My IIT and the IIM

The other day the MD of my desk introduced me as a graduate of IIT and not as an IIM student. I was vaguely pleased. Since then, I have confirmed my hypothesis that there is more awareness about the IITs than about the IIMs. ( This one gentleman on the trading floor, upon being informed that I am from an IIT commented "The one that is better than the MIT!!" Anyway, as I said, I am vaguely and childishly pleased whenever the superiority of the IIT brand over the IIM brand is affirmed. And this has made me wonder why ? Perhaps, because IIT was the result of a youthful dream of "being someone" and not of the mercenary motivation of "being rich" , perhaps because IIT gave me my first identity, perhaps because IIT is where I met some of the most intelligent kids I have met (and I cannot say the same of the IIM). I do not know why but IIT has become a part of me while I look at IIMB from the outside as a detached observer. Perhaps, IIT has the lifelong charm that one's first love has for one. Or, perhaps, I resent the hype that the coverage that the IIMs attract becaus of their placements . It is like IIT Kharagpur is my poor, unsung family and IIM Bangalore the rich family that "I have adopted".I sincerely hope that by the time I pass out I start loving IIM Bangalore more. For I sincerely believe that It has give me much - as much, if not more, than IIT Kharagpur.