Category pictures
Unbound Continuum
Where reality blurs into the infinite. An artistic journey through the layers of an undefined world that refuses to be caged by boundaries.
At The Last Platform
A moment frozen in time. The heavy silence of the station when the last train has gone, and all that's left is the echo of a final call.
Origin of Ollie
It was a fine evening in early November 2018 when I ventured into the Indian Institute of Science (11Sc), Bangalore, for bird watching after receiving alerts about sightings of the Indian Pitta and Bive-throated Bive Flycatcher. Near Jubilee Garden, where a small pond lies hidden among trees, I paused to observe flycatchers, Pond Herons, drongos, and a lone cormorant.
Category poems
ঈদের আগের রাত (The Night Before Eid)
জীবনের এই নবীন অধ্যায়ে, আনন্দের আবহেও মনের একাকিত্ব আর অনুতাপের এক মরমী প্রকাশ।
Rhythm and me
A poetic journey of self-discovery through rhythm and melody, plucking at new strings to find a harmony that is truly one's own.
Life Doesn't Autoplay Background Music
A poem on the search for life's hidden soundtrack, and the realization that sometimes the most meaningful music is the one we find within ourselves.
Irony of Life
A reflection on life’s quiet contradictions — where sincerity is wounded, effort goes unnoticed, and loneliness hides within crowded hearts. Through vivid irony and poignant observations, the poem captures the bittersweet truth that life rarely rewards what deserves it most.
कुछ है कर जाना!
संघर्ष, टूटे सपनों और फिर से उठ खड़े होने की हिम्मत पर आधारित यह कविता हर मुसाफ़िर को उम्मीद, साहस और नई शुरुआत का संदेश देती है।
I'm right, You are Not
A melancholic reflection on love undone by doubt, silence, and misunderstanding. Through vivid natural imagery, the poem traces the slow unraveling of trust and the sorrow of two hearts that could no longer truly hear one another.
with bright eyes
A sunflower's dance with the distant sun. A story of growth, tropism, and the beautiful fallacy of a heart that burns while rooted to home.
कलाम-ए-रफ़्ता
एक माँ की ममता और एक रूह की पुकार। मौत ने जिस्म तो मिट्टी में मिला दिया, पर क्या वो उन यादों को मिटा पाएगी जो आज भी कहकशाओं के बीच ज़िंदा हैं?
I set sail for another hour
If faith has brought me this far, then faith shall sail me yonder. A fearless step out of the night and into the rosy dawn of a new beginning.
Endings are never easy, are they?
The corridors feel longer today. A final cycle ride through old routes, cherishing the privilege of having something—and someone—so precious to miss.
Before Everything Ends
Dad, I wasn't your rising sun. A heart-wrenching dive into the shadows of expectations and the quiet peace found in finally letting go.
कविता
कविता में शब्दों के बीच का मौन, अव्यक्त और अज्ञेय का सौंदर्य।
with broken eyes
A poem about awakening, new beginnings, and the quiet acceptance of reality.
वे कौन है?
प्रेम और स्वतंत्रता पर एक तीखा प्रहार करती कविता।
A Soldier's Ballad
A haunting reflection on the hidden costs of duty and the weight of unerasable memories.
The broken vow
A poignant poem about a broken life and the search for an ideal.
Of course! I know you then...
A poem about recognition and shared moments of beauty.
Before infinity
A romantic free verse on the feeling of insignificance in the vast cosmos, where only the love for another remains constant.
I do not wish for peace
A powerful free verse exploring guilt, anguish, and the resilient pursuit of redemption amidst an inner storm.
Insignificant me
A romantic free verse on the feeling of insignificance in the vast cosmos, where only the love for another remains constant.
The Idea of You
A romantic expression of the sacredness of an idealized love, found and guarded within the quiet rooms of the mind.
Alma Mater
A poignant free verse reflecting on the bittersweet experience of leaving one's alma mater and the memories attached to a simple room.
The wait
A romantic free verse on the persistent, melancholy wait for a beloved, set against the backdrop of changing seasons and shared memories.
मैं मर्द हूँ ना मैं नहीं बताऊंगा
पुरुषों के संघर्ष, उत्तरदायित्व और अपनी भावनाओं को छिपाने की प्रवृत्ति पर आधारित एक सशक्त कविता।
बेटियाँ - एक परिचय
बेटियों के सम्मान और महत्व को दर्शाती एक मर्मस्पर्शी कविता।
उड़ जाने दो मुझे
एक कविता जो स्वतंत्रता की चाह और जीवन के बंधनों से मुक्त होने की इच्छा को व्यक्त करती है।
कुछ अधूरे एहसास
एक कविता जो साथ बिताए लम्हों और उनकी कमी से उपजी तन्हाई को बयां करती है।
वेदना का नाद
A Hindi poem expressing deep inner sorrow under the beauty of a full moon night.
नकाब या ख्वाब!
A Hindi free verse exploring the many masks people wear and the dreams or compulsions hidden behind them.
The last tread
A thoughtful reflection on time, missed opportunities, and the steps we take in life.
Redemption
A reflection on battling an inner monster and finally finding freedom and love.
Memories: a sojourn
A reflection on the bygone moments that elusively peek into the undulating crevices of time.
I Miss you Mother
An expression of loss and love, remembering a mother through the twinkling stars.
Graveyard of Dead Poets
A haunting elegy to love and passion, now decayed into the stifling stench of habit, entombed in the graveyard of dead poets.
Borrowed Time
Many live troubled lives, unable to afford a break to experience or imagine life's beauty and calm. A young person strives to use her hour of prayer meaningfully.
Bleedings Of A Tame Beast
Tame and sane, I will no longer paint the world's suffering in red, but I shall spit blood and let it speckle the walls instead.
A reminder
A free verse on faint memories and the brilliant spark of courage in the dark.
All aboard against sleep
In the darkest hour, a dainty rainbow rises, born of chaos, painting peace upon a restless mind.
The Scientist
An invention born from love and courage can resurrect even the faintest hearts.
Ode To Diversity
A lyrical ode to harmony, embracing humanity's shared victories, defeats, and hopes.
Category stories
उस्ताद जी (Ustad Ji)
एक पुलिस वाले की यादों में बसा उस्ताद जी का वह घर, जहाँ संगीत की धुनों और घरेलू झगड़ों के बीच ज़िंदगी के कई रंग छिपे थे।
The Tour of Sound
A whirlwind journey through the world of musical instruments—from the sympathetic buzz of the Sitar to the otherworldly, contactless hum of the Theremin.
Spectrum of Melodies @ IISc
When headphones break, the campus begins to sing. A story of finding community and private joy within the shared private playlists of Rhythmica.
Rhapsody and Relativity
Why your main quest needs a side quest. Explore the deep structural similarities between music and physics, and how cross-pollinating ideas can ignite creative breakthroughs.
Music and the Window Seat
A heartfelt letter exploring the therapeutic power of watching the world through a window with calming music as your only companion.
Cosmic GPS
The Global Positioning System relies on billion-light-year-distant quasars to keep your phone's location honest. Discover the unlikely connection between black holes and Google Maps.
Introspections on the Third Step
Through conversations with eight third-year undergraduates at Indian Institute of Science, Rahul captures the anxieties, ambitions, and quiet joys that define life at IISc today. Spanning research, internships, friendships, and life beyond academics, these reflections reveal students balancing the rigour of science with the search for purpose, belonging, and identity.
The Mind of a Second-Year Undergraduate
The second-year undergrad stands at the crossroads of idealism and pragmatism, still holding onto a thread of youthful passion.
4th Years in Conversation
The final year at IISc’s UG program is a time of crucial decisions, deep reflection, and a mix of pride, gratitude, and uncertainty about the future, as captured through interviews with nine diverse students.
Everything Means Nothing To Me: Part-1
An introspective train vignette where a brief nap unfolds into reflections on memory, music, anxiety, and identity. A quiet portrait of restlessness and the search to understand oneself.
The End of My World
When the train of existence roars past, leaving us on a cold platform of loss, can we find the strength to keep the fire burning for those who left?
Memories We Carry
Life at IISc is a whirlwind of deadlines and laughter, but the hardest part is realizing when a chapter is finally closing. A tribute to the people who became 'home'.
मौत तू एक कविता है
ज़िंदगी एक अधूरी किताब है जिसका आखिरी सबक है मौत। एक पुलिसवाले की डायरी और जेल की दीवारों पर उकेरी गई वो शायरी, जो मरकर भी ज़िंदा रही।
Endnotes: Beyond Grades
Beyond grades and CGPAs lies the real soul of IISc. From midnight relativity sessions to radioactive rocks in the Main Building, this is how learning actually feels.
Women of March
A reflection on the March sisters from 'Little Women' and how their story continues to celebrate womanhood across generations.
When Exploration Refuses to End - The Opportunity Rover
A look at the legacy of the Opportunity Rover, a mission that redefined our understanding of Mars and the endurance of human curiosity.
The Sixth Sense: Biological right to art
Every human being is blessed with a natural ability to appreciate and interpret art—a 'sixth sense' that is an integral part of being human.
Leap of faith!
The story of Professor Anand Srivastava and the 'leap of faith' that led him from naval architecture to biophysics.
The Journey of Life
A thrilling account of a 1500km road trip across Andhra Pradesh, exploring the 'Grand Canyon of India' and the resilience of friendship.
Away from Home...
An extract from the 2nd edition, reflecting on the last day at home and the love of a mother's cooking before heading to IISc.
The Proof
A gripping fiction piece from the 3rd edition about a mathematician's discovery that challenges the foundations of logic itself.
Logic and Life
A non-fiction piece from the 2nd edition exploring the connection between logic, reason, intuition, and our decision-making processes.
Quarks has seen it all!
Quarks, the IISc UG magazine, stands as a collective voice of undergraduates, capturing their science, stories, struggles, and creativity across generations.
The Sound of Forest in an Urban Rising
An exploration of the rich flora and fauna coexisting within the 400-acre haven of the Indian Institute of Science.
Takeaways from "The Uncertainty Principles of Careers"
Insights from the 4th edition on the unpredictable nature of career paths and the importance of self-discovery in education.
The Old Physics Building
A historical account of the Old Physics Building (OPB) at IISc, tracing its origins, founding departments, and its role in the institute's early controversies.
And the journey continues...
A deep dive into the mindset of a second-year undergraduate student at IISc, exploring the transition from idealism to pragmatism.
Bharathnatyam
A personal narrative on the journey of learning Bharathnatyam and how it shaped the author's life, focus, and happiness.
Anthropology Redefined
Exploring the paradigm shift towards deep ecology, moving from an anthropocentric view to recognizing our place within the web of life.
A Magical Morning at ISKCON Bengaluru
A spontaneous 4 AM cycling trip to the ISKCON temple that turned into an unforgettable experience blending spirituality, art, and culture.
A dozen problems all around
A deep dive into how simulating conversations and analysing conversational parameters can reveal the intricate structure of human interactions.
A first-year perspective
The first year at Indian Institute of Science is a whirlwind of change — new academics, new friendships, and a completely new way of life. Through conversations with students across the batch, one thing becomes clear: amidst the chaos, stress, and uncertainty, IISc gradually turns into a second home. From discovering independence to finding a community bound by curiosity and passion for science, the journey leaves every student transformed in their own unique way.
Exploring Skandagiri and Kuntibetta
A thrilling adventure exploring two of Bangalore's most beautiful trekking locations: Skandagiri and Kuntibetta.
AthleticIISM and CulturalIICM
An account on IICM and IISM
FiRST SEM KI जुगलबंदी
A humorous and nostalgic reflection on the chaotic, overwhelming, yet ultimately rewarding experience of the very first semester at IISc.
The Wall
A natural aspect of human life is aging, but coming to terms with it, is a very complicated process. This wonderful piece explores and builds a very beautiful, yet poignant image.
