Souvik Chel
Souvik Chel often enrolls in ten to twelve NPTEL courses in a semester. He may sit for only two or three certification exams, but the rest aren’t forgotten. He uses their lectures as reference material throughout the semester, returning to them whenever a concept in college needs another explanation. For him, learning doesn’t always have to end with a certificate.
A fourth-year B.Tech student at the Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM), Kolkata, Souvik encountered NPTEL in his first year. His first course was ‘The Joy of Computing Using Python’. Initially, he enrolled to practise what he was already learning in college, choosing courses that aligned with his semester subjects.‘Database Management Systems’, ‘Operating System Fundamentals’ and ‘Data Science’ soon became some of his favourite subjects to explore.
‘Operating System Fundamentals’ holds a special place on that list. Souvik describes it as one of the best courses he has taken on NPTEL, given his interest in the subject. He also appreciates the way the instructors break down concepts. Whenever he gets stuck, he returns to the lectures. “I regularly watch the videos more and more, maybe two or three times,” he says, explaining how he works through difficult topics. The assignments often put his understanding to the test. Over time, this became an important part of his learning routine.
His advice to other NPTEL learners is straightforward: “Solving the assignment part is very, very crucial.”
Watching a lecture is one thing; working through a problem independently is another.
Souvik’s first Data Science certificate remains a memorable milestone. Receiving a good score encouraged him to continue with NPTEL. Since then, he has earned seven to eight certificates followed by the NPTEL Discipline Star recognition from IIT Kharagpur in 2026.
He describes himself as an average student during his school and college years, making these accomplishments a welcome confidence boost.
He wasn’t studying alone, either. One of his friends started taking NPTEL courses around the same time. The two regularly competed with each other, worked through assignments and kept track of their progress. That bit of friendly rivalry gave them another reason to stay engaged.
Even though college commitments have kept him from taking up NPTEL courses this semester, he plans to return next term with around seven or eight courses in mind. He is also keen to move beyond his core Computer Science subjects and explore areas such as ‘Design Thinking and Robotics’. It is a chance to venture into something unfamiliar while continuing to learn at his own pace.
With GATE 2027 ahead, Souvik hopes to pursue an M.Tech at an IIT or NIT and NPTEL will be a useful part of that journey. After all, not every course needs to end with an examination or a certificate to leave something valuable behind. Sometimes, having the right lecture to return to is just as worthwhile.
~written by Eshani Bhattacharjee
