Interview with Abhinav Eitireddy, SUC President 2017-18
Written on May 25th, 2018 by {"login"=>"jcbitshyd", "email"=>"journal@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in", "display_name"=>"Journal Club, BPHC", "first_name"=>"", "last_name"=>""}Firstly, how are the preparations going?
We started off on a good note, had the events ready by the second
week of June and the workshops confirmed by the second week of
September. The publicity went very well in the holidays: we have a
great DePP team this year. The patronages have also helped us a lot
with publicity. There was a bit of a halt last week, due to the
Mid-Semester Exams and Diwali, but otherwise, the preparations have gone
very efficiently.
In what ways do you think this ATMOS is going to be different, and better than the previous editions?
Last year, ATMOS, for us was a footfall fest, but this time we are
converting it into an encouragement kind of a fest. We have around 17
workshops- all of them are top notch in quality. We have managed to get
associated with Google Developers, Microsoft and IBM. We have
patronages from Make in India, Startup India and Digital India.
This year’s ATMOS will be the best in terms of the quality of events and
prize money offered. Even though ATMOS is clashing with many other
events such as NIT Warangal’s Technozion, Sunburn, NH7 Weekender and the
Pune Comedy Festival, we still are getting a good outreach. We hope to
get around 132 contingents from all across India.
The advantage of getting patronages from Make in India, Startup India
and Digital India is that the students get approved certificates with
Make in India and Digital India logos along with ATMOS and BITS logos.
All the events and workshops will be on par with the standards set by
them.
Are
there any aspects from the fests of previous years that you’d like to
address during this ATMOS, and the entire academic year?
Compared to the previous editions of ATMOS, we’ve improved the quality and tried to improve the revenue generating sources.
For me, this year’s edition of ATMOS is different compared to the
previous ones as I am experimenting with a couple of things, like
investing more and recovering the money through effective sponsorship.
Hopefully, these experiments will prove to be fruitful, so that we can
improve them and implement them in the other 2 fests.
We have tried our hand at a social initiative for ATMOS this year. We
have already launched "The Blue Drop“ initiative, wherein members of
Nirmaan have gone to schools for promoting water conservation.
We are introducing cashless bill payments at the food stalls this year,
for on-campus students. It’s a simple system which deducts money from
the “Other Advances”.
How has being the President changed your participation in the fest? How did you manage the workload?
It hasn't changed my view. I always think as a general body member
and then I take a decision. I see whatever suits the general body’s
interests the best and I go ahead with that. ATMOS has been very
special in my life ever since I came to campus.
The first two years on campus, I learnt a lot about taking
responsibilities and getting work done on time. This year, it’s totally
different. I am in a position of mentorship. I direct the juniors to
work. I delegate them the work and ask them to do it. So, I contribute
more ideas and being in a decision-making role, it gives me a lot of
liberty to do new things over here. This way the experience has been
different this time. It's is completely in your hands how you give it
to the campus and the people coming to the fest. So, it’s just shaping
the fest totally from scratch.
I didn't become President for the fest. I believe that the President
of the Student Union should work on improving the lives of students on
the campus and that made me take up the responsibility. Fests are the
additional responsibilities we have, but from the next year, SU won't be
involved directly in the fest. We plan on having a fest coordinator
system from next year. A middleman who will work between the SU and
student’s fest.
Other than funds, how does the Administration participate in the organisation of the fest?
Whenever you want something from the management, you should have a
lot of patience. We get help from the General Administration Division
with accommodation for the speakers and pro-show artists. Every part of
the fest needs the support of the management. When a VIP is coming,
there is protocol that has to be followed. We get mementos arranged.
The administration helps us in handling the finances of the fest, not
directly though. Funds are an important aspect of the fest. Without
the funds and the approval of the administration, the fest cannot be
organized at all. We are backed by a very supportive administration
which helps us run things smoothly.
During the preparation of the fest, is there a moment that stands out? Any moment that could encapsulate the spirit of the fest?
For me, it’s all a huge collection of memories. I can't just pick a
random one because I feel involved in every part of the fest and I have
been enjoying every single bit of it.
Possibly when we confirmed the Google developer’s association, it added
more value to the fest and more so to my happiness. Whenever I receive
calls from people in other cities, like the day someone from Thapar
university called me and told me that he’d need this information for
getting a 50-member contingent, those are the moments which make me
extremely happy. Even after being busy with a lot of work over here, I
have been going out to pitch companies and the news vendors so that we
could place the ATMOS pamphlets over there to get fest publicity. I’ve
been doing all this for the past 2 years and it’s been immense fun all
along the way.
How do you handle disagreements with the FOB?
The FOB has been on the same page as me since day one, except a few
times, but we were able to sort it out. It has been quite an experience
working with these amazing people. There have been situations where we
had disagreements, no denial. But we managed to work our way around
them. I have always had their support, and they help me out in every
way possible. The members of the FOB and I have an amazing bond.
How do you see ATMOS progressing in the future?
PEARL has a lot of recognition in Hyderabad and other parts of India,
but for ATMOS we are building the brand, and ATMOS is already being
recognized all over India now. So, in the future, I see a lot of scope
for activities and all kinds of revenue generation and profits. The
growth has been organic every year. I don’t see a future where ATMOS
will ever be scaled down because it is where we generate good profits.
ATMOS, on the technical side of it, will go to different heights in
terms of quality and technology in Hyderabad and outside the state. At
the same time, a lot of things have to be taken care of. One shouldn’t
overshoot for no reason or get involved in things which have a lot of
risks.
Even I would proudly say that ATMOS is the biggest tech fest in India
solely managed by the students. I’m in the view that ATMOS should have
an organic growth. The future of ATMOS is always secure and it is an
increasing graph of progress. You only have to experiment with various
avenues and possibilities.
In the three years that you have been a part of ATMOS, how have you grown, as a person, through the organisation of the fest?
I have always been a short tempered person but I’ve learnt to be
patient over time. This has given me an increased sense of
responsibility. As a person, it has almost been like an energy boost
and an equally amazing morale boost.
Everyone I knew tried to help me in all possible ways. That is where I
realized my true potential.
How did the outcome of the GBM affect the preparations for the Atmos?
My plan was always constant. I did not change a single figure in it.
I did not want ATMOS to get affected by the GBMs, so I had a fixed
action plan. Come what may, my plan was for ATMOS to go unhindered.
Whatever may be the result of the GBM, I made sure that the effect on
ATMOS was minimal.
Is there any message you’d like to share with the freshers?
Now that you guys are in college, you have a lot of things to explore
and you have to achieve. It’s just that you shouldn’t lose your sense
of direction.
Whenever you are working for the campus, you shouldn’t lose heart and
should always be motivated. Find some self-motivation and some goal to
look forward to.
There is always a story waiting for you in the campus. It is in your
hands to go ahead and seek it.