Know Your Faculty: ‘Mentoring students brings rewarding experiences’

She is at present, the senior most faculty at Apeejay College of Fine Arts (ACFA) in Jalandhar and has been teaching English at graduate and post graduate level for the last 35 years. She hails from a family of educationists and believes that teaching is a noble profession vested with a responsibility of shaping the career of the youth, facilitating them to become better human beings, thereby contributing to man-making and nation-building.

Meet Dr Sunit Kaur, Head of Department-English. “A teacher is supposed to be a store house of multidimensional allied sources of knowledge and information which have to be disseminated to the students in a lucid manner. A teacher has to also move beyond the confines of the curriculum to teach the students not only the subject but also a way of life,” Dr Kaur said and added that it is a blessing to be a part of ACFA which is all set to scale greater heights under the sterling guidance and dynamic leadership its principal Dr Neerja Dhingra.

Excerpts from the interview

How important is institute-building, particularly in a value-based brand like Apeejay?

Institute-building is one of the prime responsibilities for an educator. And when the brand is as dignified as Apeejay, the responsibility becomes all the more important. An institute is not known only by its building and infrastructure, but is valued for the educators. An educator has to multi-task and keep updated with the latest information in the related field to excel and contribute in making the institute stand out.

Satisfaction of the students and stakeholders is important for institute-building which has to be ensured by every educator. Being associated with the value based brand like Apeejay makes me feel important and fills me with a bigger responsibility to carry forward the quality benchmark propounded by Founder-Chairman Dr Stya Paulji which is now being strengthened by esteemed President Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia ma’am.

What led you to pursue a career in academia?

The family environment plays a major role in shaping your thoughts for pursuing any career. Both my parents pursued the profession, making a huge difference in the lives of many young people, making the profession an ideal one for me to follow. I always believed that a teacher could cast a spell on the students with knowledge. Nothing feels better than being a teacher-learner which is self-rewarding and gratifying.

“Institute-building is one of the prime responsibilities for an educator. And when the brand is as dignified as Apeejay, the responsibility becomes all the more important. An institute is not known only by its building and infrastructure, but is valued for the educators. An educator has to multi-task and keep updated with the latest information in the related field to excel and contribute in making the institute stand out”

Dr Sunit Kaur, Head of Department-English, Apeejay College of Fine Arts

Why did you choose English?

Being the daughter of the well-known English litterateur like Dr Tajinder Singh, knowledge and passion for English was flowing in the house like a resplendent stream. Various new creative worlds of great writers and poets opened up majestically before us, filling us with a desire to delve deeper into the vast ocean of English literature. Stalwarts of English would come to our house regularly for discussions with my father over a cup of tea or coffee. My sister and I would listen to them and let a love for English become a part of our beings. So I can say I was cut for the subject.

How can students succeed in your class?

My advice to the students to succeed in the class is to always be focused. Distractions are many but they have to keep their eye on the goal, to gain and grasp the maximum from the teacher with an inquisitive and curious mind. Creative writing has taken a back seat with many students these days. With readymade material and resources available on the Internet, very few students take the cudgels to create their answers with a tinge of originality and innovative thoughts. Technology should be used as a facilitator and not as a means to enslave our creativity.

A memorable experience

The memory lane of ACFA which covers almost 35 years is illuminated by many motivating experiences. In 1996, the first Annual Function was conducted after respected ma’am Dr Sucharita had taken over as the principal of ACFA. She discerned the talent in me and gave me the opportunity to handle the stage. Our most revered Founder-Chairman Dr Stya Paulji was present. When the function was over he called for me and gave a pat on my back and said, “It is people like you who would take the name of ACFA high.” These words still ring in my head. I still seek his eternal blessings before going on the stage for any function.

Yet another incident worth mentioning is when I met an ACFA alumnus. He touched my feet and said that he still carries a diary in which he used to pick words from my lessons. The diary became his Bible and made him procure a coveted position in a multinational company with his prowess in speaking and writing skills.

Mentoring the students with a successful outcome has always been an extremely gratifying and wonderful experience.

What are some of your favourite books?

These include poetry by metaphysical poet John Donne, and Paradise Lost by Milton, Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope and then poetry by William Wordsworth, John Keats, William Butler Yeats, and TS Eliot’s magnum opus The Wasteland. My favourite is Robert Browning with his dramatic monologues. I am also passionate about teaching novels by Indian writers in English like Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore. Even poems by Nizzim Ezekiel and Kamala Das transport you to the Indian sensibility reflected in their works.

Your achievements at Apeejay.

Becoming a part of the iconic and glorious Apeejay brand is the best thing that happened. ACFA has empowered me academically and professionally. The research-centric approach of the institute motivated me to take up PhD. I also became the editor of the in-house English Research Journal Ambrosia and also an International Research Journal, The Literary Icon.

As a coordinator for NAAC Accreditation for the second and the third cycle, I wrote the SSR for both cycles in which ACFA was accredited with very high grades under the able stewardship of the then principal Dr Sucharita. I have been a content writer for the articles and proposals for the college. I have received honours and recognition from my esteemed institute five times. I am also the registrar for the college activities. For almost important functions and major events conducted at ACFA, I have been bestowed with the opportunity to handle the stage.