With freshers struggling to cope up with academics in the first semester, for the first time in over a decade the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, (IIT-M) has postponed Shaastra, its annual technical extravaganza to January 5 every year, as against October.
Speaking to DC on Friday, Prof. L.S. Ganesh, dean (students), IIT Madras said first year students faced problems to cope up with the new atmosphere in the institute and curriculum and so their performance in the exams were not as expected.
“We (institute administration) had a meeting with student representatives in the student affairs council (SAC) and after a detailed discussion we decided to conduct both Shaastra and Saarang in January before Pongal every year so that students can prepare for first semester exam”, he said.
IIT-M’s senate ratified SAC’s decision during its meeting held in April this year.
Pointing out that students had mixed reactions to the institute’s proposal, Prof. Ganesh said they understood the need for education combined with co-curricular activities.
Shaastra will take place between January 5 and 8, next year. Saarang takes place during last week of January but this time it has been shifted to January 9.