Founding Story of CSRC

Every big initiative starts with a small spark. CSRC’s story began in an unlikely place – the Principal’s office during a routine meeting in early 2023. At the time, a group of students was busy planning an upcoming college fest. Amidst discussions of schedules and events, two students – Aditya and Rachneet – drifted into talking about their personal research projects. They realised that both had been struggling in their projects, often feeling “lost about what to do next” without adequate guidance. In that moment, Aditya voiced an idea that resonated deeply: “What if we could make this whole process easier, so that our juniors don’t have to go through the same phase of cluelessness?” 

That simple question was the spark that ignited the concept of a student-led research forum. Excited by the thought, Aditya and Rachneet began to sketch out a plan right then and there. Over the next few weeks, this idea took shape as they drafted a constitution for a research club, envisaged the structure and activities it would have, and even brainstormed a name and logo. The name they settled on was Clinical Student Research Council (CSRC), to emphasise a collective of students driving clinical research, and the club’s logo was designed to reflect curiosity and discovery. 

When they formally presented the proposal to our Principal, Dr Jeyaraj D. Pandian, it received wholehearted support. Dr Pandian appreciated the vision of bridging students with research opportunities and encouraged them to take it forward. He, along with Vice Principal Dr Abhilasha Williams, provided valuable feedback to refine the club’s constitution and framework. With their mentorship, the proposal was polished to align with the college’s academic ethos and was soon approved. CSRC was officially born, with the blessings of the college administration. 

The next step was building a team – the founding committee that would turn this vision into reality. A call was sent out inviting interested students to join the CSRC's founding executive committee. The response was encouraging; many students across different years expressed keen interest in being part of this new venture. After a selection process and with Dr Pandian’s final approval, the first CSRC Executive Committee for 2024–25 was formed. This committee, fondly referred to as the Founders’ Committee, consisted of dedicated students who would lay the groundwork for all future club activities. The founding committee members included: Ujjwal Thakran, Anmol Kaur Mongia, Sharon Rachel John, Ishaan Immanuel Katumalla (K.), Yashmit Dhingra, Niharika Farande, Stacey Marbaniang, and Ansh Sachdeva, with Aditya and Rachneet guiding as the primary initiators. Each of these individuals brought unique strengths and a shared passion for research, and together they spent countless hours planning events, setting up mentorship networks, and publicising the club’s mission to their peers.