-- You can take the alumnus out of the campus, but you cannot take the campus out of the alumnus.

SF aficionados will recall one of the central premises of the Foundation series, that the Mother Planet was eventually outgrown by the galactic enterprise that it spanned, but far-flung humanity still retained an emotional attachment to Her that transcended time and distance. This is also a fair representation of the prevailing relations between IIT Madras and its illustrious alumni. You can take the alumnus out of the campus, but you cannot take the campus out of the alumnus. The IITM campus still remains the nostalgic centerpiece of every alumnus’ ties to the alma mater. For this reason, and many others, the IIT Madras Alumni Association Office on campus is a special place.

The IITMAA Office

The Office is located, appropriately enough, in the student sector—or “hostel zone”- in the CCW building annex, right opposite Godavari Hostel. Much of the daily walk-in traffic consists of students, seeking assistance of one kind or another. Some are interested in scholarships, some in souvenirs.

The Office premises are cozy, but comfortable. There is an air-conditioned conference room that has seen many a heated discussion among contentious alumni. There is a nook where souvenirs are fetchingly displayed; it is local lore that none who has entered

the “nook” has emerged without purchasing a minimum of three items. Then, there is Alumni office, tastefully redecorated. It can hold 4-5 visitors easily, although more than that would be unwise given the air-conditioner capacity. The adjoining staff room, where Ms. Krishnaveni toils over alumni records and other critical matters, is large enough to accommodate decades- worth of “stuff”.

The Office stays open from 9:30 am till 6:00 pm to cater to the varied lifestyles of students and alumni. It stays open most weekends too, as global interactions, as well as larger gatherings, tend to be concentrated over Saturdays and Sundays.