PRINCE GEORGE'S PARK RESIDENCIES

PGPR is a big big place. With around 3000 rooms it is the place where you can find many people. There are some 30 blocks with each block having around 100 rooms. Each of the blocks has 7 floors. Each floor has 15 rooms.This is called as a cluster. I am in the 15th block on level 3 room 'N'. A word about the locks to the door. The locking system is good for security but if you want to make new friends or even contact others this security system is a big hindrance. We have a transponder which when used can take us only to our floor. You cannot go to other floors. If you want to go to another floor or block, you need to go with a friend who has access to that block or floor. Each floor has a kitchen which is shared by 15 people. With Chinese, Malays, Singaporeans, my kitchen smells like a slaughter house. Anyways the kitchen has a microwave, refrigerator, toaster, electric stove, oven, dining table.

With a cupboard which has a locker, table, chair, bed, mattress, dust bin my room looks nice. The view from the window is cool. I see all this and wonder as to when will we have such infrastructure. When we told some Indians here that they were planning to increasing the number of IITs, they couldn't believe what we said. They cursed the system and remarked that we would rather improve the existing IITs. And then think of increasing the number. I approve. When I was in IITM, I was like this is the best institute one can have, but after I have seen this, I feel like a frog in a pond. Everything is so organized. The buildings are superb. The classrooms are awesome. Shuttle bus, canteens, roads, traffic everything working in harmony. The professors here do not hold even half the power IIT profs hold. A students grade depends on his work and not on his impression on the prof. I hate to admit it but yes, in IIT sometimes your grade depends on how much closer you are to the prof. If you butter him you can sail through a course. The prof takes classes and the academic section takes care of grading assignments and exams. They let the prof have time for his research, not bog him down with grading stuff.

We had a dance bash on 3 Aug here in PGPR. People from 'all over the world' came. That is to say exchange students from many countries were there. Next post - Happy 42nd Birthday Singapore