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Dean-cum-Professor at Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shoolini University, Dr Adesh K Saini is one of the most experienced teachers associated with Shoolini University and deals with the research and scholarships. Dr Saini talked to KHYAATI SHARMA on a wide variety of topics. Here are excerpts from the interview:

How long have you been associated with Shoolini University and what all institutions have you worked with?

I’m with the University since August 2011. I completed M.Sc. Zoology from Kurukshetra University and then I cleared the NET JRF exam after which I joined IGIB in Delhi for research. Subsequently I completed my PhD. from University of Delhi and thereafter I joined NIH for Post Doctorate. I was there for five years during which I also worked with John Hawkins Medical School. Then, I joined Shoolini University as an Assistant Professor in Biotechnology.

How was working with Shoolini different from other educational institutions?

I think it is pretty much the same but the kind of work which I do here revolves around genetics and hence I feel much comfortable here. I also get funding from Government of India and hence I have four projects currently with me.

What opportunities are there for Shoolini to operate on the global stage in terms of research ?

Shoolini is located in the Himalayan region which is the biggest benefit we have. We can use Himalayas as a resource. There are many challenges Himalayas are facing right now starting from socio economic and health related issues. In a way I would say, Himalayas give you topics of research. For example the cancer Biologists have the material and the plants that cure cancer here. Shoolini has another advantage that it is an institution where cross thinking takes place. The different schools work together which is a great thing.

What are the issues or concerns in conducting research?

There are certain challenges and issues that deal with research. The most important aspect for any institution is to have the right faculty which I think, Shoolini has it all. We have great faculty from diverse fields. Coming back to the issues dealing with research, the biggest challenge is funding. Irrespective of any size of the lab, the issue is that if your lab does not have funds you will lag behind. Government of India is very fair and generous in giving proper funding to every situation based on their research capabilities. Innovation is the other major challenge in research. You cannot work on the topic or question that is already been chosen by somebody else. Also, labs are run by funding as well as great students. Developing research ethics in a student is very important.

What are the steps involved in Research Process? How can a student proceed with the idea of research in the university?

For a researcher, based on their interest and training, he or she needs to develop questions and then eventually find out what he or she can work on. Show the first steps by asking the right questions and then eventually designing the correct experiment for answering the question and then also looking to how the world is answering the question. And at last, the conclusion you draw from your research is very important as well.

What are the types of research?

There are different kinds of research. One is the descriptive science where you observe things different phenomenon and try to describe them. Then there is research to discover in which you come forward with some inductive idea. Similarly, some resources are hypothetically driven. Also, there are other kinds of researches which engineers do where they try to solve the real world problems. In Shoolini, all these four kinds of research are doing really great.

What experiences does a student get during his/her academic career that will benefit them for a career in research and development?

As a career, research is passion driven. I would like to quote one of my Post Doc superior’s lines that resources are already difficult and unless and until you are driven with passion, it will become more complicated. So, my advice to every student is that that he or she should be passion-driven and once you enter this field, then sky’s the limit. Failing is also an important part of research as when you fail, you also develop as a researcher. Research is not merely early experimenting – rather it is solving the problems of the mankind.

What does leadership mean to you? What are your views on making a strong team?

For me, leadership means making the team happy, full stop. If your time is focused and you are heading in the right path, then you are developing is a leader. If your team is not inspired to work with you, then you fail as a leader. And a leader should grant specific goals to every team member which they should work on.

What is your message to the students?

Student should find a good leader for themselves whose interests match theirs. Write interpretation and being honest with the results are very important for students. It is really alright to fail; it will develop you as a good person.

KHYAATI SHARMA

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) have attained major significance in the modern day world and the 2nd Annual IPR workshop to be held in the campus on March 15 would focus on filing patents and exercising these rights.

The workshop is aimed at creating awareness of IPR and how it can help the students and the faculty for patents searching and drafting. The Chief Guest and Guest of Honour for the workshop are Dr. A Mukhopadhyay, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi and Mr. D C Rana, Member Secretary, HIMCOSTE respectively.

Dr R.S.Paroda, Dr R.C.Mahajan, Dr Mukhopadhyay Ex-Advisor DST and Dr Dinesh Singh, former VC Delhi University have been invited to chair different sessions during the Workshop. Dr Suman Bala Beri has also been invited as a resource person.

Mr. Shashi Dharan, in-charge, HP Patent Information Center, HIMCOSTE will be talking on the topic of overview of IPR with special reference to Geographical Indications. Also, a workshop on Prior Search and Patent Drafting by Mr. Somitra Kumar, Advocate and Patent Attorney, Delhi will be held in the afternoon.

Shoolini University had made its mission clear from the very beginning to be among the top 200 global universities. In the last nine years, it has made rapid strides in establishing appreciable good infrastructure, adequate quality faculty, reasonable teaching curriculum and delivery system, SPRINT for aptitude change and employability of graduates.

In citation research, its findings have outclassed even the ten best Indian Universities as per the NIRF ranking. Nevertheless, there are many gaps at the criteria of different ranking system of global universities. Therefore, it has been decided to organise a workshop vis-?-vis to discuss the methodology of different ranking systems, status of Shoolini University in comparison to different criteria regarding teaching, research, citation, income generation, international outlook, industry-academic outlook, career development of students, etc.

Placed with ICICI Bank

The experience of studying in Shoolini University is fairly enriching. After doing B.Sc. Biotechnology from Shoolini University, my sister inspired me to join MBA programme of Shoolini. So, I applied for MBA programme and grabbed the scholarship for the same. The kind of professional as well as personal development that I have gone through during MBA is phenomenal.

I also got an opportunity to work with LG Electronics and Federal-Mogul during my internships. Recently I got placed in ICICI Bank as a Deputy Manager. I want to dedicate my success to my parents as well as to my teachers. I am really glad that I took the decision to do MBA from Shoolini University.

LAKSHAY PARASHAR

Whatever you are doing, just give it your best shot so that there are no regrets in the future,” said Lakshmi Gondal, an alumnus of Shoolini University who is now working with Vivo as a VBA Service Manager.

She said that grooming at Shoolini University helped her a lot in pursuing her professional career. She explained that SPRINT sessions gave her the knowledge on how to attend an interview and taught her what to say and how much to say.

She said, “I had done an internship in IDBI bank. I was confident about my learning and tried different companies during my placements. I got placed in Vivo as a management trainee which included the k n o w l e d g e of things like the branding of the product, how to train others, etc.” She added that they were trained on how to manage various departments from branding to HR. In the end, she got the job to train other promoters all over Himachal Pradesh about the new products and got a position as VBA service manager at Vivo, HP.

She said that she now trains the new joinees and guides them to do their jobs perfectly. She hails from District Kangra and completed her schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya Pathankot. Her hobbies include watching movies and travelling. She added that her father is a retired Captain from the Indian Army and her mother is a housewife.

She had completed her BBA from Pathankot and joined Shoolini in 2013 to pursue her MBA. She said, “My favourite teacher in Shoolini was Mrs Poonam Nanda as she was the one who used to control SPRINTs and one of the most memorable moments for me was the cultural programme held after SPRINT”.? Lakshmi further added that she learned a lot of things from SPRINT like how to talk in any formal place like an office or in a meeting or interview and manage things professionally in such an environment.

VAISHNAVI SOOD and MANSI GUPTA

“We need to be sensitive and it is our responsibility as a human being to stand up for justice and support the victims,” said Supreet Dhiman, Director Projects and Research at End Incest Trust in an interaction with students at Shoolini University about incest on March 11.

She has been researching on the incidence, occurrence, impact and awareness of incest in India and talked to the students on various aspects of the problem including its signs and symptoms, psychological impact on the individual, safety measures that one can take and also sensitized the students on how to react when a victim shares their experience.

She shared that during her postgraduate diploma human rights from Panjab University; she chose incest as her topic for research. Initially everyone tried to persuade her to change the subject as everyone thought she would not get any respondents to talk on the subject. But, she persisted especially because of the social stigma attached around the subject.

 “It took one girl to die a horrifying death for no mistake of hers for our society to accept the word ‘rape’ in our dictionaries and to end the silence on the subject at our homes,” said Supreet while mentioning the Nirbhaya case while talking about the ill consequences of the social stigma and taboo around such subjects like rape, molestation and incest.

She added that incest is even more horrifying than rape as the abuser is not an outsider but someone closely connected to the victim, someone who is supposed to protect the victim.

She defined incest as sexual contact between family members in direct blood relations. She emphasized that not only rape but any inappropriate touching, hugging, caressing or petting also amounts to incest.

She told the audience that they received a huge response on their online forums and were shocked at the widespread of the issue.

She said, “The feedback we got was so traumatic that I decided to close the forum and quit research on the very day I received my diploma.”

But, she added that on the same day, they received a message from an incest abuse victim who shared that he was raped by his own father when he was 8 and noted that he is a boy.

Supreet could not help but think about his own nephew who was around the same age during that time. The research conducted by their organisation is the largest research ever done on incest in the country. 

She said that incest can often be a continuous series of abuse on multiple occasions as a result of manipulative dependence. She shared some of the findings of their research which included the shocking statistics that 18 per cent of the respondents have been victims of incest and 92 per cent of the incest abuse victims could never share it with anyone.

She noted that most perpetrators themselves can be victims too as abuse itself is a learnt behaviour and shared another incident where the victim and abuser were only five and six years old.

During the interaction, no one raised their hand when asked if they knew how to deal with a situation when a victim shares their experience of abuse. She told the students to be sensitive and not to laugh or walk away. She further added that encourage them but don’t force them to take action as it should be their choice and do not that power of decision making away from them once again and let them know that you believe them and are there for them.

SHAINA CHAUHAN

Divyanshi Bajpai and Tanvi Chaudhry students of B.Tech Biotechnology 3rd year share their experience as exchange student in South Korea in Inha University. Tanvi is a native of Uttarakhand while Divyanshi belongs to Lucknow.

Speaking about their subjects they mentioned that they are studying Enzyme Engineering, Cell Culture Engineering and Cultural Pschology. They said that they are learning new things every day in South Korea and are loving the newly experienced environment.

So far, these both have made friends from countries such as Kinga, Pinia, Diana, Chi-E, Hungry, Fineland, Russia and China. The difference in teaching system which they are experiencing is more about Online teaching of subjects and more access to I-Class.

“Students have to be very punctual and no late entries are permitted in class” they said. The most memorable moment for both of them was their first day as they were welcomed and when they were provided with food without asking for it.

They further added, “Talking about the food habits they are very different from Indian food habits. People here mostly eat noodles. We are still adjusting to the Korean food taste. But for every Indian, Indian restaurants are the only survivors abroad.”

Korean dishes which both of them have loved so far are Topoki Dumplings and Bibingbum. However, as a vegetarian, Divyanshi shared that she is still struggling to find vegetarian food. They both said that they are indeed grateful to Shoolini University for providing them this opportunity of cultural exchange.

LAKSHAY PARASHAR

In a touching gesture, a group of Shoolini University students took the initiative to collect funds for the family of a victim of the terrorist attack at Pulwama. Encouraged by the Dean Students Welfare, Mrs. Poonam Nanda, the students collected about Rs 35,000 by appealing to the staff and students of the University.

They then visited the family of the martyr Tilak Raj and personally handed over the funds as a mark of respect and gratitude for the fallen Central Reserve Police Force jawan. He was among the 40 jawans who were killed after a suicide bomber had attacked the convoy of vehicles on way to Srinagar.

The students who joined this noble gesture were Abhishek Kashyap (BTech CSE 6th sem.), Harsh Chauhan (B. Pharmacy 6th sem.), Rajat Rana (M. Pharmacy) and Ravi Kant Thakur (MTech. Civil Structures). They said it was really tough to drive from Solan to Dharamshala and hand over the collected funds to the bereaved family of the victim which was under deep depression. They were told that a school was being opened in the name of Tilak Raj in Dharamsala as his memorial. Tilak Raj’s father said that he was really proud of his son.

PRITHVI RAJ SINGH

Cricket is the most favourite sport played across the two neighbouring nations of India and Pakistan. Rising tensions between the two countries have once again raised the question ‘Should India play cricket with Pakistan?’ Here is what a cross section of students of Shoolini University had to say:

Ritika (B.Tech CSE, Semester 2)

Yes, India should play cricket with Pakistan. Don’t you think, it will give us immense pleasure to see our men in blue crushing our most notorious enemies on cricket field? They deserve defeat on the battle ground as well as on the green ground. If governments of both the countries allow then there is no issue of playing with each other. Other advantage in playing with Pakistan is that India’s ICC ranking will improve because it is next to impossible for Pakistan to beat India.

Vishal Kainthla (MBA Quad 3)

The set of people who want to continue cricketing ties with Pakistan are those who are more concerned with their commercial interests than the national feelings. One expected Sachin Tendulkar, who holds an honorary rank of Group Captain in Indian Air Force, to show solidarity with the soldiers rather than talking about two-point loss. By asserting that the sporting ties can improve relations between the two countries is all deceptive talks. It is a smokescreen to justify their demand to make money under the euphemism of sporting ties.

Paras Tudhial (B.Com, Semester 2)

India should not play cricket with a country like Pakistan who is responsible for terror attacks in our country. Our army patrolling on border areas put their own lives at risk to make sure that we all are safe in our homes. One needs to think what if our soldiers decline to secure our borders and say that they don’t have any personal problem with Pakistan. We should stand with our army and should not continue any relationship with Pakistan until Pakistan stops terrorism.

Mani Sharma (B.Sc. Yoga Semester 2)

India shouldn’t. Sports and games are played with friends and are meant for entertainment but with our soldiers dying at the border and our nation being at a constant war like scenario with Pakistan no sport should be played with it. India has already stopped playing bilateral series with Pakistan. It’s only in the ICC trophies these two countries play as there should be a single winner for the competition.

Advocating the idea of isolating Pakistan and at the same time keeping relations with them ranging from sports to entertainment industry is paradoxical and is an insult to the memory of Indian soldiers who lost their lives at the hands of that country’s army.

Raman Chandel (MBA Quad 3)

Playing cricket with a country whose avowed aim is to destroy India can never be justified. Soldier’s dedication to duty, loyalty to the nation and willingness for the supreme sacrifice are driven less by material considerations and more by an overwhelming urge to earn love and respect of their countrymen. However, they feel betrayed when the same countrymen want to shake hands and play cricket with the perpetrators of carnage’s, simply because the World Cup with associated earnings is far more important to them than the tears of martyrs’ widows and orphans.

Aniket Singha ( B. Tech Civil Engineering Semester 2)

I firmly believe that Cricket is a game and it should be kept away from politics. Indo-Pak cricket rivalry fills everyone’s heart with passion and happiness. About 1.2 Billion people watched the Champions Trophy 2017 final only because India and Pakistan played against each other in an ICC final after 30 years. ‘India vs Pakistan’ is a moment where we unite and connect with each other and it is so big that it can make or break tournaments.

Placed with ICICI Securities

Shoolini University is an amazing place to study, explore and perform outstanding in each and every activity whether it is in the class or outside the class. MBA course is more practical rather than subjective in nature.

It helps to build your career and focuses more on the overall persona enhancement. Here, real time situations are created for us to increase our knowledge and ‘out of the box’ thinking to solve the problem. SPRINT sessions also help us to work in teams, built our leadership skills, etc.

All this has helped me to get placed with ICICI Securities, one of the leading companies in the financial sector. I wanted to extend my special thanks to Mr Chander Mohan Gupta for his support and motivation at all times. All over it is a great place to study and to explore your future.

Placed with ICICI Prudential

My experience with Shoolini University has been fabulous. I still reminisce about the day when I first paid a visit to this beautiful university. I still recall the first person I met, Dr Kuldeep Rojhe. I was highly motivated to follow my MBA from here as from that day itself I aspired to be like him.

Another person who really inspired me is Mrs Poonam Nanda. I call her the ‘Mother of the University’ as she has aided not only me in my hardships but every student who went to her with any of their problems. I am also very inspired by Prof Narender Verma and Mr Amar Rao. Better known as Mr Encyclopedia, Prof Verma has vast knowledge.