Hard work shall lead to enlightenment

To many high school students in India, the IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) are a sure path to enlightenment. I am not sure what the mottos of the other 6 IITs are, but that of IIT Madras does the task of both advising aspirants and exhorting its students. The Sanskrit phrase Siddhirbhavathi karmaja, taken from the Bhagavad Gita is a motto shared by both the IIT Madras and the MNNIT, Allahabad and translates as the title to this post.

Getting into the MNNIT is a breeze compared to the competition for seats at the IIT. The 'Caution' sign at the entrance to IIT Madras (at left, near the institute's logo) seems to warn off any pretenders. Still, I try to go in every chance I get; there is surely no other campus in Chennai that has a 'Deer Crossing' sign posted right at the entrance. And there are only very few others that have the lush greenery that covers most of the campus of IIT Madras. I do envy its students and alumni!