What is your review of National Institute of Technology Calicut?

Hostel Life

The hostel setup scores a 5 out of 10 for infrastructure and facilities. Cleanliness gets a better score at 8 out of 10. The hostel staff also rates a 5 out of 10, while the food is quite good, earning an 8 out of 10.

Campus Experience

The campus infrastructure and facilities both receive an 8 out of 10. Professors are rated at 7 out of 10. The vibe around campus is lively, scoring 8 out of 10, and there's a lot happening with clubs and activities, which get a 9 out of 10. However, campus safety is a concern, with only a 3 out of 10.

Freedom

In terms of freedom, girls have a score of 6 out of 10; for boys, it's much higher at 10 out of 10. Support for LGBTQ students stands at 7 out of 10.

Academics

The workload is quite intense. Placement opportunities are good, with an 8 out of 10 rating. Research activities rate a 6 out of 10.

I'm a student at NIT Calicut, and I'm sharing my thoughts anonymously because I'm worried the college might retaliate if they see this. Here's what I think about the place:

• The atmosphere at NIT Calicut is quite old-fashioned and patriarchal. On orientation day, the chief hostel warden told us about an old campus incident involving rape to justify strict rules for female students. This approach was supposed to motivate us, but it felt more like a warning.
• I faced a bit of racism after I arrived. When I was assigned a room in the girls' hostel, I noticed the shared almirahs didn't have separate locks. I voiced my concern to the hostel caretaker, who implied that theft was a problem in my home region, Uttar Pradesh, but not there. It was my first experience in South India, and it felt like she was looking down on me because of where I'm from.
• The college has different rules for female students, and if you don't like them, you're told you can leave. After all the effort and resources spent on getting here, that's not really an option for most students.
• On our third day, there was confusion about roll call at the girls' hostel. We hadn't been informed about it, and when I was singled out for not knowing, the roll call lady shouted at me. It was my first time so far from home, and it was really upsetting.
• The hostel is currently undergoing LAN work, so there are male workers around. This makes us uncomfortable because we have to adjust how we dress even in our own space.
• My observations of Kerala have led me to view it as having a conservative and patriarchal mindset. People here might be literate, but their attitudes towards women can feel very restrictive. Most of the college staff are from this region, which reflects in the environment at the college.

I think I've found the perfect place to air my grievances. This college shares a lot of similarities with other government institutions: smart students stuck dealing with poor administration and often unfriendly faculty. As a student here, even though I'm only halfway through my time, I feel I can offer some interesting insights.

We're constantly reminded that the college's reputation and ranking are on shaky ground. It's not entirely exaggerated, but it's not because students aren't interested in their studies. The real problem is the excessive bureaucracy that plagues the place. Academically speaking, we have plenty of bookworms and students who can quickly learn a lot. In my batch, there are students as capable as those in IITs, which has been a real eye-opener for me.

However, the administration can really frustrate alumni. The current second-year students, for example, have never experienced a hostel with LAN and are stuck in a college at the end of a dusty, half-finished track with construction stones sticking out, making our daily trek to class quite challenging.

Food is a big deal for us, like an army marching on its stomach. All students, except for first-years, get to choose from 8 different messes, which makes life a bit better. First-years only have two options, and from my experience, the food wasn't exactly something to look forward to. Plus, with a curfew for the boys at 7:30, I remember feeling trapped in my tiny room. Come on, these are 18-year-olds, not a bunch of rowdy troublemakers. They deserve internet access in their hostels. Cutting off the internet doesn't stop them from accessing things like movies or other stuff. You'd need a Big Brother-type watch over them to prevent that, and no strict warden can make that happen.

If there's one thing that cheers us up, it's Tathva and Raagam. These techno-management and cultural fests are organized with such enthusiasm that few other colleges can match. While some colleges use rankings and other tricks for glory, I really think our efforts deserve more recognition. Each club at the college puts a lot of effort into these fests, not to mention the events they host throughout the year.

Don't get me wrong; this place isn't all bad. Some people think the administrative challenges push them to do their best, but for others, it limits their potential. I've focused more on the issues faced by first and second years because, right now, I'm in my second year. I'm curious to see how my perspective changes in a couple of years.