Experiences develop a person – Prof. Manju Nichani, Principal of KC College

Experiences develop a person – Prof. Manju Nichani, Principal of KC College

FPJ BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 05:17 AM IST
article-image

Prof. Manju Nichani, Principal of KC College and Honorary Director, KCCMS tells Shraddha Kamdar how students learn, even outside the classroom

She is as much of a disciplinarian as she is helpful to her students. Her peers and the teachers who work with her describe her as one of the most meticulous people they know, with a clean desk, which means no pile of papers, and certain no ragged one. As I enter her cabin for this interview, I can see what they mean. She is on top of things. A recipient of many awards, she demonstrates why is she so popular with the students and teachers alike, because she is only a shout away. One phone call and she agreed for this interview to be conducted the next day. Prof. Manju Nichani, Principal of KC College of Arts, Science and Commerce, and Honorary Director of KC College of Management Studies (KCCMS), knows how to keep up with the times. Over steaming cups of tea on a cold afternoon, she talks of her thoughts and ideas, most of which have implemented in the college and others which are still on way.

Prof. Nichani talks about how students need to keep up with the fast changing world, and need to be prepared for the future, and stresses the importance of soft skills to be ready for the industry. She describes the science honours programme that KC College runs, wherein the selected students undergo specialized training, including unique lectures and interactions with industry practitioners. In addition, each of these students undertakes a research project in a chosen subject and is assigned a teacher-mentor for it. Within the duration of pursuing a bachelor’s degree, these students have articles published in international journals, and have presented their work to experts and staff at a special event called ‘Anubhav’ (which means experience). It is a well rounded experience for these students, and the selection happens within the first year via a test followed by an interview.

Prof. Nichani says that in this manner, interested students go way beyond the University-prescribed syllabus and are happy to be engaged in practical and experiential learning. The college, in fact, goes the extra step in inviting the staff and students of other colleges to demonstrate the work, so that others are also aware of the possibilities of such programmes.

The learning of the students, according to Prof. Nichani happens at various levels through diverse experiences. She talks of the NSS unit of the college where the students have adopted a village in rural Maharashtra, and where they have facilitated building of toilets and houses for the villagers. Students have undertaken several activities, including working in the balwadis and enabling the villagers to cultivate the

land patches around their houses, since the soil in the region is extremely fertile. In fact, the students also bring back the extra produce and help sell it in Mumbai to aid the villagers.

Students also conduct annual eye camps in Mumbai for these villagers, where they can come and get operated upon for cataract. “So many of them refuse, since they are afraid. We’ve had a few trying to go back from the station! But the students persevere, and reason with the villagers in their language, until they are comfortable with the idea. This kind of work becomes such a leveling factor for all students, and then nothing else matters, except achieving the goal. The students are now trying to raise funds to build a community hall for the villagers. Apart from many life skills, students also learn hard skills like marketing,” she says.

Prof Nichani narrates an interesting incident that taught the students the value of things, and a lesson in gratitude. “Every time the students got to the village, they stay at a local dharamasala (sort of guest house), the increasing cost of which has shot up their budget. This time, when they went, they were looking for alternatives, when a man came to them and opened up his large house to them, at no charge. He said it was the least he could do since the students had facilitated his cataract surgery as part of the medical camp. The students were elated, and said that they never thought that one cataract surgery would be worth so much to a villager,” she happily recounts.

Such activities that go beyond the text books, states Prof. Nichani, are needed for students to learn how to work with their peers, and how to adjust with others, which is something that can be developed only outside the classroom. While she narrates how enthusiastic her students are in organizing the various activities and events, subdued noises from the college compound filter into her first floor office. The students are enjoying themselves at the aptly named ‘Systematic Chaos’ – the intra-college festival organized by The Department of B.Sc. (IT). While this is going on a majority of the students across departments prepare for the annual cultural festival, ‘Kiran’, to be held in January 2015. The theme is also fitting what we are discussing in this interview – ‘Las Unite’ which means ‘united’.

Talking about unity, Prof. Nichani talks about the work undertaken by the college’s Rotaract Club, including the recently conducted event – ‘Abhay’ – The Fearless, a cultural program for the felicitation of the Indian army, where chief guest was Lt. General K. S. Brar, who commanded Operation Blue Star. “Those invited and felicitated were so moved by this gesture, that one of them also said that ‘everyone remembers us in times of war, but your college is the only one which remembered us in times of peace’. In addition, the students managed the entire event, including looking for sponsors, and reaching Lt. General Brar through the chain of contact. It is an achievement that teaches them to work relentlessly towards something they really want,” she says.

The additional learning, however, is not limited to events and clubs. Within the syllabus, the college teaches a paper on gender studies and the Gender Issues Cell calls professionals from ever sphere to talk to the students about awareness on a multitude of issues. “It also facilitates sessions with a legal professional from Majlis Legal Centre, on campus, which guides girl students legally on matters which they are shy or hesitant to discuss with their professors,” she says.

Towards the end, after a long and meandering chat, she says that no matter what the situation, the willingness to learn will drive any student towards gaining experience and acquiring Knowledge. And that’s what will stay with them forever.

RECENT STORIES

UGC Explores Common Counselling For Undergraduate Admissions Based On CUET Scores

UGC Explores Common Counselling For Undergraduate Admissions Based On CUET Scores

CSIR-NIIST Develops Technology For Safe Biomedical Waste Management

CSIR-NIIST Develops Technology For Safe Biomedical Waste Management

Jaishankar Concludes Southeast Asia Tour, Education Among Topics Discussed

Jaishankar Concludes Southeast Asia Tour, Education Among Topics Discussed

IIM Bangalore To Offer Course On Executive Education Programme In Financial Planning

IIM Bangalore To Offer Course On Executive Education Programme In Financial Planning

MH SET Admit Card 2024 Out At setexam.unipune.ac.in

MH SET Admit Card 2024 Out At setexam.unipune.ac.in