Vikram Deshpande’s Post

𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨, BITS Pilani saw something unforgettable. Students across campuses united in protest against a sudden fee hike. It was one of the first videos I saw when joining BITS, and it stuck with me. Just yesterday, I read about some IIMs sitting on a 780 crore surplus. Completely different scenario, but it got me thinking about our protest again. Watching those videos, I realized how much student voices matter. Our seniors weren't just complaining - they were out there in the scorching Pilani heat, some even on hunger strikes. That's democracy in action, right there. Did we get everything we wanted? Not quite. But today, BITS has way more scholarships and support for students who need it. That's a win in my book. This wasn't a war against the university. It was about making sure students have a say in decisions that affect them. It showed why all stakeholders need to be part of the process. The unity was incredible. All campuses - Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad - standing together. It proved college isn't just about fun and games. Sometimes, it's about coming together for something bigger. Looking back, I think this was one of BITS' finest moments. It taught us that when we unite, our voices can't be ignored. College life isn't just about lectures and laughs - it's about learning to stand up for what's right, together.

Why B.Pharm at BITS Pilani? While selecting colleges a year ago, I didn’t have very good marks in BITSAT (175/390) (reasons? lite, stories I just don’t want to recall...). So, my choices were MIT and VIT, but I had an interest in the business world, I was drawn to BITS’ startup culture, something I discovered through online resources and videos. Seeing folks building things, always working on something, and the overall energy was very fascinating to me. I sat down and asked myself what I really wanted to do: - I’m not inclined towards pursuing a job. - I have an interest in the startup world. - I like to create, manifest, and explore. - I want to meet great, passionate people and have access to a strong network. - I enjoy coding and can teach myself with the resources available. - I’ll have free time to build my own path and develop skills. Hmm, I just followed my gut, and it led me to BITS. :) Hope, i will stop getting this question from now on...

🎓Milestone Achieved - Post Graduation Completion🎓✌ Two years of rigorous coursework, countless assignment, late-night study marathons and endless balancing between work and academics - It has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. But today, i am thrilled to share that i have successfully completed my M.tech in Data Science & Engineering from BITS Pilani Work Integrated Learning Programmes ..!!! ✨ This journey wasn't easy. Juggling full-time work, research for my dissertation, experimenting and learning advanced concept while managing personal responsibilities. There were moments of sleepless nights, sacrifices of weekends and so on, but they only made the success feel sweeter. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my professors BITS Pilani Work Integrated Learning Programmes, peers, my mentor Kranthi Kumar Shankar and everyone who supported me throughout this academic journey. 🙏 Your guidance and encouragement have been invaluable. To those who are on their own learning paths — keep going! The journey might be tough, but it's worth every step. 💪 Here's to new beginnings, exciting opportunities, and bigger goals. Cheers to the next chapter 🚀 . #DataScience #BITSian #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning

I made a BIG mistake pursuing a DUAL DEGREE at BITS PILANI... 📚 Sunday Synergies. Sunday Stories. 📚 When I got my BITSAT results, I was hit with a dilemma. ➡ My score barely crossed last year’s cutoffs + Enrolled in another college. ➡ Didn’t want Mech/Chem, so the only option left was a Dual Degree. With hesitation, I chose MSc. Maths. (I was good at it, or I thought so😂) 1st Year? MANAGEABLE. ➡ I secured a decent GPA and thought I had most of it figured out. ➡ Little did I know, the real grind was yet to begin. 2nd Year? BRUTAL. ➡ Abstract math subjects drained me mentally—I scored miserably. ➡ My hatred for the subject only grew stronger. (Never want to look at - REAL ANALYSIS and TOPOLOGY again!) 3rd Year? PURE CHAOS. ➡ 34+ hours of classes and labs weekly, YES, that much! ➡ Continuous quizzes, assignments, and zero breathing space. ➡ Add Badminton Captain, Dance Club, Acads — Felt overwhelming. Those two semesters were a blur + physical and mental exhaustion. NOW? 4th Year? ADAPTED I'd say. ➡ The schedule is still hectic, but I’ve found a rhythm. ➡ The journey, though exhausting, has taught me tons! All this pressure that broke me, SHAPED ME. (cringe ik, but TRUE!) I still can't believe only 5-6 months of campus life are left, and I'd give anything to relive them again! The dual degree question? Stopped asking that a long time ago! The toughest and most unexpected decisions, lead to the best of times? #BITSPILANI #DualDegree #StudentLife #BITSGoa #CollegeJourney #TimeManagement #SundayStories #BITSAT #EngineeringLife

#HappyTeachersDay BITS Pilani WILP alumni share how BITS Pilani faculty made their return to academics smooth and impactful, and how their guidance helped them apply their learning to real-world challenges. Have a special memory or message for a favourite teacher? Drop it in the comments below! Nikhila Sindhe Manasa S A Anand Jha #BITSPilani #BITSPilaniWILP #WorkIntegratedLearning #BITSWILP #shapingpathfinders #education #workingprofessionals #TeachersDay2024

BITS Pilani's 0% attendance policy created 15 Unicorns and 7,500+ CEOs? The policy proved to be successful because of a strong evaluation system, continuous assessment, and quality of teaching. #Education #ContinuousAssessment #BITSPilani

Gratitude on Guru Purnima Today, on this auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to one of the most motivating professors I have met on campus, Professor Arnab K. Paul . I remember when I first joined his C programming class, expecting it to be similar to many other online courses. However, as I started attending his lectures, I was amazed by his deep understanding of computers, particularly systems. His teaching method, which explored the subject in great depth, was truly inspiring. The fact that so many students attended his lectures despite a 0% attendance policy speaks volumes about his engaging teaching style. Not only is he an exceptional educator, but he is also incredibly encouraging, always addressing even the simplest questions with patience. He often stayed back after class to assist us, inviting us to his office for any problems, much like an elder brother. I once inquired why he left his high-paying job in the US to teach us, and he imparted another valuable lesson: **love what you do**. His passion for teaching is evident, even when we bombard him with questions. I look forward to more interactions with him during my time on campus. He is a guiding light and like an elder brother. Professors like him are the backbone of esteemed institutions such as BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, ensuring their enduring excellence. Thank you, sir. To conclude, I would like to quote Saint Kabir: "Guru Gobind dou khade, kake lagun paay, Balihari guru apne, Govind diyo batay." #GuruPurnima #Gratitude #ThankYou #Teaching #Inspiration #BITSPilaniKKBIRLAGOACAMPUS

In my five years at BITS, I learned; • To say – I don't know When I first came to BITS, I recognized something fundamental had changed about my classroom interactions In contrast to my years at school, where no question was left unanswered, my professors here didn't seem to have answers to all of my questions What had changed was my teachers no longer professed beyond their circle of competence. They were painfully aware of their own ignorance and were full with intellectual humility I learned that it's of great utility to remind ourselves every single day that we don’t know anything like enough yet • To not settle for answers that aren't answers at all Learning about the world around us is often a painfully slow process. It entails a lot of hard work, time, and patience. When faced with a profound hole in our understanding there's often a very prolific tendency to fill the void with unsubstantiated postulations A conspiracy theory seems better than no theory at all, and pseudoscience seems better than unfinished science. Our need for cognitive closure is so high that any answer is preferable to confusion and ambiguity My mentors taught me to resist the temptation of accepting non-answers • To have a voice While intellectual honesty demands that we reject pseudo explanations, moral courage demands that we call out those who pretend to know that which we don't know When I first started looking into what it is that informs my beliefs, I realized a large part of it was cultural conditioning and very little of it, critical thinking. BITS exposed me to ideas very distinct from my own A few good ones and a lot of crazy ones too. I was part of two associations, what I would now identify as cults, in my freshman year. I did find my way out, but the recognition that there were so many like me who did not and have not, filled me with an urgency to not let false ideas remain unchallenged I learned to be vocal against superstition and dogmatism • Responsibility of freedom Freedom to attend classes or to skip them, freedom to choose my interests and my subjects, freedom to invest/waste my time in any manner I pleased I was at a place where I could get what I wanted. I was paralyzed with choices. I studied science, engineering, finance, literature, and philosophy on this campus Most most importantly, I learned to take responsibility for my actions. I learned freedom without responsibility is wasteful, and life without responsibility is meaningless • To listen I recall chatting up with my political theory professor after one of my classes, when he unexpectedly asked me, ‘what is the greatest danger that humanity faces today?’ Here was a well read, well traveled Oxford graduate asking a twenty something full of ignorance, biases, and flawed thinking, a civilizational question, genuinely interested in my answer as if I had something worthy to say on the subject If he can be that kind of a person, so can I. #BITSPilani - It's Magic!

 Step into real-world problem-solving. With BITS Pilani WILP, work on live cases that challenge and redefine your learning. Let’s make it happen! #BITSPilaniWILP #Countdown #ShapingPathfinders #workingprofessionals

Gain relevant and #renewed skills, and unlock your true potential with BITS Pilani Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP), without taking any career break. #Admissions are closing for our programmes on June 17, 2024. #ApplyNow!  Click on the link to know more - https://lnkd.in/g_mJJAVY #BITSPilani #BITSPilaniWILP #WorkIntegratedLearning #ShapingPathfinders #ContinuingEducation #SkillsDevelopment #CareerGrowth #countdown