“In life, education may have a comma, but not full stop” says IGNOU Students at “Successful Alumni Meet

Several people in the society have unfulfilled dreams because of various limitations and lack of opportunities but according to Ms. Gunjan Shakya, a visually challenged Bank Officer and IGNOU Alumnous said that “Everyone should have vision in their life and to fulfill that, Education is must”. She was speaking in IGNOU’s “Successful Alumni” Meet held by IGNOU Regional Centre Nagpur.

Indira Gandhi National Open University, Regional Centre Nagpur has started activities of its Alumni Association by conducting the thematic session on “Successful Alumni Meet”, where students who made successful careers, based on IGNOU Degree were invited and they shared their success stories. Dr. P. Sivaswaroop, Regional Director in his opening remarks said that Alumni are the brand ambassadors of the institution. IGNOU is having students from every section of the society starting from Remote, Rural and Tribal Areas to Metro Areas, Unemployed and Housewife to Professionals, Doctors, IAS and IPS people.

This 1^st meeting of the Alumni Association focuses on success stories of those IGNOU students who have built their career based on IGNOU Degree. Dr. (Mrs.) Kavita Bakshi said that she studied MSCDFSM program through IGNOU while she was in government job and having a small kid. Because of IGNOU flexibility she completed and later received her Ph.D from RTMNU also. Today she is elected as Convener of the Indian Dietetics Association Nagpur Chapter. She says IGNOU has opened her path to success. Dr. (Mrs.) Kavita Gupta, who is also MSCDFSM (IGNOU), Ph.D (RTMNU) said, 12 years ago she had a dream of doing MSC and she was having 2 kids, husband, mother and father in law with her. But with the inbuilt flexibility of IGNOU education, by putting sincere efforts she completed her MSCDFSM and later Ph.D from RTMNU.

Also, she got a Gold Medal in a National Conference for presenting her MSCDFSM dissertation work. Mr. Hemdev Gohane, a 12^th Pass student from Gadchiroli shared his “village to city transformation” through IGNOU. He studied 6 months of CHBHC Program of IGNOU and later selected in the Campus Placement Interviews conducted at Gadchiroli by IGNOU in 2013. He joined at Care Hospital Nagpur and moved further and did another diploma. He got job offers in different hospitals and worked at Nashik in a corporate hospital and now working in Nagpur as Section Incharge in a reputed hospital.

Mrs. Manisha Pravin Warade from Akola said that, in 2001 she was married while in degree final year. She had a unfulfilled dream of further study. She came to know about IGNOU and its flexible study. She joined MSCDFSM after 12 years break. She was inspired by a 70 years old IGNOU student in the 1^st Induction Meeting. Today she is conducting Nutrition Awareness Meetings and working as Dietitian in Akola. She confessed happily that till recently she was very shy to speak in public, but today she is addressing public meetings to create Nutrition Awareness. She concluded, “IGNOU do not give only education, but personality also”.

Ms. Gunjan Shakya, a visually challenged woman who completed 3 Degrees from IGNOU, BA-English, MA-English, MBA said whether you have eyesight or not, you should have a vision in life and to fulfill this vision, education is must.

When she lost her eyesight she stayed in the hospital for several months. So her education in a regular college was not possible. So she joined IGNOU so that she could study even by staying in hospital. She completed 3 Degrees and now completed Ph.D. in English Literature from RTM Nagpur University. Emphatically she said “many people hesitate that whether they can get a job with an Open University Degree”, but she confidently said because of IGNOU BA, she is selected Bank Officer through a competitive examination and in Interview. She said that IGNOU’s Study Material is detailed with easy language and self-study, so she never felt that the teacher is not with her.

She concluded saying “I owe to IGNOU for all my achievements and shall remember IGNOU for lifelong”. All the students were felicitated with Momento, Tulsi Plant and Cotton Bag for achievement in their life.

Dr. K. Sasicoumar Brumot, Assistant Regional Director conducted the Program and explained the objectives. Mr. S. Senthil Raj, Assistant Registrar proposed Vote of Thanks. It was well attended by Invitees, Guests and IGNOU employees.

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