The Life and Times In MIT: Echoes of Yesteryears
3/30/2025Classes are in session, but you’re lost in thought, gazing out the window as the sky turns a soft, hazy grey. A question that has often crossed my mind is how the experiences of those before me have been shaped by something we share. Of how the markers of time seem to strike right through and mark an equation even amongst those who might not have ever met in person. From the long, unhurried conversations in a friend’s room to the fleeting moments—a photo here, 30-second video there—sent with a casual swipe. The memories at the campus were marked by slam books and photographic prints instead of tiny highlights on Instagram. Of every photo feeling a bit more personal and natural, or perhaps the entire experience that engulfed it. To see college as the constant in such an equation would be certain. And so, I find myself reflecting on the past—to turn back the hands of time to experience Manipal as it was ten years ago.
D-Block:
Ever wondered which hostel in all of MIT, was the one with the most hidden lore, the lair of the quirkiest individuals, the one about which the wildest conspiracies circulate, but not a soul knows what goes on in there?
That was the now non-existent D-BLOCK. D-BLOCK marks a strong legacy in the history of MIT Hostels, it was known for being the hostel which to get into, you needed to achieve a certain level of “exclusiveness” or in other words, it was the block you were demoted to.
With no perm time, and the air brimming with exuberance and a sense of community, it was paradise for MIT hostellers back in the day. And to take the block’s reputation to a whole other level, many sources claim that Satya Nadella(CEO, Microsoft), one of Manipal’s esteemed alumni, used to live there.
Student Plaza aka Kamath Circle:
Student Plaza Being Constructed, 2017
SP stands for different things for different people, to some a second home, to others- it's the best way to spend a laid-back afternoon surrounded by their friends as they chat away into the sunset, to many it's where they made their first friends in Manipal. SP has always been this magical place, swarmed with diverse individuals going about their day, and club members bustling around on publicity work.
Little did you know that SP had not been established circa 2014, the very same area was known by the name Kamath Circle. Mention the name Kamath Circle to any fourth year and they would fondly gush over the place and the memories they formed there over the years. Kamath Circle was purely meant for people to meet up and socialize, students along with faculty enjoyed this place. Unlike SP, which is a colosseum-styled arena, KC was just empty roads with a canteen and fruit shop by the side. Whether Kamath Circle or SP, over the years the place has still not lost its charm of bringing people together.
Technology through Time:
The convenience of technology has seemed to have made creativity inconvenient. As we scramble for prompts on ChatGPT, the handwritten papers, and group study sessions in crowded libraries are now a tradition of the past. One might reckon whether the tradeoff, marked by the ease of ordering lunch or being glued to our screens, has left us with a reason or two to miss the moments of casual conversation.
The pulse of campus life used to be marked by blogs. As opposed to the meme pages and confession accounts that have taken up the mantle of storytelling.The articles of the past that unfolded in long, thoughtful paragraphs now flash by in a scroll - a fitting metaphor for the evolution of our attention spans.
The ever-lasting constant of Manipal is perhaps SP being the north star for clubs to advertise and the time-honored tradition of going to DeeTee after exams.
Student Club Culture:
Clubs make up an integral part of any student’s college journey. Whether it be picking up a new hobby, or finding communities that share similar interests, clubs are the way to go. With time, club culture in MIT aged from having a handful of clubs to having a club for anything and everything one’s mind is capable of thinking up. With the lack of media back then, offline club promotions were ever more crucial. From using bulletin boards to offline promotions going on at every inch of the campus.
Student Project culture has drastically changed with the ability to use online meetings to conduct interviews and task phase activities. Back in the day, task phase tests were held physically with seniors monitoring your every step and no AI bot to come to the rescue.
Taken by Arvind Krishnan for MTTN, 2017
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind."
Former times in MIT’s history have marked its legacy even though the college undergoes inevitable change with every passing moment. Alumni who have walked the same corridors as many future students would, leaving their imprints on the college, for newer students to come and continue this cycle. A special bond is only shared by those of the past and the present as they traverse this fleeting 4-year journey called college.
Truly grateful to our senior and MIT alum, Neehal Sharma (Batch of 2022), whose invaluable insights helped us capture the essence of Manipal and all that it encompasses.
D-Block:
That was the now non-existent D-BLOCK. D-BLOCK marks a strong legacy in the history of MIT Hostels, it was known for being the hostel which to get into, you needed to achieve a certain level of “exclusiveness” or in other words, it was the block you were demoted to.
With no perm time, and the air brimming with exuberance and a sense of community, it was paradise for MIT hostellers back in the day. And to take the block’s reputation to a whole other level, many sources claim that Satya Nadella(CEO, Microsoft), one of Manipal’s esteemed alumni, used to live there.
Student Plaza aka Kamath Circle:
Student Plaza Being Constructed, 2017
SP stands for different things for different people, to some a second home, to others- it's the best way to spend a laid-back afternoon surrounded by their friends as they chat away into the sunset, to many it's where they made their first friends in Manipal. SP has always been this magical place, swarmed with diverse individuals going about their day, and club members bustling around on publicity work.
Little did you know that SP had not been established circa 2014, the very same area was known by the name Kamath Circle. Mention the name Kamath Circle to any fourth year and they would fondly gush over the place and the memories they formed there over the years. Kamath Circle was purely meant for people to meet up and socialize, students along with faculty enjoyed this place. Unlike SP, which is a colosseum-styled arena, KC was just empty roads with a canteen and fruit shop by the side. Whether Kamath Circle or SP, over the years the place has still not lost its charm of bringing people together.
Technology through Time:
The pulse of campus life used to be marked by blogs. As opposed to the meme pages and confession accounts that have taken up the mantle of storytelling.The articles of the past that unfolded in long, thoughtful paragraphs now flash by in a scroll - a fitting metaphor for the evolution of our attention spans.
The ever-lasting constant of Manipal is perhaps SP being the north star for clubs to advertise and the time-honored tradition of going to DeeTee after exams.
Student Club Culture:
Student Project culture has drastically changed with the ability to use online meetings to conduct interviews and task phase activities. Back in the day, task phase tests were held physically with seniors monitoring your every step and no AI bot to come to the rescue.
Taken by Arvind Krishnan for MTTN, 2017
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind."
Former times in MIT’s history have marked its legacy even though the college undergoes inevitable change with every passing moment. Alumni who have walked the same corridors as many future students would, leaving their imprints on the college, for newer students to come and continue this cycle. A special bond is only shared by those of the past and the present as they traverse this fleeting 4-year journey called college.
Truly grateful to our senior and MIT alum, Neehal Sharma (Batch of 2022), whose invaluable insights helped us capture the essence of Manipal and all that it encompasses.