Survivor Roorkee: A freshman's guide to life at IIT-R

Nearly a fortnight ago, I wrote a post regarding Applied Mathematics at IIT Roorkee. The post received a fairly good response, so I decided to type in a post to help the prospective IITians at Roorkee.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Roorkee, is yet another town in Uttarakhand. But again, not many towns can boast of an IIT. In case, you mistake Uttarakhand for a perennially frozen cold province in North India, then please allow me to disillusion you. Roorkee is not hilly, it is not cold (not throughout the year). The climate here is Temperate as we call it. Very hot in the summers followed by again a very humid monsoon and extremely cold winters in January and the 1st half of February. 

Tip: No need to pack warm clothes for the Fall semester, though. Packing umbrellas and/or rain-coats would be a far better choice!

Circumscribing the IIT at Roorkee are the Civil Lines, where every possibly necessary commodity of use and more is easily available. Also, the canteen for the Rajendra Bhawan (the hostel for the freshers) supplies mattresses, buckets, mugs and hangers etc., at the beginning of a new session.

Tip: Since, everything is available in the Civil lines and at the Rajendra Bhawan, you need not travel carrying your bedding along with you!

POST-REGISTRATION

Once you end up with the registration process at the Convocation Hall, I'll advise opening an a/c at either of the SBI or the PNB branches inside the campus, preferably SBI. It would actually be a matter of 15-20 mins, because both the banks usually setup their stalls just outside the Convocation Hall in the lawns. There is a small shop cum PCO/FAX within the Cautley Bhawan. The shop will take care of daily amenities and mobile recharges, if you are lazy enough to walk to the civil lines. 

What about bicycles? Should we buy one? I bought a bicycle back in 2010 and I prefer walking now. I would advise against buying one. Why? Do you want your bicycle turning into a public commuter? Or, do you want to bear the extra load of a batchmate? Plus, a bicycle has maintenance issues.

Still want a bicycle?

Tip: If you want to save on the bicycle costs, you can always wait for the unclaimed bicycles being sold off at the hostels. They are priced as low as Rs. 200-400 against the Rs. 3000+ bicycles outside!

THE FOOD

The mess at Rajendra Bhawan, is a little rigid with the customs to be followed there. One has to dress up properly to be permitted inside. Where 'properly' means NO shorts/capris/3-4ths and definitely NO slippers. However, this rigidity lasts for a very short period of time, i.e., till the Council Elections. Also, during this pre-election time, restrictions are set on the entry and exit of the hostellers. Which, are dissolved once the elections are done away with. In case, you do not like the mess food, you can always order a home delivery from the Dominos outlet just outside the campus.

The telephone no. being +911332275424

Other good food outlets include Prakash, Center Point, Sagar, 36 Chowrangee Lane, Olive and TinTin.

Tip: If you want to eat food other than that from the mess, and save on it, try the Govind Bhawan or the Ravindra Bhawan canteens. Comparably good food, at reasonable rates!

THE NSO-NSS-NCC CONUNDRUM

NCC guarantees returns.

With, the end of the 1st week, you'd be asked to opt for either of the 3: NSO, NSS or the NCC as a proficiency. NCC is lot more physical and tiresome, the cadets are required to stay for 10-12 days camp in the winter break, but it ain't bad. If you aim at being a hotshot IAS officer, the 'B' and the 'C' certificates help a bit. Plus, if you are already an 'A' certificate holder from the school, do join NCC. With NCC as a proficiency, you are guaranteed with a good grade. NSS, is not at all generous with the grades, mind you! You will have to earn your grades, unless you have good contacts in the core team. To get into the NSO, you need to qualify at the trials. In case you are already a sportsperson, NSO would be an ideal proficiency.

Tip: In case you don't want NCC, nor the NSS and do not play any sport, simply go for the hockey trials and you'll be selected just for showing up!

THE BOOKS

Lastly, the books. There are 2-3 good book stores in the civil lines, I prefer the Indra Book Depot. They sell both second hand and new books. The newer ones at a 20-30% discount and the 2nd hand at half the rates. The shops at civil lines remain closed on Wednesdays, except for the book stores. The Mahatama Gandhi Central Library at IIT-R, is HUGE and has a good collection of books. The library also runs a TBLS, the text book loan scheme, whereby you can loan 3 text books from the library after paying Rs. 200 and issuing a TBLS card from the library.

Wishing you a good stay at IIT-R.

Rebooted: Cartoons from the 80s & 90s retold

I have been a regular follower of many of the animated series both available and unavailable in the subcontinent. And, I have a special liking for the cartoons from the 80s.

Now, this post primarily concentrates on the re-telling/reboots of some very popular animated series from the 80s and one from the 90s.Starting up with G.I.Joe:

GI JOE: RENEGADES

Those familiar with the G.I. Joe, know that it is an uber-awesome global peace-keeping team with special operatives recruited from all across the globe, fighting against the terrorist organization Cobra headed by the megalomaniac, world domination loving and ever sulking Cobra Commander. In November, 2010 Hasbro reintroduced the team as a band of fugitives!! Well, obviously they are not fugitives, they were framed for the crimes they did not commit. 

Each of the 26 episodes from the series (except the first 2), started off with the following narrative:

Accused of a crime they didn't commit, a ragtag band of fugitives fights a covert battle to clear their names and expose the insidious enemy that is... Cobra. Some call them outlaws. Some call them heroes. But these determined men and women think themselves only as "Ordinary Joes". And this is their story.

which, sums the plot pretty much.

What makes this series different/better? The plot focuses on how the team comes together. Also, the back story of nearly every mainstream and/or popular character from the G.I. Joe mythos is explored and retold in a fairly realistic manner.

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

X MEN:EVOLUTION

Absolutely no need to introduce the X-Men! Anyway, for the sake of the non-believers:

X-Men are mutant heroes, who want to preserve the peace between humans and the genetically gifted(?) mutants.

Of all the X-Men Cartoons, X-Men: Evolution tops my list. Unlike, the other series this one features adolescent school-going X-Men characters. Mutants, with the usual Marvel universe issues plus the problems of being a teenager. I actually like the idea of having younger Scott and Jean, the students meanwhile, Wolverine and Storm alongside Professor X, themselves being the teachers. 

In a broader sense it was more like a good piece of fan fiction which materialized into a pretty good animated series. All the popular mutants from the X-Men and the Brotherhood attended the same school, and their principal was none other than Mystique in disguise! How awesome is that?

An intricate drama minus the redundant themes like Sentinel attacks, alien invasions and time travelling mutants (from the 1994 series), is what makes this series tick. The series is lot more youthful, one can  easily associate it with themselves.

You can watch the episodes on Marvel.com: The Official Site itself 

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

THUNDERCATS

Remember that 80s cartoon with humanoid feline characters? The one, about the little sword (more of a dagger/knife) which expanded into a full-sized sword? The series revolved around the eponymous protagonists, the ThunderCats, apparently the last survivors of their species from a planet named Thundera.

A reboot to the ThunderCats was launched in 2011 in the form of an ongoing series. The characters except for Panthero, are a lot younger, more likely to be in their 20s. Instead of a high tech Cat race the Thundercats are here the residents of a seemingly medieval kingdom of Thundera on the planet "Third Earth" ruled over by the Lion clan of the Cats. The plot resembles that of a fairy tale, whereby Lion-O the prince of Thundera flees alongside his adopted Step Brother, Tigra and his sworn protector, Cheetara. The series also uncovers an extensive backstory regarding the Sword Of Omens, the power stones and Lion-O's own history with Mumm-ra, the main antagonist. 

Unlike the original series, this one is not as campy as its predecessor and we witness a plot involving a love triangle, sibling rivalry and issues such as trust, betrayal and loyalty. Another, fascinating feature being the newer looks to the characters. Lion-O is a lot younger, Wily-Kit and Wily-Kat are a lot kiddy. Cheetara is well... beautiful (and hot!). Tigra, is a lot more verbal and condescending unlike the reserved and calm Tigra of the original run. Panthero has been muscled up! He is huge and he appears to be more of a Bushido Warrior.

The story involved good twists and turns, but Cartoon Network decided to cancel airing the show after 2 good seasons.

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

HE MAN & THE MATSERS OF THE UNIVERSE

Who is He-Man? He-Man is everyone's favorite peace loving scantily clad Viking warrior from the planet Eternia.

"By the power of Grayskull...  I have the power!!"

Ring any bells?

Now, He-Man is actually Prince Adam of Eternia, who undergoes a transformation using his power blade after saying the above lines. Transformed into the mightiest hero in the universe, by the mystic powers of Castle Grayskull, He-Man fights for peace against the evil forces of Skeletor. The original concept of He-Man is believed to have been inspired from Conan the barbarian. The original 80s series followed the introduction of a toyline by the same name from Mattel. It was a marketing campaign for the toyline.

The original run was quite campy owing to the strict broadcasting regulations at that time. Which meant He-Man could not use his sword to hit any villain except for well... robots. The series was a hit. Hit enough to produce a live action movie (which did not fare that well at the box office).

Then in 2002-03, Mike Young Productions launched a reboot to the He-Man mythos to tie it in with a newer toyline from Mattel. Prince Adam is an adolescent and an insecure prince, who initially refuses the Power of Grayskull, but accepts it as a last resort to help his father and his allies against the armies of Skeletor who is seemingly pissed-off with the Eternians for having exiled him. 

After receiving the "Sword of Power" and the "Power" Adam transforms into a rather muscular and barely clothed He-Man, who turns the tables in the battle and defeats the forces of evil, and so ends the series of the 6 pilot episodes. 

Unlike, the original series, one can actually differentiate between Adam and He-Man. In the second season, the connection between Grayskull who happens to be an ancestor of Adam and He-Man is revealed. No campiness here, He-Man is entitled to all hitting, sword slashing, punching etc. Also, a convincing revelation of Skeletor's origin was also featured in the series. One can always watch the reboot and compare it with the original.

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

What is your favorite cartoon from the 80s/90s? Feel free to leave your comments.