving it wherever I could. Then came the crucial point — choosing which companies to target and beginning focused, strategic preparation. 
+
+---
+
+## Selective Strategy: When Two Companies Are Enough 
+
+I already knew about ITC and HUL — two companies well-known for offering handsome 
+stipends to mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers, and more importantly, for providing core engineering roles. Unlike many of my peers, I was never into competitive programming or doing things just for the sake of getting a job. I tried looking for other companies that didn’t ask for coding skills, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find any worth targeting apart from these two.
+
+To be honest, I had zero experience with coding (was proficient in MATLAB only) and never tried things like development, data science or finance. I was always inclined towards design — something I not only enjoyed deeply but was also quite skilled at. I had a strong command of mechanical engineering software tools too,so I decided to put all my focus on just these two companies.
+
+At other IITs, a few more FMCG giants recruit mechanical engineers, but sadly, they don’t visit our campus. During our internship season, BCG also showed up — and while they don’t test on coding either, I wasn’t looking for a long-term consulting role. I did end up filling a rather messy form for them, but I had my eyes set firmly on the best-paying core profiles — ITC and HUL.
+
+I reached out to some seniors for guidance, and the message was clear: solid command over core subjects and visible leadership potential is what these companies look for. I started googling common mechanical engineering interview questions and found that I could answer most of them right away — no special preparation needed. I knew my fundamentals were strong, and that gave me a lot of confidence going into the process — *ki saare technical questions to easily answer kar hi dunga mai!*
+
+---
+
+# The Selection Process: But This Time with a Test 
+
+By then, my resume was completely ready. My OCD made sure I showed it to as many seniors as I could — I wanted to make it perfect to the pixel, and I was confident. 
+
+Then came the ITC application notice, but with a twist. Unlike previous years, where ITC would directly release a shortlist for GD after filtering resumes, they introduced a preliminary online test for the first time. Nobody had any clue what this test would include — and since IIT Roorkee was among the first campuses they visited that season, there was no help from folks at other IITs either. 
+
+While I was prepared for core mechanical questions, the test link arrived via Aon’s Assessment Solutions on the afternoon of the test, and I realized this wasn’t going to be anything like a conventional technical test. The online assessment had four parts:
+
+- **Inductive Reasoning** – clx (Cognitive Assessment) 
+- **MotionChallenge** – Assesses complex planning, visual processing, and working  memory 
+- **Deductive Reasoning** – gapChallenge – Think Sudoku, with logic grids and objects 
+- **Numerical Reasoning** – scales numerical (consumer compact) 
+
+I quickly googled everything about Aon’s testing interface and practiced like crazy. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the test! One of the puzzles was Sudoku-like and I totally nailed that one.
+
+Eventually, the shortlist for GD came out and I made it. Although I knew my test had gone very well — well above what I believe the cutoff would’ve been — for some reason, I still feel the test was just a formality. I don’t know why, but that’s how it felt.
+
+Before the GD, we were asked to fill out the famous “Mind Over Matter” form. It includes reflective questions about leadership experiences, decision-making,ethical dilemmas, and your views on handling real-world problems — and it plays a subtle but important role in shaping interview questions later. (It’s less about ‘correct’ answers and more about how you think.) ITC uses it to evaluate a candidate’s thought process, values, and vision.
+
+Then came the GD round.
+
+Our case was around a plane crash in the jungles of Assam, with a few survivors.We had to decide on a leader from among them. I had read earlier that ITC often chooses survival-based or ethically tricky group case studies, and this matched exactly with what I had prepped for.
+
+Everyone rushed to start the GD — it quickly became a chaotic scramble to speak. I didn’t get the chance to open, but I made sure I was present consistently with solid facts and relevant data rather than just adding to the noise. I have to say, my UPSC prep came in very handy at this point. *Haan mujhe UPSC hi dena hai finally, please don’t judge why I did all this :)*
+
+After the GD, there was a short Q&A by the panel — we answered some correctly, and some quite confidently wrong :\ 
+
+We were told that interviews would be the next day, and I had it all planned — revise core topics at night. But then came a surprise: we were suddenly asked to come back for interviews in just 30 minutes. No time to blink.
+
+---
+
+# The Technical Interview That Wasn’t All Technical 
+
+With only about 30 minutes to prepare, I rushed to my room, printed out all the required forms, and did a quick mental revision of key mechanical topics — mostly thermodynamic cycles and manufacturing concepts. I barely had time to catch my breath before my name was called.
+
+I walked in confidently. The panel already had my resume. They offered me water and asked me to settle in. Then came the expected question: **“With your CG, are you even planning to stay at ITC?”** 
+(For context, I’m DR1 with a CG of 9.68.)
+
+I was expecting this. My profile leaned research-heavy, and I knew they would question my intent to join an industrial FMCG giant like ITC. I remained calm and confidently shared that I was looking for real-world impact — that I loved working hands-on with engineering systems and wanted to see the application of my skills in a large-scale, real-world setting. I didn’t waver, and that seemed to resonate with them. I knew this was a test. I held my ground and calmly reassured them that I was seriously considering a career at ITC.
+
+The technical part came next — but surprisingly, it wasn’t a grill session. They asked me only three technical questions:
+
+- **Geneva mechanism** — I explained its function, application in watches, and indexing mechanisms. 
+- **Strain hardening** — I broke it down with graphs, curves, and examples from materials engineering. 
+- **Hyperelastic materials** — a niche topic, but something I was familiar with due to my past research work at IIT Kharagpur.
+
+Once I answered those confidently, the rest of the interview turned into a discussion about my extracurriculars, leadership roles, and why I thought I’d be a cultural fit at ITC. They seemed pleased. I left the room feeling relieved — *ki ab to ho hi jaayega!*
+
+Then I came to know that one more round was left. I’m not kidding — I literally had no idea about the second interview at that time.
+
+We were told to report at 6:30 AM the next day for the final round, and my turn came second-last. I was visibly tired but tried to stay composed.
+
+The second interview was taken by much more senior people — some of them heading critical operations. The tone was different — slightly more conversational, but just as evaluative. What happened next, though, I could never have predicted.
+
+As they glanced through my resume, one of the interviewers chuckled and said: **“Ayush, tumhe 9 aur 6 ke saath kya obsession hai?”** 
+(My 10th, 12th, and CG all started with 96…)
+
+And then, he realized what he had just said. The unintended pun (96… 69…) wasn’t lost on the room. The other panelist chuckled. I smiled. Barely held back laughter. The ice broke instantly, and what followed was more of an informal chat than an interview. 
+
+From that moment on, it became a friendly conversation. They asked about my mess menu, life at IIT Roorkee, even joked about the food I missed from home. It felt like they were trying to get a sense of who I really was — beyond the resume, the numbers, the technical jargon.
+
+Toward the end, one of them even said: 
+**“We’ll try to give you a project that matches your interest area, so don’t worry.”** That one line reassured me more than anything else — *ki iss baar to pakka ho gaya, haha!* 
+
+A few days later, the official list was out. I made it. I still remember calling my parents after that. I hadn’t told them anything about the internship process, so it took me a while to explain everything to them.
+
+---
+
+## From Munich Dreams to Bhadrachalam Reality
+
+Before jumping into the start of my internship at ITC, I know you must be wondering — what happened to my first love, DAAD-WISE?
+
+Well, during the summer before the internship process, I had already begun mailing professors in Germany, hunting for research opportunities. I paused the process briefly while focusing on the ITC internship drive. But once that was done, I resumed my search — and this time, it clicked.
+
+I received an interview call from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) — the best university in Germany and the one I was specifically targeting. Fortunately, I cracked the interview and secured the internship offer. In February, the result for DAAD-WISE was released and I had made it there as well. It was a dream come true — and I was overjoyed.
+
+But here’s the catch — both internships, ITC and DAAD, were scheduled for the same time. I had to make a choice.
+
+I found myself at a difficult crossroads, and I chose ITC because PIC had floated a form at the beginning of the internship drive which we were supposed to fill if we planned to opt for a research internship over an on-campus offer. I missed filling it, and due to that — and some complications on their end — I wasn’t allowed to skip ITC’s internship.
+
+It wasn’t that I gave up on DAAD completely. I had already started working on my intern project remotely during the winter break and had completed a significant portion of my assigned tasks in December. After explaining my situation to the professor at TUM, he kindly agreed to let me finish the rest of the internship remotely.
+
+So, while I was working at ITC, I was also simultaneously finishing my DAAD project remotely. 
+
+Here’s a fun coincidence: the same day I decided to drop my Munich plan and informed my professor, I got my project location from ITC — *Bhadrachalam*. From planning to walk through the streets of Europe to landing in a remote forested area in Telangana… I honestly just laughed at my fate. It was surreal. 
+
+But life has a funny way of rewarding you when you least expect it. What initially felt like a downgrade turned out to be one of the most transformative and fulfilling experiences of my life. Bhadrachalam wasn’t Munich — but in its own way, it gave me lessons, stories, friendships, and growth that no fancy skyline ever could.
+
+---
+
+## Into the work at ITC
+
+
+Our internship kicked off with a grand induction at ITC Sonar, Kolkata — a five-star hotel stay, onboarding sessions, and logistics all taken care of by ITC. (Usually, the induction for KITES interns happens in Bangalore, but ours was held in Kolkata.)
+
+After the induction, we were escorted to our respective project locations. Now, let me tell you — ITC’s Bhadrachalam Unit is massive. It’s the largest integrated pulp and paperboard manufacturing unit in India. As a mechanical engineer, it felt like I had stepped into an engineering paradise.
+
+
+<img src="/images/posts/ayush-p-intern-01.png" style="width:6.5in;height:3.5in" />
+There was everything — turbines, turbo-generators, pumps, motors, heat exchangers, cooling towers, chillers — all with Industry 4.0 technologies implemented across the plant. I could finally see in reality what I had only read about in textbooks. 
+
+My accommodation was shared (which I initially grumbled about), but that too turned out to be a blessing in disguise. My roommate — a sharp, easygoing guy from IIT Kharagpur — became a great friend, and together we made some of the best memories of our internship.
+
+Despite my initial disappointment, those two months became one of the most cherished phases of my journey. And I must say — ITC truly gives its interns a lot of freedom. Just like you read in other interns’ blogs, we had the liberty to explore, experiment, and even challenge norms — all while having full supportfrom mentors and engineers around us. The work culture was professional, yet warm and respectful. 
+
+While I can’t dive into project specifics due to confidentiality, I can share this: 
+
+My core project was about developing **Data Historian Pages for Heat Exchangers** — aimed at shifting from scheduled maintenance to predictive maintenance. I picked up all the relevant industrial software tools quickly, and by the end of the first month, I had already completed my assigned project.
+
+Impressed by the pace, my guide organized a meeting to extend the project scope — and over the next month, I ended up completing four additional projects. By the end of my internship, the work I implemented had a projected annual savings of more than ₹2 Crore.
+
+My guide and buddy were thrilled, and during my final presentation to the CEO of my division, I received great feedback. It felt immensely rewarding. 
+
+But what truly made those two months at Bhadrachalam unforgettable were the moments outside the factory gates — the unexpected, unplanned bits of life that added color to an otherwise industrial routine. Every week, we looked forward to our spirited football matches under the open sky until one day I actually broke my right leg while playing, and somehow, even that turned into a joke that lasted for weeks. The factory campus was surrounded by dense greenery, and monkeys roamed so freely that we used to walk in groups, sticks in hand, just to save ourselves from surprise encounters. I became an absolute fan of the rawa dosa they served in the mess, so much so that we often raced there just to get our share before it ran out. These small things- the after-work hangouts, the quiet sunset walks, the endless banter with fellow interns, they stitched together a feeling of comfort I had not expected. For a place I had once dreaded going to, Bhadrachalam ended up giving me some of the most wholesome memories of my life — memories I’ll carry far beyond the gates of ITC.
+
+---
+
+## Final Takeaways
+
+To my juniors and anyone preparing for ITC — if there’s one thing I’ve truly realized through this journey, it’s that **confidence is key**. The way you speak, the way you carry yourself, the clarity in your thought — it all adds up. Technical knowledge does matter, but how you present it matters more.
+
+So don’t get overwhelmed by the process. Don’t overthink or over-stress. 
+And most importantly — **don’t tie your self-worth to one internship or one company’s PPO.**
+
+Yes, I received a Pre-Placement Offer from ITC and I’m grateful for the recognition. But to be honest, I was never desperate for the PPO, and I wasn’t chasing it. From the very beginning, I focused on doing justice to my project — giving it my best — not because I was aiming for a PPO, but because I genuinely enjoyed the work. I delivered far more than what was expected of me, and I was fully aware of the value I added.
+
+For me, the PPO wasn’t a surprise — it was simply the natural outcome of that. But even more valuable than the PPO was the experience itself — the learning, the growth, and the people I got to work with.
+
+And let me be very honest: 
+Getting the PPO doesn’t mean I — or anyone who did — was better than those who didn’t. In fact, many were more talented, more sincere. But maybe luck just didn’t play in their favor that day.
+
+What a lot of people don’t realize is that ITC’s internship projects vary drastically in complexity — some are relatively easier, while others are far more challenging. Sometimes, missing a PPO isn’t about performance; it’s about the project context, timing, or evaluation criteria.
+
+
+Every intern is assigned a guide and a buddy — and with the right approach, everything is possible. Just focus on what’s in your control — or as they say, **“control the controllables”**. Don’t lose sleep over things beyond your hands.
+
+If you’re preparing for FMCG companies, know that there’s not a massive amount of separate preparation required — but what’s essential is being thorough with your resume. Be honest, and be ready to defend every single point you’ve written. Authenticity always leaves a better impression than exaggeration.
+
+Also, understand the selection process well. Read blogs like those on Watchout! IITR, and also check out the Medium page of the Student Welfare Group, IIT Kharagpur. And if you want the best prep resources, don’t miss BSP, IIT Delhi.
+
+Yes, I know it’s easier to give such gyaan after getting the PPO. Maybe I would’ve broken down too, had I not made it. I’ll be very honest.
+
+I’m the kind of person who gets affected deeply by failure. When things don’t go my way, it doesn’t just disappoint me — it breaks me from the inside out. It’s not like I don’t put in the effort — I always give my 100%, every single time. But when that effort doesn’t translate into results, it used to feel unbearable.
+
+Resilience wasn’t something that came naturally to me. A perfect example of this was during my hunt for a foreign research internship. I had applied to MITACS as well — a program that many (including me) considered slightly easier to get into than DAAD.
+
+Ironically, I was not selected for MITACS — the one I thought would be easier to crack. But I was selected for DAAD-WISE — which is statistically much harder to get into.
+
+**Results won’t always make sense immediately, and effort doesn’t always pay off the way we expect**. But that doesn’t mean it’s wasted.
+
+It’s important to develop the ability to withstand, to bounce back, and to keep going even when things don’t go your way. 
+While I didn’t face many setbacks in college, I now understand that setbacks are a part of the process.
+
+So trust me when I say — **give your 100%, every single time.** 
+The law of averages will always catch up with you. You might not succeed right away, but your efforts are never wasted. 
+You may not succeed every time — but if you keep showing up and giving your best, success will follow. 
+Maybe not immediately — but definitely.
+
+**So go after everything you want. Stay grounded. Stay humble.** And don’t forget to enjo the journey.

_posts/2025-07-05-intern-diary-chandrouli-k.md

@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "Fortune Faded"
+category: summer2025
+tags: [wona, column]
+author: "Chandramouli Koushik"
+image: chandramouli-k-intern-cover.png
+excerpt: "I didn’t have the strongest CGPA, wasn’t from a core intern-heavy branch, and wasn’t exactly a fan of coding. But I stayed consistent, showed up for every opportunity, and kept learning from each setback. In the end, it all came together. If there’s one thing I’d say to anyone going into intern or placement season, it’s this: prepare well, trust your effort, and don’t count yourself out too early"
+---
+
+## STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 
+
+I’m writing this not to inspire you but primarily to show you that anything’s possible, and
+you should be prepared enough to grab the opportunity when it arises. Read it like a
+story - maybe grab a vegan shake at CCD, put on some Red Hot Chili Peppers
+(shoutout to their biggest fan that I know - 19119031) and breeze through this (this is
+precisely what I was doing while typing this out).
+
+## SETTING THE STAGE
+
+I’m Chandramouli Koushik; as I’m typing this, I’m a senior from the Chemical
+Engineering department. I’ll set the stage a little for the semester before the intern
+season - my department isn’t known for fabulous intern seasons, which I realised after
+joining college (if someone doing JEE prep is reading this, I beseech you to research
+well about what companies hire from which branches across all the IITs, before taking a
+decision). My CGPA wasn’t great either; it was a touch above 7.4. I was recovering from
+a severe case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. And I had little to no interest in coding. All I
+wanted to do was play basketball.
+
+I had dipped my toes into the usual coding stuff - Codeforces, CodeChef, Leetcode. But
+after the 4th sem, I decided to lock in a little, but I didn’t really have hopes of securing
+an on-campus internship offer. I won’t bore you with my preparation details (I think there
+are way better people out there to guide you, but I’m always open to helping people out,
+so you’re free to reach out to me anytime, and I’ll try my best to guide you in the right
+direction) and get to when the intern season started.
+
+
+
+## THE INTERN SEASON BEGINS
+
+Day 0 companies made nary an offer in Chemical Engineering, as I had expected.
+AmEx Analytics was the first company to extend an offer to someone from my branch. I
+was on the waitlist for that company, but they stopped calling people from the waitlist
+two names before me. But I just saw making it to the waitlist as a massive win in itself.
+This was repeated again with Tata AIG - they didn’t even make it to the waitlist.
+
+I vividly remember walking back from the Sprinklr coding round on 19th July at 11:50 pm
+thinking, damn, that was the biggest “he’s not him” performance I’ve ever given. I
+entered my room, and my friends were there with a cake and candles. July 20th was my
+birthday. But I just felt extremely low after that underwhelming coding round. By 12:10
+am, the cake was finished, and I sat back down to study more, while my friends
+continued chilling in my neighbor’s (and bestie, shoutout 21112013) room.
+Then came one rainy night, when I was out with a junior and another friend (shoutout to
+another bestie 21119034) in Rustic. Standard Chartered’s coding round was that night,
+and I was a hair’s width away from just giving up and not appearing for it. The rain only
+added to my laziness and despair. But, almost prophetically, the skies cleared up, and I
+thought, why not just give it? After some initial technical hitches, I was the second or
+third person to finish both the questions, even after starting a little later. I was pretty
+happy with how it went. I called a senior of mine (shoutout 19117075) and told him
+everything. He was highly confident I’d make it to the shortlist this time. I didn’t share
+the same enthusiasm, but two days later, my name was on the Noticeboard app under
+the shortlist. I was overjoyed.
+
+## THE INTERVIEWS - R1
+
+My interview readiness levels were mid, at best. I knew most of my projects from top to
+bottom and DSA pretty well, too. Why did I say I wasn’t too well prepared then? You’ll
+find out soon enough. In the first round, my interviewer was a fun late -30s man who
+worked in the analytics department, if I remember correctly. He constantly had a smile
+on his face and made a strong effort to make me feel comfortable throughout the
+interview. I had (still have a bit of) performance anxiety, which didn’t surface because of
+how nice he was. The round went wonderfully well, and my name was on top of the list
+of 10 people shortlisted for the second round. I assumed that was a good sign and was
+quite excited for the next one.
+
+## THE INTERVIEWS - R2
+
+Here’s the part of this read that’ll clarify why I know I was underprepared, looking back
+now. I completely blew over preparing for common HR questions because, for one, I
+never thought I’d make it that far, and two, I thought I’d be able to bullshit my way
+through it. But let me stress this, it is IMPERATIVE to know HOW to bullshit through it,
+and that requires SOME prep.
+
+My interviewer for this round was (no offense to him whatsoever) a little scary - no smile
+on his face, a mean mustache, and a very unnerving voice. He exposed my lack of
+knowledge in commonplace things about coding (for example, I couldn’t answer which
+programming languages use a compiler, which ones use an interpreter, and which ones
+use both. Stuff I’ve known since school, but I’d forgotten).
+Then he got to grilling me about the weak points in my resume (I was pretty proud of the
+rest of my resume, by the way, arranged and worded beautifully thanks to 19117109),
+and there was the prominent single glaring crater in it - my CGPA. He asked me to
+explain why it’s low. Now, there’s a way of answering this, which I did not know at the
+time because, well, I hadn’t done the slightest research on how to tackle these
+questions. I beat around the bush under-confidently, mainly talking about how I faced
+major health episodes in college (which I really did; I faced things no healthy 20 -
+something year old would even dream of). This answer fell flat on its face; the
+interviewer didn’t buy it.
+After what felt like being thrown into a food processor after being defended by prime
+2014 Kawhi Leonard for two hours, I got out of the round. I didn’t want to be seen; call
+me 2012 John Cena, the way I felt at rock bottom (someone please get all the
+references I threw in here, I know 19117016 will).
+
+
+## THE FALLOUT
+
+9 more people were left until I found out what would become of me after this round, and
+so began the strenuous 2-hour wait. 8 names came out after. Mine was not there.
+Heartbroken. Tired of the process. Despair. Agony (too dramatic, maybe?). I began the
+long walk back to my hostel. My mother, the real MVP, ever so supportive, told me it’s
+alright. I’ll get something else. I wasn’t too sure of it.
+But wait, I didn’t get an offer. Why am I writing this?
+
+## THE SURPRISE
+
+A few days passed. I had mostly gotten over the interview fiasco. But I had a lab course
+to deal with (torturous as usual). The professor had once yelled at me for sitting on the
+table while observing an experiment - I was told to go sit on the ceiling—trademark
+South Indian sarcasm. Almost made me laugh in nostalgia. I missed home so much.
+
+My phone was on silent that day, and when I checked it, I had three missed calls from
+an unknown number. A classmate of mine walked up to me and told me to call it back -
+it was a Placement Cell rep that had called me. I was pretty confused. I jogged out of
+the lab and called back. The rep told me I have my third round of interviews scheduled
+for the afternoon!? How? Why? I was obviously ecstatic, but I didn’t understand how this
+happened. The third round was just a formality round to give location and other
+preferences - it basically meant you had secured an offer.
+After that call was over, I was informed that I did actually get an offer from Standard
+Chartered. Seventh heaven. I remember running to my room and slamming the balcony
+door in happiness. I remember calling both my parents and informing them about this. I
+remember thinking “oh shit, I can hoop seriously again”. I remember taking 21322024
+(bestie 3) to Milk Bar for celebratory sweets. I remember story-ing a photo of the iconic
+Kevin Garnett “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE” below (after the 2008 championship win) -
+because it really felt that way. This should explain the “SOP” of the article.
+Later, I found out how this actually went down. The students are to fill out a Google form
+giving their preferences for a particular interview day - one of the Standard Chartered
+selects had Jaguar higher on his priority list, and he ended up going there. That opened
+up a vacancy, and I was slotted in to fill that. A stroke of luck, finally, after all the
+setbacks.
+
+## THE CULMINATION
+
+Later, I was told that my office would be in Bangalore (which meant I could just stay
+home). I had a great 2 months at the organisation. I worked under an excellent
+manager. In those two months, I got my health and fitness to the best it had ever been.
+If I may sidetrack a little - I bought myself a pair of Ja 1s, a KD jersey, and a LeBron
+jersey (both city edition) as soon as my stipend hit. I even received a PPO from the
+company later, which spared me a lot of placement season stress.
+To anyone reading this with an upcoming intern/placement season, I’ll reiterate what I
+said at the beginning of this article - prepare. No matter your branch, your CGPA, or
+your interests, be prepared for the process. It will result in something great. As cliche as
+it sounds, take help from the people around you to define a goal and the means to attain
+it, hustle and trust the process (unless you’re a 76ers fan, in which case I’m sorry you
+read those words). You've got this.

_posts/2025-07-07-intern-diary-vishal-b.md

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "From Roorkee to Flipkart: My Off-Campus Journey to an SDE Internship"
+category: summer2025
+tags: [wona, column]
+autor: "Vishal Bokhare"
+image: vishal-b-intern-cover.png
+excerpt: "While most internships came through campus portals and coding-heavy filters, Vishal Bokhare, from a non‑circuital branch, chose an off‑campus route filled with rejections, learning curves, and small wins. His national‑level performance in Flipkart GRID proved to be the turning point and led to interviews he earned on his own. This edition of Internship Diaries traces his journey from initial exploration to execution and concludes in Bengaluru, where he now works as an SDE intern at Flipkart."
+---
+
+Hello Readers! I'm Vishal Bokhare, a B.Tech student from the Metallurgical and MaterialsEngineering department at IIT Roorkee, and I've just wrapped up my third year. This summer of 2025 has been incredibly exciting as I've landed an SDE (Software Development Engineer) internship at Flipkart! This wasn't an on-campus opportunity for me, but an off-campus win after a season filled with applications and perseverance.
+
+## The Genesis of a Coder: Discovering My Passion
+
+My coding journey truly began after my second year. Like many, my initial years at IIT Roorkee were about exploration. I dabbled in various domains – robotics, web development, AI/ML, and more. It was during this exploration that I found myself increasingly drawn to AI/ML and Competitive Programming.
+
+In my first year, joining the Models and Robotics Section (MaRS) gave me a fantastic platform to practice my interests and explore diverse technical fields. By my second year, I was deeply invested in AI/ML. I started working on projects in the domain, surrounded myself with like-minded friends in MaRS, and even participated in competitions. These experiences, including an internship under professors from the ECE and Architecture departments at IIT Roorkee, broadened my understanding of new tech stacks and significantly boosted my coding skills. My friends and I were constantly pushing each other to excel, recognizing that skills truly matter.
+
+
+## The Grueling Grind: Summer Prep & Internship Season
+
+The summer break after my second year marked a pivotal moment. This was when the serious preparation for the upcoming third-year internship season began. I dedicated myself to Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) and competitive coding questions. Simultaneously, I madesure to revise the AI/ML concepts that truly  captivated me. The unwavering support and guidance from my friends, who helped me navigate the best learning paths and resources, were invaluable during this period.
+
+Then came the internship season. I started appearing for company tests, even though some topics felt uncovered. The preparation was continuous; it was a race against time, hoping to eventually find that one company where everything would click. The journey was a rollercoaster of emotions – from the demotivation of seeing limited SDE roles for non-circuital branches to sharing in the joy of friends getting selected and learning from their experiences. It was tough, but hope and the constant support from my friends and family kept me going.
+
+## Flipkart GRID: A Glimmer of Hope
+
+Amidst the company tests and ongoing learning, there was another significant development: the Flipkart Grid competition. I led a team with my friends, and we successfully cleared the initial levels, making it all the way to the national finals! This achievement, even as the on-campus internship season drew to a close with no offers for me, was a huge confidence booster. By the time the on-campus opportunities had largely dried up, Flipkart considered me for their off-campus recruitment process. This involved an Online Assessment (OA) round followed by two SDE interview rounds. I put my best foot forward, successfully navigated these rounds, and was ultimately waitlisted for the role. That period was a mix of happiness for making it so far and anxiety about the final outcome.
+
+## The Call That Changed Everything
+
+Just a few days later, while I was at Rajiv Canteen with my friend, I received the call from Flipkart HR. My status had been changed to "selected" for the internship! The rush of happiness I felt at that moment is truly indescribable. I immediately shared the news with my parents, who were equally overjoyed.
+
+A huge thanks to everyone who supported me throughout this journey – my friends, family, andmentors. Their belief in me made all the difference.
+
+## Life at Flipkart: The Journey Continues
+
+Currently, I'm working from the Flipkart office in Bengaluru, part of the Pricing and Promotions team. It's an incredible experience to be interning at such a dynamic company, and I'm thoroughly enjoying every moment of it.

_posts/2025-07-07-the-freshman-guide.md

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "The Ultimate Freshman's Guide to IIT Roorkee"
+tags: [wona]
+category: academics
+image: freshman-guide-25-cover.png
+excerpt: "The complete, wholesome and perfect reference book to IIT Roorkee!"
+---
+
+College has a lot to offer, which is probably why you feel a little clueless and intimidated right now. You might wake up in the morning every other day and feel a little nauseated and dizzy, even though your amazing mental strength got you through one of the toughest examination of the world. And that’s alright!
+
+Watch Out brings to you the painful yet insanely awesome realities of college life at IIT Roorkee, the oldest technical institute of our country. In an attempt to walk you through everything that this beautiful place has to offer, we've created the Ultimate Freshman’s Guide to IIT Roorkee.
+
+We have all the answers, so dive in!
+
+<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oUc1ssTKRMQk5ytKLkwIlmdiQ_rDWAfI/view?usp=sharing" style="text-align: center"><button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-block btn-lg">Download the Guide Here!</button></a>

_posts/2025-08-01-3pairs-of-shoes.md

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "Why You Need at Least 3 Pairs of Shoes Before the World Ends"
+image: 3pairmore.png
+tags: [wona, column]
+category: editorial
+tags: [wona, column]
+author: Adrija Jayant
+excerpt: "Hello to pretty strangers, and how you doin’ to the even prettier ones, the philosophers, and the people who still wear socks with holes in them—probably paired with worn-out Bata slippers that have seen better days."
+---
+
+
+# Why You Need at Least 3 Pairs of Shoes Before the World Ends
+*A Treatise on Footwear, Fate, and the Fragility of Civilization*
+
+## Greetings from the edge of the abyss
+
+Hello to pretty strangers, and how you doin’ to the even prettier ones, the philosophers, and the people who still wear socks with holes in them—probably paired with worn-out Bata slippers that have seen better days.
+
+Today, we must discuss something of dire importance. Not taxes, not the inevitable heat death of the universe, not even the fact that we still don’t know how eels reproduce (though, truly, what are they hiding?).
+
+This is about why, before the world descends into fiery oblivion, slow bureaucratic decay and credit card debt, you need at least *three pairs of shoes*.
+
+As the great inventor, Steve Jobs might have said if he'd focused more on footwear and less on Macs:
+*"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower — and nothing innovates your survival chances like proper arch support."*
+
+## The Duality of Shoes: Survival and Swagger
+
+Since the dawn of time, humanity has been obsessed with two things: not dying, and looking good while not dying. Shoes, my friend, are the ultimate expression of that duality.
+
+Nietzsche almost said: *"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how—especially if the 'how' involves waterproof boots."*
+
+Not only do they protect you from rogue Lego bricks (toddler-engineered pain traps), but they’re also a message to your better-off friends: _"Hey, I’ve got my life together too. Look at these laces. Look at this arch support on my crisp Nike Air Force 1s. I am a functioning adult (early 20s btw)."_
+
+The ancient Greeks had a saying: "Know thyself." We humbly add: "And know thy terrain."
+
+Because as Sun Tzu might observe if he'd written _The Art of War_ as a Shein Marketing Head: _"All warfare is based on deception—and nothing deceives the apocalypse like having the right footwear for every disaster scenario."_
+
+Now, let’s simulate doomsday scenarios:
+
+**Scenario 1**: You’re sprinting from a pack of feral dogs. Your only shoes? Crocs (war mode activated).
+
+**Verdict:** Dead.
+
+**Scenario 2**: Trekking across a radioactive wasteland. Your only shoes? Stilettos. 
+
+**Verdict:** Dead (but fabulously).
+
+**Scenario 3**: Trying to impress the last surviving human. Your only shoes? Toe shoes. 
+
+**Verdict**: Emotionally deceased.
+
+You see the pattern. One pair is a liability. Two’s a compromise. But three? Three pairs is _wisdom._
+
+## The Tarot of Terrain: Choosing Your Trio
+
+Shoes carry the energy of where you’ve been and where you’re headed. So, you should be choosing your pairs accordingly:
+
+- **For Strength** – Woodland combat boots. Nothing says _“I eat concrete for breakfast”_ like footwear that can double as a weapon.
+- **For Speed** – Puma running shoes, for when you need to outrun both chaos _and_ your own poor decisions.
+- **For Soul** – The wildcard. Maybe Crocs, because _irony is the last language to die in the apocalypse_.
+
+## Capitalism’s Eulogy, As told by its ghosts
+
+_**Act 1**_
+
+Here’s what the silent witnesses of civilization have to say about the Three-Shoe Principle:
+
+_**1. A Sentient, Deeply Traumatized Shoe Rack**_
+
+"I’ve held 27 pairs in my lifetime. Only three survived the Great Puppy Chewing Incident of ‘19. Learn from their sacrifice."
+
+The shoe rack’s trauma is not its own. It is the trauma of demand. To hold 27 pairs, then watch 24 vanish to the jaws of fate (or a teething Labrador), is to understand capitalism’s first law: **abundance is an illusion.**
+
+_**2. A Cursed Payless Loafer(s) (Left Shoe Only)**_
+
+"My right half was lost in a divorce settlement. My owner wore mismatched shoes for a year. Be better than him."
+
+We are all just one disaster away from mismatched Payless loafers, clinging to the myth that more **choices mean more control**. As the left shoe quietly mutters from its divorce settlement, _"The system breaks pairs first, then people."_
+
+_**3. A Broken Escalator in a Subway Station:**_
+
+"For 12 years, I moved bodies upward. Now I am a staircase. All progress is temporary. All shoes are holy."
+
+"All progress is temporary", could be the tagline for late-stage consumerism.
+
+We ride upward on machinery we didn’t build, only to find the power was cut long ago. Now we climb its static teeth, blisters blooming, while the adverts still scream "NEW ARRIVALS!" from shattered screens.
+
+_**4. A Forgotten Library Book Titled How to Survive Anything:**_
+
+"No one checked me out after 1987. The last reader scribbled in my margins: ‘Step 1: Hoard shoes. Step 2: Outlive your enemies.’ I am wisdom. I am ignored."
+
+The library book knows the truth: survival manuals go unread until the fire is already at the door.
+
+**Capitalism sells the dream of preparedness, but stocks only enough for those who can outrun the rush.**
+
+---
+_**Act 2**_
+
+Imelda Marcos, who famously (and controversially) owned 1,060 pairs of shoes, understood this. They were never about feet. They were about fear. Fear of scarcity, fear of being outshone, fear that somewhere, someone had a pair you didn’t.
+
+Coco Chanel nailed the blend of need and narcissism: _"The best things in life are free. The second best are very, very expensive."_
+Love, friendship, sunsets-these are priceless. But survival instinct? Free. Surviving in style? That’s a Visa transaction.
+
+Chanel forgot to mention the corollary: _"The third-best things are on sale, the fourth-best are in landfills, and the fifth-best will strangle you with their laces during the riot."_
+
+It's funny how irrational our consumer logic becomes under pressure. It's funny, absurd and sad just like capitalism, which, like bad footwear, narrows your choices until "dignity" means choosing which blisters to ignore.
+
+So when you buy your three pairs, ask: are these for walking, or for believing? The escalator is broken. The shoe rack weeps. The only upward mobility left is the kind you can outrun your demons in. Choose accordingly.
+
+## A Warning About Borrowed Footwear
+
+You need to have your own, three, distinct pairs of shoes. Because the last thing you’d want is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Especially someone who owns a single, old, holed pair. That is a shortcut to bad decisions, and limpy regrets.
+
+This is the paradox of preparedness: by curating your own trio, you reject the passive suffering of those who borrow, scavenge, or make do.
+
+Philosophers from Kierkegaard to Camus agreed that authenticity means choosing your own path. But none of them mentioned the shoe bites you’ll get if that path is paved with someone else’s ill-fitting hand-me-downs.
+
+And in case Elon Musk decides to drag you to Mars, at least mog the aliens with your stylish kicks. The least you can do as a surviving human is flex on extraterrestrials.
+
+
+## The Final Plea
+
+And so, brothers in existential footwear, what if civilization decides to collapse on itself tomorrow?
+
+The government, distracted by tax fraud and Twitter, won’t warn you. The news anchors will be too busy debating if pineapple belongs on pizza to tell you that society is on its last legs. And suddenly, you’ll find yourself in a world where roads are cracked, WiFi is extinct, and the only currency is canned beans.
+
+So now, take my advice, and before next Tuesday, do yourself a favor and buy three pairs of shoes. Not because you’re materialistic, but because, in the end, the difference between survival and regret might just be a well-timed purchase from the clearance section.
+
+When you will be watching the last Twitter server blink out, you'll understand what Plato really meant when he said _"Our need will be the real creator"_ and your need, dear reader, is three damn pairs of shoes.
+
+Because in the end, as the Buddha nearly said while shopping at Adidas: _"Pain is inevitable — blisters are optional." Choose wisely._
+
+If you remain enough of a lunatic to argue that the world won’t end, well then you’ve got yourself a wonderful wardrobe and a lifetime to spend flaunting your newly bought shoes on dates that will never end happily.
+
+And well, if the world does end, at least you will die with your laces tied.

_posts/2025-08-15-note-to-self.md

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "Note to Self"
+category: memoirs
+tags: [wona, column]
+author: "Chandramouli"
+image: moolicover.jpg
+excerpt: "I remember driving past the main gate a day before the first official day of college. It felt surreal. I never planned to make it to any IIT, never mind the most beautiful one I've seen."
+---
+
+# GG INTRO
+
+I remember driving past the main gate a day before the first official day of college. It felt surreal. I never planned to make it to any IIT, never mind the most beautiful one I've seen. From the next day, began a 3.5 year long movie (screw COVID for taking away what could've been my first inter IIT sports meet). The actual movie part of it has ended now. But, in the wise words of a very influential voice in high society- the envoy for New York's socialites, both teens and adults alike- "What's a movie without credits?" (Gossip Girl, S6E5; RIP Michelle Trachtenberg). Through this article, I want to thank some people, without whom this picture would've been dead in the water. This article will be a sprinkling of some random memories I've had along the way. Let's roll the credits.
+
+---
+
+## SUPPORT FROM HOME
+
+#### To Jaiswal, Abhy, Kevin "f**k linked list" Mathalai, Muski, Susuhani, Mouse and Wudu
+
+It feels a tiny bit wrong to put you guys on the closing credits, y'all deserve to be on the opening titles. But it would be a greater gaffe not to have you in at all. It was (and still is) so reassuring that even upon the most minor of inconveniences, I could call any of you and let out a rant. You've all been constants in my life for so long now, which has been a massive reason for me getting through college in a sane fashion. You're the 4lyfers. I'm so grateful to have had you in my life until now, and exultant that I have you in my life till infinity.
+
+---
+
+## BASKETBALL PEOPLE
+
+#### To Budhwar, Sarthak, Saksham, Shailu, Tejas, Deepak, Adi, Rishabh, Ani, Madhav, Coach Sir, Chander, Rajjo, Kush and all the juniors
+
+I walked onto campus thinking there wouldn't be any great basketball players in an IIT. Boy, was I proven wrong quickly.
+
+My first Colors Trophy was my first jaw-dropping moment on the court. We beat every team and made it to the final. But then Rajjo decided to go beast mode. Unguardable. The performance genuinely floored me. It was the first time I saw someone take over an entire game. 
+
+My first Inter IIT Sports Meet in Delhi was bittersweet. Forget all the teams we beat, the highlights I produced, and the jeering I got from the crowd. I mostly remember bawling my eyes out after losing to Madras by one point in overtime. I don't think I've ever felt that crestfallen. 
+
+Some special shoutouts to a few people: Chander- for showing me what charisma looks like, both on and off the court; Bhalla- for just being a tranquil individual; last but not least, my dunk-partner-in-crime, Kush- brother, PLEASE go pro. Your potential knows no bounds. I hope to have another dunk session with you again.
+
+I wish I had never torn my ACL. All I ever wanted to do in my final year was bring a gold medal back home where it belonged. I'm still heartbroken that I couldn't be on the court with my boys in Sangram, Spardha, and the final Inter IIT. I guess some things just aren't meant to be. But I'm beyond proud of y'all for winning back the LeBronze. 
+
+There's no place on the campus that I've felt happier in than the court. Thank you to everyone I've mentioned and everyone else I might've missed for making me feel at home in a place so far away from home.
+
+![](/images/posts/mooli1.png)
+
+## THE "MECHANICAL" PEOPLE
+
+#### To Lone Wolf Sigma Male (LWSM), Nemon, Nyaa, Soham, Sajag, Bhindi,
+
+The first thing I did when I reached campus in March 2022 was scout out all the people from Bangalore (that's where I'm from). I met Bhindi first. Never in a million years would I have guessed the extent to which she and her classmates/former classmates would influence my college life and shape me as a whole. The dinner we had at Peppery, the grass we had in Jawahar, me identifying the AJ Styles bag, me forcing Soham to come for HIS OWN convocation- I share so many core memories with you guys.
+
+Each has been a guiding light for me in different aspects of life. LWSM guided me throughout the intern season and yapped about the latest tribal chief lore (insert one-in-the-sky emoji). Bhindi showed me what an absolute workhorse looked like with her data science expertise, and she might have also been a little Blr rumour informant of ours. Soham has corrected my resume way too many times, and his techno suggestions have never disappointed. Nyaa, patient as time itself, helped me with my CAT prep more than I can express in words. Sajag helped me write multiple research-project-request emails and made me start running (his Strava stats would shock you). Last but not least, Nemon. All-rounder. Helped me with everything everywhere. College would have driven me insane if not for him.
+
+I missed y'all a ton these last two years, and I owe y'all so much.
+
+![](/images/posts/mooli2.png)
+
+## MY YEAR PEOPLE
+
+### To Vaidy, Aniket, Gautam, Parv, Jha, Shravan, Shiv, Introvert,
+
+It all started with Jha- he was speaking English on the branch WhatsApp group. I texted him instantly, saying I had finally found someone I could talk to in English (my Hindi wasn't too great then). When he said he also listens to Carti (pre-WLR when he was actually good, mind you), I almost knew instantly that this one and I would be tight for the long run.
+
+Jha and I were hunting for more people to hang with. That's how we scouted and met Parv at CCD for the first time. The three of us have since stuck together through the entirety of college. GOAT Divine companion. Always welcomed me to his home (shoutout every terrace scene we've had). Another compadre for life was unlocked.
+
+I have no idea how or where I met Introvert. Perhaps in a random Bangalore meetup in the first year. I believe I met Shravan there, too. I wish we had played pool together a lot more. I'm so lucky to have you guys around in Bangalore, too. On another note, I think my mom likes Introvert as much as she likes me. Should I be concerned? 
+
+Vaidy, don't ever text my mother on Gpay. And perhaps equally importantly, I'm not black. Aniket- I wish we had watched more basketball together. Dubs in 6 though. Gautam- fellow Alchemist enjoyer and the best designer and paper folder I know. I can't wait to see you design someone's album covers. Shiv- bumping Pluto with you has always been fun. Also, I'm terrified of piece-maker.
+
+Nothing but love for you guys. I probably sound like a broken record now, but I must repeat this- college would've been impossible without you guys.
+
+![](/images/posts/mooli3.png)
+![](/images/posts/mooli4.png)
+
+## THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING NEW
+
+A fair bit of soul-stirring happens in me whenever anything I'm watching ends; for example, the ending of Modern Family had me a little teary-eyed. This BTech cinema ending will probably make me way more emotional than that. I have much to process, but I can do that with time. How do I end this article, though? What comes immediately after the credits? Maybe a post-credits scene, and then the screen cuts to black. People chew over how they found the flick, munch through the rest of their snacks, gather their things, and go their separate ways. It's that time for us now. But there are many more movies to watch down the line, in different theatres. Here's to hoping we keep walking into the same theatres in the future, too. I know for sure it's going to be so much more fun that way. 
+
+---
+
+##### "XOXO"
+**Chandramouli**

_posts/2025-08-24-amp.md

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "IITR’s Alumni Mentorship Program: A Bridge Beyond the Gates"
+category: coverstory
+image: amp-2025.jpg
+
+excerpt: "IIT Roorkee’s Alumni Mentorship Program (AMP) bridges students and alumni through one-on-one guidance, offering career support, emotional encouragement, and lasting relationships that extend far beyond campus."
+---
+
+
+Life at IIT has a way of humbling you.
+It doesn’t matter whether you’re a wide-eyed fresher still adjusting to mess food and lecture halls, a second-year torn between fields of interest, a third-year chasing that dream internship, or a final-year student staring down the uncertainty of placements and higher studies—every stage comes with its weight. The campus buzzes with opportunity, but beneath it lies an undercurrent of pressure: Am I making the right choices? Am I falling behind?
+
+In this whirlwind, the noise can get overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel cast aside. What you long for in those moments is conversation and a helping hand from someone who’s walked the same maze and found their way through. Someone who can share not just advice, but perspective from beyond the campus walls, from the world you’re preparing to step into.
+
+
+## IITR’s Alumni Mentorship Program: A Bridge Beyond the Gates
+
+It was 2020, when an alumnus visiting campus for a reunion felt the pull of giving back and sensed the growing need for guidance among students. Mr. Kiran Panesar, '89 batch alumnus of IITR, currently running Ambient Security, and his team took that spark forward, starting the Alumni Mentorship Program (AMP) with 6 mentors and 100 students joining in the very first cohort. Over time, this initiative has grown into a **network of 200+ mentors (from the batch of 1966 all the way to 2023) and more than 300 student participants.**
+
+The program is entirely free for students, run by alumni volunteers who simply want to give back. Its design is simple but powerful:
+
+- _One-on-one conversations_: Students are paired with mentors who usually check in with them every couple of weeks. They’re open-ended discussions about careers, higher studies, or simply making sense of uncertainty.
+
+The format is flexible: some mentorships last years, others just a few meetings—but all evolve into lasting relationships that stretch well beyond campus, grounded in shared stories and continued guidance.
+
+<img src="/images/posts/amp-1-2025.jpg" />
+
+### Impact
+
+AMP has supported students across the spectrum : B.Techs of all years, M.Techs, and PhD scholars. With mentors by their side, students have secured internships, launched startups, pursued research and gone for higher studies abroad.
+
+The impact, however, extends beyond professional milestones. Mentees often form lasting bonds and stay connected with their mentors outside the program, continuing to seek guidance at key junctures in their journeys. And perhaps the most meaningful outcome: mentees returning as mentors, strengthening the program for the next generation.
+
+### Mentors
+
+With over 200 mentors from batches spanning 1961 to the present, the program brings together a remarkable diversity of experience. The mentors include leaders who head global corporations, founders of multiple successful startups, distinguished academicians, and senior civil servants responsible for major national projects.
+
+Beyond one-on-one guidance, the program creates vital networking opportunities—giving students access to perspectives, connections, and possibilities they might never encounter on their own.
+
+AMP thrives on the conversations between alumni and students. To glimpse this more closely, I spoke with one of the mentors in the program - Mr. Animesh Bisaris, a 1984 alum, who shared his journey into mentorship, his reflections on today’s students, and his vision for the program’s future:
+
+_Animesh Bisaria, a Gold Medalist from IIT Roorkee with over 40 years in the IT industry, is the CEO of FASTGlobal and MD of KNIO Infotech. Based in Bangalore, he has been mentoring students for several years through the IIT Roorkee Alumni Mentorship Program, guiding over a dozen so far._
+
+**How would you describe your approach or style of mentoring students?**
+
+For me, the journey always begins with “KYM — Know Your Mentor/Mentee”. I make it a point to connect with students personally, even before the formal mentorship starts. Many take time to open up — often struggling with confidence, communication, or simply adjusting to IIT life. Every student carries their own story, shaped by family, background, or circumstances. 
+My first focus is to build trust and understand their world. Once they feel comfortable, they start sharing more freely — and that’s when the real mentoring begins. Then, we shape our sessions around the student’s needs — whether it’s career guidance, exploring fields of interest, or creating networking opportunities. Every student is different, so the mentoring journey is always tailored.
+
+**Is there a mentorship experience that stands out to you, where you felt the program truly made a difference?**
+
+Yes, one that stays with me is a student who was completely blind — an exceptionally bright child. I was able to support him in navigating campus life and also helped him land an internship at ISRO. This is where the strength of the program really shows: mentors come from diverse, accomplished fields and can connect students to the right opportunities and people. But it’s not just about career breaks. Through mentorship, students also learn how to communicate better, present themselves with confidence, and build skills that will support them far beyond IIT.
+
+**Over the years, have you noticed any changes in the kinds of questions or concerns students bring up?**
+
+In my 14 years of mentoring, I’ve noticed that career-related anxiety is by far the biggest concern. Many students feel disappointed about not getting into the CSE branch and worry that their options are now limited. They’re often unsure about what direction to take — what to study, how to secure a good internship, or what career path to pursue. Alongside this, there are other challenges too: adjusting to a new environment, building friendships, communicating confidently — I’ve met students who couldn’t even manage a simple greeting in our first interaction. Missing home and dealing with mental health struggles also weigh heavily on them. All of these concerns come together, but career uncertainty seems to be at the center for most.
+
+**Student mental health is a growing concern at IITs. As a mentor, how do you see your role in supporting students emotionally, not just academically or professionally?**
+
+Yes, that is a major concern. I once had a mentee who had been struggling with depression for nearly eight months — triggered by not getting into a preferred branch, fear of an uncertain future, and the pressure of not wanting to let parents down. Being in such a demanding environment only made it worse. What he really needed was someone to talk to, someone who could guide him and help rebuild his confidence and optimism.
+
+These challenges are not isolated — they are widespread and need to be addressed proactively. I believe the institute should hold at least one dedicated wellness session every month for freshers, so they don’t feel alienated in their early days. Within the mentorship program too, our role goes far beyond career advice or networking. We try to provide a genuine support system — a safe space where students feel heard, understood, and encouraged to navigate both academic pressures and emotional struggles.
+
+**Looking ahead, how do you see the Alumni Mentorship Program evolving?**
+
+I hope to see many more mentees and mentors joining in the coming years. One challenge right now is that even after registering, some students hesitate to open up or maintain regular contact. My vision is for the program to become more two-sided — where students feel comfortable reaching out freely, and mentors can also connect with them beyond just formal emails or LinkedIn messages. Strengthening this flow of communication from both ends will make the mentorship bond much stronger.
+
+---
+
+**The last date to register is August 31, 2025, and seats are limited.**
+
+For more information and to register for the mentorship program, visit: https://www.iitramp.org/iitramp

_posts/2025-10-18-in-talk-with-chac.md

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: In Talk with CHAC
+tags: [wona, column]
+category: coverstory
+image: chac.png
+excerpt: "To address the concerns recently voiced by students regarding the institute hospital and pharmacy, Watch Out! spoke with Prof. Ankik Kumar Giri, Chairman of the Hospital Advisory Committee."
+---
+
+To address the concerns recently voiced by students regarding the institute hospital and pharmacy, Watch Out! spoke with Prof. Ankik Kumar Giri, Chairman of the Hospital Advisory Committee. The transcript of our conversation is provided below:\
+***(Note: Hereafter, ‘pharmacy’ refers to the one outside the hospital entrance.)***
+
+
+**Q1: Who is in charge of running the institute's pharmacy right now? Does the institute itself directly operate these pharmacy services?**
+
+**A:** The pharmacy is currently managed by a company called Health Hub, which is selected by the tender process for these services. The institute does not directly operate the pharmacy. However, a doctor from the institute, Dr. Vibhu Sharma, the officer in charge, is part of the advisory committee and helps check the quality of the medicines kept at the medical center.
+
+<br>
+
+**Q2: Do students get medicines at a discounted price? If so, how?**
+
+**A:** Students can receive a discount of 27% on certain medicines at the pharmacy counter. All other medicines, including over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, are sold at the regular price (MRP).\
+There are plans to put up a notice which would allow students to understand which medicines are discounted and which are not. This will help students see their options and make informed decisions.\
+Pharmacists have been instructed to ask for the enrollment number/employee id to tell if the buyer is a student/employee or someone from outside the campus. This means students do not have to ask for the discount themselves; it is given automatically when they share their enrollment number.
+In case the pharmacists fail to ask for ID, one can remind them and avail a discount.
+
+<br>
+
+**Q3: How does the institute keep track of what students buy from the medical center, especially to prevent students from misusing certain medicines?** 
+
+**A:** The pharmacy only sells a limited range of medicines, and some medicines are given only if the student has a prescription, just like regular pharmacies outside campus. The institute does not keep records of what students buy from the pharmacy.
+
+_Any queries regarding the hospital can be raised through the feedback portal on the hospital website._
+
+<br>
+
+**Q4: Standing Order 1-12.4 states:\
+_“No private doctor should be consulted by a student on his/her own initiative. If there is a genuine need for consulting an outside doctor, the matter should be reported to the Warden / Chief Warden who will take further action in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of the Institute and the Dean of Students' Welfare.”_\
+Why does this rule exist? Why can't students choose to visit a private doctor whenever they want?**
+
+**A:** This rule is mainly for the safety and well-being of students. If a student visits a private doctor or has a medical procedure outside the institute and something goes wrong, or if the student is not treated properly, the institute needs to be aware so it can respond quickly in an emergency. By keeping the institute informed, students can get help faster if any problems arise.\
+Another important reason for this rule is to prevent misuse of medical certificates. There have been cases where students have submitted fake or questionable medical certificates from outside doctors to get special permissions, like asking for a re-exam or an extension. By requiring students to go through the institute's process, it becomes easier to check the authenticity of medical documents and maintain fairness for everyone.\
+Overall, the rule is meant to protect students in emergencies and to make sure that all medical documents are real and used properly.
+
+<br>
+
+**Q5:
+Standing Order 1-12.5 states:\
+_"Students are entitled to medical facilities to the extent available in the Institute Hospital. The Institute will make no reimbursement of the medical expenses to the students for any treatment taken outside the Institute Hospital without the recommendation of the Institute Medical Officer (IMO)."_\
+To clarify, does this mean that if a student seeks a second opinion from an outside doctor, even with a referral from an institute doctor (but not the IMO), the cost would not be reimbursable?**
+
+**A:** The reimbursement process takes place under the DoSW. The amount to be reimbursed, if any, is in accordance with the policies of the insurance company.
+
+<br>
+
+**Q6: If a student wants a second opinion from a specialist outside the institute, or feels that the diagnosis by the institute's doctors is not correct, what procedure is to be followed?**
+
+**A:** If a student wants to see a specialist or get a second opinion from a doctor outside the institute, they should first visit the campus hospital and ask for a referral. The doctors at the hospital do not refuse to give referrals to outside doctors if needed. If a student ever faces any difficulty in getting a referral, they should contact the Hospital Office for help.\
+If a student feels unsatisfied with a diagnosis, they may also request a re-examination within the institute itself before opting for an external consultation.\
+To make things easier for students, the institute is also working on bringing more outside specialists and super specialists to the campus. This way, students may not need to go outside for specialist consultations in the future.
+
+<br>
+
+**Q7: Some students have reported that the emergency ward at the hospital does not have enough facilities. What services are actually available in the emergency ward, and what rights should a student know they have when using it?**
+
+**A:** When you go to the emergency ward, ensure that there is at least one doctor, one staff nurse, one attendant, and one pharmacist present. If you need help, ask for the doctor right away. \
+If you feel you are not being treated properly in the emergency ward, first note down the doctor's details. Next, ask the doctor to call a senior doctor or the Chief Medical Officer to address your concern. If you are still not satisfied or believe there was mishandling, report the issue to the chairman with all the information you have gathered.
+

_posts/2025-10-23-the-ship-of-theseus.md

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "The Ship of Theseus"
+image: the-ship-of-theseus.png
+category: editorial
+tags: [wona, column]
+author: Aarush Aggarwal and Shivansh Goyal
+excerpt: "Packing is a labyrinth of memories. The old, dusty boxes are dangerous nostalgia traps. You pick up one forgotten trinket, and you’re stuck."
+---
+Packing is a labyrinth of memories. The old, dusty boxes are dangerous nostalgia traps. You pick up one forgotten trinket, and you’re stuck. Suddenly, you're not sorting clothes; you’re reminiscing and deeply analyzing one random anecdote, its philosophical impact on your childhood, your life, and human existence as you know it.
+
+(This profound state lasts exactly as long as it takes for your mom to yell from downstairs, instantly vaporizing all existential insight. Dang it, Mom! Thankfully, that moment hasn’t arrived yet. For now, you’re happily remembering your antics.)
+
+You pick up the majestic 1000-piece Colosseum. It represents weeks of your childhood, your first architectural masterpiece. After all, who doesn't like to play with LEGOs? Those blocks became units of uncashed potential, limited only by the imagination of the hands that held them.
+
+It’s a miracle it lasted this long, given the Odyssey it went through. 
+
+(We know we’re mixing Greek tales; that’s what happens when everything you know about ancient Greece stems from Percy Jackson.)
+
+---
+
+This is where we’d like to introduce ourselves. We're your conscience (yes you still have it hidden somewhere). Hello! As you often do, this is a conversation you’re having with us.
+
+---
+
+Childhood is a battlefield of unintended casualties. One day, your younger sibling had whimsically decided that they were done with all of creation, and your colosseum bore the brunt of their rage.
+
+You remember gathering the rubble of your toppled colosseum, putting it in a box, and replacing the broken pieces. Another day, your mother had wondered, "What is this piece of 'useless memorabilia'?" Soon, you’d found your poor building in the trashcan. You had tediously replaced another batch of pieces, and this cycle of destruction and resurrection continued.
+
+You think of the broken pieces saved over the years, and suddenly, a thought strikes: the broken pieces, they’re just enough to make another LEGO Colosseum if you put in some effort, glue and time (all of which you have plenty of).
+
+A paradox begins to form in that brilliant head of yours (no offence, but you’re a bit of a narcissist)
+
+Which piece claims the throne of authenticity? Which one is the real Colosseum: the one you’ve maintained over the years—scarred yet tall, or the one you would have made from all the pieces that were stripped off it. 
+
+You might be anticipating the question we’re about to ask: What truly is the “identity” of something? Or what is the physical representation of identity? Is identity even a physical concept or simply a mental illusion? Have you discovered immortality, or mastered the art of self-deception? Doesn’t this mean you could make like 15 of the same things? Is Identity divisible, then? Or are those copies identical to the point of perfection? 
+
+Have you discovered cloning? This is the stuff of dreams isn't it? Think of the limitless possibilities…
+
+_Wait, wait. Take a breath my friend._
+
+Let’s review the two sides to this:
+
+If you say the model you had kept repairing was the real one, you're valuing continuity, the idea that identity comes from the history of the object, even if its parts change. The journey it’s been on defines it more than its origin does, and the final product, the construction of experience, proves its originality more than the original’s stagnancy. 
+
+On the contrary, there is a case to be made for its origin. The journey, instead of defining it, changes it; if it loses everything that connected it to its roots, it no longer remains the same thing. Memories aren’t the only constituent of its identity, rather it's the original pieces. Those faded polaroids still feel warmer than any high-definition photo ever could.
+
+And yet, beyond philosophy, there’s a quieter, more unsettling thought.
+
+Perhaps there's another possibility: that you would’ve simply created two identical ghosts, and that identity itself is nothing more than a comforting illusion you’ve constructed to avoid confronting the void.
+
+Heavy words, we know… but that's the nature of the paradox.
+
+There’s also a fourth (albeit way cooler) explanation, you in fact have discovered cloning, and physicists can cry over the corpse of quantum physics because, guess what? Information is not conserved, and this satanic nightmare referred to as engineering can end.
+
+(Maybe not that last one. Boy, you wish that were true)
+
+---
+
+The paradoxical nature of identity is a concept on which philosophers around the globe have pondered for very many years (because that’s what philosophers do). What makes it particularly fascinating to you, is how naturally this question arises in domains with nothing common in them.
+
+Our journey starts at the British Isles where this paradox plays out on the stage of history:
+
+Picture a ship bobbing on the waves. At first, the Celtic-speaking Britons are at the helm, singing old songs by the fire, minding their own business.
+
+(Maybe wondering about the last city which they colonized)
+
+Then, one day, the Angles and Saxons row up like they’ve been invited, lugging their runes, their Old English, and a battered copy of _Beowulf_. They strip the deck, hammer in new boards, and the ship now reeks of Germanic sweat.
+
+But the tide never stays still. The Normans crash the party with barrels of wine and manners. As the voyage goes on, you pass candlelit decks where Shakespeare’s dramas play out between storms of plague, and you witness royal squalls so fierce a king loses his head. The winds take the ship to Asia and Africa. It comes home stuffed with tea, spices, a famous diamond (wink wink) and a taste for telling the world how to queue properly. For a while, to be British was to keep your tie straight, your hat intact and paperwork stacked higher than the mast.
+
+But seawater soaks into every plank. Now, you can find the best chicken butter masala in London, hear Jamaican pop bouncing off in makeshift basketball courts, and elders gathering for a spot of tea at 4 p.m. Bring Elizabeth or Newton aboard this ship today, and they’d probably stare around like tourists, their wide-eyed reactions worth replaying on the West End.
+
+The experiences, it seems, have enriched England, from a bland oatmeal-raisin (seriously, who eats that shi-) to a full seven-course meal and a fine wine to wash it down with.
+
+Support Liverpool? Back in the 19th century, it was mud-caked boots and proud moustaches charging down the pitch. Players come and go, managers swap the captains, Anfield gets a makeover. Nothing of the old crew is left. And yet, the name, the colours, the roar in the stands never stopped sailing. _You’ll Never Walk Alone_ isn’t just a song; it’s the wind in the sails. 
+
+A Liverpool fan experiences a lot of highs and lows, the journey almost seems like a test of loyalty and those who pass seem to understand just a bit more about the essence of being a true supporter. The change seems fresh and exciting while stirring that nostalgia.
+
+Liverpool and England are both examples of entities which ripened with experience, it becomes impossible to define them without acknowledging the journey they went through. Their originality holds little meaning when compared to the eons of change undergone.
+
+Sometimes though, it’s very hard to rid yourself of the originality. Sometimes the journey destroys the ship, every piece of it until the ship turns into a boat, then a log of wood, and then is simply gone, no longer existing. The broken pieces telling stories about the original that seem like a fairytale on steroids.
+
+Such is the case of Alzheimer’s disease, a tide without cause, progressively destroying every memory that made you, you. Witnessing it is like seeing a candle burn. It starts with its unburnt wick, proudly giving light and warmth to everyone around it, unrelenting in its potential, leaving everyone unaware of the tragedy about to unfold. 
+
+Slowly the wax starts to melt, the wick starts to shorten, the warmth starts to stutter and then the ball drops. Suddenly a gust of oxygen flares it up again, you think that things have stabilized but no, the wax keeps on melting, taking the last hopes you had along with it. Every resolve fails against the inevitability of change.
+
+And then the light fades, fades until it dies. This melted candle is the same which started this journey but somewhere along it, it didn’t remain itself. It lost its identity, became unrecognizable and incomparable to its past. All there is to live by are the memories, of its warmth, of its fight. 
+
+You wonder where along this journey did the candle change that much, when did that tall source of light become this heap of wax.
+
+That is the heart of the paradox: if change is constant, when does a thing cease to be itself?
+
+The simple reason why both ships cannot co-exist is that they are not alike, they represent two contradictory ideas of representation and embracing both is impossible.
+
+Most people don’t focus on the most important assumption of this paradox: that identity itself can survive change. Remember your LEGO Colosseum, all it would take is glue to create a brand-new one, masterful enough to rival the original.
+
+It seems almost _magical_, right? 
+
+Working against change never is, nothing magical is going to appear to fix your colosseum.
+
+Perhaps the most profound truth hidden in this ancient riddle is that you are simultaneously aboard both ships: the one sailing forward into uncertain waters, and the one being slowly dismantled by time. 
+
+You are the Captain, navigating the uncertainties and passing the storms.
+
+You are the Curator, collecting fallen pieces of the journey gone.
+
+You are the Voyager, choosing what to carry into tomorrow.
+
+The question is: are you also the Tinkerer? Daring to right the ship when it fails you, daring to _renew_ your very own Ship of Theseus.
+
+---
+
+*"HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY TAKE THIS LONG TO CLEAN ONE ROOM? I SWEAR, I'D GIVE ANYTHING FOR A VERSION OF YOU THAT ACTUALLY LISTENED!"*
+
+That oh-so familiar voice calls out from downstairs; you smile inwardly at the irony of the statement as the train of thought breaks. Some things, like that sharp voice from downstairs, are stubbornly eternal themselves; a constant in a house of replacements, immune to time, repairs, or philosophy.

category/summer2025/index.html

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+category: summer2025
+---

css/mobile.css

@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@
   
   .mobile-nav .dropdown.open .dropdown-menu {
     display: block;
-    max-height: 300px;
+    max-height: 500px;
   }
   
   .mobile-nav .dropdown-menu li {

guide/index.html

@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ layout: post
 title: "The Ultimate Freshman's Guide to IIT Roorkee"
 tags: [wona]
 category: academics
-image: freshman-guide-23-cover.png
-description: The complete, wholesome and perfect reference book to IIT Roorkee!
+image: freshman-guide-25-cover.png
+excerpt: "The complete, wholesome and perfect reference book to IIT Roorkee!"
 ---
 
 College has a lot to offer, which is probably why you feel a little clueless and intimidated right now. You might wake up in the morning every other day and feel a little nauseated and dizzy, even though your amazing mental strength got you through one of the toughest examination of the world. And that’s alright!
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ Watch Out brings to you the painful yet insanely awesome realities of college li
 <br/><br/>
 We have all the answers, so dive in!
 <br/><br/>
-<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lj5P4O5bAH8nRYja4heDd3yUUBtKa_5j/view?usp=sharing" style="text-align: center"><button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-block btn-lg">Download the guide here!</button></a>
+<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oUc1ssTKRMQk5ytKLkwIlmdiQ_rDWAfI/view?usp=sharing" style="text-align: center"><button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-block btn-lg">Download the Guide Here!</button></a>