‘Academics must prepare students for the world’

Gujarat, with its potential for development and a reputation for harmony, has been attracting quite a few admirers of late. One of them has just been appointed the new director of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Gandhinagar. Sameeta Rajora, IFS, who is from the Madhya Pradesh cadre of the 1992 batch, studied in Ahmedabad while her father serving with the Indian Army was posted in the state. And today, armed with an experience of 18 years with the civil services, Rajora, in conversation with DNA, says she is glad for the opportunity to come back here.

You have been a conservator of forests in Madhya Pradesh. What made you take up the directorship of NIFT, Gandhinagar?
Having been a forest officer, I have interacted a lot with tribals, which also exposed me to their handicrafts, their designing skills, and so on. Charmed by these, I always had it in the back of my mind to head an organisation in an allied field, say something related to Khadi, later on.

So, when I got the opportunity to head the NIFT on a government of India deputation, I was happy. It is also a way of giving back to Gujarat, where I have studied, and its people. I did my bachelors from MG Science Institute in Ahmedabad, and my masters from the botany department of the Gujarat University.

How will your experience as a forest official help in heading NIFT?
Well, administration is the same everywhere, and management is something that most bureaucrats understand very well. And heading a premier institute of the country like NIFT, needs the kind of training and experience that we possess.

We have been gaining first-hand experience of interacting and conducting developmental activities and forest protection with the tribals, and groups like the gramin samiti and so on. With this background, I will be able to lay stress on developing more craft clusters with the tribals and bringing them to the forefront. At the same time, these clusters form an important basis of design and inspirations for our students by introducing them to the age-old techniques, designs, traditions and wisdom of the tribals.

What is your vision for the institute?
Providing the institute a very good administration is the priority. Besides, trying to get latest techniques required by the faculty and the students, as well as good academicians to the institute, is also part of the vision. The academic input should be so good that the students are competent enough to enter and face the challenging designing world. Apart from facilitating good placements, I would also like to inculcate in them some entrepreneurial skills so that they can manage perfectly well on their own.

Are there plans to introduce new disciplines in the institute?
We might soon come up with more management-based programmes. It's still at the planning stage, but definitely on the anvil. At the Baroda centre, we will be introducing some new courses.  We will also be sending some new faculty there, to give the centre a boost.