Prof. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras |"No substitute for hard work to become a great engineer"|Ep.23

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

May 16, 2025

Duration

1h 5m

Channel

Best Place To Build

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

For every JEE aspirant counting down the hours to May 18th... The day you've spent sleepless nights preparing for is almost here. As you make those final revisions and manage your pre-exam nerves, we bring you something special—a glimpse into what lies beyond the JEE journey. Professor Veezhinathan Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras (India's #1 ranked institute for 8 consecutive years), opens the doors to the institution that might soon become your home for the next four transformative years. 💡 Why This Matters To You Right Now:

• Discover what makes IIT Madras unique: Learn about IIT Madras' revolutionary computer science curriculum where students build entire computing systems from NAND gates up to compilers and whatnot
• Beyond Computer Science: Hear why our motto "Siddhir Bhavati Karmaja" (Success is born of action) drives excellence across ALL departments, not just CS
• Prof. Kamakoti explains what the exam truly tests and why a top rank doesn't guarantee being a topper at IIT
• The changing landscape of IIT careers: Why only 40-50% of students now take traditional jobs, and how their "Career Pathway Centre" supports entrepreneurs, researchers, and civil servants

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For Parents:

• Understand why forcing your child into a "trending" branch against their interests might backfire
• Learn how IIT Madras nurtures diverse talents through specialized programs
• Hear how the institute is creating pathways beyond placements, including the incubator supporting over 100 startups

🚀 If you're watching this after your JEE exam: Whether you're celebrating after JEE Advanced or reflecting on your performance, this conversation offers valuable perspective on the journey ahead. The exam is just one day—your passion and diligence in your chosen field will shape the decades that follow. "Never be unmindful of your obligation to learn and to teach" — The guiding philosophy that has made IIT Madras India's premier technology institution. 00:00 - Introduction to Prof. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras 00:47 - Setting the stage at IIT Madras' Sudan Chunker Innovation hub 01:12 - Prof. Kamakoti's research interests and teaching philosophy 03:26 - The RISE Group: Reconfigurable Intelligence Systems Engineering 05:12 - The Shakti Project: India's first indigenous microprocessor 06:37 - The ecosystem of startups from Shakti 09:32 - Computer Science curriculum at IIT Madras 13:49 - The three pillars: Theory, Systems, and Applications in CS 17:38 - Teaching approach: Building the entire systems stack 20:02 - Bachelor's in AI and Data Analytics: The cross-disciplinary approach 23:26 - Investment in Medical Sciences and Technology at IIT Madras 27:56 - The innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at IIT Madras 31:43 - Patents and intellectual property: The foundation for startups 35:10 - Career pathways beyond placements: The changing student preferences 40:14 - The JEE Advanced philosophy: Why it's uniquely challenging 42:30 JEE Exam: What makes it so difficult? 46:14 Duality of JEE Rank: There is no bad course 51:00 Advice to Parents: Talk to the child and understand their interest first 55:26 Future of Science in 11th and 12th: Will students ever enjoy the syllabus? 58:00 NIRF Rank 1 for 8 Years: What makes IIT Madras so good? 01:01:12 Improvement in QS Rankings: Are international rankings aligned to what IITM can do? 01:04:15 Siddhir Bhavati Karmaja: What does it mean and how should students and alumni carry it forward?

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Veezhinathan Kamakoti

  guest

• Unknown Host

  host

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Best Place To Build, featuring Veezhinathan Kamakoti and Unknown Host, Prof. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras |"No substitute for hard work to become a great engineer"|Ep.23 explores iIT Madras Director on engineering rigor, Shakti chips, startups Prof. Kamakoti frames great engineering as the outcome of rigorous conceptual thinking and sustained hard work, not merely exam ranks or early pay packages.

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