My journey in IIT Kanpur began with a correction round. I was initially allotted IIT BHU, but in the sixth round of JOSAA counselling, I got IIT Kanpur. My parents were thrilled as it is close to home in Lucknow. For me, it was the beginning of a chapter I had not planned, but one that has shaped every part of who I am becoming.

Striking the Right Chord: Music as My Anchor
From the start, two things defined my life here: chemical engineering and music. I joined the Music Club early on, first as a member, then as a secretary, and now as a coordinator. What began as a love for the music grew into an identity.

The first lessons in music began in school from my friend Emmanuel and by sneaking out of classes to learn from my music teacher. The constant pursuit led to the Music Club here, which gave me people to grow with - seniors, juniors, collaborators, and close friends - who are all bound by the shared rhythm of jamming.

Here I got to explore mare than what I had dreamt of, including finally touching a real piano for the first time and those 88 weighted keys humbled me instantly. Since then, I have explored drums, bass guitar, and clap-box. Every evening here ends with the club playing, planning, or just listening.

A Club Like No Other
The Music Club at IIT Kanpur is a holistic place to host workshops, perform at campus events, and organize massive musical extravaganzas every year - one in September and one as a farewell for the graduating batch. We have performed everything from Indian fusion and progressive metal to unplugged Bollywood covers under the stars.

Choosing songs for events is a ritual in itself that brings the entire Music Club together. First years to seniors all put in recommendations, which we then sort through democratic, dynamic, and often heated sessions, yet making it one of the most exciting parts of preparing for a performance.

Becoming a coordinator has taught me the weight of responsibility, starting with a gruelling 8-hour interview, an intense, candid test of leadership, vision, and endurance. This role has made me recognise the significance of building something for others.

Engineering Meets AI: Blending Interests
This summer, I am pursuing a SURGE internship under Professor Salman Khan, working on generative AI models for developing materials used in renewable energy storage. The project sits at the intersection of machine learning and materials science, two fields I have grown increasingly interested in, especially after being part of the Cognitive Science Club.

The connection? Curiosity. Whether it is tweaking a neural net or learning a new beat, I have realized I thrive at intersections of logic and creativity, structure and improvisation.

Notes That Stay with Me
Some professors leave a mark that lingers. One person I look up is my SURGE referee Professor Umesh Madan. As a tutor for Thermodynamics, he made a subject I struggled with in JEE feel intuitive and clear. His tutorials, his patience, even his facility tour, all helped me understand not just thermodynamics, but how great teaching feels.

Dreaming in Dual Tracks
Instead of a dream job, I have a dream workspace. A keyboard in the corner, a set of drumsticks on the desk. Be it a cubicle in a tall building or my own startup, I know I want music to always be part of my day.

Currently exploring further studies either in Chemical Engineering or management, the entire focus right now is on learning, interning, and maybe even composing something original. We are already working on two songs as a club and we hope to make it public by the end of summer.

My Life, My Soundtrack
To sum up my life till now, it is a series of carefully improvised melodies, each one shaped by new chords and changing rhythms. Some tracks that define the moments:
•        Wake-up call: “Jhini” – Indian Ocean
•        Late-night chill: Shakti Live sessions
•        Current obsession: Madharjan’s fusion rock
•        All-time vibe: Indian fusion + progressive metal

Without music, I would have missed half the IITK experience. It has given me friends, confidence, leadership, and a language to express what words could not.