Arya Chakrabarty

Blogger, Brainstormer, Concerned citizen, Engineer, Foodie, Hindu, Idea generator, Social entrepreneur, Student, World traveler

I am currently pursuing my Bachelors of Technology degree from KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. I have interned at ITC Infotech in Web Development, at Candid Communication in Public Relations. I have been a journalist at The Telegraph In Schools and have also worked as a Private Tutor. I also am interested in debating, quizzing, acting, entrepreneurship and community service. My achievements are as follows: In School: • President of the Dramatic Group for the academic year 2009-10 and Vice-President for the academic year 2008-09. •Member of the Organizing Committee of Bosco Fest 2009, an annual inter-school cultural festival involving 14 schools. •School Representative for various inter school festivals. • Was Organizer of the 2nd Round of the Frank Anthony Memorial Debate Competition, 2009 held at Don Bosco School, Kolkata. • Represented the school at LMCMUN 2009 and was awarded Certificate of Recommendation for extra-ordinary performance. • Stood 2nd in Bosco Polemic, debate competition at Bosco Fest, 2009. • Stood 2nd in Jubilee Quiz 2009, the annual inter-school Quiz Competition of Don Bosco School, Park Circus. • Qualified for the finals of Jaco ‘Iz 2009, the annual inter school quiz of St.James’ school, Kolkata. • Stood 3rd in Ad Spoof Competition at the inter school fest of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata. • Stood 2nd in Drama in Bosco Fest, 2008 at Don Bosco School, Park Circus. • Stood 2nd in Drama in Boscotsav, 2008 at Don Bosco School, Liluah. • Stood 3rd in Street Play at TTIS Challenge 2008 among 91 schools. • Was Master of Ceremonies for Bosco Beat, Bosco Raag and Bosco Tango, the main events at Bosco Fest 2009. • Was Member of the school basketball team from class 6-8 and won the WBBA State Under-13 Basketball Tournament in 2004. • Represented his house in the Inter-House Basketball Tournament and came 1st in class 6 and 8. • Stood 1st in the Intramural Debate Competition in class 11 and 12 and 3rd in class 10. • Stood 1st in the Intramural Quiz Competition in class 7 and 11 and 2nd in the Cyber Quiz at Bosco Bit, an intra school Cyber Fest. • Hosted various events in school and gave commentary for the presentation on the occasion of Independence Day Celebration, 2009. • Actively took part in cultural programs inside school such as Rector’s and Parents’ Day, Teacher’s Day, Gratitude Day, Independence Day, etc. ** 100% attendance in school maintained over 14 years. In College: • Founder of the Entrepreneurship Cell of KIIT University. Served as Secretary – Marketing for the academic year 2012-2013. • Progressed into 2nd Round at Pratijja 2011 and at Pratijja 2012, an annual oratory competition organized by the Literary Society of KIIT University. • Was finalist at Launchpad 2011, an annual intra-University quiz. • Stood 3rd at “Does Grey Matter”, a national level quiz part of Kritansh 2012. • Active member of Kronicle (Literary Society), Qutopia (Quizzing Society) and Dramatics Society of KIIT University. • Won Special Mention in ECOSOC at IIT Kanpur MUN, 2011, in ECOSOC at Sophia College MUN. • Won High Commendation at IIT Kgp MUN 2012. • Was the President of the European Council at ODSMUN, 2012. • Was a member of the college dramatics team which stood 3rd in Rangmanch, a national level drama competition at Spring Fest, 2011 at IIT Kharagpur. • Was an organizer of Udghosh 2011, an annual open quiz competition held at KIIT University. • Was an organizer of Founder’s Cup Debate 2011, the intra-University debate of KIIT University. • Performed a skit at the 99th Indian Science Congress, 2012 and was also an emcee during the same. • Was an organizer of Cultural Events in the 99th Indian Science Congress, 2012. • Wrote the plot for a street play in college which won first prize at XIMB Xpressions 2011. • Was part of drama team selected to perform at the Channel V Nokia INDIA FEST 2012 held at Goa. • Was a member of the Editorial Board for the College Magazine, Kritika for 2012. Compiled the College Magazine from raw articles into the complete magazine in just 4 days. • Was co-creator of Kronos 2012, a multi-discipline business game at Kritansh 2012. • Was a member of the Central Information Commission at Kritansh, 2012. • Was a member of the Organizing Crew of Koncord 2012, the Intra-University Personality Competition held at KIIT University. • Was a commentator for KIIT Premier League, 2012, a national invitational cricket tournament held at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. • Was a volunteer at the 8th ICDCIT Conference 2012 held at KIIT University,Bhubaneswar. * Co-Author of the only Indian Blog regarding the 2012 US Presidential Election.

Sports. The world of sports fascinates me as it has the ability to evoke every single emotion known to us humans. It can make us cry, laugh, love, hate, ecstatic, desperate, ruthless, generous, cruel.

"An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And even the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define or destroy you." Today, I feel ashamed at the sorry state of the administration in India. The rampant corruption in the state machine has left us a laughing stock in much of the world’s eyes. If the problem at hand seems to be clear, then the solution is equally simple. Prevention, after all, is better than cure. All it would take on our part is the courage and moral integrity to say ‘No.’ No when confronted with bias, no when confronted with prejudice, no when confronted with bribes etc. It may not sound like much, because it isn’t much at all. But that would be all it takes to go a long way towards reversing this modern day political circus we find ourselves daily spectators to. Petty corruption, scams and scandals that have rocked our world in the recent past could all be potentially done away with. Just by saying ‘No’ when tempted to do the

Acting & Theatre, Blogging & Social Media, Debate, quizzing, Software Engineering

Last year, I was browsing through videos on Youtube when I came across a video of Harsha Bhogle, a person who I look upto just because he comes completely from a non-cricketing background and yet the entire country wakes up at 5 in the morning to listen to him during India's tours down under. And I was mesmerized in the manner in which he was speaking and the content of his speech for he was talking about an idea, the idea of cricket in India, a foreign sport in this country of ours adopted and Indianised with aplomb. The speech was completely different from the routine stuff you get to hear in lectures on cricket, and there are many. I noticed that the speech was for something called TEDx. I got interested and started researching on TED, and when this amazing world opened up before me, I felt like a fool having not known about it earlier. And from that day on I started watching the videos everyday, and most importantly have been able to generate the same interest in my friends.

Playing basketball, In fact, I have represented my school at the State level for the Under-13 category. However, I never concentrated on the sport and hardly find time to play it regularly.