A. IIFM has helped me to prepare for a change, undertake some independent endeavor for de-learning and relearning.
(My personal thought about IIFM is reflected in the stanza I wrote in 2014, available online.
https://hellopoetry.com/poem/680114/reminiscences-of-our-temple-and-castle/ )
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. Multidisciplinary approach blended with management science; deeper understanding about complexity and dynamics of natural resources-people-culture-livelihood- policy and governance. Helps in developing an inner motivation to face the reality and working in the field for the cause of people and nature.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. Carry out independent study and documentation and continuous learning and de-learning from the indigenous communities of North East India is the most wonderful part of my contemporary engagement.
2020-2021 even though is a period of the pandemic, have got the opportunity to involve with some stimulating works –
• Working for the recent publication- “ Sharing Life – the ecopolitcs of reciprocity” under Alternatives Worldviews initiatives of HENRICH BOLL STIFTUNG (HBS), India, and working with Andreas Weber a Biologist and Eco-philosopher, Marion Regina Mueller a specialist of Cultural and Gender studies from Germany along with a group of academician, independent researcher, journalist, professionals from non-profit sectors of India. My chapter is on “Intrinsic wisdom for enduring nature”.
• Conducting case study sessions as case study coordinator for the student of Civil Engineering and Environment Management (CEEM) of North Dakota State University (NDSU), USA.
It is for the third time, CEEM, NDSU adopted my study for case study analysis in their Environment Management Paper. This time on “Regenerative approach of rural development for forest fringe villages” Experimental learning from Kohora River Basin of Kaziranga-Karbi Anlong Landscape. (Earlier case study adopted for the purpose was “Drinking water health and issues of witch-hunting” – a case study of Goalpara district of Assam, India in 2012 and “Conservation Livelihood for fringe villages of Protected Area” case study of Manas National Park – 2015)
Such session involves theoretical briefing, conducting student’s brainstorming session for issue identification, followed by the development of environmental management plan by the student (get 10 working days of time) and presentation of the plan to the community and stakeholder representative of case study area where the representative verify the scope of applicability of the plan. In the process case study coordinator and faculty jointly evaluate the student. It is organised online and it is an approach adopted by NDSU under a principle of ‘Engineers beyond border’.
• Very recently completed a long term collaborative work with the Department of Chemistry of Dibrugarh University – “Study on Traditional Alcoholic Beverage (Apong/Chang) for Enhancing Quality (Color, Texture, and Taste) Shelf-Life and Commercialization”; my contribution was on traditional knowledge and practice documentation; drafting documents for GI application, developing community-owned business strategies. It was an assignment of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
• My recent association with Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture (VKIC), Guwahati, as a member of research council, where a study forum was started on “Development through Culture: nature-culture-wellbeing, fostering sustainable development” with series of lecture, student’s research work, Case study sessions, field documentation, and policy dialog focusing on North East India. My involvement is mainly in strategic academic and R&D planning to continue the progamme for two years.
• Association with MARAGDARSHAK ADVISORY
(https://margdarshakne.in/) as a mentor for the young entrepreneur in the area of Agricultural product and NTFP value addition.
• Moreover, my regular work assignment in two world natural heritage site – Manas and Kaziranga as a consultant of Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) for NRM and livelihood. It is always exciting and in the process able to learn many things- in the aspects of work with the community and engaging stakeholders.
• My regular association with the National Children Science Congress ( a flagship program of National Council for Science and Technology Council, DST,GoI ) since 2012 with the capacity of a member of the National Academic Committee. It is an initiative based on the principle of inquiry-based learning through project works by the children of 10 to 17 years. Our responsibility is to design activity guide book, train the teacher, mentor the facilitator and evaluate the project at the national level. It is really wonderful to work with children and teachers.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Very much! Particularly facing uncertainty, taking risk for independent exploration, developing an outlook to approach to work differently.
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers. What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles?
A. Always try to connect my head-heart and hand in every walk of life. For me satisfaction and happiness is an inner feeling it cannot be measured by designation and pay-scale; it is possible only through establishing a connection with nature and people.
Every individual has their own framework to lead a life. I personally did not prefer to give any advice. My idea is that “If someone’s head and heart connectivity inspire to do something which are positive need to experiment that”.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Group assignment which opens the windows for group learning; Resources in library and support services of the library, Opportunity of need base discussion with faculties for clarification of doubt, taking critical inputs and advice.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, and alumni? Anything else!!) or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. Core is the – understanding about developing a logical framework before approaching any works and research with defined criteria and indicators from the courses like Environment and Development, Sustainable Forest Management, Forest Economics, Agroforestry, Livelihood local institution and governance, Financial Management, Research Methodology, etc.
Q. The best friends / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share.
A. Grateful to all the faculties and classmates, need to mention about Rajesh Mal, Bishnu Parida, Nahar Muhammed, Chandrakant Deokar, Anurag Gupta, Subhro Sen.
Indrani and Anindita taught me Statistical tools, debated a lot with Subhro, Rajesh always stands with me when I was in trouble, in the post IIFM period lots of exchange of idea with Nahar, Bishnu, Anurag and Chandrakant.
Get many guidance and technical inputs from Dr Praduyat Bhattacharya, Dr MD Omprakash, Dr Suprava Patnayak, Dr Parul Rishi, Dr Madhu Verma, Dr Amitabh Pandey and Dr Debashish Debnath.
Q. As an alumnus, what is your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. Need to focus on ongoing relevant works in the field along with course works, developing network with individual, professional, and scholars to learn from their experiences.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. Since 2009 working independently; since then spent almost 10 -15 days per month in the field and the rest is work from home. (However, pandemic has changed the schedule)
Q. And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family and anything else you want to add?
A. Weekends – spent time at home with the family, usually cooking for the family and consumed with the hobby.
Hobbies – drawing, writing poem, traveling, listening music, participating in science communication activities.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors.
A. Books –
a) Fiction – ‘Hungry Tide’ – Amitav Gosh.
b) Non-fiction – ‘Third Wave, Power Shift, Future shock” of Alvin Toffler ‘Forest Unseen’ by David George Haskell, ‘Gun, germs and steel’ by Jared Diamond, ‘Science in the soul’ by Richard Dawkins, ‘Environmentalism’ by Ramachandra Guha.
Movies- ‘Children of Haven’ of Majid Majidi, ‘Bhuvan Shome’ of Mrinal Sen, ‘Parr’ of Goutam Gosh.
Authors –
a) Fiction – Amitav Gosh (in English), Bhabendra Nath Saikia ( in Assamese), Sunil Gongopodhaya ( in Bengali)
b) Non-fiction – Alvin Toffler, Jared Diamond, David George Haskell, Richard Dawkins, Ramachandra Guha
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students?
A.
- I am very much interested in mentoring the student if they involved with study in the area of Traditional Knowledge, NTFP, Forest Fringe Villages, Conservation livelihood.
- If any students are interested to get experience in North East India able to extend help and guidance.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? What do you think is a positive change and what is not?
A. Not very much aware about the contemporary situation, except meeting the students in field training programme in Assam with Aaranyak (however for last two years it was not materialize even after planning because of pandemic situation). Whatever gathered from students and associated faculties there are lots of positive initiatives from the institute.
However, there is an evolving challenges for all academic institution in mobilizing resources for academic transection and research along with engaging students in their desired career path.
May be young people’s interest for development sectors decline, rather more inclination towards corporate sector is reflecting.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Muhameed Nahar, MRM 2004-05