HSEE? HS? All the What-s, How-s and Why-s.

Hi there! If you took the pains to come here, I'm guessing you probably know well in advance what HSEE is. Fret not, even if you don't. Because I'm going to let you in on a secret - I didn't know what HSEE was even after I had given the exam. I knew that it stands for "Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Exam", but apart from that, and the fact that the exam is for joining the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Madras, I didn't know anything. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. It took Anand Sreekumar, a kind senior, to break it down for me - telling me, very frankly, all the pros and cons. So even if you think you know the exam and the course inside out, read this up, I bet you might find something you didn't know. 

Oh and let me bust one myth right off the bat. If you are doing science in school, it is ABSOLUTELY fine. I myself did Bio-Math (PCMB). So did half my class. There, you can calm down now.

Let's cover the basics first - What is this program? The Humanities program at IIT Madras is a 5 year long integrated MA Program that lets you graduate (the fancy hat throwing thing) with a Master's degree in either 'English Studies' or 'Development Studies'. This choice is made in your third year, based on your preference and your academic performance. 

The English Studies or ES course is for the people who love, live and breathe English Language and Literature. It is not quite like the typical English Lit. courses offered in most universities, in that it offers a wide range of courses from all kinds of Social Science disciplines. You might have a course on Shakespeare and another one on Human Rights in the same semester. It challenges you to look at literature with more nuance and from so many different perspectives. 

The Development Studies or DS course is designed for those of you who wish to study a wide platter of subjects designed to study human development from various angles. How did we get here? Where are we going? How do we work to better humanity? If working to find answers to the big questions and challenges that we face collectively excites you, this is perfect for you. From climate, to education, poverty, gender, violence, debates and lectures on almost every topic imaginable can be heard echoing through the hallowed corridors of the department. 

As you might have figured out by now, whether ES or DS, there is something unique about how we learn things here. The course is designed with a lovely Interdisciplinary approach at its very heart. And what does that mean? Well, unlike most other courses in the Humanities, this one isn't a laser focussed course aimed at one particular subject; say, like a Bachelors in Economics. Instead, the course touches upon every known field within the scope of Social Science and Humanities [except Psychology] and gives you a strong understanding of everything without going too deep into any one particular field of study. Long story short - this isn't for Specialists, but those of you who love to be Generalists and visionaries.

What does this imply? Let's say, after 5 years of slogging at IIT Madras, you happen to chat with an Economist. When she discusses a problem in Economics, she would do so solely from the perspective and purview of Economics, whereas you will ideally be equipped to approach the same problem from multiple angles, say, how historical trends may be used to analyse the given problem, or how current developments in foreign policy has had a role to play in it, etc. Unlike her, you would have been trained to tackle problems through an interdisciplinary lens - thinking across various fields and putting the pieces together. While this makes our graduates hot favourites of potential employers like the UN, it is also sometimes a curse (I'll get to that in a bit). So, yes, you have a plenty of subjects you deal with, over the years, from History, Sociology, Philosophy, to International Relations, Pop Culture, Music/Film Theory, Macro and Micro Economics, Feminism, Postcolonial Theory, World Literature etc. while also revelling in the fun that is Insti Life.

What's the catch you ask? First off, this course does not automatically guarantee you a job. Yes, folks, you heard me right. No one in the whole world is going to offer you a job after 5 years simply because you did your MA in IIT Madras (be it, ES or DS) unlike say MBBS or LLB, where irrespective of whether you drooled right through the entire course you'll still be a doctor or lawyer at the end of it. Here, the game is yours. You've got to find your own way, eventually solidify your interests, snatch internships, plan elective courses etc, to land whichever job you want to. Also if you are the "Get job, make Paisa" Person, chances are that this isn't the right place for you, because, only rarely have people from this Department landed jobs that pay in astronomical proportions. I'm not saying it is impossible. People have done it before. All I am suggesting is, come here if you love the course, not the job prospects. However, all of that said; with sufficient will and effort, you could land a job in any arena where your heart truly belongs. I'll get to that in a bit.

The next con is the interdisciplinary generalist nature. While interdisciplinary approach is fantastic, it might not be everybody's piece of cake. If you are the sort of person who has spent your childhood reading everything and anything that you could get your dirty little hands on, then you can safely call yourself a generalist. However, if your tastes are so specific that anything over, beyond, above or below your field of interest does not appeal to you, step back and think again, you might be better off with a degree in that one field. Interdisciplinarity has yet another disadvantage. If, at the end of 5 years, you choose to pursue advanced studies (a PhD), the number of choices you have might be very limited in comparison to a student who graduated in a subject specific Masters, like say, History. This is because universities prefer PhD candidates to have done their Masters in a particular relevant subject. But then again, there are people who do manage to justify PhD seats right after graduating from this program. It is just more of a fight.

Lastly, there is the confusion that freedom guarantees. Which, depending on what sort of a person you are, might be an issue that ranges from major to minor. There are a million different courses to choose from and between, and sometimes, choosing between courses can be a baffling affair. You might not have all your interests figured out, and it could get overwhelming sometimes to have so much choice.

However, your seniors and professors are around to help, and to misquote my favourite long bearded gay professor - "Help will always be given at Insti, Harry, to those who ask for it". 

Apart from this, the few other issues you may face might be the omnipresent seniors at the DCF, the corridors, and the coffee shop, and the equally tenacious monkeys in Brahms and Sharav (Oh you've gotta get in here to figure out what these are.. bwahahaha).

And now, the Pros.

First of all, if you love this interdisciplinary approach, the course is Bliss. Rumour has it that in the last batch that graduated, every one of the 46 students landed 46 different professions, right from journalism to photography to international think-tanks. Within my own batch, my one of my friends wants to direct movies, while another is hellbent on making it into the IAS, and I am still a clueless otter. If you feel that the freedom to follow your heart shouldn't have to end with a decision you were forced to make in your 12th, this is your haven. This course gives you a taste of everything under Social Studies, and you can take your time to make an informed choice. In short, no regrets. On a personal not, I chose this course primarily because of this. I did not want to be in a place where I knew that 4 or 5 years down the line, irrespective of what I do, I'd end up doing one predetermined thing. For instance, if I did MBBS, irrespective of whether I feel this isn't what excites me in, say, my 3rd year, I'd still end up being a Doctor, or forced to start fresh. That, I guarantee you, would not happen here.

Then there is the whole process of studying. It isn't the typical lecture, homework, examination rigmarole. Professors encourage discussions and debates in class. Various opinions are floated, argued and bested. It's pure alchemy. Also, travel is an important factor. In my first semester alone I travelled all over south India. Ever heard of Bylakuppe? It's India's largest Tibetan Settlement, right here, in Mysore. And I spent a week there, with some of my friends, as part of my history project, from the first semester. Trust me, it only gets better. The department also offers a huge variety of exchange programmes with universities all over the world (I spent a winter in Montreal myself), and many other avenues to satisfy the wanderlust in you. Oh, and it is not compulsory. If you are the couch potato, no one's gonna poke you either. Foreign language enthusiasts amongst you have good news too - in the first year you get to learn either German or French. Also, for those of you who aspire to join the civil services, this course is ideal for you, setting up a solid foundation and giving you plenty of free time to prepare. 

Well, to conclude, Insti life is brilliant. (Yes, we call it Insti - not IIT and definitely not college; Insti.) There's every sport you've ever wanted to play, every opportunity to hone any skills that you may have, even make new skills from scratch, and a hell of a lot of wonderful people to share it all with. And if you ever get tired of humans, we have tons of deer, monkeys, blackbuck, a few foxes, dogs and cats. It's a lush green 636 acre campus, and trust me, you will love it in here. It's generally very hot in Chennai, but nevertheless it is relatively cooler in campus. Oh, and small department tid-bit, the HS department is also sometimes called "Mallu land", thanks to an overwhelming Keralite presence. As for the exact stats, I'll tell you when you run up to me in the corridor one of these days. 

Just another regular day at the HS Department.