Always try to convert your challenges into opportunities.
Always try to convert your challenges into opportunities.
Dr. A.H. Hasmani is a Mathematics Professor and HoD— Mathematics at Sardar Patel University in Anand, Gujarat. In addition, he is also a member of the Executive Council of the university. As convenor, he oversees the PhD courses. He also co-coordinates the IQAC (Internal Quality Assurance Cell) of Sardar Patel University.
Describing his accomplishments, Dr. Hasmani shares that the Gujarat government picked him as one of the authors for the Higher Secondary Mathematics school textbooks based on his contributions to the education system. He also received the Sardar Patel Research Award from Sardar Patel University and was honoured for his research efforts.
Dr. Hasmani received his BSc Degree from Saurashtra University and his PG and PhD degrees from MK Bhavnagar University. In 1995, he joined Sardar Patel University as a lecturer, eventually rising to the rank of professor, and has been in charge of the Mathematics department for the past eight years.
Dr. Hasmani explains that the primary duties in the PG department are teaching, research, and extension. The department operates in these three areas, and its teachers undertake research in addition to teaching. The efforts may be quantified in terms of the students’ results and their success in national level Mathematical professional tests such as the UGC tests, NET, and JRF.
The National Board For Higher Mathematics of the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India has also honoured the research achievements of the students of the university. They also designated the university's library as the ‘Western Region Library in Mathematics’, making it one of the country's five recognised regional libraries.
Dr. Hasmani also serves as the coordinator of the IQAC of the university, which looks after the university's quality, evaluation, and accreditation. They participate in national rankings under the supervision of the IQAC. Furthermore, for the past five years, the institution has been offering PhD Course Work on a centralised basis. To manage this activity, the university has assigned him the job of coordinating the course work classes twice in a year.
Recalling his inspiration behind joining the education field, Dr. Hasmani reveals that after looking at his professors when he was a student, particularly at the PG level, he felt compelled to pursue a career in teaching. As a result, after completing his PhD, he attended SS Engineering College in Bhavnagar, followed by BVM Engineering College in Vallabh Vidyanagar, before joining Sardar Patel University.
Remembering his childhood, Dr. Hasmani recounts that he was born in a little village called Gadra in Gujarat. His father worked in the Railways, and thus he had to move to different cities a lot because his father's job was transferable. So he studied and lived in a variety of places, completing his education at several institutions. He recalls attending 10 different schools before entering tenth grade. Then his family moved to Bhavnagar, where he completed his undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies. His father constantly encouraged him and his siblings to pursue studies, and his mother ensured that he studied hard, enabling him to achieve this level.
Regarding his role models, Dr. Hasmani feels that as he lived in many different places numerous people have helped shape his personality. He especially admires two of his teachers, Rawal Saheb, who taught him at the primary level, and his PhD supervisor, Prof. J Krishna Rao, who taught him about life and how to improve it in addition to teaching him Mathematics.
He has adopted the motto "Teaching is my profession, and learning is my passion" to keep himself motivated. He also encourages young people to continue learning, just as he continues to learn from things, situations, and people, he feels learning is the key to a better life.
Dr. Hasmani reveals that when he was 14 years old, he was diagnosed with typhoid and recently had some heart problems, but by God's grace, he is still capable of working. He also experienced difficulties during his school life, since he had to study in different schools in different cities, which was inconvenient for him, and he was always compelled to adapt to the circumstances.
He urges students to discover their own talents and flaws. They should also learn to see problems as possibilities. He advises young Indians to remember that we are members of the Vishv Guru family 'Bharat' and that integrity and honesty are the finest policies which we have been taught.
Discussing the origins of the university and the township Vallabh Vidhyanagar, Dr. Hasmani states that it was the result of the tireless efforts of the founders Shri Bhaikaka and Shri Bhikhabhai. They went to the farmers in the region and asked for a contribution, and this university was founded as a result of the farmers' generous donations. So everyone associated with the university and the students too must be grateful to the farmers and should keep this in mind even after leaving this university.
Finally, he conveys a message on behalf of the institution that Sardar Patel University is primarily engaged in teaching and training rural India, thus after completing their studies, the students must not only pursue worldwide opportunities. Keep your feet on the ground and attempt to contribute to society, he advises. Dr. Hasmani tells young people who desire to be teachers that education and experience go hand in hand in this profession. However, education is far more essential, but learning the foundations will benefit them throughout their career.
He concludes with a couplet from his university song: "धन्य धन्य हो वीर हमारी, वल्लभ विद्यापीठ।"