Judging the mood at IIT…

      Judging the mood at IIT: MOODINDIGO 2007

It was on 26/12/2007 as the clock hit 10:30 am, my basic feature phone Nokia hit an awesome tune for me. The voice at the other end greeted, “Good morning Sir. I am Akarsh here. If you are ready I would then come up and we can leave. The vehicle is waiting downstairs.”

 As the door bell rang, in walked a young IITian, full of life and zest and you could feel the excitement he had about Mood Indigo 2007. Akarsh Rai was one of the members of the Team MoodIndigo at IIT Powai and needless to say was among the brilliant fortunate to be an IITian. It took us almost an hour to reach to the holy shrine of intellect, energy, genius and all through the journey, he spoke about the event, the people and teams involved and then gave me my Judge’s sheet.

It all began about two weeks back as I got an invite as a honorary judge to attend one of Asia’s biggest cultural and technical fests at IIT Powai. Mood indigo 2007 which boasts of over 60,000 students and around 450 colleges participating from all over, was ready to kick off on Dec, 26^th 2007. I was in Bangalore at that time when I got the message and I rescheduled my appointments and tasks to keep myself available for the same here in Mumbai for Mood I, for IIT. The energy and genius that I got to see technically and creatively was worth my time I guess, at the end.

As I entered the Main gate at IIT Powai and the vehicle zoomed past, scores of students were roaming around the massively huge IIT campus going from one massive event to another. We touched the IRCC foyer where I was invited to judge the Fine Arts Category – Art in Motion – Car design competition of MoodI 2007.

I looked around and there were teams from all over India participating in the design competition pouring their hearts and soul into the passionate modeling process to create something amazingly original, creative and technically genius. So it was an attempt to blend in technicality and aesthetics into one. I can 100% assure in the 3 hours that those students were given, they had done an unbelievably amazing job at the end. Few of the designs which still stands distinct in my mind are the models of Split car, Caterpillar vehicle concept, Future car designed as a sphere seated on 3 handles to dodge Mumbai roads with round wheels with grey  and blue shades, the car running on solar power with a compact disc on top acting as the solar generator, automobile with MoodI logo as its concept running on a band like the tankers run in armies, club on wheels, scorpion vehicle for terrains, The Biz car for corporate, the time travelling speedster, the rhino machine, the concept car with solar power and ample inside space and single sided door, the flying cab, another machine combining traditional and modern car design in one style, etc… All I could feel is the intense passion and brilliance with which each team had done the splendid job.  

  

As the next event was getting set, one of the organizer, Prathamesh, apologized for hurrying up of this event but I guess they had to…. And as I hardly got 10 minutes to look into more than 30 teams and give my judgment on the same, I felt I could use a little bit more time with the teams and the models created so beautifully. But then I had to hurry up with the available time at my disposal and as the amazingly huge groups of brilliant geniuses stood there, I declared three of the teams at the top three spots. It was a very difficult decision as majority fell in the best category of innovations and designs as I could feel. But there were few others too who could have chopped in the big Prize probably if they had been given just few extra minutes to get all set and ready. But I guess, that’s all what’s the competition is all about.  Timing, presentation, concept, your ability to convince on your design and innovation. All things put together takes you to the top spot. But at the end of the day, to me….. honestly, from the bottom of my heart, they were all winners.

AT the end I was very sure that at least 90% of those participating would make it as amazingly creative and genius, brilliant designers in the coming years. They had the passion, the guts and the talent for it.

The organizers took me around for a complete tour and I am especially thankful to Akarsh for showing me around the marvel and genius of IIT and of IIT Powai campus right from every other event and concerts arena to the student room, convocation hall, the new IIT building, the hostel area and IIT library. It was a good feel and a nice welcome to each and everyone out there that day by MoodIndigo2007.

Mood Indigo has gained a name and reputation over the last so many years as being highly professional, diverse and is being host at one of the most prestigious shrines of all time, IIT Powai, Mumbai.

I would have to say as I conclude, Mood Indigo 2007 has kicked off grand and the credit goes from the people who have made it happen that is the students from all over India who come and participate in it and definitely the people who have created and run the show there, the organizers, the coordinators, the core team, etc at Mood Indigo 2007.

The details of the program are available “ http://moodi.org ”

 

I wish the whole team, the core team and everyone ( Prathamesh, Akarsh, all other organizers, coordinators)  involved with the event and also the ones who have created the graffiti wall which looks mesmerizing at IIT Powai campus and made this event literally larger than life ALL THE VERY BEST, god bless and be well.

Mood Indigo 2007 ROCKS!!!

Ananthanarayanan Vtechdivine@gmail.com