Sometimes it pays to take walks. While my intent on the 15 Jan morning was merely to attend a meeting in the Park opposite K 167, to lend support to Mr. MK Agarwal’s efforts to create a vibrant ‘senior citizen’s group’ in Southcity-I, his offer of some ‘Makar Sankranti’ treats was, of course, an additional bait. Met two new folks at the meeting. Dr. SK Bhatia, was one of them. An octogenarian, he has been an educationist, who is living a second innings of ‘giving’ back his vast repertoire of scholastic knowledge and experience.
A lucky strike for me indeed, as I am a Maa Saraswati Bhakt, and his write up in this January Issue of Samvada comes just a week or so before “Saraswati Puja” which this year coincides with our great nation’s Republic Day and Basant Panchami. Our culture has always thrived on the ‘guru-shishya’ tenets, and it is an honor for me to introduce our new Colony resident, Dr. SK Bhatia, r/o K-200, a man of immense scholarly experience and status. A man who would have
mentored many potential gurus in his service tenure, and one who continues to do so, in his second innings. Read on about his life in his own words.
Dr. (Ph.D.) SK Bhatia writes, “I am just a small fry. There is nothing special about me and I have spent a major chunk of my life as an ordinary teacher. I am an M.Com., M.Ed., Ph.D in Education. After teaching in two schools for a number of years, I joined S.I.E. (now known as S.C.E.R.T) as a subject specialist and served there for 7 years, facilitating the professional growth of teachers. Then I joined the Department of Education (Central Institute of Education), Delhi University. There I trained the B.Ed. & M.Ed. teachers and guided the Research Scholars. I produced
10 Ph.Ds. during this tenure of 22 years. I eventually retired as Associate Professor
in 2022.
I have organised and participated in more than 200 seminars / workshops / conferences for teachers, principals and teacher educators. I have visited several Educational Institutes in England, America, Canada and North Korea. Some of my papers, have been published in National and International Journals.
At present I am the Chairman of Rama Krishna Sr. Sec. School and advisor in a B.Ed. college. I am also the Editor-in-Chief of ‘International Journal of Teacher Education and Teaching’ being published from Chicago. Writing has always been my passion. I have authored 16 books in Business Studies for Sr. Sec students, and in Education, for B.Ed and in service teachers.
Whilke I have recently addressed the B.Ed. students of Gitarattan Institute of Advanced Studies and Training, Rohini, on 17 Jan, my next major educational event is lined up for 03 Feb. It is the National Webinar focused on “N.E.P 2020 – Mental Health Concerns and Holistic Learning”. This is primarily meant for, teacher educators and research scholars, engaged in teacher training institutes across India. I will be presenting the keynote address and the Resource Persons are the Head & Dean of the Department of Education, Delhi University, and the Vice Chancellor of Delhi Teachers’ University”.
In parting, I asked this exceptionally diverse scholar, what motivated him in his youth, and what has kept him going all these years after retirement. In his soft spoken but firm voice, he humbly stated, “The credit for all this goes to the almighty, my late mother and my beloved late wife – Krishna Bhatia. Krishna relieved me from my household duties, and not just encouraged but also
facilitated me, in completing my post- graduation and Ph.D. Both my mother and wife were my inspiration in all the walks of my life. I merely continue as my tribute to their memory”.
I do hope some of our Colony teachers read this article and reach out to Dr. Bhatia @ 9818367643. I am sure he will be delighted and I am doubly sure, the teachers will come away with a deeper learning.
Col Anil Alagh, M Block
