Was it GCET before creation of chattisgarh state? There is confusion whether GCET was converted in NIT or GCET building was handed over to NIT and GCET shifted/or to be started at some other place in Raipur.There is also a discussion on this in "NIT Group" in Linkedin.The students who passed out before 2003 had "GCET" in their marksheets and post 2003 it is" NIT".Now the old students also write in their introduction as "passed from NIT" as "NIT" brand is more saleable.The course was 5 years and yearly exam , now it is 4 years with 8 semesters.First 2 years were common and next 3 years were in specific branches- Civil, elect, mech, metallurgy, electronics& Telecommunication, mining, chemical.
I was a student of this college in 1980’s in Electrical and it was the only engineering college in Raipur.There were 3 categories of students - Locals, Bhilai & Durg and outstation students from united M.P who lived in hostels & in rent in surrounding areas.The college was typically government college with average facilities.The labs had practically the same equipments when the college was set up in 1960. I studied "computer science programming" in 3rd year and the whole I did not see a computer also. There were no class tests, quizzes or tutorial classes hence no pressure on students.Yearly theory and Practical exams with sessional(submission of records) for practical subjects.The practical exams had viva-voce by external examiner. The practical and theory exam used to start in May and ended in mid or late june.
There was lot of general bunking (called general gole(hindi)), strikes of classes in I, II, III years during festival time.like dushhera, diwali.There were student leaders who were "bullies" who led students to strike for reasons like not able to get ticket in cinema theatre when the student leader went to manager of theatre for ticket and manager refused to give him ticket and he felt insulted.HE came back to hostel and took all students to attack the theatre.The police came to knew of this and when the student arrived in theatre they tharshe dthe students hence the students went on strike next day.When I was joined college in 1983 there were direct student union election through ballots and there were panels of rival students groups.I think in 4th year the govt of M.P stopped elections in colleges and office bearers were nominated on basis of marks and extra curricular. activities. In first year 20 days strike was there in november.
Fees was very cheap.I think Rs 18/- per month, admission deposit Rs 250/-.Per month hostel charges was Rs 150-200/-. Ragging in hostels was very hard and first year student had to come in uniform(black & white) and walk with head down.They had to wish their senior everytime they used to see them in corridors, porch.When a senior called any junior he had to immediately go to him and wish him and stand in front of him with head down.Ragging was severe in hostels with thrashing, beating and students were called to variious rooms at nights by a group of seniors.The students who used to do ragging most were second year students as they had suffered most. Day scholar were ragged less as in colege less ragging used to take place.Once in second year hostel students were called to ground at mid night and tharshed by certain 3rd year students for more than 2 hours.I think a murder also took pace in early ninetees in samata colony of a student. hostel students used to long for their homes hence "general gole".
Teaching was theoretical in nature.. Only Electrical machine lab had equipments.Computer Programming in Fortran was done theoretically with no practicals in computer as no computer was available. After NIT formation the NIT’s have patterned in line with IIT system like CGPA , credit system etc.Now in each sementer there are " cycle of tests" and final exam.The correct picture can be told by students who had studied after 2003.Nowdays google is there and colleges are also rated hence it is not a insulated world and people have access to information.Also after formation of NIT 50% of students are out of chattisgarh.Mech & Civil Department had equipments.Teachers just used to teach in class and then go.Relation between teachers and students were nor intimate.It was not interactive.No tutorial sessions were organised for weak students.Also no electrical engineering teachers used to take tutions.
Teaching was done in government style and teachers didin’t drive the students.There was no assignment submission. There was no permanent canteens in college.In 3rd year one canteen opened but it shut down in quick time.Campus is huge and I heard a new campus is planned to come up 30Kms from the present place.