INTERVIEWS Textile Industry “Entering a More Mature Stage”
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Dr Suranjana Gangopadhyay HOD, VJTI
r. Suranjana Gangopadhay was the First woman Head of Textile Department of Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) since its inception in 1887.VJTI started with only two Departments -- Textile and Mechanical Engineering. That time the institute was founded to provide trained manpower to the booming Textile Mills in Mumbai...that’s the reason VJTI started with Textile Department known as Ripon School of Textiles with Mechanical Engineering Department to supplement manpower for maintaining Textile Machinery.
Dr. Gangopadhay has a Ph. D. from the IIT Bombay, with M.Text from the MS University, Baroda and B.Tech from the University of Calcutta. She is a member in BIS Committees of TXD-14: Textile Machinery and Accessories Sectional Committee, TXD-01: Physical Methods of Tests Sectional Committee and TXD-31: Man-Made Fibres, Cotton and their Products Sectional Committee. Dr Gangopadhyay calls herself an ‘Accidental Textile Professor’… landed with Textile Technology while entering engineering education and then the uniqueness of the domain made her to “become extremely passionate; the reach of Textile Field encompasses between handloom-Handicraft to extremely high-end “Technical textiles”; which I enjoy from the perspective of both a Material Scientist and a Textile Technologist.” Dr Suranjana Gangopadhyay replies succinctly to some of the questions posed by the Textile Value Chain:
and “Mini Projects”.
Excerpts:
» Highlighting to them the rich heritage and facets of Artisan Knowledge and culture.
Explain your particular teaching strategy or technique that is helps you to teach.
» Highlighting to them scientific and textile domain knowledge application in mythology.
Always linking the content of the syllabus with relevant application in practical field which the students are familiar and excited about, e.g., » while teaching nuances of active wears, I mention about the famous adventure sports programme which students are familiar with. » while teaching nuances of Extreme weather clothing, I relate it to some famous scenes of Hollywood/ Bollywood movies. How will you encourage your students to be creative in the textile industry? » Always persuade/train them in giving customised and individualised lines of attack and resulting solutions for various scenario shared with them as part of “Case Studies”
Describe your work ethic. I think of myself as am a strategizing and goal oriented Professional with hawk-eyes on perfection and finishing. I believe, a good listener by being so can encourage a very meaningful yet guided communication not only in Textiles but in every field. If I have multiple projects in front of me, I handle completing them on time by Strategising, Multi-tasking and Delegating. What are your strengths as a professor and how do you measure success as a professor? Students feel their time spent with me adds some incremental values to their knowledge repository both in technical as well as other domains…ensuring a holistic growth of their personality.
TVC | Nov 2021 35
