Alumna Interaction: Session 8

The Researcher-Teacher

The eighth Alumna-Interaction session was organized virtually by the  Department of English, IIS (Deemed to be) University, on 8 December 2020. Ms. Kanika Gandhi (from the class of 2009), Assistant Professor at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Delhi, spoke on the topic “The Researcher-Teacher.” Ms. Gandhi is an academician and researcher, pursuing her Doctoral Studies in South Asian Women’s Autobiographical Writings. 

Ms. Gandhi started her academic journey as a literature enthusiast from the then-ICG to her current position as a researcher-teacher. ICG helped her grow and realize her passion and love for research and academics, which she took forward in the form of post-graduation from Delhi University. She manifested herself as an independent thinker who, under the guidance of her mentors, eventually chose the career path of academics. She joined Jamia Millia Islamia in the M. Phil. programme and began her journey as a researcher by taking up an examination of the narrative of Pakistani women writers such as Fatima Bhutto and Uzma Aslam Khan, among others. Alongside, she cleared the NET exam and now is a well-placed teacher and successful researcher.

Ms. Gandhi was appreciative of the affection and connection that her teachers at ICG shared with students and which was instrumental in helping her grow and gave her a voice to stand out of the crowd. She also credited her discourses with her teachers and mentors which led her to achieving her current position in her career. She shared how her perspective, her capability to change, and having the courage to stand up to the world, have further contributed to her success. She also acknowledged how the simple act of compulsorily attending classes and seminars, organizing events and taking part in extra-curricular activities, changed her life for the better. She advised the students against rushing to pursue M.Phil./ Ph.D. but to first crack the NET exams if they wish to take up teaching as a career. She also suggested Cuddon’s Dictionary of Literary Terms & Literary Theory - among several other references - as the holy grail for further studies in English Literature. She quipped, “Literature is what you and I do in everyday life!” and asked the students to not limit their knowledge to textual books and to apply it in their daily life.

The interaction concluded with a Q&A session and a brief tête-à-tête with the faculty members of the Department.