‘IIT Guwahati taught me more than engineering: Coffin dances, Maggi and an events head title’ | Life in an IIT

Aryan Srivastava spent eight months in 2023 and 2024 as a double life. At MNNIT Allahabad, he attended classes and maintained a normal presence on campus, while secretly preparing for JEE Advanced without anyone realizing. This dual lifestyle allowed him to secure an AIR 8703 in JEE Advanced and eventually enroll at IIT Guwahati, where he is studying Biosciences and Bioengineering.

Aryan grew up in Prayagraj, where his father worked in banking and his mother taught at a school. At age seven, he began studying trigonometry from his sister's Class 10 math book, eventually deciding on a career path. He misses Prayagraj but finds Guwahati keeps him busy enough to limit homesickness. Aryan first appeared for JEE Main and scored 99.2 percentile, but a medical issue led to a poor JEE Advanced attempt.

He chose MNIT Allahabad as a partial drop allowed him to continue preparing while attending classes. After reappearing for JEE Advanced in 2024, he secured an AIR 8703 and joined IIT Guwahati. He tried to avoid campus clubs initially but eventually became part of Anchorenza, Equinox, and TEDxIITGuwahati. His most memorable performance was playing Astronomia for a full hall of professors.

He joined the Students Welfare Board to stay informed about campus activities and was eventually appointed Events Head, managing a Burger King launch, rulebook drafting, and the Pan-IIT Wellbeing Summit. The Brahmaputra in winter captivates him, and he enjoys the city's curiosity-driven atmosphere.