A Return to the Familiar — and the Unfamiliar Back at IIT B

I recently was back at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB) for a visit—a quiet return to reconnect with the institute and old memories. Unlike previous trips packed with reunions and chatter, this visit had no agenda other than to absorb the place, to see how much had changed in the years since I left.

To understand just how much has evolved, consider this: I took a photograph back in 1987 using a black-and-white film roll—the only thing I could afford at the time as a student learning photography (including developing the negatives and printing it on paper) under SK Sahu in our hostel photo lab (this is a colourized version of that b&w snap).

On this visit, I snapped a similar view from my hotel room.

The transformation, even in those two frames, was striking—a silent testament to the march of time.

Some things, of course, remain the same. The famous corridor

(photos - then 1990, and now 2025)

I walked as a student still stretched out before me—the walls familiar, yet different. Walking through it, I felt the odd comfort of recognition, as if no time had passed at all. Yet the campus now buzzed with far more activity than I remembered. Students hurried between lectures well into the evening, discussion groups crowded benches, and labs were alive with purpose late into the night. The energy was palpable.

When I was a student, the entire IITB campus had about 2,000 students. Now, each incoming batch alone has 1,300-1,400 students, swelling the total population to nearly 14,000. The demographics had shifted, too—I saw far more women on campus than before, a heartening sign of progress. New departments had emerged—Economics, once a subject tucked into the HSS department, was now a full-fledged discipline. The familiar rhythms of campus life were still there, but playing to a much larger orchestra.

There were surprises too. Hostel 10, once a modest structure, had grown enormous.

The old Director’s bungalow across from H10 had vanished, replaced by guest accommodations, restaurants, and even a memorabilia store

. While browsing that store, I stumbled upon a book by Saumil Majmudar and Vijay Krishnamurthy —a wonderful reminder of how IITians continue to shape the world beyond the campus walls.

The heart of the campus, the Main Building, now bears the name Nandan Nilekani Main Building. The lecture halls where I once spent my first-year classes had morphed into administrative offices. My old lecture room, MB1, was now the Material Management Office! The MB foyer now housed a beautiful Gratitude Wall,

filled with the names of generous alumni donors—many of them my contemporaries ( Jitendra Mohan, Rekha Koita, Ramesh Mangaleswaran et al). Seeing their names filled me with pride.

At the Central Library, I found rows of students quietly working, most watching recorded lectures on their devices. The pandemic, I suspected, had accelerated this shift. Textbooks on Calculus and Control Theory lay untouched since September 2019, their borrower cards gathering dust.

Had students moved entirely to digital resources? It was a thought-provoking reminder of how learning habits had changed.

I stopped by Café 92, a lively new addition behind the LT lawns,

where I enjoyed an excellent cup of ginger chai and a cookie. The Staff Canteen, once a familiar haunt, now seemed quieter—a different rhythm for a changing generation.

Conversations with Prof. Anuradha Narasimhan, PhD tied the picture together. She explained how IITB had evolved to meet new demands—with larger batches, greater diversity, and a culture reshaped by technology. I learned about Supernumerary seats, an initiative ensuring at least 20% female enrollment by adding additional seats above the approved batch size. The campus was thriving in new ways, but challenges were evident. Rising mental health concerns were a growing worry. "You see the happy and active ones," she remarked. "It’s the ones you don’t see that worry us."

Hostel life had changed, too. The old tradition of staying in one hostel for the full course had shifted. Freshers now start in a common hostel before moving to others, breaking some of the tight-knit camaraderie our batches once enjoyed. Yet the spirit of mentorship has survived through new tech clubs, where seniors guide juniors and nurture curiosity. Echoes of this converastion continued with Prof Parag Bhargava when we met over chai!

Over dinner with Prof. Ramadevi Pichai (Rama) and Prof. Narayan Ananthkrishnan (AKN),

we recalled learning Aircraft Design from the veteran Prof. P.D. Desai (Jaydev Desai's dad). His teaching style, shaped by his time at HAL under the legendary Prof. Kurt Tank, was deeply personal. Our small class sizes meant he knew each of us well and could tune his message accordingly. The shift to larger classes and recorded lectures made me wonder: Could that style of mentorship survive in today’s IIT?

My visit ended at the new IITB Research Park, a stunning facility

designed to foster collaboration between academia and industry. With reinforced floors to support heavy machinery and dedicated research spaces for steel and metal industries, the space showed how IITB is evolving to embrace industry partnerships. Ms Kameshwari Mangalampalli leads the centre and it was fantastic to have her show us around. I also had a quick introduction to the Development and Relations Foundation, by Jalpa Vyas . The Foundation itself is led by another batchmate Ravishankar Gedela , who was away on a business trip! The future of IITB seemed poised to blend tradition with innovation.

This visit wasn’t just a walk down memory lane—it was a reflection on change, continuity, and the complex interplay between the two. IIT Bombay has grown in size and scale, yet beneath the new buildings, digital classrooms, and bustling cafeterias, it still feels like home. The footsteps still echo under the arch. The spirit of curiosity still thrives in quiet corners of the library. And the memories—familiar, yet unfamiliar—linger like old friends.

#IITB #Nostalgia #Education #CampusLife #Reflections #ChangeAndContinuity

PS : there was always a folklore of crocodiles in Powai lake. We heard that if we walk past H6 to the rocky land ("koliwada", the land that is now Hostels 12,13,14) we can see them sunning themselves there! No one i know ever ventured that walk in search of the crocs. This time, while waiting for my ride, i looked over a small island in Powai lake, and there it was - sunning itself in the hot & sultry Mumbai sun!