It is October. The festival season is upon us. Festivals are times when the entire family gathers. Generations sit down together to roll laddoos or hang decorations. Old and young argue, fight, and laugh together. These are a few days of intense activity, away from the humdrum of everyday hassles. And once it’s over, you feel both exhausted and rejuvenated.
That’s how it feels at IGIB now. The frantic days leading up to OWOL, when it felt like we might not make it. The sight of scientists and students sitting cross-legged on the floor sorting booklets. Students dashing around purposefully, creating instant Rangolis and hurriedly crafting posters.
Finally, the event was a poised professional show, presented with panache. Days filled with scientific talks, each catering to a different group of people. And then, seemingly all at once, chaos ensued – or so it seemed initially – as a thousand young individuals descended on IGIB. However, a closer look revealed that each group of people had focus, goals, and purpose, reminiscent of ants around a drop of honey. Motivated students worked through the night and showed up early in the morning; where there’s motivation, there’s no limit to the effort humans can expend.
As these young enthusiasts dispersed, hopefully carrying with them a newfound excitement for science, calm returned to the campus. In just two weeks, we engaged with a broad spectrum of science enthusiasts, from school students to undergraduates, postgraduates, PhD students, scientists, clinicians, and industry professionals.
Indeed, we are all exhausted and worn out. But there’s a palpable air of possibility. It’s time to return to our benches and desks, not to retreat into cocoons but to break free from them – and to take flight, whether as beetles, moths, or butterflies.
Chetana Sachidanandan is a scientist-writer with a fascination for a striped fish that’s too small to eat and just too beautiful to describe.