My Career

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 125

Iwas blessed to work in good institutions which were well recognised, created systems as honestly as possible and were known for their good practices, rigour in every academic endeavour. Each institution I worked with helped me grow as a better professional and enabled me to accept several challenges which were initially daunting for me!

Punjabi University, Patiala

Punjabi University, Patiala, for the first time for me was an exposure to such a huge campus with well recognised departments and Research Centres. A well equipped Central Library and a number of equally well equipped libraries for every Department and Research Centre encouraged, enriched intellectual interactions and teaching-learning processes. It had a big residential complex with a good health centre and a reasonably big market for daily needs. There was a fleet of university buses to take children of every faculty member and staff to schools, colleges in the city and to help families to reach railway station, bus stand and all important parts of the city. The University was about 14 kilometers from the city.

126 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

Prof Amrik Singh

You were the Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala. I had applied for a post of Assistant Professor in the Department of History. The interview was held in UGC building in Delhi. Out of 21 candidates from JNU, London School of Economics and other Universities, I was selected. I had done my MPhil and was working on my PhD thesis with Prof Ravinder Kumar as my supervisor. Prof Kumar wrote to me after a week that he learnt from one of the experts that I was selected as number one, another candidate was also selected. I did not get the appointment letter for weeks. Suddenly a letter came from the University asking me to reappear for an interview in Delhi, in the UGC. The moment I entered, I asked, ‘why have I been asked to reappear before the same selection committee!’ You were taken aback, but you did not feel offended. You said, ‘the interview is being held again as one of the candidates had intriguingly not received the interview call last time’. I now wonder, will any Vice Chancellor ever care to reply to a question of a candidate who comes for an interview! I was again selected as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History, Punjabi University, Patiala, this time I was at number two.

You made 60 appointments. There were allegations by members of Sikh community that you had appointed 48 non-Sikh faculty members out of 60. You replied with a sense of humour, ‘if I cannot find a Sikh as an expert of Tamil, I will have to appoint a non-Sikh’. You used to demonstrate your secular belief while striving for academic excellence of the University by setting standards of excellence.

You used to interact with the faculty during evening walks, check the quality of food served in the hostels, tasting it yourself during surprise visits. Devendra and I were once walking with Manu, when you heard us scolding him, you stopped and said, ‘is this the way to talk to a small child?’ You sent us a book on child psychology with the intention of making us treat our son gently. You came home after a week, to discuss the book. I was the youngest faculty in the university, Devendra and I never expected you to visit us so often. You did not believe in formalities.

There was a lot of political pressure on you to do things which you did not believe in. You resigned. Devendra and I came

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 127

to meet you at 7.30 in the morning. You said, ‘you are the only ones to come and see me after my resignation’! As years passed by, Devendra and I learnt how people wanted to get close to the new person in position and to let him/her know how bad or incompetent the previous person was! It pained us to find people changing themselves for petty gains. We could not change. Our relationship with you lasted till you passed away months before Devendra in 2010.

You were a Godfather to us, stood by us like an anchor to let us know that you were there for us. You visited AIIMS to see Devendra during his surgeries in 1981–82, were proud of his immense will power, his strength and commitment to finish his PhD thesis despite him being on crutches. You particularly liked Devendra’s book reviews which he did for the Indian Book Chronicle, single handedly brought out by you. You were so happy when Devendra could steadily reach the position of a ProVice Chancellor at IGNOU, a National University, where he had contributed in different capacities with his heart and soul for twenty four and a half years.

Ammee and you had been coming forward on your own to provide comfort and support to us when we had problems. You brought a chair to my office, as you thought it would be comfortable for me when I had problems with my abdominal muscles. You were standing with me outside the lift with the folded chair, the moment Director NCERT saw you, he rushed and offered to carry it. You did not give it to him. Every Director, most Heads of Institutions were in awe with you around as they respected you as an intellectual of high order with simple habits. You knew most of them.

You admired Anand for his keen desire to understand issues and then speak. You always said, ‘I feel good, he has so much of depth and maturity and conducts himself with dignity even when he is passing through a low phase’. Ammee, you keep appreciating his speeches, interviews even now and keep letting me know how proud you feel.

From you we learnt to stand up, to take a stand and never worry about consequences. Devendra and I were known for taking a stand on issues, in meetings and through official notes. We

128 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

never stepped back out of fear. I have not forgotten an experience you shared with us, our learning to overcome fear. You admired Mahatma Gandhi as he never feared the might of the British! Thank you for giving us strength in our weaker moments. Thank you Ammee for giving us so much of love and care!

Prof Baldev Kumar

You were a big brother to Devendra and me. Sarlaji and you provided unconditional support to us when we were trying to settle in the University. For years, you never let us leave without dinner. You used to take us for dinner to your house in the campus for a year and a half and also walk back with us till Devendra was on crutches. I made it a point to visit you in Patiala from Chandigarh during my tours, you were so warm, both of you telling ‘please, bring Devendra and Manu next time’. Your sons, Punit an accomplished scientist and Gaurav, an accomplished professional, both in Canada, used to play with Manu. They are so affectionate and respectful. Losing both of you has saddened us. I went to meet your sons in Toronto and stayed with Gaurav in October, 2019 for nearly two weeks. Gaurav and Nidhi invited the entire family for dinner to meet me. I met your two brothers, their wives and your sister at the dinner. Punit made an effort to meet me a day before the dinner. Punit and Shashwati invited me for lunch at their place. I was treated with lot of respect and love. Both Punit, and Gaurav said, ‘we follow Uncle Anand. His speeches are so good. Gaurav is Anand’s admirer and keeps recalling his meeting with him in Toronto. He felt proud that when so many slips were sent in and so many people were waiting to meet him, Anand called him first and spent at least fifteen minutes with him.

Prof Mohinder Singh

Meeting Prof Mohinder Singh at the Institute of Punjabi Studies, Bhai Veer Singh Sadan, Delhi for a book discussion on Jallianwala Bagh (Hundred Years After the Massacre) was academically enriching and full of memories. Meeting his wife Mona later, was an experience which was painful. They both remembered Devendra so warmly, talked about Manu. We were colleagues at Punjabi

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 129

University Patiala. Mona and Mohinder found it so difficult to talk about the passing away of their younger daughter, Rubina in the US, it made three of us so sad. I realised that old friends are there to share joys and sorrows, sometime without words, just expressions!! To remember Devendra and Rubina was so painful.

Meeting the older daughter, Gina was a treat. She is a responsible young person who tries to maintain a balance as a professional, with her duties towards family and friends with a smile.

Nehru Memorial Museum & Library

Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, Teen Murti is a library which is massive in terms of its collection, the ongoing research, expansion, additions to enrich, beautiful lounge for interaction with scholars – well known, not so well known and young. The young scholars never felt out of place as the seniors made each one of them feel comfortable in their presence. The Microfilming and Manuscript sections are amazing. The Oral History Section has developed very well. I was a witness to so many celebrities, in terms of their contribution to our country’s freedom struggle, when they walked in for interviews. Teen Murti Library allowed me to go into a state of bliss with hundred of flowers, trees, birds and peacocks. I often went out to be with nature, take walks and have tea in the cafeteria.

I had worked in this great Library for my PhD thesis. My level of confidence was high here with my supervisor as its Director. The space I got as a scholar was immense, no accountability of what I did for months as Prof Ravinder Kumar was confident that I would manage. He did not believe in guiding to spoon feed. He would address my anxiety by saying, ‘you will, on your own, learn how to begin writing your chapters. All the reading that you have done, though, not directly related to your work, will rescue you’.

It was an equally satisfying and enriching experience for me to have worked here for a reasonably long period with the legend Aruna Asaf Ali, who was not obsessed with punctuality and

130 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

number of leaves. She was satisfied that Prof Ravinder Kumar had faith in my commitment.

Mrs Aruna Asaf Ali

I had only read in books about your fearless and daring acts during the Quit India Movement. You were so strong in your resolve and would not give up at any cost. Gandhiji had to appeal to you to surrender. You did, respecting Gandhiji’s appeal. I admired you for your courage, love for our country and your guts to marry Asaf Ali Saheb at the age of 18 when he was 42 years old. You had created a flutter as it was impossible for our society to imagine or accept a young Bengali Brahmin Ganguly woman marrying a much older man who was not from her religion. Both of you managed well because you were deeply devoted and dedicated to our country’s freedom struggle and to each other!

It was a dream come true when I got an opportunity to work with you on an important project, Resurgence of Womanhood in India. While reading about you, as a student and teaching about you as the youngest Assistant Professor of History at Punjabi University, Patiala, I always wondered how I could just have a glimpse of you. I was excited realising that I would get to spend two years and another six months with you when the project was coming to an end. I thanked Prof Ravinder Kumar for this. It was a blessing to have worked with you, so much of learning for me. You were in your late 70s then, but when you talked about your experiences of our country’s freedom struggle, your eyes used to light up with a beautiful smile and a sense of satisfaction. You made sure when you came to Anand’s house, Ashok’s house and to my house in Asian Games Village, to let all our friends, who came to meet you know ‘I was not alone in such daring acts, I was one of the many’. I learnt from you that there was no need to project or over- project contribution of one’s work.

You gave me so much of space and freedom to work, without imposing yourself. You allowed me to travel to Panipat on the day we were to start our Project. You said, ‘we will start after two days. You need to meet your mother-in-law and father-inlaw’. Manu needed to be admitted in a school in Delhi, you had

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 131

the patience to tell me, ‘don’t worry, your son’s education is more important’. During this period, I was ill for nearly a year, and could come to the library for a short duration, after a week or two’s gap you appreciated even that, and never got me worried! You were confident that I would deliver. We were able to finish the project with a six month’s extension. We were supposed to bring out one book, with Mr Raghavan’s support, we managed to bring out two. The Private Face of a Public Man, Life of Jawahar Lal Nehru came out first. And then came Resurgence of Indian Womanhood. Both these were brought out beautifully by Radiant Publishers.

You made me contribute fully with my limitations during the period I worked with you. It was a learning that work gets done, even if there is a delay, if those who work with us are encouraged and trusted! I feel inspired by your exceptional courage during Quit India Movement, which has been recognised as an important phase of our country’s freedom struggle. Each time I read about you in books or talk about you during my lectures to post graduate students in Himachal Pradesh University, Punjabi University, Patiala, and now to History Honours graduate students at Amity University, Haryana, I feel a special kind of energy. I admire your courage to dare!

Thank you Ma’am for reposing so much of faith in me, your affection, care and blessings.

Department of Women & Child Development, MHRD

My work in the Department of Women & Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) was a unique experience. I was in a comfort zone as I knew how to go about doing my work as a Consultant for a nationally important project, National Perspective Plan for Women: 1988–2000. Nonetheless, I did notice for the first time how the meetings were conducted in a big group of IAS officers, practitioners and subject/area experts and how they were in awe in the presence of the Minister, Margaret Alva. I learnt the art of giving dictations and

132 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

drafting letters, the earlier experience of my father dictating long judgements, running into so many pages was something I admired as a great quality. Later, I saw Anand having a powerful way of dictating. Devendra for decades gave me a valuable exposure to notings and dictations! This was in the year 1987–88. Later, when I joined NCERT, I was fortunate to be a part of such meetings several times in a year – for many years as a representative of NCERT. I began to respect the seriousness and substance of meetings with the bureaucrats, experts and representatives and heads of many other institutions, state officials and the officials working in MHRD. State or UT meetings were held with similar seriousness. The academicians were always treated with respect and dignity.

National Council of Education Research and Training

Ihad an opportunity to work in this great institution, which has no parallel, for 23 years. It provided me endless opportunities, exposed me to issues of national importance in School Education, a continuous interaction with Ministry of Human Resource Development, to State Education systems, to Curriculum Development, preparation of textbooks and supplementary materials. It trained me to cross subject boundaries by giving me opportunities to work in different, unfamiliar, new and emerging subject areas like environmental issues! NCERT taught me to tolerate work pressures, to cope with urgent matters like replying to the Parliament questions, preparing replies to the letters and mails from the MHRD and many a times from the Prime Minister’s office or the office of the President. These were sent by the Director NCERT to HoDs of different departments who assigned the task to the faculty. The HoDs first discussed and then finalised the draft replies for the Director. We got exposure to International Conferences, preparing and presenting the Country Papers and had occasions to visit foreign universities, World Bank headquarters in Washington DC, Ministries of Education of the UK and the USA.

My colleagues in NCERT, everyone I worked with for 23 years

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 133

helped me in many ways. When I joined NCERT, I found myself at a disadvantage, I did not have a degree in Education. I soon realised that there were few others who did not have this degree, but were heading departments, doing well and contributing. My first posting was in the Department of Women’s Studies. I had worked for my PhD thesis on Status of Women in India. This gave me some confidence. Many Directors had effectively administered and delivered with exceptional contribution without a degree in Education. These seniors became a source of comfort for me. I listened carefully to my colleagues with these degrees, tried to pick up as much as I could, read books to be able to perform in a prominent national institution!

In the learning process, I never hesitated to tell myself and my colleagues that I needed their help. Some helped, which gave me confidence, many were sarcastic. They helped me to accept an academic challenge. Gradually I became confident, became part of Research Studies, Training Programmes, Curriculum Development, Textbook and Supplementary Material Development, Evaluation and much more. Learning continued till the last day at NCERT. I wish to share the strength, which my colleagues in my department gave when Devendra left suddenly. I am grateful to each and every colleague and staff of all the 14 departments. During the 13 days, when I was at home, almost everyone came. Those who were on tours or on leave, came for days to my office to express their condolence. I was able to once again perform because of the strength which each one of you gave me in my ‘low’ period. I could take over the Headship of Department of Elementary Education (DEE), a huge Department, travel in the country and outside because you let me know that you cared.

Rakesh Aggarwal you still provide constant support, Shakambar Dutt, Pushpa, Suresh, Sunita, Mrs Sharma, Saxenaji, the Research Staff, Kabutri, Mahendri and others (in big numbers) in the Department worked hard. Many of you sat in the office even after ten at night to wait for me to return from the Ministry’s meetings or to answer the large number of Parliament questions, the Programme Section of Elementary Education managed huge budgets especially with the Technical Support Agency which was housed in the department. It was already too much of work for

134 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

the Department in Prof Vashishtha’s time. It was not that I did it alone, everyone worked to make it possible. I was blessed to have a faculty and staff who shared my load with commitment at every step!

Prof Sandhya Paranjpe, Dr Swarna Gupta, Prof Manju Jain and Prof Usha Dutta, you were my friends and colleagues in Department of Elementary Education. Prof Paranjape, I knew you from the Department of Women’s Studies of NCERT where we first worked together to become good friends. Ila Varma, you worked with me in this department. You joined UNICEF after a year. You have been warm and concerned during UNICEF meetings. You stay in touch and keep telling me to visit your beautiful home in Bhopal. Sandhya, you helped me during long international tours by helping me wear socks, without your concern for my spine, I could not have left the hotel room in the piercing and biting cold, for days and months! Our families were close. I learnt to ask for help from the Front Desks of the hotels later. Pankaj, Sandhya’s husband and I were very fond of each other. His passing away has hit me!

Swarna, Manju Lata and Usha, you were always ready to help, appreciate my sensitivity to help everyone who needed help. Manju, you made every effort to force me to save money. You used to actually open my bag and take a small amount every month to keep it in an empty box of tea bags in which Daljitji used to keep small amounts to deposit in the Public Provident Fund account. You took over with a sincere effort, changed the box when it wore off. You spent time on counting the money and depositing it with the help of Rakesh. All of you provided willing support to me to rehabilitate after my six months of being bed ridden, rushing to stop the lift, helping me to get into the lift with care!

Interactions with Hemant Kumar from the Publication Department have been intellectually meaningful. Hemant, your effort to go through the manuscript and your comments helped me to go ahead with publication. You also got me in touch with Mr Mathew, a fine proof reader. I wish to acknowledge and express my gratitude to all the staff car drivers for driving me safely, waiting for hours when flights got delayed especially in winters and finding way in the heavy fog. Each one of you was devoted, never grumbled or complained. For decades I learnt from your lives, your struggles,

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 135

your sense of duty towards your families. I remember Labh Singhji’s effort to go to Chandigarh with regularity to provide support to his growing children and later to give confidence to his mother in her nineties. I learnt how difficult it was for Anup to encourage his two school going children, with duty even at odd hours, feeling proud of them, going in for a major surgery, passing away fighting cancer. Anup, your one sentence keeps coming back to me, ‘Ma’am, I keep telling my children to do their best and not to worry as I will provide for everything and their mother will look after them’. Each one of you made me learn something invaluable. I cannot forget the guards, the lift operators and the Safai Karamcharis, each one greeting with a smile, respect and spontaneity.

Dr PL Malhotra

You were the Director of NCERT when I first joined on Deputation. I was absorbed after a year. You were very strict but helpful and caring. Many senior colleagues shared with me that you would be strict about punctuality of colleagues and staff, but you found time to talk to those who would get late. You ensured punctuality by providing solutions, understanding personal difficulties. I felt a little confident when I learnt that you were a PhD in History. You liked my discussions and the fact that I had worked with legendary Aruna Asaf Ali and had the experience of working in the MHRD’s Department of Women & Child Development. (It is now a Ministry.)

There was a commotion when I was nominated to UNESCO’s Conference on Gender Stereotyping in School Resources in Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. I was to present the Country Paper as Government of India’s nominee. You convinced the faculty that I would manage it well with my years of teaching experience in a university and a PhD on the Changing Status of Women in India. You were happy when you learnt that I acted as the co-chair of the conference and was a part of the committee for drafting the report.

You protected my job when I faced an ‘insecure senior’ who would everyday create hurdles, to the extent of getting sarcastic about young deaths in my family, not letting me go to AIIMS for

136 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

half a day for Papa’s surgery! I remained committed, met deadlines, coordinated four Annual Training Programmes on Methodology of Women’s Education and Development. You questioned my senior as to why my work should not be evaluated with objectivity when I completed all the assigned tasks, keeping in view, the quality.

Thank you for taking a strong stand at a time when I was new to NCERT. You helped me to perform against odds and eventually settle down.

Dr K Gopalan

You were NCERT’s Director who was bold and stood by those who needed support due to personal reasons. I had been suffering due to a rupture in the Rectus Muscle of the abdomen. I needed to go to the Parliament Annexe for physiotherapy, but faced a lot of difficulty, leaving the office for two to three hours every day.

You called me to your office, talked to me as an elder of the family to know details about my family and my health issues. After talking to me for more than half an hour, you assured me that I could go for my physiotherapy. You used to talk to me warmly each time you came to the Department of Women Studies or in other meetings of NCERT. You were kind to me because you realised that I actually needed support to look after my family and myself. You were happy each time I made a presentation. You had a meeting organised with all HoDs where I had to share the Country Paper that I had presented in Melbourne University in 1989.

You were very fond of Devendra, respected that he was a good human being, professionally good and a loving husband and father.

We remained in touch with you for more than a decade-and-a -half after you retired from NCERT. You were so happy when I visited you in Trichur in 1993. You came to pick me up and also dropped me back at Ram Nilayam Circuit House. You were happier when Devendra visited you. You called me up to say ‘your boy friend was here. My wife and I were so happy. What makes me happy is that there is mutuality in your love for each other. We have taken a picture with him, it will become a part of our family album. I will send you a copy!’ You did.

You visited our house when you came to Delhi for a meeting.

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 137

You shared with us your experiences of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, USA, from where you received your degree in Engineering.

An incident that left a mark on us was your courage to get an examination conducted for one student at the School of Architecture, Vasant Kunj. You called the Director of the School to your office in the MHRD where you were the Additional Advisor. The Director informed you that he respected the official protocols, and the examination was already over. You retaliated by telling him that ‘knowing that the student had lost his father a day before the examination, you should have sent a request to me to allow the student to take the examination. You were not sensitive. I am issuing an order now that the examination for this student has to be conducted tomorrow at 9 am.’

You heaved a sigh of relief as you let us know that the examination was conducted, the student’s one year was saved. We felt so proud that you were not only sensitive, good and caring but also daring as an administrator.

Both Devendra and I learnt from you that help needs to be provided at every cost. I respect you for taking a stand for me and allowing me to grow and contribute.

Prof AK Sharma

As Joint Director, and later as Director NCERT and; years after you retired, official, academic and social interactions with you have been fulfilling. Your command over languages, content, the seriousness in meetings with a large measure of objectivity and fairness has amazed me. You came across as a very simple person with sensitivity for your colleagues. I was touched by how you would rush during meetings to take calls from Chandigarh when your father was critical. You used to receive calls in your office only after letting us know that you had to, as it was from your sister or mother to update you about your father’s medical condition. Your secretary used to share with us that you used to get dropped at the Interstate Bus Terminal to take the ‘Night Bus’ to Chandigarh. The Director’s staff car would only be used in your personal emergencies for dropping and picking you up from the

138 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

bus terminal. You used to occasionally share personal issues in meetings to pass on a message. The official work never suffered as you would do all the urgent files each time you had to rush to Chandigarh. Your father passed away. You looked after your father’s treatment and then the rituals without neglecting work. This was a learning for me that one needed to attend to personal responsibilities as well along with professional, and, when needed the family should be given priority. Your academic inputs in the annual meetings of Programme Advisory Committee of the NCERT, used to be practical. The MHRD’s UNICEF supported District Primary Education Programme assignment led NCERT to take up the initiative with an excellent team spirit! We were exposed to internationally important issues, data, and Focused Group Discussions in early 1990s.

You protected your colleagues from the unfair treatment of some HoDs. You never failed to convey your displeasure to the HoDs whenever you found them imposing and unjustified, without raising your voice or using harsh words. You transferred me to Department of Education in Social Science & Humanities (DESS&H). The NCERT faculty missed you in 2009–10 when it failed to get the age for superannuation raised to 65 years! I remember your silent but effective effort to get NCERT faculty’s age raised to 62 years for superannuation! It has now been raised in 2017 with NCERT being declared as an Institution of National Importance (It already was!). I am happy for my colleagues.

The message I picked up from you was that we don’t have to be loud, to get a difficult task done, which, would benefit the academic community and keep it motivated. We need to take a stand, which must be firm but polite!

Prof JS Rajput

You became the Director of NCERT in 1999. You were the strictest Director, your focus was on punctuality and deadlines, although you knew yourself that NCERT had been delivering what it had to! You transferred me to the Department of Elementary Education (DEE) from DESS&H after months of your joining. I was bed ridden for nearly six months. When I joined back in 2001, you

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 139

were shocked to see me, making a great effort to sit on the chair, not able to carry my thin file in the interview for a professor’s position. When the interview was over, I asked you if you would have the file sent to me in my department, you said, ‘you don’t worry, it will reach you’. You stood up and opened the door for me, saying ‘I am upset to see you in such a heavy spinal belt. I have learnt that you used to rush so many sick people to hospitals. You are very brave’. I was selected as a Professor from July 1999. This was in spite of the fact that I had an academic argument with you in a big meeting!

When I look back, I realise you transferred me to a department where I had opportunities and experiences to keep accepting challenges. Due to four deaths in the family, Bauji, Papa Sudhir and Munna Didi, I used to be late for office. I used to find memos frequently on my table to explain my coming late to work. Each time I told you the reason, you would be like an elder, sympathetic and compassionate, but the memos did not stop. In the large NCERT meetings you appreciated my comments, observations and inputs. You were aware that I was doing a paper from AIIMS where Devendra was admitted after Sudhir’s death. You had assigned this paper to me for NCERT’s Journal of Indian Education. This was on ‘Implications of the National Curriculum Framework 2000 for the Girl Child’. You appreciated when I submitted it on time. I did go through a tough time due to large number of Memos! When you were leaving in 2004 after completing your tenure, you called me to your office, to let me know ‘Kiran, I respect you because you are committed, well read and speak with clarity, but I had to do certain unpleasant things as Director’. I did not have any grudge against the memos. I forgot about those. I was, however, shocked to find how quickly the NCERT academicians changed with the coming of the new Director. They had no hesitation in criticising you to get close to him!

When a member of CIET’s team suddenly died in Port Blair, you ensured that all support was provided, asked the team to return by air, though some were not entitled to air travel. You kept in touch with the team, went with the body of this colleague to his residence! I still occasionally meet you and talk to you in meetings and on social occasions.

140 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

Prof G Ravindra

I knew you as Joint Director and later as Director of NCERT. Your simplicity, smile, academic depth and a firm way to communicate, impressed me. You tried to convince in meetings that love was an essential aspect of every relationship, even in professional situations. You believed that most professional problems could disappear if this aspect could be incorporated as a way of professional life. An NCERT evaluation team was to go to the US and Canada, however, last minute questions were raised by the Ministry. Everyone used to feel that you were very mild and could never take a stand. You surprised everyone as the issue was resolved by your meeting with the Secretary, MHRD within minutes. We left as per the schedule. The Senior Management Team again went to the UK and the US as you took all precautions to avoid last minute issues. You were to accompany the team as its leader in the capacity of Director.

You were unaffected when you were asked to stay back due to the forthcoming Parliament session. You made me the Team Leader as I was the Member Secretary of the NCERT-MHRD-TSA and Cambridge Consultants Evaluation Initiative, in the capacity of HoD of DEE. You stepped back quietly.

The moment you were informed about Devendra’s passing away, you rushed to my house early morning with colleagues who stayed on the NCERT campus. You used the Director’s discretionary power to allot an accommodation to me on the campus as I had to vacate my husband’s official accommodation in Asian Games village within six months.

You motivated me to take over as HoD of NCERT’s big department. I was not ready as Devendra had passed away just six weeks back. You appreciated my contribution in every meeting, presentations and discussions. This gave strength to me in weaker moments and helped me to remain committed professionally.

Laila Tyabji

When NCERT was developing its National Curriculum Framework, 2005, it had created 21 Focus Groups. You were the Chairperson for the Focus Group on Heritage Crafts. I was its

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 141

Member Secretary. You are known for your contribution to the creation of Dastkar and protection of Indian crafts and artists. Devendra and I had been a regular visitor to Dastkar, but I had never met you. I learnt that you are the granddaughter of Badru- din Tyabji, the third president of the Indian National Congress. You and I used to have discussions on this important period of Indian history.

It was a blessing to have worked with you, listen to you, see you interact with artists and learn from you many beautiful things about the struggle of the artists. You have been appreciative of their art, guiding them gently with sensitivity, while respecting their knowledge. I appreciate your grace and elegant dress sense. It was a happy experience to interview you at Central Institute of Educational Technology, NCERT. This was something I did for the first time. It came up beautifully because you spoke not like an expert but as person who has learnt so much to nurture your own talent and passion. It was a humbling experience for me.

Prof Usha Nayyar

You were my HoD when I first joined NCERT in 1988 on Deputation. You made me tough by giving me difficult situations to face. You were a hardworking and a pushing person. You exposed me to handling a fairly large data and its analysis, when you assigned me the role of member of the National Gender Studies Team and State Coordinator of Kerala. Meeting you after a decade made me feel your warmth and affection of your husband Brigadier Nayyar. You have not been in good health, I stay concerned and make an effort to stay in touch with you and family.

Prof Arjun Dev

You were my HoD when I was in Department of Social Science & Humanities. Devendra and I were actually friends with you and your wife Indira. While I worked with you, Bauji was ill. He was staying with us for treatment and Papa was also ill in Delhi. He was with my younger brother Ashok. I was anxious. I would be frequently late for work. This was an emotionally stressful period. Bauji passed away in December 1998. Papa passed away

142 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

in October 1999. You were extraordinarily sensitive. You would ask me every day about the health of both, made me part of big projects of the Department, sent me on tours till I expressed my inability due to compelling personal reasons. Never did you ever make me feel guilty for coming late to work. It was because of you that I participated in all the activities and was able to bring out a revised edition of Class VIII History Textbook in 1998. It was supposed to be ‘Annual Reprint’ with minimal essential changes. You sent it to the Publication Department with a note that it had to be treated as a revised edition. You acknowledged my contribution in the Preface. I was an active member of Hindi translation group of Source Book on Human Rights, NCERT’s monumental work, An Album on History of Freedom Struggle. I was able to work with Aditya Narayan Singh, nephew of the famous Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. I was a member of the Project on Some Aspects of Curriculum, managed to travel to eight states. You saved me silently from carrying a sense of guilt. You have been an example of a very sensitive and concerned HoD. When I met you at India International Centre at the wedding reception of Prof AK Sharma’s son, I could not have stayed if you and Indira had not taken care of me with so much of affection. You realised that I find it difficult to be part of weddings without Devendra. You felt bad that I was there for a very short time. You made a special effort to see me off. I was moved. Thank you Arjun and Indira for your kindness. You are so caring when I visit you in Noida.

Visiting you in PSRI Hospital in Delhi was sad. You were talking to yourself. You were talking a lot about Anand and were sad that it had been long since you met him or even spoke to him

Prof KK Vashishtha

We were colleagues in DEE in the NCERT in 1999. Later you became the HoD. It was during this period that my husband’s younger brother and elder sister, Sudhir and Munna Didi passed away. The family was shattered. Kunti Mummy tried to be bold, but it was very tough for her. Devendra’s youngest brother had already passed away in 1993. All these were sudden deaths, due to an accident and heart failure. They were all young people. Devendra

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 143

found it hardest to mentally accept the loss of his siblings. His health got affected as he missed each of them so much. He was lost, as every morning the moment he got into his staff car, the first call he would make from his mobile was to Munna Didi, he could not adjust to her loss emotionally. Manu and I shared his loss. We were also having great difficulty in adjusting to shocks and Devendra’s health.

In you, I found an understanding HoD with sensitivity and concern. You could sometimes be very angry, even sarcastic, but ready to provide all support when anyone of us faced problems, at home or with our own health. You would tell us to forget about work and focus on the personal problems. This could also mean cancellation of tours and missing deadlines. You would find solutions, assign task to some other colleague till things became normal or take over the responsibility on yourself. You could provide support to me ungrudgingly at the cost of official risks because you believed in me.

You were always objective and fair which enabled each one of us to contribute in states and UTs to provide academic support, in Delhi and in other countries. You would never say that you were the first to reach the department, driving for more than an hour from Ghaziabad and mostly the last to leave trying to answer the parliament questions. You appreciated that I used to frequently stay back to provide support. I was supported by Devendra and Kunti Mummy at home for professional commitments.

I could work as a Member Secretary for development of History Curriculum (Classes VI–XII) and Heritage Craft & Development of Textbooks because you gave me space. It was a blessing to have worked with Prof Anil Sethi who was so good in subjects knowledge. You looked after your critically ill mother who was in the ICU with a great sense of dedication for months at the cost of driving for months, three times more than your normal distance, increasing work load and emotional pressures. You used to react violently when some colleagues suggested that the Ventilator had been there for months, and that it was of no use. You used to retaliate, ‘should I tell the doctors to stop my mother’s breathing’. You used to get upset over the insensitivity of those colleagues who would suggest that there was no point in prolonging treatment.

144 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

This made you cry so many times. I respect you for your sensitivity. I can always relate with you as we share similar sensitivity and values. I thought about you so much finding, Devendra in similar situation when Kunti Mummy was in ICU (for less than a week). She passed away eight months before Devendra.

During our long tours to the UK, US and Canada you and your wife actually looked after me. We used to have evening tea and dinner together, shop together and what was most beautiful was that you used to take care of my money, balance and keep warning me that I needed to check my shopping. Not only this, you always created space in your suitcases, many a times adjusted your own shopping everyday. The effort was immense but not even once did you tell me that it was difficult for you. You appreciated that I was picking up small but beautiful gifts to say ‘thank you’ to every one who was or would be kind to me. You would tell me that you were worried because I spent all that we got as official allowance and the amount that I had carried with me. You were worried as to how would I pay for my international usage of mobile which would be a huge amount.

When I called you up at 6.30 in the morning to inform about Devendra’s passing away, you reached at 7.30, stayed for cremation in the afternoon, went back to Ghaziabad to get your wife in the evening. You had retired by then. I was touched by the effort you made to let me know that you shared my grief. It was difficult for you in terms of time, distance and fatigue.

It is a treat to visit you in Ghaziabad periodically. Your warmth is overwhelming. Both you and your wife treat me with so much of love and care. Thank you for finding ways to help me contribute in spite of so many difficulties.

Prof Daljit Gupta

You were my senior colleague in NCERT. I worked with you in DEE after I was transferred from DESS&H. We worked together on a nationally important programme of community singing. I enjoyed working with you. I travelled to Shimoga in Karnataka and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh for the two inter-state programmes where I was able to experience the beauty of children learning music together,

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 145

picking up each other’s language and learning from each other. In Sarnath, two brothers from Maharashtra were participants, the teacher who accompanied them was their father. Each child was to talk about himself or herself before the performance. The elder brother was confident, he could introduce himself well. When the turn of the younger brother came, he was nervous, he could not speak at all. His father got angry, blamed the child for letting him down. He started comparing him with his brother and shouting. I got up from the dais, brought the child with me and made him sit next to me. He was only 10 years old. I began talking to him, asking him about his family, his likes and dislikes. Within a few minutes, I went with him holding his hand and asked him to share what he shared with me with everyone in the big hall. He did it beautifully. I requested the teachers to give space and confidence to every child to enable him/her to perform. Belittling makes a child nervous and he or she will never have the courage to be a part of any activity, be it writing, speaking, painting, dance or singing.

It gets difficult for a child if the child’s parent happens to be his/her teacher. As I was getting into the car to leave Shimoga, many children came to say goodbye. A boy, Kamran came forward, holding my hand, he cried and said aap mat jayeeye (please don’t go). I am sharing this to express my concern that each child has strength and potential, provided the parents and teachers recognise and encourage their ability, capability and aptitude.

I loved the way you wrote for children for the EVS textbooks for Primary level children. Your expressions used to keep the children’s curiosity in view and I am confident that if the teacher would transact it beautifully, the teaching learning process would become joyful.

I learnt so much from you, about your struggle, your efforts to educate your younger brother and sisters as the eldest in the family. Your national and international travels helped you grow in NCERT and you did not believe in pushing beyond a point. You helped the boys who worked in your husband’s chemist shop to build their small homes. You lent them money one by one, took it back when each came to return on his own, you never bothered about the amount they returned. You used to be happy that atleast each remembered to do it as a part of his duty and was responsible.

146 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

Your husband, Dr Gupta, had got this shop to keep himself busy after retirement. You used it just to keep yourself busy, not to make money. Daljitji, you taught me to start saving every month. You started my PPF account. You used to get angry and push me to become regular. Till the Sixth Pay Commission, our carry home salary was very low. We became comfortable after some arrears came in 2009 and the rest in early 2010. We were all so happy when the teaching community was respected and given salaries almost at par with the bureaucrats.

Devendra and Manu respected you. You too were fond of them. Thank you so much for being there for me Daljitji and never forgetting to enquire about me, Manu, Priya, Vaidehi, Anand, Ashok and their families periodically.

Prof GC Upadhyay

My room in DEE was adjacent to yours. I used to come frequently to your room as I discovered your high intellect and commitment to work. Your interactions during meetings were always meaningful. We travelled together for conducting workshops in States/UTs and for international meetings, your inputs during each meeting helped address important issues. You are a very sensitive person. I respect you, your wife and your three daughters for willingly looking after your mother with a sense of duty till she passed away. All your daughters have done well, the youngest got her degree from London School of Economics. You and your wife do all that you can for your family, brother, sister, nephews and nieces. Ms Upadhyay worked in Allahabad Bank. I still remember you began to write about your mother’s falling health so beautifully, the need to keep her warm and protected. I am grateful to you for your help in drafting replies to Parliamentary questions, when we received those after 7 pm when I was about to leave. I would request you to come back to DEE to prepare replies. One evening there was no electricity in DEE, you and I hand wrote the reply using a security guard’s table in dim natural light. We then rushed to the Joint Director’s office where you typed this on his computer and we sent the reply by 9 in the night. Such emergencies arose frequently, you

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 147

rushed as you stayed in NCERT campus. I could trust you with your intent, maturity and intellect.

Dr Upadhyay thank you for sharing with me beautiful ways in which Devendra helped everyone who went to him.

Minoo Nandrajog

Minoo Nandrajog you were my colleague and friend in DESS&H. I have known your father, Dr Pannigrahi, a historian, since 1979. You impressed me with your preparedness for meetings and your effort to meet deadlines to bring out NCERT commerce books. Minoo shared with me that your gardener used to tell you that Anand has always been helping the poor, their children to study and get jobs as the gardener worked for Anand also. You remained grounded even when your husband Pradeep became a judge in Delhi High Court. You did not live to see him become Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, and then Chief Justice of Maharashtra High Court. You bore the physical, mental and emotional trauma so gracefully. In your going away you taught me how to live with dignity when it is really tough, and smile when you want to cry! You had Pancreatic Cancer. Pradeep, I respect you because you did all that you could to give comfort and hope to your wife Minoo. Anand, Ashok and I are fond of you as you, like us, also grew up in Shimla. We share a beautiful bond. You are now retired and settled in Delhi.

Neeraja Rashmi and Rajani Ranjan Rashmi

Neeraja, you were my colleague in DESS&H. Your subject was Economics. Within days of your joining, we became close as we shared common values, believed in working hard and meet deadlines. We began to meet as families as Devendra, Manu and I grew very fond of your husband, a senior IAS officer, your children Kanu and Manasi. I am happy that both of them are doing well. Rajani has been helpful and grounded. He recently retired as Chief Secretary of Manipur. Rajani, you are now working in TERI University, Delhi. Neeraja has been proud of your intellect. I find it so true when I interact with you. Your book of poems Kandhe Par Sooraj beautifully discusses dreams, struggles, desires of youth,

148 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

and the need to feel and understand with maturity as we grow! Both of you are fond of books. This makes me get along with you. Whenever we meet socially, our interactions are generally academic and intellectual. You are both children of teachers. You look after your workers’ children. These children are like your grandchildren and you make sure that they are comfortable, educated and play with you in the evenings! There are no restrictions for them. You are careful about their emotions when Kanu’s children come to stay with you from Mumbai, ensuring that they do not feel ignored or left out. I respect you both for what you are and for giving a lot of respect to me and Devendra and appreciating Manu. You had observed him for years from school, college to the university! Rajani, you have worked with Anand as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry during his tenure as a minister. You have high regard for Anand. You appreciate his transparency and his ability to guide with unparalleled intellect, his understanding and knowledge, his exceptional command over English and Hindi languages and his sensitivity.

Prof Lata Pandey

You were my colleague in NCERT working in DEE with me. I was impressed by your dress sense. You stood out as a graceful academician with creative skills and intellect. Whenever we got together you used to read out poems which you wrote in Hindi. Two of your poems which moved me to tears were Ma (Mother) and Betiyaan Niyamat Hein (Daughters are a blessing). You would volunteer to go through what I wrote for the NCERT journals, the academic reports and even the manuscript of Handbook for Teachers for Art of Healthy and Productive Living. Your inputs helped me improve.

Your appreciation of my content and language kept me motivated. Whenever, wherever I intervened in meetings, whether at departmental level, NCERT, MHRD or meetings at Universities in England, US and Canada, you never failed to say ‘Kiran Di you were so good. I am so proud of your command on both the languages, Hindi and English, and the spontaneity with which you raise relevant issues. You treat it as your academic duty’.

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 149

Lata, you made me write articles in Hindi for the Prathmik Shikshak journal. You were its academic editor. I was the academic editor of the English journal The Primary Teacher. You used to appreciate the cover page and its presentation. You believed that I took a stand and never accepted the routine cover pages. You felt happy that, ‘I got them created in the department, never accepted ordinary academic content either in my writings or in my presentations and had the courage to take a stand, mostly for academic colleagues and staff!’

I cannot forget how you broke down when we were having lunch on the day I was to superannuate. You shared with me several times that you would miss my appreciation of your work, concern for your health and you would be lonely! I promised you that I will remain in touch. You came to meet me in National University of Educational Planning and Administration with Kavita, another bright colleague, who respected your capabilities. I was happy that you would adjust, as with Kavita you would be able to share your writings and your work and you would work like a team. I spoke to you five days before you were taken to the hospital. You were unwell and emotionally upset. I was shocked to get the news of your hospitalisation in the ICU of Rockland Hospital. I spoke to Dr MP Sharma who informed me that you were very critical. I rushed from Gurgaon, spoke to the doctors, Kavita and so many other colleagues were there. I said goodbye to you, you were on ventilator, life support system. You passed away on November 16, 2014. It has been difficult for me to lose a friend who was so genuine, loving and a beautiful human being! I think of you often, the courage with which you faced personal ordeals, without letting these affect your professional commitment, makes me respect you!

Dr Kavita Sharma

I know you as my young colleague in DEE. I admire the dignity with which you conducted yourself in meetings, as a member of the Editorial Team of The Primary Teacher when I was its Editor, as member of the Evaluation Team of Tamil Nadu’s SSA initiative, Activity-based Learning with your grasp and ability to understand the finer details. Your commitment to meet deadlines, your effort

150 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

to incorporate the suggested changes to maintain quality impressed me. The fact that you took care of your ailing mother-in-law with your two small daughters touched me. What touched me most is the fact that you provided support to Dr Lata Pandey when I had left DEE. You became her friend. She could trust you when she was lonely and low, and, the last three days of her life when she was struggling to survive. Your husband and you were in the hospital till the last for running around, with the money to pay the bill. You actually paid the heavy bill without letting me share it. You sent me home to save me from extreme exhaustion from emotions and kept me informed about Lata’s medical condition.

My regular interactions and discussions with you assure me that people are still good! My capacity to reach out to many in a day is gradually getting less. On seeing most people as self-centered professionals pains me. You give me hope that the helpless will be taken care of, work will be taken seriously and that one can manage a lot without a fuss. You admired how I used to find satisfaction in finding time for everyone who needed me, and could give a meaning to each day, never compromising with academic standards and commitment. You used to get emotional each time you discovered me taking away my name from documents to bring in the names of young faculty. We can grow by sharing knowledge, resources, time and values! You have been reaching out to me in the last six years, providing inputs to my writings and appreciating it at the same time. Thank you for going through the manuscript of this book as well. Your effort keeps me going academically and intellectually.

Dr Sushmita Dutt

I came to know you in 2008 as UNICEF’s Senior Education Expert, posted in Delhi office. I was nominated by NCERT to participate in UNICEF workshops on Alternative Learning in Kolkata, Nagpur, Lucknow and Tirupati. We realised that professionally we could get along well. You are academically sound, very simple and grounded. You were the coordinator of these workshops. You were invited to NCERT’s workshop on Corporal Punishment in Guwahati and to another workshop

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 151

in Kavarati, the capital of the Lakshdweep Islands. You were meticulous and focussed. You and I addressed a joint session to realise that it was beautiful, without any gaps. We had actually not planned it like that, it was spontaneous. What came out was that neither of us kept to our own, gave space to each other. There was acceptance as well as reciprocity. Your husband, Shekhar Dutt, was Secretary of Defence when Devendra and I first met both of you at the At Home function on January 26, 2008 at Rashtrapati Bhawan. When you came to Lakshadweep to be a resource person for our workshop, Shekhar was the Governor of Chhattisgarh! You remained humble, as simple as you always were. I wish to thank you for taking care of me in all the places that we went to and your invitations to India International Centre for meals. It was lovely spending time with you professionally, and, socially with your husband and you whenever it was possible for him to join us. Both of you let me know how much you admire and appreciate Anand. Shekhar shared with me that he loved Anand’s meetings, discussions and his sensibility to effectively take up issues to find solutions. You always made me feel blessed, ‘Kiran, you have such caring brothers, everyone knows it.’ When I visited you i Ranchi at Raj Bhavan and at your house, you looked after me with so much of warmth and care. While introducing me to your niece-in-law, who was visiting you from Nice, France, you said ‘auntie is an intellectual, she was known as Santa Claus in NCERT.’

Latha

We worked together to evaluate Tamil Nadu’s SSA Initiative, Activity-Based Learning (ABL). I visited Chennai and other cities in Tamil Nadu several times. You ensured that all meetings, which continued till late evenings, were focussed and meaningful.

It is your warmth that makes me connect with you occasionally. I did not expect it from you after my superannuation from NCERT in 2013. I was moved by your gesture of meeting me late in the evening when I was in Chennai in March 2015. You came to meet me late in the evening. You made sure that one of your colleagues received me at the airport and also escorted me for the next two days to fulfill my personal commitments in Chennai.

152 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

My visit to Chennai on December 10, 2016 has deeply touched me. When you learnt about my visit, your spontaneous response was ‘Ma’am, how do I help you’. I did not want to bother you because it was a weekend and Christmas was not far. My hotel was far off from your office and even your residence. You called me up on Sunday morning and insisted on meeting me. My logic of stopping you did not work. I was trying to convince you that you would need to go to the church, spend time with your family and also do some Christmas shopping. Your response has given me sleepless nights ‘Ma’am, the church will be here, shopping can wait, Sundays will keep coming, family is always with me, but, Kiran Ma’am will not come often. My priority is to meet you Ma’am’. I found you waiting for me at the airport to greet me with a smile. You handed me a beautiful bag containing a silver Ganpati. I told you that I could not take an expensive gift. You took out time to travel a fairly long distance is what I appreciate. You said, ‘I don’t know whether it is silver, iron or anything else, please accept it as my highest regard for you, Kiran Ma’am’. I was speechless. I am still wondering how do you do so much for me. I wish to let you know that I am happy that you are gradually realising your dream. Tamil Nadu is blessed to have a young and dynamic Deputy Director of Elementary Education. Your passion and commitment is bound to bring positive changes to ensure quality elementary education for every child in Tamil Nadu. I respect you for your hard work, the passion that you have for your profession and like your smile and your laughter.

Thank you Latha, for your love and respect.

Dr Jayshree Oza

I knew you as the Lead of the Technical Support Agency, of the Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF) to initiate and complete an International Evaluation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan State Initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. You looked after the training, huge data collection and guiding the evaluation from the launch, peer evaluation, visits to universities in the UK, US and Canada; field studies, trials, writing the draft reports and finalisation. This was a great learning for me. The reports

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 153

were finalized after the presentation in each State. States acted as partners and participated fully after an initial hesitation. DEE was the nodal department, it provided all support at every step to TSA. The large Evaluation Team included the NCERT faculty, the faculty of Regional Institutes of Education (RIE), State Project Directors, officials of State’s SSA office, and later, Directors of selected State Councils of Educational Research & Training. The HoD of DEE was the Member Secretary of this initiative. The ability and the intent of Prof Vashishtha was amazing in ensuring beautiful and meaningful facilitation. He was candid but everything became possible by his courage to take positive decisions. The department worked hard to operationalise the required processes, internalisation, liaison with the State institutions and State Governments. The TCA efficiently managed to deliver all the four studies by building strong bonds and rushing to DEE, for advice, permissions, decisions, paper work and discuss logistics.

You were able to do all this by keeping your temper under control during continuous pressure, remain cool and patient during serious discussions which many times, became tense to bring positive outcomes. I appreciated the way you handled the pressures of deadlines, delivering, fixing meetings, organising international travels and ensuring finalization of reports. You could do this by guiding your own team, keeping it motivated. It was a great experience to have worked with you Jayshree.

You were so happy when you visited Ashok’s house. You appreciated Ashok and Queenie’s warmth. You have always conveyed that you find Anand as a parliamentarian who has high intellect, knowledge, and never uses unparliamentary language. He is mature and dignified. Your February 2020 message ‘Speeches by Anand Sharma is taking the country by storm! Excellent, no words to describe. Do give him our compliments and best wishes.’

Prof Stufflebeam

It was a blessing to have met you and interacted with you during our visit to Western Michigan University in 2010. You are known for your pioneering and significant contribution to the world of Evaluation. The Wall of Honour has your name as one of

154 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

the Founders with quite a few other scholars, who have contributed in developing the field of Evaluation. What is important is that it does not limit itself, the new names keep getting added by finding ways to motivate young evaluators. You were 85 years old when we met you.

You came to interact with us in the University on a battery driven car, with a bag full of photocopies of your work for each one of us. Your one leg had been amputated, your crutches helped you to reach the meeting room. Once you settled in the chair, the meeting began with a lot of enthusiasm. Prof Vashishtha made a presentation in response to your comments on our studies. You acknowledged his well prepared presentation and our contribution to the studies.

It was beautiful to pick up from you, your courage, positive energy and smile. It was a learning that the work of others needs to be positively viewed and acknowledged. Another learning was that we need to keep working to meaningfully contribute irrespective of our physical challenges.

Prof Jean King

Reaching Minnesota from Washington DC in March 2011 is an experience that I treasure. The Air America’s air hostess spotted my spinal belt, came to me with a reassurance ‘come my darling, give me your hand’. During the flight she kept coming to me to ensure that I was comfortable. The flight landed at night in heavy snow. The airport looked beautiful with lights and snow. You had sent your two PhD scholars to receive us. We were taken to Hotel Crowne Plaza for stay. What was unique was that we were first taken to a suite where we were informed that it was for all of us, the key would be with one of us. The kitchen, fridge had been abundantly stacked with milk, cheese, yogurt, fruit, breads, tea & coffee-bags and water bottles on the slab. The first day’s session at the University with you and the Dean was an exceptional experience in a beautiful meeting room with an amazing lounge. You arrived with your colleague Michael the next morning, the two legendary figures of Evaluation. It was a beautiful experience to see you Prof Jean King with your amazing grace, depth of

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 155

knowledge, sensitivity and dignity, respecting our presence. Your concern throughout was our comfort. During our many visits, we were received, taken care of, but here it was different this time. You invited all of us to a dinner in your beautiful home. I felt bad that I missed the warmth and hospitality and meeting your dear husband. I had to leave for Halifax to meet Kaushalya auntie and Krishan Lal uncle. Had I known about the dinner before leaving Delhi, I would have booked my ticket for Halifax for the next day.

I treasure my visit to the University, the Bookshop from where I picked up collectors’ editions of some classics. Thank you Prof Jean King for strengthening my belief that sensitivity and care can be a part of professionalism. When it is, it is an enriching experience. Visiting Minnesota surprisingly made me happy, as the University is situated on the banks of river Mississippi, a river about which I read and wondered about when I was in school. I also looked at this visit as a dream being realised, of actually watching the river in the snowy cold of Minnesota!

Christina Christie

It was lovely meeting you in UCLA. Christina, you took us on a tour of the magnificent UCLA campus, a mix of old historical and modern buildings. The campus is full of flowers, water bodies and has a beautiful gift shop. The lunch at the faculty house was amazing.

Our stay in a beautiful hotel in Los Angeles was invigorating, it had rows of ‘birds of paradise’ flowers. I love to see these flowers as I become nostalgic. Manu had first introduced me to these. Each time I see these lovely flowers, I think of Manu. The Hollywood’s Walk to Fame and the long drive through the Beverly Hills was a historical experience.

What has stayed with me is your very beautiful discussion on the Evaluation Tree. We spotted so many evaluators whom we had met and interacted with, especially Brad Cousins of Ottawa University with whom our interaction was for years on a regular basis till the Evaluation studies were submitted. He had ensured our participation in the Canada Evaluation Conference in 2010 at Victoria. The city of Victoria keeps making me feel nostalgic

156 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

about its breathtaking Buchart Gardens. This conference was huge – having 426 delegates. My 15-20 minute observation immediately after the very formal opening of the Conference gave me an opportunity to speak. It made Prof Vashishtha, my HoD, proud as a team leader and my colleagues from NCERT Regional Institutes of Education and the State Government officials happy.

Attending the inaugural session of the 2019 of International School Psychology at Basel University, Switzerland, having 550 delegates, was a great experience. In this university I also attended the first meeting of Asia Pacific School Psychology Association.

Jayson Pennells

You were a senior official of the Cambridge Consultants in TSA. We worked together for four Evaluation Studies from 200813. You came across as a gentleman, academically sound, an officer who over stretched his capacity and ability to ensure that TCA performed well, all the deadlines were met with logistics in place. It was a different experience to meet you in Cambridge, your workplace and your home town. You took so many extra steps to ensure that everything went as per the schedule.

We travelled to Glasgow from Cambridge, from London to Washington and then to Minnesota. In Glasgow, the flight landed at midnight due to heavy snow, the stay and the meeting at Jury’s Inn with the Education Board was well organised. We left by the early morning flight to reach London for another meeting.

It was so beautiful to experience your maturity, your goodness in whatever you did. I do appreciate your special effort to take me to the Minnesota airport for my 11 o’clock flight to New York. You used to get such terrible headaches in those days, still you insisted on coming to the airport. Meeting you professionally and socially has been a blessing. You knew Devendra as you had worked for the British Open University. Both of you met in a Conference in London.

Alok Verma

You were the Secretary of NCERT when I was the HoD of DEE. Your respect and support helped me in delivering without too

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 157

many administrative delays. Your advice was generally positive. You tried to be as objective as you possibly could.

We had come close in NCERT on learning that both of us had lost our spouses suddenly. Devendra passed away in sleep in 2010, your wife was 42 years old when she passed away, you were at that time in Malaysia. Your daughter and son were studying in school. We both lived on the NCERT campus. Our houses were at a short distance. I became close to your daughter and son as I made an effort to talk to them whenever I could find time. You boldly faced an emotionally difficult period.

I superannuated, and you moved away to Haryana to work in different capacities. When I met you in Chandigarh, you made a special effort to meet me, in spite of your busy schedule due to your position as OSD to the Chief Minister of Haryana. I never thought you would make the effort, but you did. Thank you for remaining in touch and for your respect.

Dr Subhas Roy

You are Professor and Dean at NCERT’s North-East Regional Institute of Education, Shillong. Interactions with you for years have been a learning experience. Each time I made an observation during meetings in NCERT or in several universities in the UK, Canada, USA and Scottland, you would tell ‘Madam you were your best’. Your spontaneous observations kept me going.

Dr Maninder Sarkaria

You are working in SCERT, Chandigarh. I met you in a meeting in DEE when I was HoD. Interacting with you in Chandigarh meetings of Punjab Government is always a beautiful intellectual experience. You love books. It is a joy to discuss these with you. You make sure that you meet your 84 year old mother every week. She stays in Kasauli. In case you get stuck up, your brother visits her. You are blessed to have a wife who supports you and make sure that your sister, her family and anyone else who visits your house is treated with dignity. She is a Hindi teacher. Your son is doing Mechanical Engineering from Chandigarh Institute of Engineering & Technology. Your daughter is doing graduation

158 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

in Humanities. You are focused and meticulous. Thank you for finding time to go through the manuscript of this book in spite of your hectic schedule of work and travel!

An old woman in Imphal

I was in Imphal in May 2012 for a meeting of Manipur Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. After the meeting, the state officials took me to Kangla Palace and the famous Shri Ram Prabhu Temple. I was about to leave the campus of the temple when I spotted this very old woman sitting on the floor in a space designated for her. I was told that she was about 94 years old. I respectfully wished her. She noticed I was unable to bend to receive her warm hug. She stood up quickly, hugged me and blessed me. She told the persons who were with me, in her own language that she stood up realising my physical difficulty. I was later informed that she was a very well known actor and singer who had received awards from the President of India for her performances in Manipuri films. I was also given to understand that she now spends her time in the temple, to guide young children and artists.

Unfortunately I could not register her name. I consider this as a unique experience of receiving the love and blessings of a simple but extremely talented and good human being.

Ram Prakash Gauniyal

Thank you for typing my manuscripts of papers and books with a sense of commitment and willingness to edit many times to ensure quality and making these almost error free.

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 159

Indira Gandhi National Open University

(IGNOU)

This University was established in 1986 as India’s largest system of Open Learning. It works under the MHRD. IGNOU is known for making strides for providing quality flexible system of education. It is also a University which has been witnessing young children bringing their parents for registration, retired people going in for higher education, Army, Navy and Air Force officials receiving education through the Single Window Operation, convicts receiving education in IGNOU centres in Tihar and other jails. The inmates feel good when treated with dignity as they go through their education. IGNOU is known for its quality learner friendly materials, its MBA courses and for other nontraditional courses.

I never worked in IGNOU, but tried to understand it through my husband who was in love with it and proud of it as the university provided ‘education to the unreached and to those who had earlier missed an opportunity’. Its programmes exercise flexibility to enable its students to complete courses!

Prof Ram Reddy

You were the founder Vice Chancellor of IGNOU. You had a PhD from London School of Economics. You had pioneered the concept of Open University, open learning in India. You were the founder Vice Chancellor of Andhra Pradesh Open University, before coming to Delhi. You introduced the concept that IGNOU will provide all kind of support to every employee if she/he was critically ill and this was extended to the family members as well. When Prof Goel was discovered to be suffering from cancer, you sent the Registrar to Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay to book a room, give an advance cheque of the projected hospital bill and also ensured that the University booked the air tickets for Prof and Ms Goel.

You looked after their two school going sons. Such kind of support was provided to the Registrar’s driver as well when he

160 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

suffered from liver cancer. Your daughter Jyoti has been like you. Your house used to be full with your workers’ children who used to sit on your sofas in the living room to watch TV.

Socially you were humble but were capable of taking tough academic and administrative decisions. You were busy, as you were responsible for creating and developing a National Open University from the scratch, meeting the village head, acquiring land, hiring buildings to start the University within a short period. The University’s Programme in Management became very popular, the materials were in great demand as well. IGNOU study materials are ‘learner friendly’, good in quality and presentation. Initially, faculty was engaged on deputation, Regional and Study Centres began to function within two or three years. You kept your faculty and staff motivated, always giving them space and the credit that was due to them. The University became international in nature within no time, expanded in every area, faculty, staff who were on deputation, were absorbed by the system after interviews! The faculty and staff of operational divisions worked on all Saturdays and Sundays, on national holidays, even on Holi or Diwali. No one felt the burden of overwork. Each one who joined soon after the inception, worked like a missionary.

The University was declared as a Centre of Excellence by the Commonwealth of Learning within a short span of its inception, it still is! During morning walks, you never let anyone talk about IGNOU. You shared incidents, experiences to pass on messages of professionalism with kindness.

Prof VC Kulandaiswamy

You took over as Vice Chancellor from Prof G Ram Reddy. I met you during morning walks and looked forward to those, as you had so much to share. You used to put things across in a very simple way which would stay with us and help us to find solutions, receive or provide support, face challenges and enjoy your powerful language and an equally powerful way to communicate.

You were born in a remote village in Tirur District of Tamil Nadu in a farmer’s family. Each interaction made us wonder how you reached Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur to specialise

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 161

in Hydraulics and achieve all that you did! You were also a writer and a poet, fluent, comfortable and creative in both English and Tamil and, fairly comfortable in German. It gave Devendra a lot of strength when you met us after his youngest brother passed away.

You shared with us the sudden deaths of your father and mother within a short period of time when you were studying in IIT Kharagpur. You had a younger brother and a younger sister to look after and also earn to pay back money which many people claimed that your father had borrowed.

You managed to complete your higher education to get a degree from IIT, looked after your brother and sister, educated them, got them married and paid off your father’s loan, which he had not even taken. You did not allow adversaries to come in the way of your progress, achievement and sense of duty.

I vividly remember your strong observation, ‘we expect the politicians to do so much for the country. We never think of what we must do for the country. The fact is that if we have two children at home, it is so difficult to make them agree to accept a plan, programme or a value. Each wants to hold on to his/her own.’ You shared with me that it is your close family members, who will, invariably find something to make you feel small when you achieve heights. It hurts the most when they believe those who believe in carrying tales and not you. I realised that the only way to deal with this was to ignore and not let it demotivate or upset oneself. For outsiders, it could be professional jealousy or a mindset of enjoying negativity and passing it on to as many as they could!! I fail to understand why our own loved ones hurt us.’

You were upset to see me wearing a spinal belt when you met me after six months during the morning walk. You had come to see me when I was bed ridden. You found it difficult to accept that I was walking with so much of effort, you were sad. You were a very sensitive person.

Once when you were returning from the University to the Asian Games Village, you saw a large crowd at the gate not letting me leave. A cyclist had been touched by my car as I drove out of Asian Games Village. Devendra was on tour. You noticed that I could be in trouble. You got down to ask as to what the matter was and assured me that you were there and that there was nothing

162 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

for me to worry. Fortunately, Devendra’s youngest brother Sushil came and carefully handled the crowd. He said that I should go where I had to and he would see me at home on my return.

You retired from IGNOU in 1993. Devendra and I remained in touch with you regularly. Devendra always visited you when he was in Chennai on his tours. I came to meet you in Chennai twice after my official meetings got over.

You appreciated Devendra for his bold and daring acts, especially when some students hijacked the Lucknow–Delhi flight. It was later discovered that they had petrol bombs. Devendra’s presence of mind and the co-operation of three other passengers saved the situation. He helped to handover all the passengers to the security from the emergency door of the aircraft, and was the last one to leave. You used to talk about this incident quite a lot. The last time you spoke about it was when Devendra passed away, you said to me, ‘He did not care about his own life and let every passenger leave before him’. You were so overwhelmed.

I need to apologize to you for not making it to Chennai when I was planning to. I informed you that I will keep my promise definitely once I felt better. When I booked my ticket for December 10, 2017, Dr Soundravalli said, ‘Kiran, I hope he waits for you. He is very critical’. You passed away in the early hours. My flight reached hours after you left this world. I feel sad as I missed an opportunity to receive your love and blessings. I also feel guilty for not keeping my promise.

Your wife, Dr Soundravalli was Devendra’s colleague in IGNOU. She was the Regional Director of Chennai Regional Centre. Devendra appreciated her sense of duty, working more than others at the Regional Centre. She never misused her position as your wife. She was very fond of Devendra. Both of them got along very well. She has been missing Devendra. She remains in touch with me.

I was in Chennai for your first death anniversary when Literary Awards were to be given in your memory. You had left the ‘eligibility criteria for writers for the award’. It was overwhelming for me when Dr Soundravalli announced my presence as the one who looked after you in Delhi. She also narrated the hijacking of Lucknow–Delhi flight and Devendra’s effort to protect you.

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 163

Thank you for your love and kindness, for believing in Devendra and for spending time with us. I learnt from you that adversaries should not baffle us.

Dr AW Khan

We met you and your family in 1987. You were Devendra’s colleague in IGNOU, also a neighbour in the Asian Games Village. We grew fond of you and your simple family. We soon became close due to our common tastes, values, and depth of conversations. We looked forward to spending our evenings together as there was never a formality coming in way of our relationship. We believed in pot luck and got together either at our place or yours. Our children got along well, Manu, Betu, Rinku and Lily. Ayesha loved spending time with us. You went to Japan for two years, but your family was in Delhi. While you remained in touch with us, we continued our meetings with the family in your absence.

When you went to work for Commonwealth of Learning at Vancouver, we were happy that you took your family. You came back to IGNOU as its Vice Chancellor. Devendra was particular in maintaining a formal professional relationship in official meetings and get-togethers. However, whenever we met as families, the old bond of closeness and affection came back naturally. You trusted Devendra, his professionalism with commitment and assigned him more important duties and responsibilities. You appreciated his sensitivity in administration.

Ayesha passed away suddenly. It was a disaster for you and the children. Each one of you was brave and came out of the shock. It was a loss which none of you easily reconciled to. It hit us as well.

You left for Paris to become Assistant Director General of UNESCO in the year 2000. We have tried to be in touch on almost regular basis. You were shocked to learn about Devendra’s sudden departure. You still have a lot of difficulty in accepting his absence in this world. It is good to know your daughters, Kauser and Shireen, who have been very fond of me. Meeting you in Toronto was a blessing.

We respect and love you for your commitment to profession, relationships, and your kindness. Your struggle from a remote

164 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

village in Basti, Uttar Pradesh to become internationally reognised professional made us often wonder, how you did it alone! It was your determination to face the hardest of challenges, we believe!!

Thank you Dost Bhai for your friendship.

Dr SN Chaturvedi

You were Director of Regional Services Division of IGNOU where Devendra joined as Assistant Director. You helped Devendra to settle in his new job, he was on deputation from Kurukshetra University. You found Devendra to be a young promising officer, sent him to Rajasthan, Odisha, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana to negotiate with the State Governments to open Regional Centers and Study Centers. West Bengal proved to be the toughest, but he managed. You reposed faith in him. Within two and a half years you ensured that he was absorbed in the University as Director of Delhi Regional Centre. He was responsible for the entire North India, till Regional Directors in other states were appointed. Socially you liked Devendra and appreciated his skills, ability and perfect mannerism. He was also made to receive foreign delegations frequently at Delhi Regional Centre and invited to most important meetings at the IGNOU Head Quarters in Maidan Garhi. Devendra always acknowledged that he learnt from you the art of giving long, tough dictations. Mrs Chaturvedi, your parents and your son Vikas were always good to us. We used to meet frequently for formal official dinners and informal dinners at your home or ours. Thank you for being good to us!

Pushpa Goel

You were the wife of Prof Goel, Devendra’s colleague at IGNOU. When Prof Goel passed away in 1989, you began to work at the Delhi Regional Centre. It was Prof Reddy’s decision that only Devendra would be able to take care of your dignity and help you settle down at work. Devendra sensitised all his colleagues that they needed to respect you and give you space to settle down as you had never worked earlier. He was respectful to you and slowly assigned only those tasks which you would be able to manage. He asked everyone at the Regional Centre to help you with your work

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 165

and realise that you had no experience. You were looking after your home and family. You found your ropes with Devendra’s and everyone’s support in the Regional Centre. Your two sons Luv and Kush and their families have made you proud. They have not only accomplished a lot, they are good sons who take care of your physical and emotional needs. Their families are equally good and caring. You have been a close friend and a well wisher of our family. You have faced serious health issues since 2010, but remained bold and faced challenges with strong will power.

I admire you for your courage. Even in the worst of your health, you never forget to remain in touch with me to find out how everyone in the family is. Thank you for your concern for our well-being.

Prof Vijay Kapur

You were the Adviser to the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU. Devendra introduced me to you a few months before he passed away. You made sure that you visited me regularly after Devendra’s departure, realising how deep my grief was. You were spontaneous and generous in providing support to me for carrying out all the official formalities. You remained in touch with me. You spoke to me even two weeks before passing away in your office at Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) of Delhi University.

You had to join FMS after you were suddenly relieved by IGNOU. You had a high intellect and vast knowledge, which you acquired as an IAS officer and while you did your PhD from USA, and, during long years of work there. Your pronunciation, diction were perfect, and your vocabulary and the skill of using words and concepts appropriately was amazing.

You resigned from IAS, finding it difficult to work with politicians who never studied or paid attention to details, and decided to go back to academics. You would always give genuine advice and be there to lighten burden of as many colleagues, friends and scholars as you could.

You shared with me the trauma of your mother’s passing away in the US, bringing her ashes for immersion in the Ganges, and the second time, bringing your very ill father to India and looking

166 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

after him till he passed away. You used to say ‘it is not difficult for me to say sorry to resolve a social conflict’. I believe in it myself. You were proud of your parents and your Army background. Your father was a Brigadier. You used to share the academic strength of your wife Nandini and adored your son Aditya. For both, you had remarkable patience. You were a well spoken and a dignified gentleman. You were able to provide guidance to your PhD students and maintain a good relationship with their families as well.

Several interactions with you made me realise how high you were intellectually, how high your standard of professionalism was and how bold you were to take the risk of leaving the IAS. It was not a calculated risk. Whenever you felt that your dignity was getting compromised, you took bold decisions. Your patience and your desire to relocate to adjust sends across a strong message that challenges need to be accepted and risks need to be taken. Your respect for your parents and taking time off from your demanding jobs in US to fulfill your duties is an example of courage of conviction. You believed that even in the world of professionalism, space needs to be created for emotions! You loved your brother Dr Vikram Kapur who left his years of teaching assignment in the UK to come back to India months before you passed away. He is working in Shiv Nadar University now. I am ever indebted to you Prof Kapur, for providing me support and visiting me with a sense of duty to share my grief. It meant a lot to me as it helped me to move on.

I miss your goodness and kindness.

Parvin Sinclair

You were Devendra’s colleague in IGNOU, and for years, our neighbour in Asian Games Village. We had a cordial relationship with each other and concern for our families’ well-being. You took over as Director of NCERT in 2012. In your first meeting with HoDs, you ended the meeting by saying, ‘Prof Kiran Devendra is an old friend’. In a teleconference you noticed that I had suddenly become breathless, when I reached my office, I received your phone call expressing your concern. When I was to go to Andamans on my LTC, before sanctioning my leave, you wanted to know how

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 167

would I manage to be on my own as it was not an official tour. You were reassured when I told you that the chief secretary there, Shakti Sinha was an old friend. I had known him for years, and ever since, I have had long discussions to get clarity on issues of school education in Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa and the Andamans.

During my gall bladder surgery, you not only visited me but insisted that I rested for a month. During the Annual Programme Advisory Committee meeting, you were concerned as I was indisposed in the middle of the night. You postponed the presentation of my Department to afternoon. The moment you saw me, you asked how I was and appreciated that I made it to the meeting in spite of so much physical discomfort.

Our bond has been strong and healthy. The day I superannuated, you came to my office to take me for planting a Mango sapling. You were so happy to meet Manu in my office. Your gestures of genuine concern helped me to do well as HoD of one of the biggest department of NCERT which was the MHRD’s Nodal Department for the Government of India’s flagship programme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and later also for Right to Education, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation as well as Learning Outcomes programme. The Department’s delivery of International Evaluation of SSA’s State initiatives in Tamil Nadu, Odissa, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh with Cambridge Consultants, DFID with the TCA support went on smoothly and on schedule because you reposed faith in me, my work and supported my decisions and, because everyone at DEE worked hard.

You took out time to visit me in Gurgaon. You are always concerned about my well-being. Thank you for your loving concern and care!

Praveen Sharma

You worked with my husband, when he was the PVC with a great sense of responsibility. His frequent and sudden decisions to meet students or their parents, all his meetings, extensive travel plans, were meticulously executed. In one of the meetings, a large number of students wanted to meet him after six in the evening. You tried to dissuade Prof Choudhry as there were a number of files

168 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

which needed his urgent attention. He never used to overlook the needs of the students. He asked you to send students in groups of ten and when three or four groups had met him, he went out in the lounge to address the entire group and had tea and biscuits served. Meanwhile, he had already sorted out their problem by speaking to the concerned officers on phone. Everyone in PVC’s office stayed late till 8.00 pm, till the students left. You sent everyone home but stayed back till 9.30 in the night till Prof Choudhry cleared the urgent files. This meeting was just one of the several of this kind.

You were disturbed at Prof Choudhry’s sudden departure. You handed over his personal books, pictures, pieces of art and his files to Manu and me from his office in IGNOU. You took permission from the University to help me go through the files for half-a-day for at least a month as so much of action was needed, letters were to be written to inform banks, post offices etc. and, many other issues remained to be sorted out. You helped me stamp all the books belonging to Prof Choudhry, take them to the university where space for ‘Dr Devendra Choudhry collection’ was designated in the IGNOU Library. You offered to do everything to help me out, so many times, it was impossible to move on with my breakdowns.

I was deeply touched when you informed me that the Staff Association will be celebrating Teacher’s Day 2011 by garlanding Prof Choudhry’s photo, and, the book A Life that Touched Many Lives would be kept there for the IGNOU community to have a look. You wanted me to come but I did not have the courage to enter IGNOU. The function was meant for the administrative staff but a large number of academicians walked in, many stood outside as the office of the Association was not large enough to accommodate large numbers. Everyone offered flowers and remembered Prof Choudhry with respect and love. You had arranged to serve tea and snacks outside the office from the carriers of two bicycles.

Thank you Praveen for the great respect you have for Prof Choudhry and all the support you provided to me.

Amar Singh

You came to my office in 2011 to share with me your feelings and respect for Prof Choudhry. You talked about his magnanimity,

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 169

his spontaneity to provide support and solutions, his acts of bravery, his courage to take a stand, ensure that no student or parent was disrespected and his objectivity to be fair to everyone. You took from me copies of A Life that Touched Many Lives for various schools of the university, the University Library and the Libraries of Regional Centres.

As you were preparing to leave, you assured me that you would provide me all support, as long as you were in IGNOU, whenever I would need it. You respond to my requests with spontaneity.

Thank you Amar Singhji!

National University for Education Planning and Administration

Earlier known as National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), it has now become a deemed University. It is located on the campus of NCERT. The academic colleagues from both the organisations had known and recognized the work of most of the colleagues. Both are Advisory bodies to the MHRD in the area of School Education and Higher Educational Planning & Administration respectively. We would meet in the meeting of Joint Review, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-day Meals, Right to Education, Planning Commission and Ministry of Women and Child Development. We worked together as teams of two institutions in the District Primary Education Project in early 1990s as well.

Prof Govinda

I had known you and your work much before you became the Director Incharge of NCERT. You were then also the Vice Chancellor of NUEPA. I had just then taken over as HoD, soon after Devendra’s passing away. You pushed me to accept challenges. After my superannuation, you had a discussion with me, offered me the position of a Senior Consultant at NUEPA in the MHRDNUEPA Survey of Educational Administrators. I was expected to

170 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

develop a concept paper on ‘Challenges of Women Educational Administrators’. It gave me a feeling of comfort when you said ‘you should not be gasping for breath to reach at nine in the morning. You will have six months to develop the paper’.

You did not tell me about rules when I had to go to London to see my brother Anand’s critically ill mother-in-law. You allowed me to travel saying ‘the administrative formalities can wait till you return, just leave an application’. I did submit the concept paper on time in March 2014.

I was taken as a senior consultant for the second time for School Leadership Programme of the MHRD, I had to develop a concept paper on the ‘Effectiveness of Women Principals in Leadership Roles’. I had to vacate my accommodation at NCERT to move to Gurgaon. The moment you learnt about it, you sent a message that I could come to NUEPA once a week and work from home. However, I did come five days of the week as I did not want to take undue advantage of your kindness.

I resigned after three months to join Amity University Haryana. During our last meeting, you were surprised to find that I had prepared the draft of the concept paper. I assured you that I will submit the paper on the date I was supposed to. I sent to you my resignation and the draft paper. You appreciated when I sent the finalised concept paper on the date that I was expected to, had I continued in NUEPA.

I was encouraged to participate in academic activities of NUEPA. I appreciate your effort to protect my dignity with sensitivity and giving me space.

Prof Verghese

You are now the Vice Chancellor of NUEPA. I have known you since the District Primary Education Project was launched in early 1990s. Many a times we travelled together for our tours. What we shared in common was an ability to discuss the academic issues with seriousness but also laugh heartily whenever we could before and after the meetings. You went to UNESCO Head Quarters in Paris for several years. It was a pleasant surprise to meet you in your institution when I was working there after my superannuation.

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 171

None of us had changed, nor did our way of discussion, we could still laugh heartily and our warmth and respect for each other was there even after so many years.

Thank you for the joy you share with me.

Basvaraj Swamy

I was in the Selection Committee which selected you as Registrar of NUEPA. When I had joined NUEPA as a senior consultant, you gave me a lot of respect in your official capacity. When your family shifted from Mumbai, you brought them over to meet me at my NCERT residence. It was a pleasure interacting with you at personal level, your six year old daughter took a strong liking for me and I grew extremely fond of her. Renu as a child, has gone through difficult dental treatment at AIIMS. She went ahead with an unusual acceptance without letting it ever affect her happy face. It was a learning for me! Renu began to share her poems, her creations and her experiences with me. It has been a bonding of a rare kind. There is mutuality in looking forward to our meetings. Rupa, your wife has been very respectful, concerned about my health, asked you to call me up periodically to request me to visit you. I wish to thank Rupa, Renu and you for your unconditional respect and concern.

You introduced me to Chandra Vallabh, Chief Consultant at NUEPA. He spent an hour and a half talking about my husband’s daring acts of courage, ways of finding solutions for everyone and never accepting a ‘no’ because the rules did not permit. He made people realise the need to be flexible, to use the rules for helping and not creating hurdles. You repeatedly said ‘unfortunately, I could not meet him’. The moment you realised that I wanted to meet the new doctor at NUEPA, you offered to walk with me to his office. You were surprised that he knew me so well because his wife had worked with my husband. You were happy to know that Dr Arvind Sharma, was earlier in the Indian Navy. You were taken aback when you learnt that he had to take premature retirement as he had two episodes of stroke. I had not shared this with you. You were pleasantly surprised that Dr Sharma found time to be happy while pursuing his hobbies like photography, especially of

172 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

birds, long walks and playing flute to experience the joy of playing it for himself!

You are now Registrar at National Institute of Engineering & Technology. My visit to your house in Mumbai was a happy experience in a beautiful Campus. Your respect and care has been exceptional.

Thank you for everything, for making me feel special, like an elder of the family.

Amity University, Haryana

Ijoined Amity University, Haryana in 2014. It is a well-known private university. I was not confident that I would be able to deliver as I had never worked in a private setup. I do deliver, with the support I receive from many at the Campus. The University did take into account ‘my not so good health’ and allowed me a bit of flexibility as colleagues recognise my work, teaching, endless interactions with students in the classroom, lift or corridors to gently guide them. I never ever give sermons or hurt their dignity. I had raised my voice on two girls for shouting outside because my class was getting disturbed, and the second time when a girl loudly used abusive language. I noticed the change in their behaviour, as they began to wish me with a little hesitation and later happily. The University does allow me additional ‘official duty’ to enable me to participate in academic interactions, presentations, seminars and talks at various institutions. I manage to work because I get my space.

I have learnt from PVC, Prof Banerjee and Dr Vivek Ballyan about the sensitivity of Dr Ashok Chauhan, the Founder and Dr Aseem Chauhan, the Chancellor of Amity University, Haryana. It is significant that so many universities, schools and other institutions have come into Amity’s system of education at all levels. More significant is, to keep these going while striving to expand countrywide and internationally. Dr Ashok Chauhan has the capacity to take unlimited risk each time an expansion is planned. There is need for more energy and resources as the old

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 173

institutions grow to address the needs of a big private education system of our country.

Prof PB Sharma

You took over as Vice Chancellor of Amity University Haryana from Prof RC Sharma, the founder Vice Chancellor. I do wish to acknowledge that you allowed me to raise issues, many a times candidly. These were not to your liking, but you never checked me. You appreciated my two papers on New Education Policy and Challenges for Higher Education. Each time I spoke after lectures on Pure Science, you felt happy and proud ‘you speak so well, even in areas which are unfamiliar to a Social Scientist. Your knowledge is updated and your communication is clear. The University is proud of you’. I am mentioning this as I never expect this from you. I always thought I was disrupting your meetings with my observations and reactions so often. I did get restless frequently when these meetings got over stretched. I was touched when you spoke sadly about the passing away of Stephen Hawking. You ended by saying, ‘It is also a happy day because it is Einstein’s birthday today. This was at ASLA’s Amyfest 2018 function. Very few mention sad occasions, many like to avoid.

Thank you for not taking my frequent comments personally and giving me the freedom to speak, never overlooking my need to speak and ignoring formality during the condolence meeting of Ram Dayal to give space to my sensitivity and considering my viewpoint.

Maj Gen BS Suhag

You are the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Amity University, Haryana. When I came with PVC to meet the Vice Chancellor, with a warm handshake you said, ‘I knew Devendra very well’. I felt better. During my five years at Amity University, you have acknowledged my presence, ensured that I do not face difficulty of any kind. When you came to know that I had been sitting in the Faculty Room of Block A for two months, you allotted me a cabin in B Block in a day.

174 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

After a year when I shifted to the basement in another cabin, you realilsed that going up and down the stairs would be difficult for me. You made an exception by allowing the operation of the lift to the basement of Block B. Whenever I have made a request, you have always considered it seriously and given a positive response. Your going out of the way has made things manageable for me.

Thank you for your sensitivity and for taking my rare but sudden requests seriously.

Prof Padmakali Banerjee

You are the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Amity University, Haryana. You were the first person I met for an interaction when I came to the University. I had never worked in a private institution. I was nervous and apprehensive if I would be able to deliver what I was expected to! You were talking to me with a smile and when I told you that I was getting old, you spontaneously said, ‘you are not, academicians never retire’. The moment you learnt that Prof Devendra Choudhry was my husband, you stood up with a smile and positivity, ‘I knew him’, you said. When I broke down, you left your chair to hold my hands. I started feeling secure in a totally unfamiliar place. I decided to join the University after my interaction with you. You made me sit initially in the faculty room of Block A, close to Prof Bhavna Adhikari’s cabin. You called her to your office to say, ‘please ensure that she is not lonely’. Prof Adhikari since then has always treated me with respect, saved me from getting lost in a new set up by interacting with me frequently. During my six years of work at the University you have never forgotten to treat me with sensitivity and dignity. I meet you occasionally as you remember my husband with love and respect. I feel close to you and know that you are there for me. This actually has helped me to perform, express my candid viewpoint in meetings and on many other academic occasions. I love your approach of making your talks and interventions intellectually pulsating.

What I like about you is your smile, spontaneity and the ability to take academically sound decisions quickly. You are not mechanical but sensitive to everybody’s difficulties. Anupam Vyas shared with me his relief when you told him to go for a month to

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 175

attend to the medical needs of his critically ill father. What touched him most was that you never asked any questions, did not ask him to arrange a faculty to take his classes. You supported him when he reported back after a month. You have the courage to take decisions to help out staff and faculty.

You live close to my house, I visit you once in three four months. You have been exceptionally good and caring. You hold my hand to help me get down a step, cautious that I might not see it. On my birthday in 2016, you called twice to wish me. I was in my class. The mobile phone was in my cabin as I never take it to my classes. You called up Director ASLA to request him to tell me to speak to you. When I did, you asked me to stop at your house before going home. When I reached, you took me in, made me cut the birthday cake, you sang Happy Birthday, clapped and took a beautiful picture. You affectionately gave me lovely gifts and said, ‘I know you have a loving family. It was a working day today. I knew you will not to be able to go to Delhi, so, I planned to celebrate your birthday’. I was deeply touched.

I once told you that I was facing water shortage and might have to leave the house. You spontaneously said, ‘you shift to my house’. I told you that it would be a frequent situation, you said, ‘doesn’t matter, stay with me’. When you learnt that I was frequently restless at night and was unable to sleep, you asked me to come to your house whenever I have difficulty in getting proper sleep. You added, ‘I mean it, I am not saying this for the sake of a formality’. Trisha and you have always touched me with love and sensitivity. You made me feel special when you invited me to bless Trisha on her 16th birthday along with your close relatives and Trisha’s friends. Trisha and I share a beautiful relationship.

You asked me to open a packet of your recent book The Power of Positivity, Optimism and the 7th Sense. The packet had six copies, you signed one copy for me, handing over the rest to me, you said, ‘I wanted you to open this packet. I am giving all these to you to do what you wish to with these and I will keep giving you more copies when you feel like taking more. I will never take money for these. I was so overwhelmed. Whenever I face a difficult situation, you take a step of an unusual kind to facilitate my work,

176 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

travel and visit to hospitals! Thank you ever so much! I love to visit you occasionally to feel special. I am looking forward to spending time in your beautiful new house. Three or four hours that we usually get are never enough. We have to leave our discussions in the middle, by saying ‘we will catch up!’ On one of my visits, you were tired but never made me feel so, insisted as always, to see me off, this time in the lift from the seventh floor. It is so beautiful to be with you and Trisha and have brief but meaningful discussions with Baba!

I love you for your telepathy, always calling when I am upset or having a break down! I loved when you shared with me Plato’s thought about kindness. I have always believed in it. I blessed you from my heart when I saw it on my iPad early in the morning:

KINDNESS is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person.

Thank you for your special affection and respect for my husband Prof Devendra Choudhry. Thank you for all that you do for me.

Prof Sanjay K Jha

You joined Amity University, Haryana as Director of Amity School of Liberal Arts a year after I joined. You are much younger to me, but, professional in your approach and thought process.

With your joining I felt that I could meaningfully contribute not only to my teaching and research in the department of History but, also to the developmental activities of the School.

You have been responsible for my continuing to work with you, in spite of my difficult health condition. I often wonder if I would have continued for so long, travelled on bad roads and patiently tolerated heavy traffic jams if you were not there!

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 177

Your sensitivity has touched me several times. You did not hesitate to provide support to me on the dais when I needed to leave for some time to have a short walk during the convocation. You realised that long sittings are impossible for me. Dr Bhavna Adhikari also got down with you. She walked with you till I got back to the stage with your support. She handed over a bottle of water to me realising that I was totally exhausted. Getting down and up the long stair was an ordeal, I could have never managed it without your support. You make it a point to ensure my presence in all the meetings and programmes of the School. There is mutuality in our respect for each other and for the growth and betterment of ASLA. It was a beautiful experience to know your depth of understanding about Hebrew and Arabic. I was not even aware of their sub-languages!

In a recent Departmental Research Committee’s meeting, I became emotional when I entered ten minutes late to find every one present standing up for me, the Director, the external expert, faculty members and research scholars. It was an extremely humbling experience which has given me exceptional strength to continue to contribute academically and intellectually! You have always given me respect on every occasion, every meeting and taken my comments and observations with seriousness, never forgotten to offer me a chair.

It was satisfying to find you engrossed while listening to my brother Anand’s speeches on Education & Employment. As a linguist, you appreciate his command on English and Hindi, his diction, his depth of knowledge and his dignified way of communication.

General Mahavir Singh

I wish to let you know that I respect you for the dignity you maintain, your humility and the way you take things in your stride. We get to meet in official gatherings and in convocation procession only, but you silently pass on a message of mentally accepting and taking things in one’s stride, even the most unpalatable experiences. I greatly value your presence in the Medical School of the University.

178 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

Dr Bhavana Adhikari

You created a comfort zone for me when I was new. When you came to know about my spinal problem, you said, ‘Ma’am, please consider my cabin as yours. You can rest here whenever you are tired. Be here when you want to focus’. Very few know that you have a degree in Engineering. You are fond of long drives and motor cycle racing with your husband. Both your parents retired as Colonels. Your mother retired as a doctor from the Army Medical Core. I met her when your father passed away. She writes poetry. Meeting her has been a blessing. Your brother Vikram is in the Indian Navy. All of you are voracious readers. Your children Tamana and Anuj have done well.

Thank you, for your love and respect.

Rear Admiral Krishan K Pandey

I love offices and homes which are kept beautifully and aesthetically. I had one such experience when I visited your office in our University. A similar experience was there when I visited your beautiful home to meet you and your wife after the demise of your mother. I came back with so much of respect for both of you. You had been looking after the two mothers (yours and your wife’s) for years, taking care gently, providing support with lot of dignity and spending time with them every day and listening to them by bringing them in the drawing room every evening. You used to frequently take both of them to the park in wheel chairs. Both of you had peace and contentment on your faces, it was because you had no regret or sense of guilt. Similarly, you had also looked after two fathers till both passed away in 2003.

Thank you for your respect and spontaneity to provide support.

Yuyutsu Sharma

Your visit to Amity University, Haryana, created a connection! I liked your creative poetry, which you recited with emotions. The backdrop had beautiful pictures of mountains with people and animals. It took me back to my childhood and youth in Shimla,

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 179

my interactions with Papa and his passion for English and Urdu literature. He was a bureaucrat and later in the Judiciary. The book racks at home had English classics, collection of works of poets, works of Shakespeare, Tagore and of so many others. There were regular additions to the collection. Papa used to share with us all these, reading out the most beautiful and what he felt would be of interest to us, and, when we began to show interest by picking up books to read, Papa was happy. There were frequent intellectual discussions at home. Mummy had no knowledge of English language, but we discovered as we grew up, that she began to make a lot of sense of what was being discussed. She surprised us all by recognising from the hand-writing on the envelope or parcel as to who had sent it and for whom! I began to think about this, and much more after I met you. Our long discussions at India Habitat Centre made me think deeper and during these I tried to find an answer to my curiosity, how can one make an effort to understand and make sense in a language that is totally unfamiliar!

Papa would keep reminding us that we needed to respect and acknowledge Mummy’s abiding presence, remember that she would feel left out if we kept on discussing in English, ignoring her. He made an effort to translate for her in Hindi what we used to discuss. His effort made three of us good in Hindi and gave us the comfort and ability to translate from English to Hindi or Hindi to English. He would not forget to tell us that our translations should never be literal. We would improve ourselves regularly in both the languages. Giving space and recognising the limitation, involving and engaging people with any limitation can help them overcome their inhibitions. Making them conscious would make them withdraw. I kept this in mind when I dealt with my students in Punjabi University, Patiala, took them to the library to guide them, checked their assignments in Punjabi without making them feel conscious. I do it now with my students in Amity University, using Hindi and English to teach so that no one feels left out.

My discussions and interactions with you have motivated me to write poetry, taking the first step, which I wanted to, but hesitated for years!

180 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

I admire you for taking a risk, with your two young children and wife to look after, to venture into uncertainties by resigning from your job at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu to follow your passion of creative poetry, writing, reciting and conducting workshops in India and abroad along with trekking in the Himalayas. You did not know then that you would become well known!

The anthology, Eternal Snow, of over 125 intersections by the poets from different parts of the world is a tribute to your creativity. I had gone through its manuscript and edited it before it went to the press. I was hesitant but you were insistent that I would be on its Board of Editors along with two well known international poets. I am humbled. You create poetry endlessly, I would not say effortlessly. You do make an effort to participate in many events that make your learning grow, be it book fairs, conferences, workshops or exhibitions.

You also bring out Pratik, a journal, which meets the international standards. You published my response article in Pratik on David Austell’s ‘Poetry and History’. A brilliant article on the making of The Tin Man. I hold him in high esteem for his work. You have got involved in publishing which not only takes you away from creativity but impacts its quality. I love to see the pictures that you click with finer details and listen to you when you share your experiences with poets. I was happy to see your picture at Hemingway’s house. He is one of my favourite writers!

Dr Monica Chaudhry

Knowing you in Amity University has been a blessing. You respect my husband whom you met a couple of times in professional meetings in IGNOU, where you also worked after your long stint at AIIMS. You appreciated how Prof Chaudhry reached out to so many and his effort to find solutions. Thank you for your spontaneity to rush to me with a smile to hold my hand. I respect you for facing a personal ordeal so well and your long experience as an Ophthalmologist at AIIMS. I was touched when you addressed me as your mentor in ASLA’s Amifest 2018 debate event.

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 181

Dr Vivek Baliyan

You took me around Amity University, Haryana on the first day of my joining. Your mannerism and warmth helped me to believe that I would manage to survive in a private University with your spontaneity in responding to support me in various teething problems. I have completed six years in the University because you never failed to respond to my emergencies. During the first Sangathan (sports function), you realised my difficulty in going up the stairs to take a seat on the dais. The Founder and Chancellor of the University were already sitting on the dais. You gave me your hand and helped me to take my seat in the first row. Once you rushed when I got stuck in the lift on the third floor, you told the operator to start the lift somehow. You took me to my cabin in the basement. You came to see me when I fainted in the University, got the Glass House opened for me to rest and later ensured that there was a sofa in my cabin to straighten my back when it gets fatigued. You have never let me feel that you do not have time to come and see me. There was a time when you rushed a paramedic to my cabin to check my blood pressure, you realised that I was tired and exhausted, you stayed back, warmed my food and stayed till I finished, it was an effort for me to finish it, you kept on telling me ‘Ma’am, you will have to have this for energy, I won’t leave till you do’. I get overwhelmed when I think of your effort to ensure that I am comfortable.

Colleagues and friends at Amity

So many of you treat me with love and respect. I feel good when you come to share with me your moments of happiness, joy, anxiety and sadness. Prof RC Sharma you were the Vice Chancellor when I joined, it was a great feeling to meet you. You stay so humble and genuine. I feel satisfied when you occasionally make me realise that you are proud and feel good to find me doing my work well and speaking very well in every meeting or seminar. Credit must given to the lift, which gives us an opportunity to meet. It is a humbling experience for me. It has been a beautiful learning to experience the grace of Ratni Bhan Ma’am. Col Gulati you were looking after Amity School of Liberal Arts when I joined.

182 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

You gave me space and support to adjust. I was never pushed to do certain things, ‘Ma’am, these are formalities, we can manage these for you’. You acknowledged with happiness and pride you felt when you saw the NCERT History Textbooks for Classes IX and X with me as its Member Secretary. Thank you for the respect, which you never forget to give. Your commitment to work makes me respect you. Meeting your family in your beautiful home was a treat.

I need to make a mention about the spontaneity of Prof Hemant Jha to provide me a number of articles of linguistics and an article of Nirad C Chaudhary’s titled ‘Initiation into Scholarship: A Youthful Testament, The Objective Method in History’, an amazing article written in 1918 when he was only an undergraduate. Prof Jha you are a Professor of English, but we have had discussions on various literary works which are not related to our respective subjects. You are also passionate about reading and teaching.

Esha Jainiti, it is a treat to talk to you. The way you accepted your father’s passing away has been a learning for me. Your father was an Indian Air Force officer. You shared that he used to send money to his family in the village so that his cousins would have an experience similar to his, of studying in a well-known school of the Maharajas. What a beautiful value and a legacy to inherit for you and your brother. You are so dignified. Dr Pooja Rana, thank you ever so much for your generosity to appreciate and regard. You keep letting me know ‘Ma’am you are beautiful. I want to be like you, grow old gracefully, well spoken and knowledgeable!’ You studied in Shimla’s well known St Bedes College. You are well spoken.

I appreciate your dedication to your family and profession. Meeting your husband Sanjay, son Divyam and your graceful parents-in-law has been a beautiful experience. They are fully satisfied with their blessings. Prof Rana is a Mathematician retired from Kurukshetra University. He knew my husband. Your family listens to my brother Anand’s speeches in Parliament and on YouTube. Each one of you admires him for his knowledge, language, appropriateness and intellect.

Geesha, I felt happy whenever you rushed to hug me and make an effort to visit me in my cabin. So many of us can learn from

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 183

the depth of your knowledge and dignity. You stay in touch with me from Singapore and Noida after having left Amity University. Many more of you from other schools of Amity make me feel good with your wishes, smiles and brief interactions. Prof Rishi Pal, thank you so much for always finding time to interact. I love your positivity.

Prof Bhatnagar, you are a senior faculty at ASCO with an international experience, you have been kind to me. I did feel embarrassed in the lift when you said in the presence of many, ‘Ma’am, it is so nice to see you, our rare intellectual’. Thank you, for making me feel worthy of being a teacher.

Dr Chandni Sengupta, your presence has been a blessing. I knew you and your sister Roshni as children. We lived in Asian Games Village. Your father was my husband’s colleague in IGNOU. Mr Sengupta is our Registrar now. Roshni and you have a good upbringing. Both of you have respected, supported and loved me. We could offer BA History Honours course because you offered willing and spontaneous support for long discussions and preparation of courses and brief frequent meetings to ensure that we were on the same wavelength. Roshni helped us too. There is so much that we share – art, music, values, books and institutions. Thank you both Roshni and Chandni for creating special moments for me to let me know you care! Dr Anjali Verma, it was a blessing to see you happy with lot of energy. You got along well with the students. You have now joined our Alma Mater. It is a blessing to meet you in Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. You stay in touch to let me know that ‘You are never imposing and that you love listening to my scholarly and intellectual lectures’. Dr Sanjeev Kumar, your depth and understanding of history strengthened your bonding with students. Dr Parul Yadav, I love to share your concern for students. I am happy when students appreciate your teaching. You work hard silently and help colleagues and students.

Mr Ali, Dr Pallavi Beri and Dr Mansimar Kaur, all of you make me feel good with your intellectual discussions. It is nice to share books and values with you. There are times when Ali rushes to help me whenever I request, many a times with spontaneity, even without my asking for help.

184 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

Pallavi, you have been sending beautiful messages like:

Beautiful poem Ma’am!! It has compelled us to revisit our life style... I hope the policy makers ensure necessary steps going forward. You have always been caring and kind to all of us, without letting us know what you are going through.

Please take good care.

Dearest Ma’am, It is always pleasant talking to you. It feels that there is someone who cares to call and is concerned about the wellbeing of others… very rare! Love you Ma’am take good care!

Your recent email with Obama’s video on his first online class 2020 was beautiful, but I was moved with what you wrote:

‘Dear Ma’am This is a beautiful virtual address by Obama. Makes me think of your presence in the Department. Take good care. Love always Pallavi.

Mansimar, I appreciate every effort you genuinely make to enrich my journey by listening to me carefully, making suggestions and supporting my academic and intellectual understanding.

I like Dr Dinesh Kumar and Dr Neelima Joshi, both have PhDs from JNU. You have brought strength to our History Department. It is beautiful to see the smiling faces of Dr Sapna Sharma, Dr Bhavana Sharma, Dr Supriya Jha, Dr Abhilasha and Dr Alka Dutt. Dr Sunil Mishra and Dr Vinod Sharma, you make my day with your warm greetings. Dr Varoon Bakshi, I loved interacting with you for hours as you can shift from one area to another, one subject to the other with ease. I love academicians who practice multi- and inter-disciplinarity. Thank you for finding time to go through the draft manuscript of this book.

Priyanka Danny, you touch my heart each time you talk to me.

Dear Ma’am, Please find enclosed a small video of my daughter. She had recorded this message for you the day she received her gift

A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People 185

but I could not find a way to send it to you. The message is ‘Thank you Ma’am for your gift. I love it. Ma’am your smile and presence is always so warm and brings so much of joy. Every small gesture and act of yours is so full of love and kindness. I always get to learn a lot from you. Thank you for your blessings! Warm regards, Priyanka Danny

Dr Ratika Kaushik, it has been a beautiful experience interacting with you. How I wish you had not left Amity University. I loved interacting with you about School of Oriental &African Studies (SOAS) where you were for some time. Dr Jaishree Umale, thank you for your respect and smiles. Thank you Mansi, Roopa, Rakesh, Abhijeet and Dr Ranjan Mallik for your respect. My first recent interaction with Richa Sharma, a faculty at Amity Business School was overwhelming. She asked me the secret of staying beautiful. This made me feel awkward as she was saying this in the Examination branch where we were evaluating examination answer sheets. I had no answer as I never think about my physical appearance. I believe in nature, in human beings, and love beautiful mugs, linen, candles, books, dry flowers, walks and clicking pictures of mountains, oceans, seas, birds and flowers.

Dr Anupam Vyas, you taught me by your own example of hard work, passion for teaching and completing PhD against all odds. You face ordeals with a smile and remain grateful to Prof Banerjee, the PVC who helped you without questioning. You keep coming to me to share and read poems and experiences. Thank you for respect and affection. Dr Rumki Bandyopadhyay, thank you for letting me know that you feel good whenever you can meet me or just have a glance of me because you feel inspired each time I speak in seminars or deliver lectures. It is nice to talk to you Reena Nigam and find you doing well and completing PhD thesis. You have worked hard with your own share of anxiety. Thank you for finding time to come to me occasionally.

I wish to let Dinesh, Manish, Jogendra, Rachna and Akash know that I could not have managed so much if you did not provide support to me. Dinesh, you have picked up a lot with a sense of

186 A Journey Made Easy by Uncommon People

responsibility. Hawa Singh, Barfi, Ram Dayal, Rahul, Prabhati, the safai karamcharis, the marshals and security guards, I thank you all for your spontaneity to wish me with a big smile and then running to talk to me. This keeps me going everyday. Even on days when I am low, you pass on your energy to help me to keep going. It is a beautiful experience to find so many making me feel special!

I also wish to acknowledge the presence of Dr Kamini Tanwar, Sanjay Tiwari and Yogesh Chand on the campus. All of you had worked with me in NCERT. The respect that you have for me moves me each time you rush with smiles to wish. Sanjay you visit me regularly to find out if there is anything you could do for me! I feel happy and proud that each one of you has been able to significantly contribute to this University with an experience and training you received at DEE, NCERT.

Centre for Policy Research

This is another institution I respect and enjoy going to. Here the quality of debates, talks, discussions is phenomenal, one gets intellectual satisfaction. What I love is the respect that every invitee is given time to give observations, comments or ask questions. It was a nice feeling to observe Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s intellectual depth. The current President Yamini Aiyer ensures that everyone is somehow accommodated. She keeps silently ensuring it by getting space created, adjusting by getting more chairs! She contributes effectively to maintain intellectual standards.

Thank you Yamini for always giving me space to speak. Each time I thank you, you let me know ‘You always ask important questions and make meaningful observations’.