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Interview with
Prof. Saurabh Mishra, IIT Mumbai
Q. Prof. tell us
something about yourself?
Ans. I am Assistant Prof. in the Metallurgical Engineering and Material
Science department at IIT Mumbai. I did my schooling from Kanpur and
college (B. Tech) from institute of Technology, BHU in Ceramic
Engineering. I later went for my Master’s to University of Pennsylvania,
U. S. where I did my MS and Ph D in Material Science and Engineering.
Q. How can we inculcate scientific temper in the students?
Ans. Give the students small projects and explain concepts through
experiments and demonstrations.
Q. How can students be encouraged to take up practical work in order to
enhance their theoretical understanding?
Ans. I will give you a small formula for this:-
Read
→ Understand
→ Do = learn
Q. What basic traits does JEE look for?
Ans. At JEE we try to test conceptual knowledge along with presence of
mind.
Q. How should we teach an abstract topic?
Ans. The only way to deal with an abstract topic is the practical
approach. Give examples from everyday life. Relate such topics with what
a child experiences, sees and does in his every day life.
Q. How are IITians contributing to the growth and development of our
country?
Ans. The IITians going out of the country was happening 20-25 years
back. In the mid-eighties the number started going down. In the last 5
years their number has gone down drastically due to boom in the IT
industry and MNCs coming to India in a big way.
Q. Do you think Dr. Kalam’s popularity and success as the head of the
nation has motivated and ignited the minds of the young scientists to
aspire to enter into the political field?
Ans. Logically thinking people can be successful in any field even in
politics. I think you are aware that the IITians, Management people and
Doctors have formed an organization to contest the next General
Elections in 2009.
Q. What do you feel about the flood of coaching institutes all around?
Ans. Of what I’ve heard from the students, the time schedule of the
coaching institutes seems impractical. At the same time I feel that
XIIth Class Board Curriculum is hundred percent in line with the
requirement of the competitive exams in content though I would say that
it does not effectively cater to time management which is very essential
for success in competitive exams. However, whatever the child chooses to
do, personal growth, self study and self help are very important.
Q. Prof. Mishra tell us something about your interaction with the
students of grade XI and XII of NMS.
Ans. Let me tell you honestly, they are bright and aware but their
awareness level has to be enhanced. They have to be told about the up
coming fields and that there is no deficiency of jobs if one is well
focused. What I liked about the school is the emphasis on the holistic
development of an individual. I am happy to know that the children have
a wide range of activities in your school. I would like to go a little
further and say that — “One activity period is a must even at the cost
of a teaching period.” We have to enhance the personality of a child and
help him to be a compassionate individual who is physically, mentally
and emotionally sound. In today’s times the emotional quotient needs to
be developed. We as teachers should lay a lot of importance on values. I
suggest to all the children to read short stories from the Panchtantra,
Jataka tales and also to read the lives of the great men of the past, be
it Mahatma Gandhi, Dayananda Saraswati, Vivekananda to name a few.
Whatever the Students do, they must question themselves…. “Am I spending
fruitful time?”
Q. Prof. Mishra give us your definition of success?
Ans. Success is development of personality in all aspects. A complete
person, who knows to manage his thoughts and is mentally, emotionally
and physically fit, is successful. I strongly believe that meditation is
the key to success.
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