Internship at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre – Abhishek from IIT-(BHU), Varanasi

You are capable of more than you know. Abhishek is pursuing Ceramic Engineering and shares his wonderful experience of internship days.

Actually let me start from the day when I got a call letter from BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) regarding the approval of my intern program. I was quite happy and informed it, even that too in extraordinary manner as I felt that I did something extraordinary, to all my friends, family members etc. because I was among some of the few students who got the call letters for their intern programs during the initial phase. I lied to some of my colleagues, when they asked me how I got the internship. I told them I got the intern through my father’s contact with some Professor of IIT-Delhi in materials sci. dept. but in reality there was nothing like that.

Now let me come to the struggle that started as now I had to complete formalities for obtaining various certificates and affidavits and that too from the Government dept, at administration level and also from the parent institution but during this whole phase I was pretty excited as I was doing something for internship.

Accommodation was not provided by the institute and I somehow managed to find a place along with two of my colleagues who were also selected for the same internship programme. A lot of formalities had to be completed for getting the accommodation and I started feeling as if I had been selected primarily for completing all the formalities.

Now the actual internship phase began as I went at BARC. In BARC, I was unable to find my research work laboratory. People there did not even know the address of my lab. While my colleagues easily found their respective places for doing research, I could do so only after contacting one of the scientific officer in my research work lab. After reaching my lab I found no one because it looked like Labyrinth but finally I met my mentor over there and I found that he was supportive in nature which which allowed me to take a sigh of relief and I thought that “Chalo Kuch to accha hua, Koi to accha mila” (something that happened to me was good, someone whom I met was good). Then he gave me instructions of my research work and also assigned me to work under staff members who were also supportive in nature.

Now the working phase began. In the initial time there was not too much work but later on it increased. But I also found that it was quite interesting but at times I just lost hope when the work did not proceed as per the required manner. Somehow finally I completed my task and made a report on my work. I also made some good friends and that too girls (engineering student- so you can understand) who were also working in the same lab but on different project.

On the last day of my internship there was an interactive program for interns and during that one of the speaker asked the question that “what will u do after your under-graduation?” then nobody answered him and there was pin drop silence in the hall. I raised my hand and replied to him that “I will do a job if I get a decent package otherwise I will go for CAT” then he mimicked me and said that “Oho Package matters” and again he pointed at me and asked that “I am pretty sure that you are from IIT” and then the whole lecture hall was filled with laughter and everybody was looking at me. Now see, how my fortune was always with me as later on I had to meet that speaker to obtain my Project training certificate and when I went to take my certificate he smiled at me and asked me “what is your name?” and then gave me my certificate.

I also want to add that my internship was intern cum traveling tour as I got lot of time on weekends to explore Mumbai. I also learnt Hindi numerals because in Mumbai the local buses had their series in Hindi numerals and I also traveled in Mumbai Local train even in peak hours which is again itself a big thing to do.

Now, I want to say that overall although the journey was full of ups and downs I learnt a lot like managing things by on own and also enjoyed a lot.

If Abhishek’s experience motivates you, you can check the latest internships in Mumbai.

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