Janata Needs

Hostel Packing List: 

Every fresher needs to make a packing list before coming to college. It’s a rite of passage. In this so aptly titled “Janata Needs” section, I’ve tried to somewhat create a guide to what you need to pack before coming to the hostel. It should be comprehensive. But if there’s anything you want to know, message me on Quora.

I’ve marked the stuff you can buy on campus in Red. Of course, if you have these items at home, bring them along. 

You can also order of Amazon or Flipkart. Both these retailers deliver to campus.

I’ve added my comments in the brackets.

Clothes and Footwear:

1. 7 -10 pairs of undergarments ( You have to wash your own clothes, so the more the merrier!)
2. 6-10 T-shirts (The Weather at IISER K is humid and hot, except for the winters. Best to pack light cotton shirts)
3. 3-4 pairs of pants (Jeans and whatnot)
4. 5-6 pair of shorts ( keep more if you play sports)
5. 3-4 pairs of night clothes ( if you are the civilised kind who wears different clothes while sleeping)
6. 3-4 bath towels (If you bathe)
7. 1-2 Jumper/Sweater/Hoodie (the winters are really cold here)
8. 5 handkerchiefs/handtowels (to wipe sweat in the humid summers and counter the cold in the freezing cold winters)
9. 6-7 pairs of socks (your feet will stink otherwise)
10. Belt ( The food slims you down, do get one)
11. Lab Coat & Safety Glasses (you’ll need these for labs. So bring your 12th grade one over in case you still have it.)
12. Swimming Suit ( the pool will be built soon, so be ready just in case)
13. Sandals ( To walk around campus in general)
14. Hawaii Chappals ( You can’t walk barefoot into the bathrooms)
15. Sports Shoes/Football Boots ( if you want to play sports, this is a necessity.)
16. Formal Clothes and Shoes ( Only if you want to dress up for the fresher’s events.)

Toiletries and Cosmetics:

1. Perfume/Deodorant (Don’t even think about not using this. You will sweat. A lot)
2. Dental Floss (for the very civilised)
3. Nail Cutter
4. Umbrella/Rain Coat (“It rains here” is an understatement. It’s like a flash flood from time to time.)
5. Bathing Soap/Shower Gel (If you bathe. Please do junior, the number of people doing so is getting smaller in number by day)
6. Shampoo/Conditioner
7. Face Wash ( to make it appear as if you have had a bath)
8. Hair Oil
9. Comb (to look presentable)
10. Toothbrush and Toothpaste (cannot be compromised)
11. Shaving Gel/ Trimmer/ Shaving Blades (unless you want to pull off the stereotypical, deranged scientist look!)
12. Detergent ( To wash your clothes)
13. Washing/Scrubbing Brush (if you don’t use the washing machine)
14. Soap Dish ( please, especially if you are using a soap cake. Be nice to your room-mates)
15. Bucket and Mug (FOR THE BATH)
16. Toilet Paper (it’s hygienic. You don’t want to contract an infection)
17. Ear Buds (unless you plan to use your ears as bacterial cultures)
18. Fabric Softener (for the fancy)
19. Hand Wash ( AGAIN. HYGIENE)
20. Vaseline/Moisturiser (good for the skin in the cold weather)
21. Lip Balm (again, good during cold weather)
22. Vicks/Iodex ( for the incoming cold and cough)

Stuff For Your Hostel Room:

1. Door Lock (the institute provides you with a door lock, but it’s good to keep one just in case)
2. Baggage Lock (to keep your valuables safely locked. Though the cupboard has locks, this is just a safety measure)
3. Table Lamp (if you use your desk a lot)
4. Broom and Dust Pan (to clean your room)
5. Dusting Cloth (also, to clean your room)
6. Dustbin and Garbage Bags (You can buy this with your roommates)
7. Kettle (order this off Amazon if you want to buy it. Necessary for maggi)
8. Flask (Important. Especially during the cold winters)
9.  Multicooker (To make maggi in the hostel, not really required though. It’s a luxury item, imho)
10. Torch (Really important! Buy a good one before you come, rechargeable is better.)
11. Clothes Line (unless you prefer to hang it outside in the hall)
12. Clips/ Hangers (to hang your clothes)
13. Extension Cord (there are only 2 plug points in each room)
14. Plates/Spoons (in case you choose to get your food back to your room)
15. Plastic Bags (always come in handy)
16. Newspapers (to line your cupboards and shelves)
17. Mosquito Net and Odomos (it’ll save you from all kinds of insects)

Bedding:

1. Mattresses ( you’ll find the normal kind here as well as those fancy Kurl-On types.)
2. Pillows 
3. Pillow Cover
4. Bed Sheet and Shawl (I’d suggest you get one from home anyhow)
5. Gloves (it gets cold here)
6. Monkey Cap (it gets really cold here)

Miscellaneous:

1.  Medicines (Though there is a medical centre here, having a few OTC medicines is always recommended- Crocin, Flagyl, Digene etc.)
2. Anti Fungal/ Anti Rash / Anti Bacterial creams (you may contract a rash, who knows)
3. School Bag
4. Stationery (if you have it lying around at home, just bring it)
5. Calculator (get a proper scientific calculator/buy one. It’ll be a very important tool throughout your stay here. The Casio fx series are what I use)
6. Stapler/Paper Punch/Files
7. Water Bottle (always stay hydrated)
8. ALL IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS (and atleast 2-3 photocopies of each one, it’ll come in handy. Trust me)
9. Passport Size Photographs (get like 10 or so. You’ll need it for forms and bank purposes)
10. Debit/Credit card
11. Aadhar Card
12. Spare Glasses and Case (there is a Optician outside Gate 7, but just in case)

Hi-Tech: 

1. Mobile Phone and Charger (bring it from home itself. Choose a model that’ll run you for a couple of years)
2. Laptop (if you are only using it for acads, then you could always just go to the CC. But there is a really strong hostel gaming culture. So I’d recommend a laptop. It’s all a part of the hostel life)
3. Pen Drive ( this is an amazing invention.)
4. Watch and Alarm Clock (really important. You can use an alarm clock on your phone)

Campus Stores:

There are a few convenience stores in the basement where you can buy a variety of items, I’ve listed them below:

1. Stationery and Book Store
2. General Convenience Store (To buy everything from maggi to toiletries to badminton shuttles)
3. Photocopy and printing shop
4. Mio-Amore (Bakery)
5. DTDC Courier
6. Dhobhi and Iron Shop
7. Men’s Barber
8. Women’s Salon
9. Sugarr and Spice (Bakery)

There is also a market outside gate 7, where there are several more convenience stores, as well as things such as a tailor, an optician, a shoe repair store (mochi) etc.

Weather:

I feel that a separate section dedicated to this is necessary. Let me explain myself. I come from the city of Bangalore, where the temperature always lies in the pleasant 23-26 degrees range and the humidity is low. No one warned me how extreme the weather at IISER Kolkata was going to be. Let me give you a small preview.

August- September mid: The weather during this time is so sultry. You’ll be sweating. A lot. It’s horrible. You’ll definitely struggle a bit, unless you are from a place with similar conditions.

September End-December Beginning : The weather is pleasant and cool. It isn’t too hot or humid. It’s nice and breezy.

January to March Beginning : It is freezing cold. Plus considering that IISER-K is outside the city, it is much colder. The temperature drops to 5 or 6 degrees in the night. I used to wear 3 layers of clothing and gloves before leaving my room.

March-April: It becomes really hot and humid again. But the month of April sees the arrival of Kaal Baisakh. Lots of heavy winds and light rainfall. Makes the evening weather cool and pleasant.

May-June-July: Hot. Extremely Humid.

When it’s 7 degrees and you are wearing 5 layers of clothes. 😛

The rains are here!

Hostel Life:

In my opinion, the best part about studying at IISER Kolkata has to be the hostel life. It’s a an integral part of the college experience. You’ll meet a ton of new people, and learn so many new things. 🙂

You and your friends may even decide to go to Kolkata or Kalyani, as many people do. If you ever want to, you’ll have to learn to adjust to travelling in the gruelling heat with hundreds of other people in the Local Trains. It’ll be an experience you’ll cherish for sure.

How often you visit the city depends on you/your friends group. During my first year I visited Kolkata around 8 to 10 times, for leisure and quizzes. Some clubs also organise trips to fests in Kolkata, such as the Book Fair and the Literary festival. If you want to, you can make ample use of these opportunities!

It’s a wonderful city, best explored by foot.

If you happen to be a travel junkie like me, you’ll love the city.

The beautiful Salt Lake Football Stadium, Kolkata

Somewhere in Kolkata. 🙂

I’ve posted some photos below that should give you an idea of just how fun hostel life is. 😀

Where else will you see people swimming in their sleep?

Repercussions of staying up the whole night and arguing about politics.

When you’ll do just about anything to avoid a GPL. 😛

When it’s Friday and the squad wants to game.

The day thirteen, football crazed souls, travelled to Salt Lake to watch a world cup game. 🙂

When your evolution project demands you make a giraffe, but you and your partner have the artistic ability equal to that of a mouse.

After all, it’s IISER-K. You’ll be guaranteed more than just a good education if you come here. 🙂