ES (Electronic Systems)
When you meet Namai Chandra, you encounter more than just a student; you meet a designer, an innovator, and a dreamer. For Namai, the spark for technology ignited early and in an unexpected way.
While many of his peers were content to simply be entertained by screens, Namai was driven by a deep curiosity to figure out how things worked and to build them himself. Inspired by the fusion of technology and heroism, he didn’t just want to watch – he aspired to create. He started by crafting Marvel-inspired props and moved on to tinkering with circuits, always using his hands to bring his imagination to life. This hands-on exploration is what truly opened up the world of electronics, coding, and hardware to him.
But Namai’s path was never meant to be a conventional one. While many of his peers chose engineering as the safe option, he refused to follow the crowd. He knew exactly what excited him and set out to pursue that vision with unwavering certainty. “I never wanted to do B.Tech. I didn’t even appear for JEE”, says Namai.
Namai forged his own path, choosing to pursue a Bachelor of Design specializing in Product Design at Netaji Subhas University of Technology to master the art of creation. However, he felt his designs lacked “soul”, the necessary electronics.
The key to connecting design and electronics was found by his mother, who discovered the IIT Madras BS in Electronic Systems program through an article. This course offered the perfect blend of IIT’s academic rigor and the flexibility he needed.
Namai holds deep admiration for the program’s true pillars: the professors, the Teaching Assistants, and the IIT Madras management. He calls them ‘handpicked gems,’ noting that they are always approachable for doubts, ideas, or even casual discussions. Their support ensures that students feel genuinely guided and invested in.
He says the program’s real strength is its hands-on approach, specifically the kits he can use anywhere – at the hostel or at home. “It’s like carrying my lab with me wherever I go,” he adds. “I’ve had abundant exposure to ICs and real hardware.”
For Namai, learning here isn’t about one major ‘aha’ moment; it’s a continuous series. The real magic happens when theory clicks into practice. Every couple of weeks, a new concept solidifies as he applies it to real projects, helping him see how these fundamental concepts are the critical building blocks of innovation.
This past summer, Namai took his learning beyond the classroom by interning with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay. The research project he worked on was directly powered by the foundation he gained from the IIT Madras Electronic Systems program.
Concepts like high-pass and low-pass filters, which he first explored in his coursework (ESCC), were seamlessly applied.
For Namai, this internship was more than just a professional milestone; it was living proof that the knowledge from his courses could translate directly into high-impact, real-world applications.
The responsiveness also extends to the program’s backend team, which Namai describes as a “closed-loop feedback system” where queries are addressed almost instantly.
He greatly values the exposure the program provides, including interacting with peers from diverse domains and building a network where, as he puts it, “altogether we are building something great.”
A visit to the IITM campus itself, home to both brilliant minds and this unique degree, has been an enriching experience.
And his visits to the IITM Research Park have been equally inspiring. “The energy of the place really hits you. It’s a living, breathing hub of pure innovation.” He saw massive server racks with powerful CPUs and GPUs humming away, training complex models, the kind of sheer tech you hear about but rarely see up close. Seeing students taking their classroom knowledge and turning it into tangible, groundbreaking technology was one of the most inspiring moments of his campus visit.
His visit made him understand that the IIT brand name is more than a tag; it’s a responsibility.
Looking ahead, Namai plans to secure a research internship and pursue a Master’s degree in Robotics – a field that perfectly embodies his dual passions for creation and technology.
In an age of automation, Namai’s journey proves that the most critical component is still human passion. He concludes, “throughout the entire process, even in such a futuristic, tech-driven course, IITM has not lost the human touch, and that is its true beauty.”
– written by Ayushi Dixit
