“Life”, is what he says is the first thing that comes to his mind when he thinks of the world of IIT Powai.
This man is Amit Katoch, a small towner from Himachal Pradesh who is now at the verge of completing his P.H.D from IIT Powai after 7 years. The would-be Dr. is working on his final thesis in the subject of Combustion.
He is not just deeply involved in his education but is also is in love with the physical world surrounding and supporting it.
Built in the year of 1959, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is located in the posh area of Powai, Mumbai. Expanded over 550 acres of land and bounded by hills between two lakes, it clearly stands in contrast with the mad rush of the city that it’s a part of. Due to its proximity to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the campus is covered in a lush green environment and is mostly untouched by the pollution of the rest of the city.
Talking about his experience of living in the campus, Amit says, “This place is very nurturing. It gives you an opportunity to explore yourself and be whoever you want to be.”
Being in the campus for 7 long years and spending most of his time alone in peace has brought him closer to himself he says. During these years, he has developed a pure love for nature and has become highly devoted to the art of meditation.
“I felt there’s more to life and I needed a guide to take me there. So I said to myself, ‘Let’s give it a shot. Let’s see if it makes sense.’ And now it makes more sense than anything else.”
Meditation has becomes a very integral part of his routine and he practices it every morning in the peace and seclusion of his hostel room.
“When you meditate, you can listen to your body and then your body in turn listens to you. It puts you in control and as you go deeper, you realize than you know nothing of yourself or what your body is capable of.”
Another thing that has brought utmost joy in his life is his love for plants. He himself turned a corner of the balcony in front of his room, into a garden full of plants and flowers. “They make me very happy. I developed a love for them here in IIT.”, he says.
Besides meditation and plants, he is also a fan of Carnatic and Hindustani music. His love for music is also felt with the presence of a guitar in his room which he likes to play only for himself.
As he talks about his love for various things, one realizes that most of them came into his life through the experience of living in the IIT campus. It’s definitely become his second home and feels deeply connected to it.
“It shouldn’t be a luxury. Being able to live in beautiful surroundings, closer to nature. Living and breathing in peace. Having feasibility and convenience for things we need. It’s something that everyone deserves and should have irrespective of where they come from and who they are. But unfortunately, it’s become a luxury in most of the major cities in our country today.” – Amit.
