teacher tales interviews 2- sanjay gupta

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Sanjay Gupta

GD Goenka University

Hello and thank you for joining us today. Tell us a bit about your background and

how you got interested in teaching per se.

I started when I was doing my doctorate. NIFT (National Institute of Fashion

Technology) had just started then and they needed someone who understood fabrics. I

was introduced by a friend, I took a few lectures, found that I liked doing it and so it

started. I am a BTech and PhD from IIT Delhi in Textiles.

What was teaching all about for you at that time when you started out?

At that time I guess it was about being able to share one's knowledge. When you teach

someone else, your own fundamentals get clearer and when you see the light of

understanding in your teacher's eyes, that's when it all begins to make sense. I got

hooked because of the way I was received by my students. The students I taught then

are still in touch with me.


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So are you saying there is learning happening through the act of teaching?

Yes. Teaching is always connected to learning. When you are explaining concepts to

young students and they ask questions, your own understanding must be very clear to

be able to explain and make them understand.

And in the last many years that you have been teaching what have you discovered

about yourself as a person through the act of teaching?

I have discovered that I love to be among students and that I revel in their achievements

and their growth. I have also discovered that my thinking has indeed affected many lives

and changes many a perspectives.


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And knowing the same - how do you feel?

Oh it’s a very gratifying feeling. Looking back, I wouldn't want to change in any way the

life I have led, the respect I have got. Very satisfying

What have you discovered about life through your classroom and students?

Every student is an individual shaped by his circumstances and more so by his family.

Tell us about what you teach and the unique challenges of teaching in your

classroom?

In the past few years I have taught Design Thinking and the process behind innovation.

It is a fundamental course that leads to better understanding of how the design process

works.


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What are the challenges and highs of teaching such as course?

When you lead the student through the process and get them to apply their mind to

problem solving, and arrive at a solution, and when you see the revelation on their faces

and the excitement, that's a high.

What is the challenge that you need to navigate in the classroom?

The diversity among students, but then that's also the interesting part!

And how can design thinking principles be applied to the act of teaching itself?

Interesting question! Teaching itself require constant innovation. As a teacher one

needs to be constant aware of changing paradigms around you, the changing

demographic, impact of technology, issues of relevance to the young generation, factor

in the diversity-in income/in social status/in educational & cultural backgrounds, and

then innovate so that you continue to be relevant to every new generation.


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What inspires you?

Every new innovation, new gadget, new technology

is an inspiration for new design ideas. Meeting

interesting people from varied backgrounds with a

different thought process is also an inspiration.

And how do you bring / leverage these

inspiration cues into your teaching / classroom?

It is very difficult to outline a simple process. Everything is constantly getting factored

in - as examples during lectures, as problems to be solved, as new technology to be used.

In a world where information can be googled, how do you define the role and

mandate of the teacher today?

If one could have read and educated himself by studying books or googling, there indeed

would have been no need for teachers. But inspite of all knowledge being available and

accessible, people still need to be motivated, to be explained concepts, to be given

challenges. They still need to be inspired, they still need to be appreciated (and

scolded). Teachers will continue to be relevant.

On this 5th September – Teacher’s day in India, what is your wish for the

community of teachers?

Continue to be aware, continue to be relevant, continue to inspire and continue to lead.

The world needs you.

Thank you so much Sanjay! It's been awesome to chat with you. We wish you the

very best for your future.


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Teacher Tales is an inspirational interview series conceptualised by Shreyanka Basu.

The idea of Teacher Tales comes from Shreyanka’s personal belief about teaching.

The goal of Teacher Tales is to be a witness to the passion that drive teachers to take up

this profession. It touches upon the things that inspire teachers and how they bring the

same to their classrooms. It focuses on the evolving narrative of what it means to be a

teacher in the larger context of learning and education. It’s ambition is to raise a toast to

the great human beings behind the inspiring teachers. It celebrates both young and

experienced teachers.

If you know a teacher who has inspired you and others like you please do write in to us

at [email protected] with the subject line – Teacher Tales Recommend a

Teacher.