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Awards/Honors |
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In some distant past, I read somewhere or made it up after being inspired by something I read (don't remember due to the aging grey cells) -
"Price of excellence is the burden of expectations"
While the materialistic politics of academia pushes most folks in my profession towards collecting numbers (papers, citations etc.), a very abstract reward made me choose "Teaching + Research" as a profession instead of only "Research". This abstract reward is the satisfaction brought out by a good classroom interaction - it counters the anxiety, frustrations and failures that research can bring. While results in research often take months to years to decades to even a life-time to show up, the immediate satisfaction of having successful, interactive sessions in classroom (on any given day and/or during a full course running through the whole semester/term) is a great source of positive energy for refilling the emptying reservoirs of hope towards scientific discovery. I'm grateful to several students who have gone out-of-their-way to emphasize how the quality of their interactions with me, both inside and outside classrooms, played some important role in their lives. Their encouragement and faith pushes me to constantly evolve, with uncompromising efforts, to lift the level of the pedestal they have created (at least in their imagination).
Some beautiful examples, for which I feel very grateful, can be found at the following links sent to me by well wishers at different points of time: (2) http://mihirjain.blogspot.com/2019/09/dilli.html (3) https://www.quora.com/Who-are-some-of-the-awesome-IITD-people-to-hangout-chat-with-right-now (4) https://topyaps.com/top-10-professors-at-iit-delhi-facetiously/
Below are some specific examples specifically related to UG classes, for which I feel grateful, humbled and honored beyond words: (1) "I am a 2017 IITD graduate. I was just going through my IIT Acads folder to reminisce about my college memories and I stumbled upon a psychology assignment (How to increase emotional intelligence among college students) where I had mentioned about you - "Professors can teach emotional intelligence concepts and activities to college students to boost motivation. Its 8:00 AM in Professor Aditya Mittal's SBL100 class and the seats are full of college students. What made those students get out of bed so early to attend? What keeps them coming back and what motivates the students who are getting top grades? Could it be the scintillating way the teacher talks about biology, or is it something else related to emotional intelligence? The professors not only engage with the material and discussions, but they seem to be having fun! Such course could help students figure out what their personal values are and what they really care about." It was great being a part of that lecture. You never let it be boring for an early morning class. I used to record your lectures by sitting in the front rows and then making transcripts at the hostel. Since it was an open book too, this was the only preparation I had to do. Thank you for making courses memorable for students even after they graduate." - 2013TT10938 (2) "I cannot begin to describe how much I loved your teaching style, your grading policy those surprise quizzes that had a story line attached to it, and the sheer energy with which you taught us...... That paper that you designed was the best examination I had given after the JEE preparation days. It tested logic and understanding more than anything else. The internet was of no use and only those students did well who had really understood what was taught. My respect for you increased to another fold that day. On one particular occasion, one of my friends from my hometown was visiting Delhi for a short duration. Her train had a halt in Delhi. This was at the same time your class was scheduled. I did not miss the class. That was the impact you had on me. Ever since that semester, I have constantly encouraged my juniors to take SBL100 only when you were the course instructor. I'm really really happy that I did that course with you. Thank you for that experience." - 2015BB10038 (3) "Thanks ..... It was really a great experience ........ In Bachchan's words, it was, ADBHUT , AVISHWASNIYA ADWITIYA !!! ......you make the dead elements like us in the class become alive and really let us enjoy the subject. Whatever the marks be but I really enjoyed the way you had organized the whole course whether catching the proxies, or having open networking, attendance rule, lecture delivering style, stuff.......Hope, you continue to take this course in upcoming yrs. also so that freshers and sophomores don't lose hope." - 2015EE30507 (4) "I opted for SBL100 this semester since there is a lot of buzz about you taking SBL100. Unlike most, I really am interested in Biology and thus was more than excited about the course. And thanks to you, this course is the first course which met all my expectations.....Your teaching methodology, paper setting and innovative attitude is really the best I have ever seen. Material you provided was too interesting and it really competed with my novels in my reading time. I really want to do any other course under you if my branch and institute allows. And at last, This mail is just a pure thanking note and I will not ask for project in the end :)" - 2017CH10297 (5) "At the end, it was an absolute pleasure being taught by you and the major was, for sure, the most I've enjoyed myself in any exam. Thank you for taking the time to make that and thank you for a wonderful semester." - 2017PH10850 (6) "I am writing to you tell you that I had an amazing time almost every Tue, Wed, Fri 8 am-9 am. Though I would have written it in course feedback, but then it would have been anonymous and to be honest I don't like giving anonymous feedback, I just have to do it for formality.....being a Computer Science Student, I am highly enthusiastic to explore that field now and that's why I am working hard on getting my fundamentals right. Your lectures had a lot of energy in it, and I can surely say that you really taught me how to look at science, which being a science student I didn't know yet. As if you remember, at the beginning of the semester I always used to write to you with facts and definitions and you used to reply to me politely how not to stick around them. In your lectures, I never felt the need to take notes because most of the times I felt I am getting what you are trying to say and I just captured it. Sir, It was a wonderful time spent and I had a brilliant learning experience. And I hope I get to learn more from you as part of the Open Credits category of my course..... In the end, I just want to thank you a lot for imparting us a part of your wonderful knowledge and devoting your precious time in teaching us actual science, making us pursue science the way it should have been pursued since primary school." - 2017CS50415 And life moves on with the burden of expectations - it's a nice enough burden to carry though! No awards can ever be the greater than the above.
All the above said, life (for me) is not a popularity contest, it is about being able to face the man in the mirror when I wake up or whenever the mirror randomly shows up in front of me...................Thus, while I don't give a flying fish......................below is the "moh maya", the quagmire of existence in human society, the quicksand of materialistic temptations that will all disappear with the physiological life form! |
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Grants (excluding travel grants) |
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Consultancy Projects
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