Final midsems and some concerns!

Just coming back from CL442 mid-semester exam. And with this, we are done with our final midsems of IIT stay (there might be one of Prof. Roy next week, but lets take it officially done). Like the quiz, the paper was a good one (given that it was theoretical) and had good variety of questions which could be done well if one has attended the lectures. The only midsem other than this was 'Principles of Management' and had good problems - general in nature but demanding careful dissection of the associated aspects and good insight into the management concepts.
However, my experience of examinations throughout my IIT stay hasn't been very cheerful (and I am not talking about grades here, which if not the best are quite good). Somehow, I have found that most of them don't demand much creativity and intelligence on the part of the student and most of the questions are routine classroom examples and problems quoted in the book (to the extent that me and Mayank joke many a times these days - "Yaar yeh log (Profs) chahte hi nahin ki hum padhe").
Thanx to the IIT Junta (including myself) that most of us don't even care to do that minimum and the grades we get reflect the need of an examination of same or lower standard for the next time. I remember how Prof. Anurag Mehra had once turned down the request of an open-book examination in the Mass Transfer II course saying that we don't even perform well in routine exams and an open-book exam will just add to our worries (for reasons I guess everyone knows).
At this point, I would also like to refer to Rishi Jajoo, the Harvard Student who was at IITB for a semester on a study abroad program. In the latest InsIghT issue, he pointed out some more issues concerning the academic front including teaching style and competency of Profs (to which I would also agree to a large extent) and the lack of hard work on the part of students (copying assignments and lab work). Since he wasn't here for long, he didn't realize that most of the examinations are also easily passed by just mugging up the notes and cogged assignments.
By now, I am pretty sure that I must have invoked fury of most of the IIT Junta who is reading this blog but may I ask them (and I have asked myself too) our purpose at IIT? Of course IITB provides a ground for all-round development of one's personality which should be properly utilized, the topmost priority remains as academics. I have seen people arguing - Nahin padhna, kya kar loge? or Hamaari apni priorities hain and IIT is no one to decide on that. This is like spitting on a road where it is not allowed except the fact that this is not directly punishable here. But there are some indirect consequences of that.
India and especially IITs & IIMs haven always been applauded for producing great leaders. But as Rishi points out - it is not for the academic grilling here but the so-called cream that churns out of the competitive IIT-JEE and CAT examinations. And sadly, JEE is becoming easier every year. I am not sure about its effect on the quality of the students clearing the coveted examination, but it can only be neutral or negative. What I want to reason from this fact is that despite the quality of input to IITs, a good atmosphere of learning and development (possible only when both sides do their job well) will surely foster better leaders of tomorrow than what they are producing now.
Rishi also questioned the lack of diversity of interests of students at IIT Bombay. Since this is another BIG and important issue, I would like to cover it in a different blog sometime (of course after some approval of the ideas posted in this blog :-P).
I don't know who is to blame in all this matter. Profs of course want their students to score good and feel better and then an overall bad performance of students raises questions on their performance as an instructor at the Department level (which mayn't always be the case). On the other hand, a collective transformation in the attitude of us students will be nothing short of a miracle.
It is always better to take some positive moves for change rather than keep playing the blame game. On part of Profs, sincere personal efforts have to be made in the direction of improvements in teaching style, course content and problem selection for class and examinations (don't know who'll tell the profs who don't introspect). As students, we should approach courses and professors with a more positive approach, try to take interest (and believe me, that half battle is won when an attempt is made) rather than staying prejudiced just by our own outlook or senior's feedback.
I would end the blog by telling about my discussion with a non-IITian friend of mine who has apped this year and is still awaiting a positive response. I was just telling her about the crack app scene at IIT Bombay this year (especially the Chem Engg Dept) and the immediate response was, "Yahi to problem hai ki hum IIT se nahin hai". I am still positive about her getting an app and so for the waiting junta here at IIT Bombay, but would just like to add that this is a unique platform available to a only a meager point percentage of student population in India and properly utilizing this opportunity is in our hands.
There is a lot to change in myself too and I'll try not to give final-sem-excuse for not being sincere in class the next time. Individual change is our first responsibility and once that is done, we can take some steps in the direction of collective change as well. Wishing all the best to everyone!