Archive of posts with category 'stories'
Sometimes, the best ideas aren’t invented—they’re borrowed from nature. 🦎
From choosing universities to writing SOPs and surviving rejection, a practical guide to the messy reality of PhD applications.
We spend years learning equations, passing exams, and collecting degrees—yet rarely stop to locate ourselves on the map. This is question regarding the use of that map.
Sometimes, all it takes to keep a story going is one more morning, one unfinished conversation, or one reason to see what happens next. At twenty-one, I am learning that an unfinished story is not a failed one.
A little boy, a big dream, and a promise to himself.
A student is more thsan their grades, their research, their career, or their failures. This piece explores how academic pressure, financial burdens, isolation, and a lack of student representation can turn an institution of learning into a source of distress.
Every country has built its education system around a different set of needs and compromises. By looking across India, the USA, the UK, China, and Finland, perhaps we can imagine something better.
Years may pass, but some classrooms never really leave us. A journey back to ShilpSparsh and the children of T. Begur, where knowledge crossed boundaries, friendships took root, and learning became something beautifully mutual.
Some bonds never ask for words—they simply wait, quietly and faithfully, until the right moment brings them home. A gentle tale of autumn, kindness, and an affection that time could never erase.
An AI interviews a fourth-year undergraduate on what 'having a career' really means once you stop taking the sentence at face value, breadth vs. depth, borrowed dreams, and what's still worth mastering when AI can do the rest.
A city of rain, trees, conversations, and unexpected adventures. Sometimes the best way to experience Bengaluru is simply to follow your curiosity.
The first days in a new place carry a kind of magic that quietly disappears with familiarity. Through rain-soaked paths, library aisles, and childhood-like wonder, this memoir celebrates the joy of being lost before a place becomes home.
You are not the label you wear today. This essay celebrates the beautiful chaos of college, where changing your mind, your passions, and even yourself isn't failure—it's growth.
The world continues spinning even when we stop. Yet, within that pause lies an opportunity to untangle our thoughts, question our assumptions, and return to life with a clearer mind.
A journey into the Himalayas becomes more than a trek through mountains—it becomes a journey inward. Amidst towering peaks, silent valleys, and moments of solitude, this story captures the beauty of nature and the lessons learned along the way.
A heartfelt essay about the unexpected connections and kindness of people who make travel meaningful.
Behind every door lies a different version of pain. As the hallway unfolds, the boundary between the observer and the wounded becomes increasingly unclear.
A journey back home becomes a journey inward, as the narrator revisits memories, relationships, and versions of himself left behind. Between Chennai’s familiar warmth and Bangalore’s unsettling distance, he grapples with identity, nostalgia, and the quiet ache of growing up.
A spontaneous escape from the rigours of first semester turns into a day of chaos, courage, and questionable decisions. Follow eleven IISc freshers as they discover that sometimes the best memories are born from bad planning, teenage recklessness, and a little bit of stupidity.
एक पुलिस वाले की यादों में बसा उस्ताद जी का वह घर, जहाँ संगीत की धुनों और घरेलू झगड़ों के बीच ज़िंदगी के कई रंग छिपे थे।
A whirlwind journey through the world of musical instruments—from the sympathetic buzz of the Sitar to the otherworldly, contactless hum of the Theremin.
When headphones break, the campus begins to sing. A story of finding community and private joy within the shared private playlists of Rhythmica.
Why your main quest needs a side quest. Explore the deep structural similarities between music and physics, and how cross-pollinating ideas can ignite creative breakthroughs.
A heartfelt letter exploring the therapeutic power of watching the world through a window with calming music as your only companion.
The Global Positioning System relies on billion-light-year-distant quasars to keep your phone's location honest. Discover the unlikely connection between black holes and Google Maps.
Conversations with third-year IISc students revealing anxieties, ambitions, and the balance between research, internships, and life beyond academics.
The second-year undergrad stands at the crossroads of idealism and pragmatism, still holding onto a thread of youthful passion.
The final year at IISc’s UG program is a time of crucial decisions, deep reflection, and a mix of pride, gratitude, and uncertainty about the future, as captured through interviews with nine diverse students.
An introspective train vignette where a brief nap unfolds into reflections on memory, music, anxiety, and identity. A quiet portrait of restlessness and the search to understand oneself.
When the train of existence roars past, leaving us on a cold platform of loss, can we find the strength to keep the fire burning for those who left?
Life at IISc is a whirlwind of deadlines and laughter, but the hardest part is realizing when a chapter is finally closing. A tribute to the people who became 'home'.
ज़िंदगी एक अधूरी किताब है जिसका आखिरी सबक है मौत। एक पुलिसवाले की डायरी और जेल की दीवारों पर उकेरी गई वो शायरी, जो मरकर भी ज़िंदा रही।
Beyond grades and CGPAs lies the real soul of IISc. From midnight relativity sessions to radioactive rocks in the Main Building, this is how learning actually feels.
A reflection on the March sisters from 'Little Women' and how their story continues to celebrate womanhood across generations.
A look at the legacy of the Opportunity Rover, a mission that redefined our understanding of Mars and the endurance of human curiosity.
Every human being is blessed with a natural ability to appreciate and interpret art—a 'sixth sense' that is an integral part of being human.
The story of Professor Anand Srivastava and the 'leap of faith' that led him from naval architecture to biophysics.
A thrilling account of a 1500km road trip across Andhra Pradesh, exploring the 'Grand Canyon of India' and the resilience of friendship.
An extract from the 2nd edition, reflecting on the last day at home and the love of a mother's cooking before heading to IISc.
A gripping fiction piece from the 3rd edition about a mathematician's discovery that challenges the foundations of logic itself.
A non-fiction piece from the 2nd edition exploring the connection between logic, reason, intuition, and our decision-making processes.
Quarks, the IISc UG magazine, stands as a collective voice of undergraduates, capturing their science, stories, struggles, and creativity across generations.
An exploration of the rich flora and fauna coexisting within the 400-acre haven of the Indian Institute of Science.
Insights from the 4th edition on the unpredictable nature of career paths and the importance of self-discovery in education.
A historical account of the Old Physics Building (OPB) at IISc, tracing its origins, founding departments, and its role in the institute's early controversies.
A personal narrative on the journey of learning Bharathnatyam and how it shaped the author's life, focus, and happiness.
Exploring the paradigm shift towards deep ecology, moving from an anthropocentric view to recognizing our place within the web of life.
A spontaneous 4 AM cycling trip to the ISKCON temple that turned into an unforgettable experience blending spirituality, art, and culture.
A deep dive into how simulating conversations and analysing conversational parameters can reveal the intricate structure of human interactions.
The first year at Indian Institute of Science is a whirlwind of change — new academics, new friendships, and a completely new way of life. Through conversations with students across the batch, one thing becomes clear: amidst the chaos, stress, and uncertainty, IISc gradually turns into a second home. From discovering independence to finding a community bound by curiosity and passion for science, the journey leaves every student transformed in their own unique way.
A thrilling adventure exploring two of Bangalore's most beautiful trekking locations: Skandagiri and Kuntibetta.
An account on IICM and IISM
A humorous and nostalgic reflection on the chaotic, overwhelming, yet ultimately rewarding experience of the very first semester at IISc.
A natural aspect of human life is aging, but coming to terms with it, is a very complicated process. This wonderful piece explores and builds a very beautiful, yet poignant image.
The appeal to rationality, has become something of a very popular phrase in the recent past. But, in some sense, how do we even know if the basis of such appeals, is logical in itself!
In this very monotonous life, students require the daily help for myriad of tasks, this article wonderfully elucidates and interviews many such people.
In a consumerist world, this piece asks whether we can truly be content with who we are and what we have.
