Greetings!
I am a humble human being who believes very firmly in God, humanity, and
kindness. As a researcher and a thinker, I want to do something unique and
extraordinary that can benefit all of humanity and all living creatures on the
planet. I am an academician working as an Assistant Professor in the department
of English (Faculty of Commerce), The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,
and a researcher and thinker by profession. But being a mother is a full-time
profession and the greatest profession in the world. Because the payment is the
pure love of one’s child. My faith in God and the love of my parents and loved
ones are my greatest strengths. I firmly believe that God is with and within me
and will always help in my efforts to achieve the extraordinary. So, do good, be
good, and then forget. It will grow someday.
Can you tell us about your educational and professional
journey?
I
am English-medium educated in a Parsi, Defence, and British-cultured School in
Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is my home town. I did my graduation and post-graduation
in English Literature and Media from the missionary college that’s St. Xavier’s
College, Ahmedabad. Then, I did an M.Phil. in ELT (English Language Teaching)
from the H. M. Patel Institute of English Training and Research Centre, Vidyanagar,
Anand, Gujarat. I completed my doctoral studies in ELT at Saurashtra
University, Rajkot, Gujarat.
I
started my career in teaching as a Higher Secondary School Teacher in English
in Ahmedabad. As I was interested in Higher Education Teaching, after shifting
to Baroda, I got an opportunity to teach at BJVM College, Vidyanagar, Anand,
and from there on, my journey started in Higher Education Teaching. I taught
Communication Skills, Personality Development Programmes, and especially SVCPP
(Swami Vivekanand Contributor Personality Development Program) at Sigma
Institute of Engineering and Parul Institute of Degree Engineering, which is
now Parul University. After having a child, I got an opportunity to work at the
Department of English, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, at the Master’s level.
There, I taught English Literature, ELT, and Film Studies. From there on, I
moved to Baroda, as my in-laws were located there. I started teaching
Communication Skills and Business Communication at the Dept. of English,
Faculty of Commerce, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. And,
currently, I am giving my services in the same faculty but at another unit
named M.K. AMIN ARTS & SCIENCE AND COLLEGE OF COMMERCE, PADRA, FACULTY OF
COMMERCE, THE MAHARAJA SAYAJIRAO UNIVERSITY OF BARODA. At each and every place,
my position has been Assistant Professor.
I
have also worked in documentary films like THE MYSTIC INDIA. I have been a
voiceover artist in another documentary named THE ODYSSEY OF PERSISTENCE. And I
have worked with a Canadian NGO during the Gujarat Earthquake of 2001 in Bhuj
and Ahmedabad.
What are your areas of expertise?
ELT
(English Language Teaching), Critical Thinking, Communication Studies, Media
Studies, Gender Studies, and Indian English Literature. Experimental Research
is very close to my heart in ELT. Plus, Research and Development. I am also a
part of the IPDC (Integrated Personality Development Program) by BAPS
(Bochanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha, an NGO), India.
What led you to pursue a career in academics?
Teaching is the only profession that gives rise to all
other professions. And it is a giving profession, I mean, teachers and
professors are “givers” and not “takers” in society. The profession matches my
personality very well, as I am very caring, a knowledge-seeker, and want to be
a lifelong learner. For
me, teaching is not just a job or profession. It’s my passion. I like to interact with
youth very much. It is the only profession that has the power to change. Whatever I am today is because of the
blessings and guidance of my parents, professors like Dr. R. Jadeja, and my
best friend Vinod. My best friend, Vinod, is the strongest backbone behind my
success.
What are your goals or aspirations for your academic
career?
I
want to teach in the Humanities & Communication Department at IIMS or IITs
in India. And I am increasing my research and publication databases for that.
As aforementioned, I want to contribute something constructively to Research
and Development for the welfare of all humankind and all living creatures on
the planet.
How do you stay inspired and motivated in your career?
Nobody’s
life is smooth and straight. Struggles, ups and downs, etc. are part of life.
And one learns to go ahead by falling. By turning obstacles into opportunities.
I am a self-motivated person, by God’s grace. I believe very firmly that
there's a solution to each and every problem on earth. We just need to look for
the solution or create one, as a problem is visible but solutions are hidden.
We just need to work hard in order to find it. I look up to my best friend
Vinod and my Professor, Dr. R. Jadeja, whom I respect like my father. Dr. A. P.
J. Abdul Kalam, whom I met once as a student and got his blessings, my guru,
HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj. And. My eldest sister, Dr. P. Vadher, is an
excellent scientist. She is my favourite, and I love her very much. But, overall, I give the entire credit
to my best friend, Vinod. He is the actual person behind my success. He is the
one who inspires, supports, and motivates me a lot.
What is your greatest achievement in your professional
life?
I am available for my students 24x7. Always strive to make them something good—a good human being who would serve one’s parents, society, country, and humanity in a contributive manner. What a professor-teacher achieves is the love and respect of her students. And a place in her students’ hearts where they remember her forever. My students are my children, and I live in their hearts and minds. That’s the real award and achievement for me professionally.
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