Details
Name: Anand MishraResearch Experience(years): 3 1/2
Lab: CVIT
Occupation: Phd Student
Professor: Prof. Jawahar
Area of Interests: Computer Vision, Probabilistic models
Email Id: anand.mishra@research.iiit.ac.in
Link to your homepage or blog: http://researchweb.iiit.ac.in/~anand.mishra/
Motivation to pursue research
What was your intention or motivation to join a research program before you joined IIIT H? Interest,Aim and Purpose that made you pursue research program.
I
am not among those who have big ambitions. I neither dream of solving a
big problems nor of achieving something extra-ordinary in my career. I
believe in a day to day progress. The progress to achieve the perfection
in the work. the progress to learn something new, the progress to
become a better person, the progress to understand the infinity. Since I
am decided to do be in computer science, the best I can do was to join a
research program. Fortunately, this motivation and intention does not
change even today.
How did you feel in your first semester when you have to select a lab and decide under which Prof. you have to work?
I
was very much sure with whom I am going to work and the "very" broad
area before joining IIIT-H. This is more like an arrange marriage where
you choose your spouse without having more interactions.
(My
most of the decisions are like that, probably I don't spend much time
on such decisions). The interest in visual data understanding came
during my M.Tech. at BIT Mesra when I worked on some toy image
processing/pattern recognition problems.What was your motivation behind staying in Academics rather than joining industry ?
In your opinion,what are the major differences between academics and industry?
Academia
gives freedom in thinking, innovating, and initiating. You can be a
leader who can inspire many young talents to do good by your discipline
and hard work. Isn't it a great motivation? Also, Its the academia which
gives you freedom of learning in a pace and the way you wish.
What was your motivation behind pursuing Ph.d?
Want
to truly understand concepts, understand the limitations and feel the
infinity. Moreover, I wish to make career in academia. Thus the best I
can do is to join PhD and enhance my skills for academia.
Thesis
How did you choose your thesis area?And why did you choose that particular area?
Thesis related questions are quite specific to individuals, thus tough to answer.
How was your experience w.r.t paper (or thesis) writing and do have any tips that will make paper (or thesis) writing process an easy one?
(1) Break down the task of writing full papers into sections, subsection, paragraphs and sentences.
(2) Write the skeleton, with dummy blocks for table, graph etc well before 20 days of submission(3) Do not wait till you get all the results
(4) Revise the papers as many time as you can.
Suggestions to existing research students at IIIT H
What do you suggest for newly joined research students with regard to choosing lab and enrolling under a Prof. ?What should students consider while choosing a lab and enrolling under a Prof. ?
I
will not ask new students to work too much on what you like. Since I
believe its silly. You can ask yourself do you like DBMS, networks,
algorithms, or wish to work on Pattern Recognition related work etc.
Based on your answer you can decide lab. Then you should talk students
in that lab. Never think choosing lab or adviser is THE decision of your
life.
Does regular writing of your ideas and your understanding of a concept (or a research paper) in own words help? If yes how?
Writing
/ communicating is one of the important things in research. Even if
your idea is great, if you fail to explain it simply, I would say your
knowledge is of the unsatisfactory kind. Writing is an art and like
other arts regular practice does improve writing skills. Its good to
summarize and criticize the papers you read. It has two advantages: (1)
You read the papers carefully (2) Your writing / thinking improves.
(Preaching is always easier than acting).
What practices would you suggest for young research students at IIIT H?
I still feel too young to answer this question :) But since this question is asked I would say:
(1) Don't think that you can do something very novel in day 1. You should start working on toyproblems. Learn to systematically analysis the problem and solution.
(2) Be regular in work. Try to do something small even when you don't feel like working. Tenancy is important to finish the work.
How to resolve dilemma of either going for Ph.d or job? When a MS by research or dual degree is about finish his programme?
Ask yourself: (1) Do you enjoy teaching (2) Is money not that important for you?
(3) Do you enjoy the joy of giving/sacrifice (4) If family is important to you, doesit support your decision? (5) Are you ready to spend your next 5-6 years in a single problem?
If your answers are YES, you should go for PhD.
(Note: When I say enjoy teaching, I DON'T mean you have only option of teaching
after PhD. But such interest does matter in keeping you motivated during PhD. When
I say Money, I mean "PhD is not the optimum path to earn money" and are you OK
with that).
View about research at IIITH
What should be improved with regard to research culture at IIIT H ?Do suggest any change in structure of MS or Ph.d program?Why?Anything which you felt lacking in research culture at IIITH while you were pursuing your research !!!!
The
first thing which attracted me to CVIT is large group working on
relatively narrow area.(This is more or less true for all other research
centers at IIIT-H). I was always keen to work in such group where you
can communicate your ideas. However, I still find many people who prefer
to work from room, do not even give a presentation in a year, do not
even discuss their problems with their colleagues. I believe such
practice might make the entire environment dull in a longer run.
In your opinion, how does environment at IIIT H helps an individual in pursuing research? Anything like freedom do it your own way, weather, green campus, …
The
first thing which attracted me to CVIT is large group working on
relatively narrow area.(This is more or less true for all other research
centers at IIIT-H). I was always keen to work in such group where you
can communicate your ideas. However, I still find many people who prefer
to work from room, do not even give a presentation in a year, do not
even discuss their problems with their colleagues. I believe such
practice might make the entire environment dull in a longer run.
How does research program at IIIT H helped in your overall growth as a responsible person(or citizen) of society(or India)?
"Work in Progress"
Centre
How was your overall experience w.r.t work culture of your centre?Does discussions with fellow researchers in same centre helps? How does it help?
Importance of discussions with fellow researchers !!
Yes it does.
(1) It helps in improving your thinking skills.
(2) Your communication skills
(3) You can be updated with a lesser effort
(4) It can keep you going even when you are not doing great.
We have started a study group in CVIT two months back (Special thanks to Natraj J. for taking initiative).I am finding it very useful for learning, teaching and thinking.
Final Comments
Please quote us your favourite tagline which let you 'get going'?ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है
मुश्किलें बहुत हैं अभी इस डगर में
तु काँटों में चलने की आदत डाल ले
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है |
ये वक़्त है उठ खड़े होने का
अभिशाप को वरदान में बदलने का
तु विश्वास को मजबूत कर आगे बढ़ने की आदत डाल ले
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
हारते तो वो हैं जो ठहर जाते हैं
आगे बढ़ते रहने वालों की कभी हार नहीं होती
तु अविरत आगे बढ़ने की आदत डाल ले
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
हो सकता है कि हँसना मुमकिन न हो
पर दूसरों को हँसाना तो मुमकिन है
तु दूसरों को हंसा कर खुश रहने की आदत डाल ले
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
जब ख़ुशी से भी डर लगे, जब किसी का भी साथ न हो
जब ख़ुशी से भी डर लगे, जब किसी का भी साथ न हो
तब भी तु अकले चलने की आदत डाल ले
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
तु दूसरों से अपने दर्द पर मरहम लगाने की आश मत रख
जिन्होंने दर्द सहा नहीं, वे हाल-ए-दर्द क्या समझें
तु दर्द से लड़ने की आदत डाल ले
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
आने दे मुश्किलों को,
बर्बादी को आने दे
तु बर्बादियों को बर्बाद करने की आदत डाल ले
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
वैसे भी, मैदान-ए-जंग में या जीत होती है या जनाजे उठते हैं
वैसे भी, मैदान-ए-जंग में या जीत होती है या जनाजे उठते हैं
तू दोनों के लिए तैयार रह
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
ए मन तु ना हार अभी तो जंग का आगाज भी बाकी है ||
-- (My own lines)
