Engaged in teaching Ethics, Natural Resource Management, and Public Policy @School of Rural Management, XIM University.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/satyendra.nath.77
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM so far?
A. After completion of the M. Phil from the hill adobe, I joined Fellow Program in Rural Management (FPRM), at Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). At IRMA I was recipient of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Fellowship in the domain of ‘Rural Economics and Natural Resource Management’. After completion of my Fellow degree, I joined School of Rural Management, XIM University, Odisha.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. As I delve into the academic world, personal milestones are defined by our students’ achievements. To this end, I feel that the innovation that I do in teaching to ensure students engagement is a key milestone that needs to be achieved in every term. This ensures dynamism in teaching and my own learning. For example, to teach ethics in class, over the period I am developing role play and individual reflection-based pedagogy. The students’ appreciation of this exercise has been most fulfilling for me as a teacher. One of the students shared in feedback that “the course helped me to develop and work on my behavior, and ethics, that I should follow in life.” In addition, our recent engagement (with Prof. D. V. Ramana) to create incubation space has been very satisfying. We were able to create a space named ‘ICICI Incubator for Impact (IINpact)’, which is an outcome of MoU between XIM University and ICICI Foundation. The first cohort of 50 participants from across India successfully completed the bootcamp (21 to 27 March 2023). This exposure gave a glimpse of the vibrant business environment that India is creating across the sectors and domain.
Q. What is the most satisfying part in your career?
A. The most satisfying part of my academic career is that I am able to change the student’s perception and understanding towards the seven North-East states of India. In 2016, at School of Rural Management, XIM University, I was coordinator of Rural Living and Learning Experience (RLLE). The RLLE is a 45 day/night village stay component for MBA (Rural Management) students. In August 2016, I informed students about arrangements of RLLE village stay in Manipur. To my surprise, no one agreed. Somehow, I was able to get two volunteer students, who were sent to Jolzam village in Churachandpur district.
In 2022-23 academic season students (both female and male) come to me and request for allocation to village in North-East state of India. This academic exercise has built a humane connection between students, parents, and people of N-E, that was missing when I was growing up. In a writing, one student shared a moving experience of staying in one of the villages in Ukhrul district of Manipur. The village headman said to the student “we do not have much to offer you, but whatever we have its yours now.” For students and family members this moving words simply dispel many false narration and information that goes around the normal conversation and media about N-E India. Now whenever I call students who went to these states, they very proudly say- ‘We are brand ambassador of the N-E states”.
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. My career before IIFM, in IIFM and after IIFM is influenced by many people. In an attempt to make note of it I have written an article on teacher-students relationship:
“Rejoinder: Teacher, Teacher, Where are You?”
This relationship in personal and professional life plays a pivotal role in giving direction to life and work.
My advice to freshers and young IIFM graduates would be to take note of following:
a) explore something that interest you,
b) Look out for your guide / guru who can help you to navigate the ship of life / profession,
c) let your guide / guru know you well to give appropriate support,
d) Invest time accordingly to develop skillsets to fit into the outer world,
And most importantly ‘enjoy the work that you do’.
Q. How did you decide to go for higher studies post IIFM? And how was the experience?
A. My inclination toward higher education has been since my graduation days. I was always fascinated by the open space that research and academic world provides to individuals for thinking, questioning, and exploring. It was this interest during graduation which led me present two essays on very different platform which are poles apart! One was on nuclear energy at Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai and other at Indian Council of Philosophical Research, organized at M. S. University, Udaipur.
During IIFM days I got to know about the specialization that IRMA provides for Fellow students in area of Natural Resource Management which made me appear for IRMA entrance exam and then join it. I am thankful to Prof. Manmohan Yadav Sir for his support and guidance for this exam and interview.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. The best part of IIFM can’t be described with one single event. It has been the rigor of classroom, the sweat at the playground (nice to get hold of volleyball match photo), roaming all over the campus in free time amidst nature and then walking (yes walking from our hill !!) to Nehru Nagar Chowk for tea. I hope students still enjoy this walk for tea!
In addition, the field visits as part of the course work have been a memorable experience. The time at our wonderful mess with friends and its ambiance remain imprinted till now.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, alumni. Anything else!!) or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. For me personally the course work at IIFM provides a whole new avenue of understanding the world. We were not only exploring nature, but also seeing social and management part of issues. This is a unique blend one can’t find anywhere else in India, or I feel in world. Because of this blend, every subject added unique perspective to understand the natural, social, technical, and economic challenges.
I am personally in debt to Prof. Suprava Patnaik, who helped me immensely for my M.Phil thesis. Madam not only gave me space to explore the issues that was of my interest (Carbon abatement potential of biofuel in Delhi region), but also trusted me with my novice idea when I first approach her. I can say that IIFM as an academic institution not only provides this space to experiment with one’s idea and but also provides space to work in that direction.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. The best part of IIFM days was staying at the New Hostel. All our classmates were housed in the old hostel. Only four of us (Yam Prasad Pokharel from Nepal, Hira Lal from Himachal Pradesh, and Malek Shah from Iran and myself from Uttar Pradesh) were in new hostel. I and Yam ji shared one room and the next room was shared by Hira and Malek ji. Yam ji and Malek ji both were experienced foresters in their country. The stay in the hostel with Yam ji was a once in lifetime opportunity. He was like a buddy, elder brother, and mentor all in one for me.
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. For all those who are joining IIFM, my suggestion would be to enjoy the complete eco-system on campus, build good relationships with peers and engage with alumni to slowly build a rapport with them. Do focus on studies and engage with faculty members who carry a rich repository of knowledge and experience and do their best to mentor us always.
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break
A. Frankly as I got into something that I enjoy, there is no typical day work and break. Usually when classes are there I focus on teaching and engagement with students. Otherwise, I enjoy reading, reflecting, and writing (all shared here- <http://ssrn.com/author=1398883>). I will be more than happy to connect with students and alumni to write together on issues of interest.
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family, and anything else you want to add?
A. I enjoy reading, playing badminton, and football. The weekend time is devoted to family and family chores.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors?
A. I am an avid reader, so the book list keeps on adding every month. Few of my reading in recent past are ‘Anubandh’ by Ela Bhatt, ‘Moved by Love’ by Vinova Bhave, ‘Unto this last’ by John Ruskin, ‘Snakes in Ganga’ by Rajiv Malhotra and Vijaya Viswanathan, ‘Watershed’ by Mridula Ramesh etc.
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? Your engagement with IIFM Placement or OT/SI?
A. As my engagement is in the academics, I will be happy to engage with the IIFM family for projects/writing/guiding on issues like ethical practices in business, natural resource management, livelihood activities, public policy etc.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there?
A. I feel that the effort to create a vibrant alumni network is one of the important milestones by IIFM Alumni Association, IIFM and office bearers. This will create a new avenue of professional engagement for greater social good.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. I would suggest name of Mr. Yam Prasad Pokharel, Swathi Karamcheti and Hira Lal.