2014 – A Look Back

Countless

- Words, paragraphs and pages read

- Money saving tips and tricks shared

- Contracts and bids made

- Colours and images observed

2014 has been a landmark year for us at the IIT Alumni Center. Two of our popular events – the Open Pairs bridge tournament and the Women only Workshop – were launched. PALS returned for another enlightening year of industry education enhancement. Bibliothek, our official book club, turned two.

Let’s take a look back at the exciting year that’s gone by.

The Year of the Bookworm

It was a very busy year for members of Bibliothek, the official book club of the IIT Alumni Center. From reading an intellectual murder mystery set in the 14th century to experiencing Santiago’s quest in catching the giant marlin, members read a range of books from timeless literature to contemporary fiction. 

Some of the books read include: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Poems of Love and War by A K Ramanujam and 14 Stories That Inspired Satyajit Ray by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay. Bibliothek invited Timeri Murari, to read from his new book, The Taliban Cricket Club.

Earlier this year, Bibliothek held Super Saturday to celebrate its second anniversary. The day which began with a book fair, also had a fun quiz for the grown-ups.

Poems of Love and War by A K Ramanujam

A Taste of Fine Arts

Impressions, the art club of the IIT Alumni Center celebrated Women's Day with an art and sculpture exhibition. Held at the Club in the City, the exhibition featured the works of Thara Ganesan, Kamla Ravikumar and Isaiarasi. The central theme for the exhibition was yoga and meditation. Earlier this year, Impressions hosted an interactive workshop on jazz music which was conducted by renowned jazz musician, Madhav Chari. 

De-stress 101

The IIT Alumni Center invited Murli Menon, author and ZeNLP coach to share several simple and effective stress management techniques. The Center also hosted a revitalizing session on Tai Chi and Qigong, conducted by Tai Chi master, Ranga Rao. 

Author and ZeNLP coach, Murli Menon gave a seminar on stress management

Call. Bid. Respond. Declare

A regular feature, the Open Pairs bridge tournament is a widely participated event which has been recognized by the Chennai Bridge Association and included in the City Bridge Calendar. The tournament takes place in the trendy indoors and the serene outdoors. Winners and runners-up are awarded with cash prizes.

Celebrating the Spirit of Childhood

One of 2014’s most anticipated club events was Children’s Day, which was celebrated with great delight and joy at the Club in the City. The day saw a range of fun activities and games from chess to slow cycling, drawing competitions and origami workshops.

Children's Day was celebrated with a range of fun activities including a drawing competition

Personal Finance Workshops
On April 9th, 2014, the IIT Alumni Center played host to the first of many Women only Workshops. Themed on personal finance, WoW continues to see enthusiastic participation and is conducted by member Renu Maheshwari, who is a SEBI-registered financial advisor. The two-hour coaching session explores the world of finance and on money behavioural analysis.

Enhancing Engineering Education

The Pan-IIT Alumni Series, popularly known as PALS turned 4 in 2014. From industry visits to department visits, from campus lectures to education seminars, PALS-4 showcased important changes in today’s engineering education and industry.

PALS-4 conducted a seminar discussing various education enhancement programs

...And the Future

2015, much like its predecessor, will be an active year for the members of the IIT Alumni Center. There are more lessons on saving wisely, more engrossing books to read, more mind-boggling bridge to be played, and more quality time to spend with your buddies.

The Center’s second venue, the Hub in the Sky will also open in 2015. Located at the prestigious IIT Madras Research Park, the Hub will offer more elite facilities such as a billiards room, squash court, stylish work spaces and conference rooms, etc. 

Contemporary Turkish playwright and novelist, Mehmet Murat ildan once quipped "New Year's most glorious light is sweet hope.” We at the IIT Alumni Center are looking to leave the light on throughout 2015.

And on that note, we wish you all a happy and optimistic New Year!

Women only Workshop

A brief history of women in the 20th century

Virginia Woolf has often been misquoted for writing “for most of history, anonymous is a woman.” which gave birth to a lot of “what if?” sentiments. 

“What if women could rule countries?”

“What if women could climb mountains and cross oceans?”

These thoughts not only saw the growth of feminist writers, but also broke the stereotype that women were big spenders. At the turn of the century, women across the world had become more self-assured about the concept of money, especially in India, where women generally manage their family’s finances.

Women only Workshop - Focusing on the world of personal finances

Keeping up with its commitment towards women empowerment, the IIT Alumni Center launched the Women only Workshop which offers women a great opportunity to understand the world of personal finances. 

A two-hour coaching session, Women only Workshop (WoW) deals with financial planning and implementation. The first session was held on April 9, 2014 and was conducted by Ms. Renu Maheshwari.  The session explored the world of finance and it was found to be very useful by both the members and the corporate guests. It dealt with Planning and implementation of finance, risk profiling and money behaviour analysis. The workshop also provided guidance on how to achieve a life of indulgence and liberty. Held every month at the Club in the City, Abhiramapuram, Chennai, the workshop has completed six sessions.

Women only Workshops explore the world of finance

Guests and speakers

Ms. Renu Maheshwari who conducts the workshop is a SEBI registered Investment Adviser and practices financial planning and portfolio management. With over two decades of experience, Ms. Maheshwari excels in coaching, consulting and advising clients on personal financing. In 2012, she co-founded Finscholarz to provide holistic consulting services.

Renu Maheshwari presiding over a session of the Women only Workshop

Most sessions are presided over by personalities from distinguished backgrounds. Notable chief guests include angel investor and management advisor, Ms. Padma Chandrasekaran, and executive coach, Ms. Rajani Seshadri, who helps leaders in Tata Consultancy Services, hone their strengths and overcome limits, to achieve personal and professional success.

A workshop for members and guests

Women only Workshop has seen large and enthusiastic participation. Invitations are sent to key corporate companies across Chennai to nominate accomplished women from their companies to take part.

Participants at the event

Becoming a member of the IIT Alumni Center is simple:

Complete and submit the application form

Screening Committee will meet to consider the application and you will be notified immediately. (The entire process typically takes around 3 weeks) 

Once selected, you can pay the fees to complete your registration and start experiencing the elite services offered by the IIT Alumni Center.

Are you an IIT alumnus? 

Click here to connect with us, find your old friends and make new ones at the IIT AlumniCenter, click here to know more about the different membership plans and fees.

Membership Privileges at the IIT Alumni Center

A place to reconnect

“Old friends, sat on their park bench like bookends

Can you imagine us years from today?

Sharing a park bench quietly”

-- Paul Simon

The IIT Alumni Center makes for a great place to reconnect with old friends, rekindle back bench conversations, relive old memories and now that we have arrived, lend a hand in advancing the world we live in – all amidst the most serene neighbourhoods of Chennai.

The Center aims to create a vibrant and diverse community that promotes interaction between the alumni and faculty of various IITs, as well as between the alumni, faculty and industry. The Center currently has two venues in Chennai – the Club in the City at Abhiramapuram and the upcoming Hub in the Sky at the IIT Madras Research Park.

A place to loosen your tie

At the IIT Alumni Center, you will find a lot of ways to unwind. You can read a book in unperturbed silence at our well-stocked library or play a game of chess with a friend. The Center also hosts a range of activities that include art exhibitions, music appreciation, book clubs, bridge tournaments and seminars to name a few.

Click here to see all the latest happenings at the IIT Alumni Center.

Looking to keep your body in shape? The Center houses a well-equipped gym. From weight training to fitness, the Center offers a range of equipments with which you can stay fit. The Hub in the Sky will offer a spa, professionally built squash courts and a billiards room.

A place to play host in style

A tranquil urban space, the Center is an ideal spot for hosting private events – birthdays, batch get-togethers, family dinners and more. Add a touch of elegance to your board meetings, company seminars and conferences with our state-of-the-art conferencing facilities. Right from posh seating to a spread of support services including in-house catering, your meetings will feel complete at the IIT Alumni Center.

Looking for a bite to eat with a friend or family member? The Center offers you a range of culinary options right from the crispy dosas of Chennai to the sizzling kebabs of Chandigarh.

A place to feel at home

The Hub in the Sky will offer clean, concessional accommodation for outstation and NRI members whereas local members will get free accommodation based on their membership plan. Look forward to a warm and friendly staff that will help you with almost anything – from finding old friends to bringing you fresh towels. The Hub in the Sky will open in 2015.

Memberships open

That’s right! Memberships to the IIT Alumni Center are now open to alumni from the various IITs.

Are you an IIT alumnus?

Click here to connect with us and find your old friends.

Click here to know more about the different membership plans and fees.

Becoming a member of the IIT Alumni Center is really easy:

First, complete and submit the application form

Then, the Screening Committee will meet to consider the application and you will be notified immediately. The entire process typically takes around 3 weeks.

Once chosen you will need to pay the applicable entrance fee and annual fees to complete your registration and start experiencing the elite services offered by the IIT Alumni Center.

Hub in the Sky - A glance at the upcoming venue of the IITAlumni Center

An artist's impression of the IITM Research Park building which will also house the Hub in the sky

"Picture yourself in a boat on a river

With tangerine trees and marmalade skies"

-- The Beatles

The immortal opening lines of what is arguably one of the most famous and influential songs go hand-in-hand with what the Hub in the Sky seeks to offer you.

An oasis of calm in the city, the Hub is located at the prestigious IIT Madras Research Park which has been designed by renowned architect, Hafeez Contractor is scheduled to open in 2015.

A place to network

The Hub is more than just a social club. It’s a forum for close interaction between the IIT alumni, faculty, industry, researchers and entrepreneurs. Together, the facilities and events seek to provide opportunities to meet old friends, make new ones as well as contribute to education and industry in and around Chennai.

The Hub in the Sky will offer two floors of elite facilities and many exclusive services to the members of the IIT Alumni Center. These include:

Rooftop facilities 

Gather your friends and host an epic get-together at our atmospheric rooftop. It will also make for an ideal venue to host family and corporate parties. Besides, we will assist you with the preparations, making it a “walk in the park” for you.

Business Services

An office away from office, the Hub will offer you a wide range of business services including uninterrupted WiFi connectivity.

Fine Dining 

At our indoor fine dining restaurant, you will be treated to a delectable variety of dishes from around the world.

Residential Suites 

The Hub will also offer members the option to enjoy comfortable, concessional accommodation at our welcoming residential suites.

Conference facilities

Add more zing to your business meetings and conferences by hosting them at the Hub. You will be treated to best-in-class facilities at our well-equipped meeting rooms including elegant seating, overhead projection and dynamic audio system. Make your meetings complete with our in-house catering services.

Library

From 19th century classics to today’s contemporary reading, the library will offer a wide range of fiction and non-fiction material. What’s more? You can also take part in Bibliothek, the official book club of the IIT Alumni Center.

Health and fitness 

Looking to stay in shape? 

The Hub will house a well-equipped gym an invigorating spa for you to tone your body and relax your soul.

Sports and games

The Hub in the Sky houses two professionally built squash courts and a billiards room. Apart from these, the Hub will also offer a range of indoor games from Chess to Scrabble and more.

Lobby of the Hub in the Sky

Fine dining 

A suite at Hub in the Sky

Conference facility 

Spa at Hub in the Sky

The Gym

Billiards at Hub in the Sky

Memberships open

Becoming a member of the IIT Alumni Center is easy and we're here to guide you through the process. Membership is open to alumni and faculty from all the IITs across India.  To know more about membership benefits, types and acceptance process click here

To enquire about or apply for membership, click here

Happenings at the IIT Alumni Center

The mind is a tool that needs constant attention. This train of thought has been the subject of a vast number of debates and writings since the advent of the nineteenth century. Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin once quoted that "a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

At the IIT Alumni Center, we have our own set of tools to keep minds sharp. From monthly bridge games to interactive workshops, from book readings to art appreciation, there are a host of events that keep the vibrant community buzzing. 

Open Pairs Bridge Tournament

Informally referred to as the ‘mind sport’, the IIT Alumni Center conducts monthly bridge games at the 'Club in the City'. Since its inception, the Open Pairs Bridge Tournament has been one of the club’s widely participated events. The tournament is a regular monthly feature and is part of the official Chennai Bridge Calendar.  

The latest edition was held on the 6th of August, 2014 where Nirmal Kumar Jain and N. Periasamy finished as the top pair. Cash prizes will be distributed to the winners and runners-up in the next edition which will be held on the 3rd of September, 2014 at the 'Club in the City'.

Bibliothek 

Ralph Waldo Emerson once quoted that “some books leave us free and some books make us free.” The IIT Alumni Center’s very own book club, Bibliothek aims to free minds, one page at a time.

In July, Bibliothek members read and discussed Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in memoriam to the late author. Other books that have been discussed at Bibliothek include Ernest Hemingway's award-winning Old Man and the Sea, Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose and Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

Recently, Timeri Murari was invited to read from his new novel, The Taliban Cricket Club and interact with members. 

Women only Workshop

It’s a simple equation. Women + Words = Wonders

The Womens only Workshop (WoW) was launched to promote free thinking, self-dependence and several such ideologies among women. The Alumni Center invites corporates to nominate women from their organisations to join the discussion.

The third workshop was held in July and was themed on personal finance. Conducted by Renu Maheshwari, the session recorded the highest attendance for any session. 

WOW - Women Only Workshop, Club in the City

Impressions

Impressions, the art club of the IIT Alumni Center shines a light on the country’s contemporary and folk art through art shows and its signature ‘Arts and Culture’ series where members interact with popular artists. The art club was launched on 2nd October, 2013 with an art show featuring the works of Padmashri Dr. Thota Tharani.

Music Appreciation

The Center also treats its music lovers by inviting renowned musicians for workshops and sparkling conversations. Recently, the Center organized an evening of music appreciation at 'Club in the City' and invited Flute Maestro Bhaskaran, an IIT alumnus.

Members were also treated to a crash course in Jazz appreciation from renowned Indian jazz musician, Madhav Chari.

For club bookings, call us at (044) - 4553-4441 / 4553-4409
To enquire about or apply for membership, click here
Visit us: www.iitalumnicenter.org

Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center, Chennai

Connect. Engage. Give Back

Among many things, we know him famously as the Emperor who fiddled while Rome burned. But, it wasn't until Australian poet Geoffrey Lehmann translated Nero’s literary works that we found out that Nero was in fact, an Emperor with a vision.

In his poem, The New Academy, Nero quips “Education, not entertainment for the masses is the answer!” Similarly, in Notes for a New Civilization, he inked his vision of a modern society into our minds:

“We swim on lapis lazuli days,

and enjoy melons on a terrace

and hearing poetry and plays

our Pax Romana hangs, the white

plume of Mount Aetna over groves

by day, and a red fire at night.”

At the IIT Alumni Center, we share a vision that is no distant from Nero’s.

The Center seeks to connect alumni and faculty from the various IITs; engage in meaningful interactions; and contribute to education and the industry. ‘Club in the City’ located in Abhiramapuram, Chennai has been an ideal venue to accomplish this.

Club in the City

A place of tranquillity, ‘Club in the City’ hosts an extraordinary array of events – batch get-togethers, private events, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, etc. – and is also a perfect spot to relax with friends and family. Club in the City offers a host of world-class facilities listed below:

Dining

Savour a range of Indian and global delicacies at our stylish indoor restaurant. Feeling outdoorsy? Enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee and sink in the serenity of our outdoor café.

Dining, Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center, Chennai

Outdoor dining

Sports and fitness

Sweat it out at our well-equipped gym complete with a range of modern fitness equipments including treadmills, cycles, elliptical trainers and more. ‘Club in the City’ also organizes outdoor games such as cricket and tennis.

Gym, Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center

Library

If you think brains are sexier than brawn, we have a well-stocked library just for you. The library is also the meeting place for Bibliothek, the official book reading club of the IIT Alumni Center. Looking to spar with a friend? You can do it over a game of scrabble or chess.

Library, Club in the City

Conferencing

Make your office meetings classier with our state-of-the-art conferencing facilities. Our well-lit conference room features an overhead projector, elegant seating and a dynamic sound system. ‘Club in the City’ also offers catering services that make your meetings complete.

 View more pictures of Club in the City here.

Conference, Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center, Chennai

Memberships open!

For club bookings, call us at (044) - 4553-4441 / 4553-4409.

To enquire about or apply for membership, click here.

Visit us: www.iitalumnicenter.org

Existentialism in the Blogosphere

The Genesis of the IIT Alumni Center Blog

Jean-Paul Sartre in his essay Existentialism & Humanism harped on the now infamous thought: “existence precedes essence.” In the essay, Sartre explained that there is no 'essential' human nature, and that your nature or personality is what you choose it to be.

We are at least seventy years into the future since Sartre orated and wrote about existentialism. But, the thought is very much alive, although unseen.

If you’re wondering what existentialism has in connection to the blogosphere, here it is: much like human nature, even the nature of a blog is what we choose it to be. One may begin a food blog, and halfway through switch over to home keeping or even child care.

The IITAC Blog – this blog – is another informative venue of communication for the IIT Alumni Center, which serves as an ideal destination for active interaction between the IIT alumni, faculty, industry, researchers and entrepreneurs. The Center also makes for a perfect venue to host a range of events from batch get-togethers to private parties, business conferences, etc.

The blog will serve as a confluence of all club activities, attractions and more, be it educational or entertaining.

The IITAC Venues

Currently, the Center comprises of the City Club in Abhiramapuram and the upcoming Hub at the IIT Madras Research Park.

The IITAC encompasses a diverse member network and aims to develop a vibrant community that is committed to contributing to the development of educational institutes and industry in Chennai.

Memberships Open!

Membership is open to alumni and faculty from all the IITs, and by invitation to corporates and professionals from different walks of life.

For club bookings, call us at (044) - 4553-4441 / 4553-4409.

To enquire about or apply for membership, click here.

Visit us: www.iitalumnicenter.org