Finding Resilience: Healing & Moving Forward!

 

 

India’s second wave of covid-19 has been catastrophic and, quite honestly, challenging emotionally. The situation became grimmer when it hit almost every home in the country and turned out to be deadlier than ever. As we were about to get comfortable with the declining numbers in March, we were already in for a wave that would change the face of the landscape in the cities, towns, villages of India. SICI officials too were not spared who had to battle through the infection and the uncertainty of its effects – fatal & moderate – and within days of this mayhem a colleague lost her father to covid in a painful turn of events. My heart goes out to each and everyone of us who struggled to make it through in all shapes and forms. The transition from being infected and affected to getting back to our normal self wasn’t just a great bounce back, but I am pleased to inform that these episodes only made us stronger in the face of crisis. SICI has re-affirmed its commitment to a safe and supportive work environment for which we have always been known for, and nothing is more gratifying to see this being intact despite everything we all went through.

 

In the past few months, our engagement with stakeholders grew exponentially, and it’s great to see that they have now joined hands and become advocates for achieving our common mission and vision. As a part of our dynamic strategic plan for the upcoming years, a boost in this engagement has helped us with better-formulated procedures, well-managed proposals of viable nature, innovative programmes and much more. Whether they were Indian and Canadian states, provinces, companies and higher education institutions, SICI connected with each of these entities to firm up a path of joint mission of collaboration for the benefit of all. And, it is our shared motivation with them that has ensured our investments have a meaningful outcome for thousands of SICI fellows, students, faculty, researchers, and scholars of all age groups and diverse backgrounds who are the end recipients of this strategy and hard work.

 

Following this trail, this sentiment found its way in our recently concluded Indian and Canadian Members’ Council meetings and Annual General Meeting, held in May and June, where we committed to stay the course by assuring member institutions of SICI’s continued support and help to continue to facilitate institutional linkages, collaborations by extending opportunities designed, curated specially to foster higher education and research in India-Canada bilateral corridor. The whole purpose of these annual meetings is to enhance opportunities to share knowledge across our intellectual community and improve lives through innovative research. It is also a chance for me to whole-heartedly thank our member institutions who have been the major pillar of strength for the Institute, who have never failed in delivering their best by collaborating and joining hands to fulfil our mission together.

 

These meetings also saw the installation of new Executive Council Members and SICI President. I am grateful to Dr. Mini Shaji Thomas, the outgoing President of SICI, for her leadership in steering the affairs of SICI proficiently and giving us the right motivation to work on our ideas and making them a reality. In the same breath, I welcome Dr. John Kershaw, who takes over Dr. Thomas as the next President of SICI for the term of 2021-22.

 

Another feather in the hat came from partnering once again with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Government of Saskatchewan, which will soon be followed by a formal signing of a MoU in the upcoming months. During the IMC meeting, we organized the Engaging India- Engaging Canada session to commemorate this ground-breaking achievement which will provide the necessary lift to our continuing, historical, productive relations with Saskatchewan and also lead the path to working with other Canadian provinces with whom our ongoing efforts are gradually bearing fruits! It was truly heartening to see that H.E. Ajay Bisaria, High Commissioner of India to Canada and Honourable Gene Makowsky, Minister of Advanced Education, Govt of Saskatchewan, in one voice recognised SICI’s tremendous contribution in this bilateral corridor and welcomed this new collaboration to take our relationship to new heights. Joining their voices were Ms. Deirdre Kent, Acting High Commissioner for Canada to India, Honourable Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure, Govt of Alberta, Honourable Arlene Dunn, Minister of Immigration, Govt of New Brunswick, Dr. Sophie D”Amours, Chair, Universities Canada and Dr. Edward McCauley, President and Vice‐Chancellor, University of Calgary, Mr. Sandeep Goel, President & CEO, ICICI Bank Canada, and Dr. Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, Chairman of Sycamore Networks, Sandstone Capital, and others; Founder, Deshpande Foundation & Centre. A big, heartfelt thank you to all!

 

Onto my next most favourite part of the blog – Innovations at SICI’s member institutions! For me, these are not just innovations, they are inspirational stories of success, hope, compassion and revolution! Such as IIT Hyderabad researchers recently developed 'Muscope,' the world's smallest microscope that can image up to one milli micron diameter with off-the-shelf electronic components, without optimisation. A startup of IIT Madras developed portable hospitals called 'MediCAB Hospitals’ with dedicated ICUs that can accommodate life-support equipment and medical devices. On the other hand, Queen’s University researcher Christopher Mueller developed a Breast Cancer detection test that provides real-time response to chemotherapy & early detection of relapse. The University of British Columbia law school launched a groundbreaking $225K fund to support 15 Black students with their tuition and fees in attending UBC's law school over the next five years. Aren’t these stories inspiring, innovative and compassionate from all perspectives? There are so many more, and the more I read, think and write about them, the more I feel overwhelmed knowing that humanity is safe in the hands of our institutions that are building a bright future for all of us. Bravo!

 

Even though travel restrictions persist between India and Canada, I have to acknowledge and sincerely appreciate Canada and its provinces to help India combat the pandemic by sending medical supplies (vials of Remdesivir), and ventilators. This exchange of friendship and support was very much appreciated.

 

I also came across many Virtual Convocations and graduation ceremonies all across Canada and India that recognized the hard work of both faculty, educators and students. My heartiest congratulations to the Class of 2021!

 

So! It was never a given that we would go through all of the above, all at once. These six months have deeply affected each of us. The successes that we pulled through in parallel to challenges, we must not take them for granted. We made it together. Let’s take pride in all we have done to be back to our own selves and to each other. Finally, thanks to my gifted colleagues who have done it all and know what it takes to make things happen.

 

Our interaction will continue, but for now I wish everyone the best and please take care!