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life in the hostels. Late night discussions. Long hours of study.
Self-governance. The fondest of memories revolve around the hostels.
But, after 40 years standing, the hostels are showing extreme wear
and tear. Rooms have deteriorated into crumbling shells, lavatories are
intolerable, lounges are empty dirty spaces, landscape and building
appearance is decrepit, and there are no health and safety standards
to protect food service workers and students who have to eat in
substandard conditions.
Alumni and faculty recognize that renovating hostels is urgently
needed, plus, IIT expects to add 1,000 students in the next few years,
placing even greater strain on the hostels.
As a result, alumni have contributed to renovation of the common
area of Hostels 4, 7, 8 and 10. This leaves seven hostels untouched,
but even the recent renovation has only affected only the food
preparation, service and storage areas, dining areas and lounges.
Student rooms have been untouched by renovation, with the exception
of providing each hostel room with a network connection. In addition
to the partial renovation, Nandan Nilekani (EE ‘78) has donated funding
for a new hostel. Once completed, Hostels 12 and 13 will house 1,
072 students and be located along the shoreline of Powai Lake.
Poor living conditions for students has had a drastic affect on
IITB’s ability to attract top graduate students, in particular
students from outside India, which in turn has affected both
research and instruction at IITB.
Full renovation of existing hostels, including student rooms,
and addition of new rooms and new hostels are absolute requirements
for IITB to grow and meet world-class standards.
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