Today we have with us Nirmalya who has worked and experienced at 13 (Yes!! 13) different places. In this interview we share four of them –
- Campus Ambassador at Tallenge – Earth’s Largest Online Platform
(Tallenge in short)
- Climate Counsellor for Green Revolution Project – an initiative of International Centre for Culture and Education (ICCE) in association with NASA, World Bank, UNESCO and various other government and non-government organisations.
(GRP in short)
- Campus Ambassador for Technex ’15 at IIT (BHU) Varanasi
(IIT BHU in short)
- Campus Ambassador for Tryst ’15 at IIT Delhi
(IIT D, in short)
Let’s get down to the interview . . .
IF: Please tell us about yourself. About your education. Your hobbies and likes.
Nirmalya: I like to call myself an artist, with a well defined blossom of creativity and conscience protruding out from a long lineage of commoners, like a gorgeous fragrant flower on an age old, big cactus plant. Behind me, I have the outstanding expertise and experience on a wide variety of projects and initiatives which helped me to widen my views and knowledge. I am currently a final year student in KIIT University and among the best achievers in the same. My hobbies are a few, they involve learning about the latest technologies in the air of advancement we have around us, playing chess and also I like to meet new people and share beliefs, views, ideas and knowledge.
IF: Give us details about your internship – process of application, stipend, duration and place?
Nirmalya:
Tallenge –
It was a virtual internship offered by Tallenge Bangalore. Tallenge – Earth’s largest online platform was looking for ambassadors to extend their outreach and recognize talented individuals from across the country. I had filled up the online application for this internship which involved asking a range of questions aimed to gauge the individual’s dedication, interest, motivation, zeal and ingenuity to perform and act for the cause. Post selection, I had to organise Tallenge – KIIT Campus Star, an online event aimed to recognise the most talented individual student at KIIT University. Throughout the period contestants uploaded their entries on the website and people from all over the world were eligible to view, appreciate and vote for the contestants. The person with the most votes was declared winner at the end of the competition. It was a paid internship and I received a handsome stipend at the end of the same.
GRP-
Green Revolution is an initiative to educate, inspire and act on the mitigation and adaptation methods of climate changes. It is accomplished through various activities such as certification programmes, campaigns and workshops for general public, corporates and students in particular, with a huge success. Different phases of Green Revolution keep taking place throughout the year involving participants at large. I had been a participant in Green Revolution Phase 2 and for my outstanding performance at the same, I was honoured at the “College Topper” from KIIT University. Thereafter, I got the opportunity to organise i.e Green Revolution Phase 3 at my University. It continued for a period of 5 months involving enormous participation and appreciations from all departments. It was a paid internship and I received a good stipend at the end of the same.
IIT BHU-
Technex – the official techfest of IIT (BHU) Varanasi was looking for individuals who can be flag bearers of their institution and can spread the name and fame of their fest to all corners of the country. The selection process was a multistep process involving fine-tune screening of the applicants to choose the most deserving one. It was for a duration of 3-4 months and ended with the completion of one of the grandest techfests of the country – Technex ’15. As the representative of Technex ’15, I had been operating from my University. Although it was an unpaid internship, I received attractive goodies at the end of the same.
IIT D–
Tryst – the official techfest of IIT Delhi was on the hunt for ambassadors to represent them in different parts of the country. Having applied and gone through the application process, I started my work of promoting and working on promotional strategies for the success of the techfest of IIT Delhi.
IF: How competitive was the selection process? According to you, which qualities have helped you have an edge in the selection process? Also, what were the key things that selectors were looking for?
Nirmalya:
Tallenge –
The selection process involved an online questionnaire session and then a telephonic interview with Tallenge Bangalore. My sheer inquisitiveness to learn, develop and grow, along with my past experiences in similar experiences in this field helped me to get the edge over other candidates and get selected to host Tallenge – KIIT Campus Star.
GRP-
To be frank, the selection process was highly boosted by the fact that I was the “College Topper” at the previous phase of the same. ICCE was looking for someone who could organise the next phase of Green Revolution and make it a grand success, my skills and expertise were a perfect match for the same and hence I got the opportunity.
IIT BHU-
The selection process was quite competitive. It had a series of steps to choose the best one. The fact that I wanted to learn and grow in cohesion with my sheer dedication and interest to work for the same, helped me get the edge over others.
IIT D–
IIT Delhi being one of the most reputed and well known institutions of the country was keen on working with the best and to be selected, I had to prove myself as the best during the selection process.
IF: The best part of the experience? The things that brought you the best memories and moments?
Nirmalya:
Tallenge –
There were many wonderful experiences during this internship. To see the outstanding number of participants in the first ever talent competition staged by Tallenge in this state was really overwhelming. However, most notable was when Ms Sasha Hayden from Tallenge USA, had specially praised the success of the competition.
GRP-
The best part of the experience was when I received special appreciation from Mr Jacob Shetty, Director at International Centre for Culture and Education (ICCE) for making the program a grand success at KIIT University.
IIT BHU-
There were two instances which are still etched in my memory. The first being, after working day in and day out for the same, when I ended up at IIT (BHU) Varanasi at their techfest, the entire team of Technex ’15 from IIT (BHU) Varanasi greeted me and praised me for my excellent contributions. Equally overwhelming was the moment when I was presented with the “Best Ambassador” award for my outstanding performances and bringing the record number of people from an external institution at their techfest. It was the first time that such a number of participants had appeared from any institution over the 75 years of their fest history.
IIT D–
The most memorable moment was to see the vast success of the techfest and seeing my contributions count. Not only did I receive the “Campus Ambassador” honour also my efforts were appreciated by the entire team.
IF: Now, the worst part? Things that made you sad? Which you believe could have been done a better way by the firm/organisation/college
Nirmalya:
Tallenge –
To be very honest, such a great competition didn’t at all make me sad at any point of time. In fact it helped me to learn a lot and expand my vision of knowledge and skills.
GRP-
There were absolutely no factors that made me disappointed. The augustness of the program and its great aim and objective was really awe-inspiring.
IIT BHU-
There wasn’t any moment that made me sad. It was outstanding in each aspect.
IIT D–
To work for an initiative of IIT Delhi was more than any reason to make me elated always. There was no aspect which made me think in the negative.
IF: How do you think this internship has helped you grow? In other words, what are your key takeaways from the internship?
Nirmalya: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is an well-known saying. But today the situation is such with academic pressure and other stresses in our lives that the promising cultivable minds of this generation are on the verge of becoming “Jack’s”, so on a personal note I feel that apart from involvement in academics proper involvement of the student in extra-curricular activities is utmost necessary for the overall development of the individual. These internships and experiences have not only helped me to acquire new skills and improve upon the existing ones but at the same time they have helped to developed and improve my interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Working on cross-cultural platforms, managing groups, taking leadership roles, marketing and pursuing my passion of being involved in activities by balancing my academics, helped me to learn a lot through these experiences.
IF: Lastly, do you have any words of advice or caution for students aspiring for this internship and reading this piece?
Nirmalya: Lastly I would like to say that these experiences were mine and although I would wish that everyone who learns about these experiences of mine, has the same or better memories, but it solely depends on the individual’s performance and abilities to prove himself/herself by being part of any team or working for any organisation. So irrespective of any organisation that you may work with, at the end of the day it’s not going to be how someone else felt by being a part of the same, but it’s going to be your performance, dedication, hard work, sincerity and commitment towards the allotted tasks that shall dictate your experiences. Finally I would also like to add that these experiences were shared just for the purpose of interview and not for advertisement. These experiences that I had could be different from yours and might not match for that I shall not be held responsible in any way at any time by any means. Also, I shall bear no rights of responsibility for any kinds of effects, experiences, memories, occurring or related happenings; that reading this interview may bring on the reader in the present or future.
We’d like to wish Nirmalya all the best for his future endeavors.
