TLS ALANKAR 2021

Alankar 2021

Alankar 2021

Alankar 2021

ALANKAR ‘21

The annual magazine of IIT Kharagpur

Technology Literary Society
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Alankar 2021

Alankar 2021

Dedicated to the Graduating Batch of 2021

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field.

I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,

the world is too full to talk about.”
- Rumi

Alankar 2021 03

CONTENTS

01

Editors’ Note From the Desk

pg 01 pg 08

02

Design Team

pg 07

Alankar 2021

05

Hall of Words

06pg 18
04

TLS’ Graduating
Batch

pg 46

Round the Year

pg 14

1 Alankar 2021

Editors’ Note

Hello Readers!
As every snowflake of the approaching winter is unique, so are we all in our own ways.
And with this Christmas season knocking our doors, we bid farewell to yet another batch
of brilliant and resilient young minds. These minds have left their impressions with us
and we will cherish them for years to come.
The past couple of years have been very trying for all of us, yet we all stand together
a little brighter than we left. After almost two years we can see things moving back to
normalcy and with this hope in our hearts we bring to our readers a joyous ride through
the literary arcade and a parting gift for our graduating seniors. May their lives ahead be
full of exuberance and escapades.
It has been our sincere effort to capture the essence of kgp to the best of our abilities. Yet,
to be able to bring life to the magnificence of kgp in mere words was one heck of a ride!
Keeping aside the plethora of emotions which all our hearts are experiencing right now
and cherishing all the good memories of this amazing journey, Technology Literary
Society presents before you this edition of Alankar.
Alankar 2021 is a collaborative effort of all the members of Technology Literary Society
and Technology Students’ GymKhana’s Journal Secretary Kshitija Bobade.
On behalf of the Editorial Board, we would like to thank all our contributors for their
efforts and hope that our readers continue to find this edition an ecstasy of curated
literature.

Regards
Aditi Sisodia
Umang Pandey

Alankar 2021 2

Design Team

Following another year of having stayed at home, the Design Team of TLS successfully
coordinated to come up with this edition of Alankar. The fact that we would be having an
offline convocation kept motivating us to give our best. We wish farewell to the graduating
batch and hope that you enjoy reading the magazine.

Apurav Tambe
Shalmali Sriram

Alankar 2021

“Isn’t it crazy how we can look back a year ago and realize
how much everything has changed? The amount of people
that have left your life, entered, and stayed. The memories you
won’t forget and the memories you wish you did. Everything.

It’s crazy how all that happened in just one year.”
- Unknown

Alankar 2021

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5 Alankar 2021

Director

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Another year goes by with the prospects of new beginnings. Though modern times were
tough, the institute will cherish your footfalls forever. As we bid farewell to another batch
of graduating students for the year 2021, I appreciate their cooperation and acceptance
by welcoming the new normal of digital education ardently. IIT Kharagpur takes pride
in their achievements and accomplishments and congratulates them on their journey of
success.
The Institute had witnessed its 66th Convocation in the virtual presence of Hon’ble
Shri Narendra Modi ji, Prime Minister of India who graced the occasion as the Chief
Guest. Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Govt. of India,
Shri Sanjay Dhotre Hon’ble Minister of State and Shri Amit Khare, Hon’ble Secretary,
Dept. of Higher Education, Govt. of India were the Guests of Honour. This year, in the
67th Convocation of IIT Kharagpur, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan ji will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Amidst the difficulties and inconvenience faced by the students, faculties, and
administration, it is indeed great to see the dedication and determination of the

Technology Students’ Gymkhana and the Technology Literary
Society to collate, prepare and publish the annual magazine of IIT
Kharagpur, Alankar 2021. With the amalgamation of all the events and
achievements of Gymkhana and the IIT community at large along with
soulful literary pieces from the students, I hope this journal brings out
the reminiscence of memorabilia that you have spent in this Institute
as a token of happiness. A souvenir to commemorate your memories
and impressions of your individuality, this journal will be a memento
to cherish your time in this Institute. This year is also historical for IIT
Kharagpur as its Career Development Centre has achieved a milestone
with 1500 plus Placement offers in 2021 which is yet another benchmark
for the Institute which would not have been possible without your
commitment, perseverance and determination.
I wish great success to Alankar and all your future endeavours. Rediscover
yourself every day. All the best. Once a KGPian, always a KGPian!

Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari

Alankar 2021 6

President, TSG

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

It is a matter of great pleasure for me to greet the readers of Alankar, and I hope that all
of you are doing well in these challenging times. The pandemic, which was perhaps one
of the most uncertain periods in all of our lives, was especially difficult for the graduating
batch of 2021, given that they had to part company with their cherished companions for
a significant portion of their college life. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to them, and
applaud their resilience for making it through this harrowing experience. Nevertheless,
with the situation improving rapidly, we are hopeful of a return to normalcy soon.
With new beginnings comes boundless new possibilities, and I sincerely hope that the
graduating students are able to excel in all their professional and personal endeavours in
the future.
This year, on Diwali, the students organized a Central Illumination with the theme
“Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, instead of the regular hall-specific Illus, to keep the spirit of
the event alive after it was suspended last year, and to showcase the unity of the students
in supporting and helping out each other in times of crisis.
Since its establishment, the Technology Students’ Gymkhana, IIT Kharagpur, has played
a vital role in encouraging and shaping the natural talents of the students in numerous
fields, including art, culture, sports, science, and technology. The platform and the varied
opportunities the TSG provides the students for exploring their interests plays a major
role in their development and enables them to become more confident and self-assured
individuals.
I commend the Technology Literary Society for bringing out this year’s edition of
Alankar, and the talented writers whose fine literary pieces have enriched the magazine.
I am sure that it will be cherished by the entire student community, and especially by the
Class of 2021.

Prof. Ajay K. Singh

7 Alankar 2021

Vice President, TSG

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

“We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each
other everywhere.” - Tim McGraw
The time has come for yet another batch of our KGP family to graduate and embark
upon the next chapter of their lives. It is a bittersweet moment for all of us to watch these
familiar faces leaving campus - however, we must remind ourselves that every end is a
new beginning. Life, after all, is a journey, and the memories we make along the way are
what matter most. There are our friends and beloved seniors among the graduating batch
with whom we have had the happiest and sweetest of times. The graduating batch of 2021
has given all of us wonderful memories to cherish, touched our hearts, and have sailed
through bad days and good days to make our college proud through their accolades and
triumphs.
I also take this opportunity to convey my warmest gratitude to all the students who held
various positions of responsibility and have served the institute in the best possible way
despite these trying times.

With much love and pride, I bid farewell to the graduating batch of 2021
and wish them all the best for the future. I hope they achieve all kinds of
success and happiness on their upcoming journeys!

Shivam Singh

Alankar 2021 8

General Secretaries (S&C), TSG

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

It has been our privilege and honor to serve this eminent institute as the Officiating
General Secretaries, Social & Cultural, Technology Students’ Gymkhana, IIT Kharagpur
for the academic session 2020-21. Given the circumstances, our tenure was a rather
unusual but nevertheless, an enriching experience, where we had the opportunity to
work as a team to promote social and cultural interests and activities - in the online
mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have not only gained memorable experiences
ourselves, but have hopefully helped the student community develop their skills and
interests as well. It has been delightful to see us all develop together and we are grateful
for being trusted with a voice to implement our ideas and work for the KGP community.
Over the course of our tenure, our team organized and coordinated activities that were
suitable and customized to the online mode. Despite the challenges faced due to the
pandemic, when online devices formed our primary connections to new and old friends,
the social & cultural societies leveraged online mediums to continue their activities. The
efficiency with which the students were able to pivot to an online mode of activities says
enough about the creativity and grit that students of our institute possess. Although
the tension and excitement associated with the General Championship and Inter IIT
Cultural Meet were missed due to the pandemic, we witnessed participation from
talented students in Open IIT events such as English and Hindi Elocution, Monologue,
Eastern and Western Vocals and more. Moreover, the Social and Cultural Mentorship
Program was conducted to bring together students with shared interests; and provide
opportunities to newer students to receive guidance from the more-experienced students
of our institute.
The Spring Fest team pulled off the 62nd edition of Spring Fest in completely virtual
mode, organising pronites and numerous events and competitions in the genres of
Music, Dance, Literary, Fine Arts, Fashion, Film Fest and Dramatics. While we couldn’t
have the students on campus, hopefully we were able to give them an essence of being
at KGP through virtual KGP locations and stalls. Spring Fest has always been about the
happiness, entertainment and ecstasy of the students who take part in it.
We hope to have done our institute’s revered legacy justice and pass on the baton
respectfully. It is with pleasure that we hand over this responsibility to the newly elected
General Secretaries, Social & Cultural, Technology Students’ Gymkhana and wish them
a successful tenure and hope they help our community reach great heights.

Abhishek Raj
Inakshi Kar

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Shreya

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INTER IIT TECH MEET 9.0

Inter IIT Tech Meet 9.0 was organized by IIT Guwahati from 26th to 28th March 2021.
Due to the current pandemic situation, all events were conducted in online mode,
making this the first-ever virtual Inter IIT Tech Meet. Contingents from 23 IITs took
part in the evaluating events, trying their hardest to work out solutions for the problem
statements. The theme of this year’s Tech Meet was “Paranoia and Possibilities’’. A total
of eleven events were conducted, including Drishtee’s Tech-led Innovation for Rural
Entrepreneurs, Bosch’s Traffic Sign Recognition, DRDO DGRE’S Vision-based Obstacle
Avoidance Drone Jaguar Landrover’s Damping Energy Harvesting, and ISRO’s Web-
based Visualization Tool for Astrosat Observations.
IIT Kharagpur’s 80 member contingent participated under the able leadership of Captain
Harsh Maheshwari and Vice-Captain Krishnam Kapoor. Mayank Priyadarshi, General
Secretary (Tech.), TSG, proved to be a constant support system and guide to the team.
We won Gold in a total of five events, namely Drishtee’s Tech-led Innovation for Rural
Entrepreneurs, ISRO’s Web-based Visualization Tool for Astrosat Observations, RuTAG’s
Agrobot Design Innovation Challenge, Bosch’s Electric Vehicle Simulation, and Saptang
Lab’s Security Network Hackathon. Of these five, one event belonged to the High Prep
category, three events belonged to the Mid Prep category while one event belonged to the
Low Prep category. In addition, KGP won Silver in one event and Bronze in two events.
The ardent efforts of our contingent throughout the contest landed us at third position,
maintaining our tradition of showing outstanding performance at the Inter IIT Tech
Meets. We finished with a total score of 2158 points, behind Bombay (2242 points) and
Kanpur (2407 points).

Alankar 2021 12

SPRING FEST 2021

SF has grown tremendously in the past years and has evolved to be one of the largest
college fests in Asia. This year saw the 62nd edition of this event, held from 19th to 21st
February 2021. SF 2021 was held completely online, owing to these trying times.
The occasion was an incredible success, and it drew more than 100,000 live watchers, which
was a tremendous achievement. In these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, SF
accomplished the goal of bringing smiles to the faces of innumerable students.
The theme for 2021 SF was ‘Majestic Melange: Diving into the true essence of Bharat’.
On the official website of Spring Fest, a virtual environment was specially designed for
hosting the fest online, there were several virtual theatres, a virtual lobby, interactive
games, and so on. The fest lived up to its theme, it was truly a magnificent mélange of
cultural events, enthusiasm, and entertainment.
As a symbol of exquisite cultural extravaganza, SF 2021 showcased panel discussions by
eminent personalities like Jeffrey Archer, and by actors like Kritika Avasthi and Anushka
Sharma. A noted Bollywood composer and singer Amaal Mallik performed in ProNites.
Nushrratt Bharuccha and Ray Proscia made guest appearances in SF Talkies. There
was also a Kavi Sammelan honoured by the presence of noted poets and various other
singing and music events by Indian and foreign artists. Other events such as the musical
performance by the band Indian Ocean, circus shows, and the jukebox were observed
during this year’s festivities. All in all, it was a scintillating fusion of all kinds of cultural
events, gathering enormous audiences for the same. It was a thumping success.

13 Alankar 2021

KSHITIJ 2021

Kshitij last year, despite being online, observed mass participation. Organizing an
event of such vast proportions was a herculean task, but the response received was
overwhelmingly positive. The 18th edition of Kshitij, which was held under the auspices
of UNESCO, UNICEF, SAYEN & CEE, Make In India, and Digital India, saw a new and
elevated level of passion to march forward as the flag bearer of its heritage in all aspects.
Beginning from 15th January 2021, Kshitij had a myriad of things to enjoy and witness;
be it from the Online Guest Lecture series where renowned people went professionally
candid, to competitions that kept one at the edge of their seats.

Online Guest Talk series manifested many talented and eminent personalities, such as
Pratik Gandhi (widely acclaimed for his role as Harshad Mehta in ‘Scam 1992’), Dr.
Rajagopala Chidambaram (Padma Vibhushan Awardee for his contributions in the
Pokhran Tests), Peter Jenni (Experimental Particle Physicist at CERN), A.S. Kiran Kumar
(Indian space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation)
to name a few.
The association of globally-reputed organizations like ACM, ASME, IMechE, IEEE,
Cloud4C, MSME, Map my India with our flagship events Overnite, Code-O-Soccer,
ICC 2021, Relic Hunter, Maths Olympiad, and Sandrover, etc., stood testimony to the
outstanding quality of participation in the fest, which witnessed some of the brightest
minds of their time compete amongst themselves to create wonders and reach new
pinnacles of excellence. There were also competitions like B-Plan and Indian Case Study
Challenge for Business enthusiasts, Anadigix for those passionate about Analogs and
Circuits, Managerial Olympiad, and Biomimicry that encompassed different approaches
to problem-solving and analysis.
The fun didn’t end here. Kshitij also organized various insightful workshops, such as
those of Deep Learning (supervised by Google Development Experts), Industrial Visit
2020-21 by Tata Projects, and riveting exhibitions (Mitra, the Humanoid Robot) added
cherry to the top.
It was a difficult task to organize and bring forth a fest of this magnitude, but in the end,
it was all worth it. It did give a memorable experience to carry along, for who knew one
could experience such ecstasy in a virtual environment.

Alankar 2021

Alankar 2021

“A group of old friends
Sitting around a fireplace;
Their warmth tops the fire’s.”
- Zezan Tam

Alankar 2021

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21 Alankar 2021

Missing Year

- Pankhuri Saxena

I didn’t know that it was the last time when I heard the echoes...
Of the tempo shouts near Netaji auditorium
Of the stories on rooftops under the cover of the night
Of mafia and connect with dew staining the clothes
Of the songs in hallways blasting away at 2 am
I didn’t know that it was the last time when I last saw the sights...
Of the diyas lighting up on Illumination
Of the road to Nalanda all decked up for pronite
Of the spring bloom in front of main building that was more beautiful after an
exam
Of the stars that appeared more clear inside TOAT
I didn’t know that it was the last time when I last inhaled the smells...
Of the mess and wondering who is due a treat
Of the musty books in the hall 6 of library
Of clear fresh air of 2.2 at 4 AM in the night
Of the grease while trying to fix a cycle’s chain
I didn’t know that it was the last time when I touched the surface...
Of the cold benches around 2.2
Of the hot cup of chai in TechM
Of the grass in Tata Sports Complex
Of the desks in Nalanda tracing the marks left behind

Alankar 2021 22

I didn’t know that it was the last time when I had the taste...
Of cheese parantha at HJB that came an hour after ordering
Of the shahi tukda in grand dinner that really seemed grand after the mess
Of the coffee at Nalanda’s Nescafe while stealing conversations between classes
Of tikka’s maggi that tasted better after a night out
I didn’t know that it was the last time when I last experienced the tiny struggles...
Of never finding an empty chair in library during April endsems
Of getting the piece of cake on someone’s birthday at Gymkhana
Of sneaking in the 8 AM class at 8:55 AM just for attendance
Of taking out the cycle at Nalanda without launching a domino effect
I didn’t know that it was the last time when the memories were made
A time to cherish, a time to remember
Before the plans were canceled and before goodbyes could be said
But maybe some goodbyes are meant to be left unsaid

23 Alankar 2021

Memories of 2.2

- Parth Paradkar

Walks on college roads have no obligation to occur at a ‘proper’ time of the day.
Their spontaneity owes itself to the comfort of the campus roads, which are
inseparable landmarks of the campus the students proudly call their second home.
If ever there was a road that could be buzzing with activity at 2 AM and deathly
quiet at 11 AM, it would be the beloved 2.2 of IIT Kharagpur. Visitors often look
and praise buildings- the main building with its stately proclamation of service
and patriotism, the massive library, Gymkhana, the classrooms in Nalanda, the
Netaji auditorium and look in awe at them for having stood through the years
shouldering the weight of some of India’s smartest. However, if you ask any student
studying here for his or her favorite place on campus, you are sure to be pointed
to somewhere along the loop of 2.2 kilometers that lies at the heart of the campus.
After decades of seeing convocations and inductions, fests and elections, protests
and celebrations, the 2.2 sprawls lazily in the campus. Its arms are forever open to
all students that set foot into IIT Kharagpur with dreams of glory in their eyes and
high hopes in their hearts.
A mere stroll through these hallowed roads is sure to evoke bittersweet memories
for most current and past students. Just a few steps in and one can’t help but
remember having walked the very same path at some time that seems like ages
ago. I wonder if the road and the places too are reminiscent of the people that
walked through. Perhaps they too are tinged by traces of the students’ footsteps.
Maybe the benches opposite MT and SN/IG halls still giggle at the impatience of
their residents’ dates. Abandoned cigarette stubs solemnly hold secrets exchanged
in the talk that ensued while they burnt up in smoke. Trees beside the footpath
sigh with the breeze if they happen to find the lingering warmth of a kiss stolen
beneath their rustling leaves. Maybe if one listened closely, somewhere along the
narrow ‘Pepsi Cut’, the echo of an out of tune chorus sung around a painstakingly
built campfire in SF can still be heard.
Something therapeutic and calming lies in loitering late at night around 2.2 with
friendly company, with no destination or purpose in mind. A casual invitation of
the form “Chal, ek 2.2 maarte hain” from a friend has undertones similar to that
of someone offering a drink and can rarely be resisted. Despite the sweltering heat
and bitter cold that plagues Kharagpur each year, this break from a monotonous
routine of endless classes and exhausting labs feels like a breath of fresh air. There
is no limit to the range of conversations that can happen amongst friends here.
From consoling words spoken with an arm around dejected shoulders to raucous
laughter at the most vulgar of jokes, from astrophysics to indie music, from heated

Alankar 2021 24

political discussions to campus gossip- anything and everything under the sky
can be overheard here. Somehow, somewhere these conversations and these times
slowly nurture the earnestness in the footsteps of a happily naive fresher into the
languid aloofness of a final year.
I was fond of walking 2.2s alone, at admittedly ungodly hours of the night. Now
I realise that it was a luxury to set out into the open on a whim, that too at some
time around 2 AM. After a glass of chai from the night canteen, I would put on a
black hoodie, nestle my palms comfortably in its warm pockets, and set out from
my hall aimlessly. There was comfort in being alone on the road, walking with the
hope of giving peace to tormented thoughts in solitude, freeing them in the silence
borrowed from the air or stifling them in the pounding metal in my earphones. I
would often see a familiar face or two on the way and smile and wave, maybe stop
for a chat if I was in the mood. Most had their hands full with their academics and
extracurriculars and what-not on campus and were on their way to their rooms
seeking sleep and rest, but no one would shy away from a smile and chat on 2.2.
Amidst scheduled video calls, messages and reactions to messages, I sorely feel the
dearth of this familiarity that chance offered.
In my last days on campus, before I left for home amidst the lockdown, the air
was painfully silent. The tar that once cradled the feet of souls brimming with
hope and passion and the sidewalk that comforted the anxious and restless ones
now lay littered with unswept flowers and leaves. The clock tower tolled with its
usual discipline, punctually calling into a forlorn emptiness with faint hope hidden
somewhere in its heart of turning gears and windings. In that desperate void lay a
thirst for the ring of bakar, intoxicated blabber and laughter.
After all this time at home, the lockdown has made me miss these walks and these
places the most. But maybe I just miss the people and having spent so much time
with them at these places has intertwined the places and people in my mind.
Until better days…

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27 Alankar 2021

I am lonely tonight

- Anjali Beniwal

At times I’m like a scared child. It is throbbing
When a monster chases me in my Maybe because of the thousand
dreams, colliding thoughts.
I rush for the light so hard Good or bad doesn’t matter,
And if I am unable to find it, Each is painful tonight.
I cry. The pain doesn’t feel bad.
My loneliness is following me It is welcomed tonight.
tonight. At least it is there to keep me
I want to escape this nightmare, company.
But I don’t know where to run. I look in the mirror.
I miss people. A total mess.
The nights that used to be sleepless The redness of my eyes tells me
because of them, to stop this madness,
are now sleepless because of their But I am still crying my eyes out
absence. in hopes of someone gently sliding a
I miss the warmth. thumb under them.
I need a hand that can hold me. The sound of a few suppressed sobs
I need an embrace in which I can Begins the journey of tears again
mould They stop, and they continue.
Never wanting to regain the I didn’t know I could cry with such
previous lonely shape of mine. enthusiasm,
Doesn’t matter if we are close or not, And for so long too.
Let me have your attention tonight. Let me not hold back tonight.
Even if you fake it, The smile is there just to cover what
I’ll still crave it is buried underneath.
Because being lonely feels like a I am good at pretending.
punishment tonight. I’ll pretend to be normal.
Sitting on this unmade bed, I promise to be strong from
Tears blur my vision. tomorrow.
Flowing down my eyes, leaving a I am just not that strong tonight.
trail behind. I am alone and sad tonight.
Are they hot or cold? Just let me cry tonight,
I want someone to answer me As I write this pain tonight.
tonight.
I need a shoulder to lean on tonight
Because my head feels heavy
Like someone is pounding it from
inside.

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29 Alankar 2021

I told the moon about you

- Sachin Jaiswal

I told the moon about you,
I told him about your hair,
the fragrance of which
leaves me mesmerized,
that reflects the
golden sunshine
I told him about your uneven teeth,
that shines when you smile
I told the moon about you
how beautiful you are
how strong you are
I told him about your innocence,
about your recklessness,
about your carefulness
I talked to the moon
And said you do not understand
why “the moon” is so romanticized
why the stars are often ignored,
that add beauty to the moon.
I told the moon about you,
how much I adore you
I read out the poem
that I’ve written about you
You know what?
The moon fell in love with you

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31 Alankar 2021

Red

- Aditi Sisodia

For so long the color pink has been assumed
to be the closest to femininity,
Closest to fairytales and fantasies.
Pink is impassive and calm.
But our stories are not mere fairytales,
Mistaken are those who fail to see our calm for what it is,
It is an uproar we hold beneath the composure.
Pink is too soft and timid to tell my tale,
It is the color red, bold enough to hold my sail.
Red is the colour of the scar from that evening of assault,
Red are the marks left from patriarchy in it’s reign,
Red are my blemishes and stretch marks,
Shamed as curses over my body.
Red is my heart, my soul.
It is the colour I stain,
It is the color of the blood that runs through my vein.
It is the color of my past.
Red is classy yet mysterious,
Like glasses of martinis and cocktails,
It’s intoxicating yet liberating,
It is exotic and courageous.
Red is the color of my femininity,
It represents my dignity.
It stands for my integrity,
It is the color that never turns pale.
It is dense enough, not to be overwritten,
Dense enough to not go into oblivion.
Red is the color of the lipstick I wear,
When I stand in the crowd that wants me to be unheard,
To be tamed.
I mock them, for their efforts in vain.
For I will not go silent once again,
I will not be blended even with their finest stroke,
For I am not the piece of their puzzle,
But the shatters and remains of a battle.

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It is the color red dense enough to hide all my grief and all my pain,
It shows the anger I let go,
It shows the struggle I withhold.
Isn’t it shocking how much a color can say?
Oh! but trust me red will tell you its tale.
Red is the color of my femininity.
Cause it has been stained over the ages,
And, yet it is not afraid.

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Rise

- Shreya Gupta

A face full of fascination for the world.
Immaculate and innocent,
Curious and carefree.
Finds delight
When she swings and swings and swings
A brain brimming with ideas and dreams.
Confident and keen,
Witty and vivacious.
Feels so alive!
When she swings and swings and swings
A mind marred with the day’s happenings.
Fear and fury
Dread and doubt.
Questions herself,
While she swings and swings and swings
A heart which is heavy yet wants to stay.
Scarred and suffocated,
Hollow and hurt. Decides to escape —
One last time, she swings and swings and swings
A body which does not belong where it is.
Realisation through retrospection,
Indignation upon introspection.
Why should she feel guilty?
She decides to return to her swing, and swing and swing
A soul which has finally found salvation.
Contentment and calm,
Justice and joy.
Feels proud, peaceful, powerful.
And she swings and swings and swings

35 Alankar 2021

May the grass be greener

- Nishita Singh

A place,
Where leaves change colour in autumn,
Where snow slides down a slanted roof
And carpets the front yard.
Where trees grow in cones
And summers are cold
— just enough for a full sleeved sweatshirt.
Where I can dye my hair
Bubblegum pink,
And cut it ridiculously short — maybe
Ear lengthed?
Where my boots can go
High up my knees.
Where the cafes are always open
And the streets smell like bagels.
Where thick coated cats
Wander the buildings
And the tops of these buildings
Overlook the entire city
And also the roads,
Which at night,
Look like threads of gold.
A place,
Where fathers are kind,
Where my love and I
Can live under the same roof;
And where my friend can wave
A rainbow flag.
In a few years, I hope I end up
Somewhere
That I can be myself,
And I hope you end up
Somewhere
That you can be yourself too.

Alankar 2021 36

37 Alankar 2021

Life

- Reva Rasane

When I was fifteen, I saw a dream
Of reaching a place of learning, so supreme
Of making a life for myself and holding a position in society, so esteemed
But I was fifteen, I was naive and it was just a dream.
When I was twenty-five, I lived the best part of my life
I had acquired talents and friends, I had thrived
I had achieved that dream after all , I had survived
And for an elite future, I was ready to strive;
I had a steady life when I was twenty-five.
When I was thirty-five, I was too tired to aspire
I had wealth and fame, but no desire
Perhaps, I needed someone else I could inspire
And so I sought after a family I would always admire,
I was thirty-five, yet when it came to this, I felt clueless and juvenile.
When I was forty-five , I was happy
I was surrounded with the warmth of family
With young ambitions and love
And so I became fifty-five,
Now my kids worked endlessly to survive
And my partner and I stayed by their side,
Reminiscing our own fleeting lives.
Now I am sixty-five, I am older and wiser
To the appreciation of smaller things in life, I retire
I reflect on my youth, the lost friendships,
I miss the passions in me that burned like fire ;
How silly it seems that I was searching for a purpose a few years prior,
When it was life itself that is to be admired.
When I’m seventy-five and disappearing
I wonder which memories will keep me going;
Will they be the ones of my own youth, a flash of excited faces, affectionate and
approving ,
Or will they be those of my other youth-
The one I spent remembering similar faces and agonising over lost memories?

Alankar 2021 38

Retreat

- Archisman Ghosh

These paths meandering into nowhere
Combat the busy metropolitan roads
Serve to relieve the torments of the world,
Often concealed in the uproar of life…

The many constellations glowing aloft
Can far outshine the city lights,
If only were given substantial time
And not so drowned by artificiality!

Where does our existence lead us to!
Respite in some faraway universe
Setting our troubled souls to rest
Giving us a reason to live, not just exist…

Little time to render to the virtues
Lost in the general chaos of survival;
Running behind means to sustain life
What is left to sustain but a living dead!

Trees leading to the forbidden tops
Rooted to reality beneath but aiming high,
Alternating the worlds of truth and fantasy
Flickering the screen of difference!

Take a leave of the earthly constraints
Breathe in gusts of the liberated air
Feel the full force of life and embrace;
Let the perennial wounds heal somewhat!

39 Alankar 2021

Eternal Love

- Harshita Hariharan

A story that advises men to remain calm in
chaos.
To remain tranquil in trouble.
And to find light in darkness.
A story that none can command the time
cycle.
That which pushes men through both delight
and denial.
A story of the reunion of long-lost memories.
The tale of Nala and Damayanti.
Just as a fine strand links and occupies two
empty holes
A gentle swan binds and satisfies the desire
of two isolated souls.
Describing his and her charms to spark off a
passion for love
A trustworthy messenger, did our feathered
friend take the role of.
Adorned by golden plumes, the swan glided
across vast lands.
Over mighty mountains and deep oceans.
Intertwined the fate of two independent
individuals.
Did the ambassador of love.

Alankar 2021

This is a special entry by Bhaskar
Sahu, 16PH20006, Department Of
Physics, graduating this year with

the batch of 2021

41 Alankar 2021

Left turn to right Days

- Bhaskar Sahu

I thought for a while, then I finally
asked the shopkeeper to give me that
extra fruit juice bottle, the market
was closing, and I was hurrying to
get something to eat. At my college,
the market has a closing time of 10
PM, and I almost reached to buy
something to eat. On my way back
to the room, I felt a little cold, which
increased my hunger. So I started
eating while walking. I pulled out
my earphone and started listening
to music, and the rhythm began to
match with my walking pace.

The song I was listening to was a long old Hindi one, “Yeh Dosti by Kishore Kumar”.
I realized that many days had passed since we had a liquor party. We should have
one now. Those parties in which we get so drunk that literally one has to put us
on our respective beds to sleep. I knew that the liquor store would be closed by
now, but we can plan it for tomorrow. Will others be ready for tomorrow, was still
a question.

I thought of going to Nishant first, “the guruji”,
which I knew would be all-time ready for this
being a true bhakt of shiva. The proper chain
was to be followed because many of us could
have classes or assignments the next day. I
have to convince one by one by insisting or
giving random “fundae”. Once Nishant is in,
next would be Shubham, who of course, does
not need to be convinced, moreover will help
in convincing others. Also he would most
probably be going through a breakup and
this will cheer him up. Then Vipra comes
next, who has the potential to provide the
fund for this party.

Alankar 2021 42

Next in line would be Ritesh, who will probably be watching something on youtube.
At first, he will deny it, but we know it’s just the “Hathi ke Daant Dikhane k aur or
Khane k kuch aur”, and his friction won’t last. Sihag(surname) has no first name
as far as we know, someone who is always smelling the air for alcohol like a hyena
would probably be playing basketball somewhere. That would leave Gurdeep, an
organizer of a cultural festival, occasionally drinks with his team. So he will be
okay with this. Rest of the people, Arpit, Rishabh, Cristopher the non-alcoholic
part of our group. They don’t need an invitation as there will be plenty of coke and
chips and ‘Bisleri’ water if they need it.
All was set in my mind. The hostel was within walking distance of the market. As I
reached the front gate, the security guard suddenly stopped me and said, “Aur dada
Yha kb Aaye”. And it suddenly came to my senses, I was going to the guest house
from the market. The hostel and the guest house both are walking distance from
the market, and I turned left instead of right and instinctively reached my hostel
that we left a year ago. We are working in different cities, and I was visiting my
college for some document purposes. I talked for a while with the security guard,
from there I could see our old rooms occupied with different faces. Probably new
Ritesh, Nishant, Shubham, Vipra, Sihag, Gurdeep, Arpit, Rishabh, Cristo and me.

Alankar 2021

“ You and I will meet again, When we’re least expecting it, One
day in some far off place, I will recognize your face, I won’t say

goodbye my friend, For you and I will meet again.”
– Tom Petty

In the end. we would like to thank the graduating batch of TLS
for always being there for us, for shaping each one of us into

who we are today. We will always cherish their memories.
This is definitely not a goodbye!
Yash Shukla
Sourav Garg
Aditya Prakash
Rupak Kumar Thakur
Aprajeeta Jha
Ansuk Samal
Kushal Patankar
Pravesh Jain
Varun PD
Vidisha Bhate
Nikitasha
Yugesh Kumar
D Aditya Acharya