A journey through Biotechnology

By

Himanshu Sahni

B.E. in Biotechnology Panjab University

Presently working as Senior Systems Engineer, Infosys Technologies

I just passed out after completing my B.E in biotechnology from U.I.E.T, Panjab University, Chandigarh. It is an above average institute. Joining an engineering course in biotech was an event in itself as I had joined it because of the great hype surrounding it and also because top rankers were opting for this branch. So in my case it was more of a bhed chaal.

The first year was great fun in PU. I met so many new people, so many good friends and on the back of my mind I was happy thinking that I have a safe career and a bright future ahead (since I had opted for biotech).

The first year went away happily since there was no biotech involved yet. Then came the second year when biotech began to be taught in all seriousness. I was really taken by surprise because I didn’t know even the rudiments of bio. My grades started slipping all of a sudden. Then I thought of working hard but those practicals, I hated them all. The point was I was not willing to work in that biotech lab which was the most hated corner of my college.

The 2nd year passed by and I saw my grades falling like a pack of cards (because of those practicals). However, when I entered the 3rd year I realized that it was time to decide about the future. What to do and what direction to take as well as what goals to set for myself.

My seniors from biotech were not able to find goods jobs for themselves so the ambience was a little tense. I joined coaching classes for MBA. I really liked that stuff and found that I actually belong to the MBA milieu.

Meanwhile the 4th year also arrived and, in its wake, it brought placements to our college. Infy was the first company and it surprised everyone by taking 109 out of 180 students who sat for the test. Only 8 from biotech got selected and I was one of the lucky ones. That was virtually the end of placements for BT guys.

While everyone had two job offers some even had three. But several BT students didn’t get even one offer. So I was actually quite content with what I got. The year also finished and I decided to go for my job and dropped the idea of MBA. Now I am sitting at my place and a month s left to go to Mysore, friends have gone back to their respective places, it is a very awkward situation actually. Everyone curses biotech because they didn’t get what they actually aspired for or thought they deserved. But I believe that a day will come when bio-techies will rule the world and I would like to see that day...

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