Hailing from a remote area in Kandhamal district, Nandini Sahu took over as vice-chancellor of Hindi University, West Bengal, on Friday. A triple gold medallist in English literature and author of 21 books, Sahu speaks to Satyanarayan Pattnaik about her inspiring journey.
How do you feel after being appointed as vice-chancellor?
It is an extremely proud moment for me. I give the credit to my parents, teachers and family who guided me throughout my journey.
You come from a modest background and a remote area. Growing up as one of six sisters, did you face any obstacles in your studies?
My father was a school teacher, and he ensured that all six of us received good education. There were never any restrictions in studies.
As the VC, what will be your key contributions?
I plan to introduce new academic programmes for endangered and classical languages. Since Bengali and Odia are both classical languages that originated from the Aryan language family, and as West Bengal and Odisha share a deep cultural connection, I will focus on fostering collaboration between the two languages through seminars and academic programmes. My vision is to create an international standard academic framework for the university. Additionally, I will leverage my expertise in Indian English literature, folklore and cultural studies to enrich the university’s curriculum and research initiatives.
Would you ever consider working for Odia literature or serving in Odisha?
I had a brief stint as an associate professor at a private institute in Rayagada district. During my academic career, I have translated the work of renowned Odia writers into English. If I find a suitable position, I would certainly love to serve my state.