Why TISS – Experience, Appreciate and Question everything
DISCLAIMER: If you are searching for placement figures, comparison of companies that come to TISS vs other colleges or fees, then this article is not for you! But if you wish to go ahead and see how two years at TISS will contribute to your life – Then go for it!
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Dive into the Field
TISS is probably the only institute wherein you are sent to work and learn in an organization right from the first semester. We do 6 internships in the two years that we study here. While trying to balance your hectic schedules and assignments you are also learning to walk without your pants getting wet, with vada pav in one hand and an umbrella in the other. You can spot correlations and deviations of various things taught in the class from the real life outside from the very beginning.
Complexity in communion with Simplicity
You learn to appreciate the beauty of the complex and diverse crowd that exists at TISS and the transport system and dabbawalas system in Mumbai. You also get awed by the simplicity of the professors and the amazing alumni of TISS as ‘simple and delicious’ as the roti that arrives in a dabbawala box.
You will come across engineers who decided to pursue urban policy, doctors who decided to study social work, lawyers pursuing labour studies and foreign students studying globalization. You will interact with them in your class, in the Dining Hall, in your field work and in your hostels. You will agree, disagree, agree to disagree and together hate and love the rain, the humidity and consume the ever-flowing vada pav.
Learn the value of Questioning
I asked one of my now favourite professors - Prof. Bino Paul - What makes TISS and the people here different?
Instead of replying back with a series of facts and data (Believe me - he loves data!) he shared this example and it has ever since been etched in my mind:
A man is cutting his toe with a knife.
An engineer comes along, observes the man and says " Your knife is not sharp enough. It is delaying your work - I will sharpen it for you" - He does so and moves on.
A TISSian comes along, looks at the man and questions him -
" Have you thought of the harm this act will cause you? "
We are the ones who question the society when it is on the path of destruction.
We are the questioners. We ask the hard questions that no one wants to and so we are indeed different.
We live in a world that generates volumes of data and so getting information is not a big issue but getting the right information - certainly is. How do you get it?
- By asking the right questions and that is what TISS teaches you.
P.S: Prof Bino Paul mentioned that this example was inspired by an idea of Mr. Amartya Sen.
About the Author:
Spurgeon who introduces himslef as 'Surgeon with a P' by his classmates loves playing the guitar and singing, loves following youtube creators from Casey Neistat to Pewdiepie. He is currently pursuing HRM&LR course at TISS Mumbai.
