Alumna-Interaction (17) : A Scholarly Journey

The Department of English of the lIS (Deemed to be) University organized the seventeenth Alumna Interaction Session on 30 November, 2021. Megha Choudhary from the class of 2013, who is currently a senior research fellow in MLSU, Udaipur, was invited to speak on the topic "A Scholarly Journey".

The session commenced with an anecdotal account of Ms Megha's personal experiences; she inspired the audience by sharing her own journey, from a distressed under-grad to a Civil Services Exam aspirant, to a dedicated English literature post-grad to a PhD scholar and finally to her true calling- of becoming a teacher.  

She encouraged the students to make use of the incredible opportunity that is college and to take the maximum advantage of the resources available- both academic and co-curricular. She, then continued to persuade the students to be completely present in the moment, explore themselves by broadening their horizons and choose a hobby that keeps them both entertained and grounded; she majorly emphasised on the importance of these principles in a scholar's life. Furthermore, Ms. Megha highlighted the role of the three Ds- Determination, Dedication, and Discipline in a scholar's journey to success.

She addressed the duties of a scholar outside the periphery of academia; she elucidated the responsibilities of a good scholar as a citizen of a country and as an integral part of the society. She expressed her interest in social work and motivated the students to exercise their scholarly duties towards their fellow beings, encouraging an overall development of a scholar's mind that stretches beyond the classroom.

Alongside illustrating the interconnectedness of the multidisciplinary areas of study to expand the knowledge and understanding of a scholar’s mind, she also granted practical guidance to students to map out various career paths such as content writing, civil services, reviewing, and researching.She recommended strategies to prepare for the UGC-NET examination which included a sincere attitude towards the studies in college, a thorough understanding of the history of English literature, and a comprehensive list of the syllabi of various Central Universities of India. She elaborated on the required focus and commitment for the scholar's journey with special significance placed on the habit of reading.

She concluded by reinforcing the incomparable impact of personal experiences on a scholar's mind. Her pragmatic advice elevated the minds of the budding scholars and served as an excellent catalyst in their exploration of self. The session emerged as an exhaustive guide that would propel the students towards their own scholarly journeys.