‘I want to make Atmanirbhar Bharat a force to reckon with’

Meet Monika Dagar, who is at present, pursuing her Master’s in Pharmacy from Apeejay Stya University (ASU). This young wizard presented her prestigious research-based poster at the recently held India International Science Fair based on ‘AI: A BOON for diabetes management’. In a candid interview, the 21 year old shares how her journey has been blessed by extremely supportive teachers without whom her achievements would not become a reality.

Tell us about yourself.

I belong to the rural area of Palwal district, Haryana. I completed my X and XII from KM Convent School, Mandkola. Later I pursued BPharma from Apeejay Stya University (ASU). During my graduation period, I was one of the toppers in my class.

What does your typical day look like?

I wake up at 4:30 am daily and then start my day, followed by other daily routine work. I start my day with yoga and then move on to continue my revision of all the topics covered in the last class at college.

Tell us about your life at ASU.

Around four years back I started my journey of BPharma at ASU. It was a great experience for me, all the teachers supported me a lot. I also qualified for my GPAT and NIPER exams with their support.

What specialisation you picked and why?

I am at present enrolled in a master’s programme in Pharmaceutics. I chose this field because my interest in it developed during the first year of my Bachelor’s in Pharmacy, and I was eager to delve deeper and discover new aspects of the field.

How is the faculty at the college?

All my faculties are very supportive, especially our Dean ma’am who has been a constant source of motivation for me.

Any message for the aspiring pharma students.

The only message for other Pharma aspirants is that they should focus on their studies because our parents work hard to make our lives better. We must understand and acknowledge the sacrifices made by our parents.

What is your dream and goal in life?

I aspire to pursue a PhD. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, a goal that aligns with my father’s vision of helping me achieve excellence. Upon completing my studies, I aim to enter the field of academia.

Tell us about your recent experience at India International Science Fair.

There were a total of 17 different events. There were 2,550 applications out of which only 400 were selected for the Young Scientist Conference, and I was one of them. Most of the participants were PhD students. Only one or two students were from master’s. The conference was divided into two parts — oral presentations and poster presentations. I got selected for a poster presentation. The other events were mainly for school students to encourage them to adopt science for their future studies.

On January 18, 2024, scientific sessions, oral presentations and poster presentations were there, chaired by various scientists. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Earth Sciences, chaired the young scientists’ conference.

On January 19, 2024, other sessions by various International speakers were there. The steering committee was composed of various scientists from different departments/ fields including Professor Abhay Karandikar( Secretary Department of Science of Technology), and Dr N Kalaiselvi (Secretary, CSIR DG, CSIR).

Your comments on the brain drain trend.

I want to say only one thing that I rely only on one trend which is “study in India, study for India”. Anyone can migrate to any place to get good opportunities, I believe in those opportunities only which are present in our country.

How has ASU helped hone your skills?

I have greatly benefited from ASU in honing my skills, with the faculty members providing tremendous support. All my teachers have backed me, helping me address my weaknesses and enhance them. Their constant encouragement motivates me to put more effort into my studies. Additionally, our Dean has been a valuable source of assistance, offering help on various topics, whether related to my academic studies or otherwise.