Read how Ms. Geeta Ajit always followed her inner voice with sheer perseverance and resilience with a special mantra and grit.
What inspired you to pursue a career in academia, and how did you navigate your professional journey to get where you are today?
It was a long journey. Since schooldays, I always dreamt of becoming an English teacher. I went on to pursue my graduation and post-graduation in English Language and Literature. But then, came a break! I became a homemaker for 15 years. After that, stepping into the world of career was scary. I took tentative steps by completing a B.Ed degree and then, my MPhil and Ph. D. Meanwhile, to qualify for the Assistant Professor’s post I cleared the dreaded NET exam too. I began my teaching career with Somaiya College, then St Xavier’s College, Mumbai and later to my present post at V. E. S. Institute of Technology. I published many research papers, delivered lectures/ talks as an invited speaker at many international events and conducted numerous workshops. One of my greatest joys was when I was invited to present a paper by St Francis University, Hong Kong in January this year.
How do you bring your philosophy or unique perspective into your teaching or work? What strategies do you use to make your sessions or workplace interactions impactful and memorable?
My two and a half decades of teaching have taught me that a teacher can never stop learning. If I do so, I become redundant! To transmit knowledge, I must not just continuously update, but must also have clear objectives, a good lesson plan, and adjust the pace of learning to the requirement. Practical application of teaching points is crucial for effective learning is what I learned.
Encouraging diverse perspectives, engaging in spirited debates, and dividing students into groups helps students understand brainstorming, teamwork, and leadership. This approach fosters understanding and respect for students' opinions.
What lessons did you learn as a trainer and examiner appointed by the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation for Airport Authorities of India that you would like to share
with business communication professionals in India today?
As an ATC trainer and examiner, I learnt the importance of good communication –
communication with clarity, accuracy and brevity. The life of people/ passengers
depended on this level of communication. The alertness and decision-making skills
required for an ATC personnel are remarkable. We often take communication skills
for granted. But for an ATC personnel, what they communicate has to be precise,
specific and complete in a very short span of time - in minutes and even seconds! If
not, it can lead to a possible fatal disaster. All the 7 Cs of communication have to be
followed to the very T!
What metaphor or image describes you and why?
The image of a highly optimistic person! My mantra is ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
I started my career at the age of 40! After being a homemaker/ mother/ wife / daughter/-in-law/ for many years, it was terrifying to begin a career at an age; when most people have already achieved their best! It was not easy changing the course of my life. Suddenly, being away from home for long hours, was an adjustment, not only for me, but for all around me. Overcoming guilt, doubt and fear till you find hope, confidence and courage requires a lot of inner strength and the urge to prove that your decision was right. But I turned it into my resolution – to ensure that I succeed. I learned how to multitask quickly, efficiently and smoothly. With my mantra, I forged ahead and made me what I am today.
With the surge of technological tools available, do you find that writing, editing, and publishing have become more streamlined, or do you feel there's a risk of losing the creative essence of authorship?
Technology has certainly helped to write research papers, theses, books, etc. It is like a double-edged sword. For academicians and scholars, it gives the liberty to scribble/jot/write whenever or wherever they are and later, transfer it when required. There have been times when, during household chores, I had been struck with an epiphany on a research point, and have noted it down instantly on my mobile. Technology also helps you to get access to the latest research and edit or rewrite your work numerous times.
But for the young tech-savvy generation, it is a struggle to express themselves with clarity and cohesion without using apps like Grammarly, spellcheck dictionary, thesaurus, etc. Being more adept at cryptic writing (on Instagram/Whatsapp/ blog), they find it difficult to write long essays or descriptive passages. To find work like the canonical writing of the yore seems impossible.
As you look toward the future, how do you envision communication evolving in the coming centuries? What role do you see yourself playing in this transformation?
As the world becomes a global village, the rise of English as a global language is erasing indigenous languages and cultures. This shift is expected to increase mobility and promote patriotism towards humanity.
As for myself, I hope to continue to help the young population in this transition - from local to global. I wish to assist them during this transition – attaining the required skills - both verbal and non-verbal; to acquire the knowledge to remain in the competition, kindle team spirit and problem-solving approach and find a work-life balance, all the while retaining their individuality and personality. At the same time, I would like to persist in the efforts to preserve the language and culture of the past and that knowledge is invaluable.
Dr. Geeta Ajit is a researcher, international examiner, trainer, and 25 workshops to her credit. She works at V.E.S. Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and has been appointed by the Director General of Civil Aviation for the Airports Authority of India. She publishes research papers and develops language teaching modules. She is also invited as a resource person and as a guest Speaker.
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