Mr. Reapon Tikoo(2nd
from right) along with our team members
Q.How did an IIT education help you to meet your career goals?
A.It was a good institute,in a sense that they
offered us a lot of freedom,whether it was about expressing our thoughts or doing or building something.I believe
prime purpose of education is to set our mind free but ironically,it often ends
up us compartmentalized to a narrow niche.For example,If I want to be civil
engineer,I get confined to civil engineering or if I want to be a heart
surgeon,I will have to specialize in heart surgery.The current model of
education is more focussed on the ROI,people choose an educational field or an
institute based on how 'marketable' it is.Instead of being interested in the
process of learning,they want to get an IIM or an IIT brand 'tag' to adorn
their resume which can help them in the job market.Education today has confined
to placements and pay packages.This problem cannot be solved by the
students.After all,this is what the society wants everyone to aspire for.An
education today means sense of entitlement.For example,if want to an MBBS
Doctor,I aspire that I'll wear a white gown,I'll make a lots of money, and
everyone will call me 'Doctor Saheb' but finally you have to do something,solve
problems..The children of industrialists are not studying here,nor do children
of politicians.Most of us here are children of government employees or small
traders or simply middle class people who see education as a way to enrich the
quality of life.This is a very risk averse attitude,everyone wants a Mercedes
or a BMW but they don't understand what it takes to be there.
Q.You completed your masters from The London
School of Economics and Social Sciences.What would you suggest someone who
aspires to attend this highly reputed institution?
A.If you can afford to pay the fees,you can
simply pay and attend.You'll have to apply for a scholarship otherwise.Since my
father couldn't afford to,I attended on a scholarship.It's as simple as that.
Q.What had you studied there ?
A.I had taken courses in a department called
'European Studies'.I had also studied labour laws and industrial relations.These
colleges offer a lot of flexibility.You can choose which courses to attend.You
are not bounded to a certain program or department.As I mentioned
earlier,education actually takes us away from what we're really looking for.I
would've ended up being insane if I had not studied there.
Q.Can you even select your teacher there?
A.No,you can't select your teacher though.
Q.You mentioned earlier that you had attended the
LSE on a scholarship.According to a recent data,around 25000 students from 145
countries had applied for it and just 700 got selected.How your education at
IIT helped you build your leadership skills as they mainly look for them?
A.I mainly learnt these skills from my
father.I'll give all credits to him.
Q.What had they asked in the interview,anything
specific about leadership skills?
A.I do not really remember what they had asked me
but I had answered the same way as I'm doing now.They were more interested in
knowing what I would want to do,about my possible ventures,how I would cope
with a failed one,etc.
Q.What percentage of your "Wish List"
has been completed?
A.I am really content with myself.I've no desires
to be honest.I realised that whatever I had desired was not at all
relevant.When I used to be a young boy,playing in the sun was really important
but as I grew up,at some stage,It was quite important for me to meet to meet my
fiancee.It depends,I mean your wishes change at every stage of life.What is
relevant today may not be so tomorrow.I just do what I have to do.I am not
afraid of outcomes.Wishes bring unhappiness,if you achieve something your
happiness will be zero after it is fulfilled while in case you don't, you'll be
unhappy.You'll be unhappy either way.Thats why I do not desire anything
anymore.Perhaps a good night's sleep is the only thing I desire.
Q.Can you please tell us more about the research at Powai labs,specifically
Image?
A. We've built a product which allows us to build a prototype of a
processor.We've also built the first "Make in india" made in India
chip which is right now being tested for the GPS of ISRO.
Q.When had you started your JEE prep?
A.Honestly,I haven't been a very good student.I've never been interested in
academics.I've always been more interested about doing things.I was never a
career-focused student.
Q.You've won a lot of medals in sports.Can you tell us more about your
sporting achievements?
A. Yes,I was a state champion in cycling and I had crossed a lake,riding
around 11.2 kilometeres.I've always been more into doing things.
Q.You had a key role with GTL limited.Why did you decide to launch your own
startup instead of keeping up with your job?
A.Yes,I was doing quite well there.They were paying me a good salary but I
wasn't feeling happy from within.You have feel good with yourself.You've to
live with yourself,after all.You can get another job which is high paying but
its not necessary to make you happy.Same situation arises at the time of your
marriage or simply every step of your life where you've to decide between your
happiness and the ideal perception of the world.Happiness is of utmost
importance and is beyond placements or pay packages or simply anything.
Q.How was the experience at The LSE different from IIT Bombay?
A.You get to explore people from different cultural backgrounds,you get to
know more about the world.Most people here tend to assume their cultural
background to be the best but when you meet people hailing from different
cultures,you realize how big the world is and no culture is better than the other.They're
all different and they're all good.I believe there is more in common with
humans than the differences over which they fight for.But there is more of
gender equality in the western world and I think we won't go a lot further if it is not brought into the
picture.It'll have to come from men though, as women've always advocated for
it.
Reporters: Varun V & Himanshi Kalra
Photographer: MNS Nishidha
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