Interview of professor Dr. Nita Udani

Dr. Nita Udani is Head of the Department of A. D. Sheth Journalism and Mass Communication department of Saurashtra University, Rajkot. Established in the year 1973, this department is the oldest of its kind in entire Gujarat state and probably in entire western India too. At present, the department runs “Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication“, a 2 year P.G. course.

Speakbindas’ Volunteer Correspondent, Vikas Rajpopat interviewed her and fetched very interesting and informative details on journalism, the department and its future planning.

VIDEO OF THE INTERVIEW IS BELOW.

Speakbindas:

• Madam, Namaste. Welcome to Speakbindas. For how many years you are an H.O.D. of this department?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• Namaste. I am taking care of this department since last three years which is since June, 2006.

Speakbindas:

• And if we go into the history of this department, how old is it?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• Our department is the oldest department of Journalism in Gujarat state. May be the oldest of entire western India too. In 1973, when people had an orthodox approach towards journalism, and it was believed that journalists are born and can not be created, at such times, this department was born. And it is very important to note that, to establish this department, a well known newspaper of Saurashtra region had taken great interest which is Phulchaab of Janmabhumi Trust. They donated Rs. 1,00,000/- to Saurashtra University to start this department and hence this department is known by the founder of Janmbhumi Trust Shri Amrutlal Dalpatram Sheth as A. D. Sheth Journalism and Mass Communication Department.

Speakbindas:

• Many students have passed out from this department and are now working in various Medias. Which field they preferably chose, i.e. print media or electronic media?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• Mostly, earlier students used to chose print media. But for last three years students prefer electronic media more, as that field’s reach has increased. And they are very focused about this right from the day they join the course. And also the department inspires them and provides according training necessary to develop an electronic media career.

Speakbindas:

• Education of journalism is different from other courses, because right after completing this course, students straight away start working in field itself. So is the course of Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) designed considering this concern?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• Yes. Journalism is such a subject that it has relation with all kinds of subjects, issues and arts. So say if some changes are made in the field of Economy, then a journalist can not say that because he/she hasn’t studied the economics, he/she can’t write on it. So it is quite obvious that a journalist puts his leg in all the fields. They may have to write a reporting about a play, a musical-event or even about some political issue. So it is must that he/she carries knowledge about various sectors to be able to write about it and be able to justify the same. Hence, MJMC course is open to students coming from all kinds of graduations. So there is no restriction that only arts graduate or only science or commerce graduate can enroll in this course. And after the completion of two years MJMC course, they can chose a field of their choice. For example, a student with graduation in commerce can go to journalist field of economy, a science student can chose science communication journalism and or otherwise they can always enter a daily journalism too.

Speakbindas:

• As you described various aspects of journalism, we can say it is a vast field. And to work in such a vast field, is it tough!?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• Yes, it is tough but exciting as well. Say you are working in a bank or are a government servant, where you work from morning 10 to evening 6, doing everyday the same common work. Where as in journalism, as a journalist you cover new things and issues everyday, to write on new topics, to speak on new avenues and events and you receive response immediately if you are working in Radio or TV; like what work you have done is good or not. You can not have such a daily thrill anywhere else, but journalism.

Speakbindas:

• Ma’m, couple of personal questions for you. If you look into Television, Radio or Newspaper journalism, you will find most of your students working there. So how do you feel when you watch your students on TV or listen on radio or read in newspapers?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• I feel extreme proud. We feel like what we seeded has grown today. We feel very much satisfied knowing the skills and their position in various Medias and knowing that our hard work and sacrifice is paying-off or say we received the fruit!

Speakbindas:

• These days, many private institutions provide education/courses on journalism. And their students do receive jobs with lucrative packages in various Medias. Is the same scope available to students of your department?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• Absolutely they have. And this department is mostly for the local students coming from village areas of Saurashtra region and hence their main problem is English language. A Saurashtrian student sometimes has more skills than other journalism students, but only their poor command over English languages puts them back. ETV Gujarati channel has most of the employees who are the ex-students of our department, and it would be right to say that ETV Gujarati is run by students of A.D. Sheth journalism department. Ramoji Rao also took note of the same and said in the annual committee meeting that a Saurashtrian student is more hard working. So despite of willingness to work hard, great skills, but only due to lack of command over English language they sometimes have to stay back.

Speakbindas:

• We can say that, today it’s not an era of broadcasting but of narrowcasting like a Rajkot’s radio station is run in Rajkot only and Delhi’s in Delhi only. So in such conditions, Saurashtra’s students easily can cop-up with the local media, but when they go out say Mumbai or Delhi, do they find it difficult?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• No, absolutely Not. Most of the students, who have tried to purse a career in other cities, are now very well settled there. When our students went to Hyderabad, they suffered from the food issue that they didn’t like Idli-Dosa much to eat on daily basis and couple of students came back due to food problem only. There were couple of students who learnt how to cook themselves and stayed in Hyderabad only. Looking at them, some other students went to Hyderabad. These days, even Gujarati food is available there. Apart from that, our one student is working with B.B.C., one in Mumbai Samachar and in Ahmedabad there are many. So we have students in various areas of India.

Speakbindas:

• Madam, in this department, recently the course of M. Phil is started. And which states that, this department is focused on growth. So, which are the other plannings to take this department ahead in future?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• At present, we have started M. Phil course. But from next year, we are planning to start a course of P.G. Diploma in Electronic Media of 1 year. We are also planning to start short-term courses on P. R. Advertising. The syllabus design of P.G. Diploma in Electronic Media is almost ready but for the rest of the short-term course, design is yet pending.

Speakbindas:

• Ma’m. A last question. If Dr. Nita Udani wasn’t a lecturer and H.O.D. of Journalism Department, what she would have been?

Dr. Nita Udani:

• Amm… then.. a dress designer(smiles….). Otherwise, I might be watching movies only! There are so many movies that I want to watch, but due to tight schedules, I can’t watch them. So I need such a free gap when I do watch only movies and do nothing else.

Speakbindas:

• You spent your valuable time with Speakbindas.com. We thank you very much for the same.

Dr. Nita Udani:

• I wish all the best to Speakbindas.com. Good bye.