Shaastra, the IIT Madras technical festival, is like the ultimate cutting-edge electromagnet. Once activated on the 30th of September, it will continue to attract iron-minded students and test the steeliest of resolves till the 4th of October. The electricity which pulls the masses come Shaastra is the abundance of events which challenge and charm, instigate and invigorate. The solid iron core is however the backbone of electromagnets, set up by a dedicated team of students whose sole aim is to make Shaastra the most enthralling and wide-reaching technical festival in India.

Plans have been drawn this year to make this magnet ever more powerful. Often touted as the King of the Tech fests – South of the Vindhyas, this Shaastra the External Publicity team is leaving no section of India uncovered. A quick word on this team. They’re the guys and gals who visit the colleges and universities of India dispensing the festival’s glamorous CV and numerous future undertakings to budding engineers and technocrats. They are the faces of Shaastra, revealing luscious lips and gorgeous eyes, enough to arouse but leaving you wanting more. Read more

My first Shaastra was as an eager school student who had just been aggressively inducted into the magical world of those that are enchanted by the whole ‘IIT ‘deal. Though its hold over me was weak compared to thousands across the country it was admittedly present. Having gotten over being plucked out of my ‘party’ school and being enrolled in more ‘suitable’ school and additional classes, I had, albeit slightly, gotten sucked in. It wasn’t a bad thing mind you. I don’t regret it. Well maybe a little sometimes. From somebody who thought IIT was just ‘that big college in between the Cancer Institute and Guindy National Park’ I had gone to somebody who would be quite pleased to be there. So accompanied by a few friends who were under the spell and encouraged by my eager parents I made the trip to Shaastra 06.

I had experienced a college technical fest before, having been among the large group forcibly made to attend “XYZ 09 Junior”, which was exclusively meant for high school students (Junior? Really?). Then I saw Shaastra. Though my overall view of the entire process of Shaastra Read more