BT Seetha serves as Principal and Professor of English at Osmania University College for Women, Hyderabad. She was earlier with Nizam College as Head of Department of English in 2010-2012. Holding an MA in English from University of Hyderabad (1977), she also has an MPhil and a PhD from Osmania University in Afro-American Drama. Her areas of specialisation include Afro-American Drama, Modern Indian Drama and Translation, Post Colonial Literature and Comparative Literature. Prof Seetha has been continuously and actively involved in the preparation of syllabus at the University. She has also guided a couple of MPhil and PhD students.
Born into a family of teachers, suprisingly only Prof Seetha turned out to be a teacher among her siblings. Though an English teacher, Seetha equally appreciates the Arts and Science and says they complement each other. “As a student, Science taught me the analytical approach and Arts helped me understand the psychology of human nature and how to relate and connect with people around,” begins the professor who is in her 50s. “The education system should have a balance of arts, science, knowledge and wisdom. That is when it helps us to apply our learning in day-to-day lives,” she adds.
Even as she did her PG, Seetha also completed an Advanced Diploma in French. Although initially unsure of whether she wanted to be a teacher or not, Seetha began teaching intermediate classes at Keshav Memorial Junior College at the insistence of its then Secretary Dr Korakkar in 1977. After that she moved on to teach at the evening college of Osmania University’s PG College in Secunderabad as a part-timer. “And the journey has continued for 28 years,” Seetha is all smiles.
She later taught at St Joseph’s Junior College and recollects being paid Rs 15 for a period. It was in 1985 that she was appointed a regular teacher at Koti’s Women College, where she then worked for nine years. Slowly Seetha made the transition to administrative roles too. “At Nizam, having taken charge as a HoD, I learnt to balance academics and administration. I think it was a win-win. It’s very important to have an administrator who understands the academic needs of the institute they are managing,” she says. On a lighter note, she adds that women are better administrators as they start with managing their homes.
A firm believer in teachers being more than teachers and just not people who rush through the syllabus, she says, “At the college level, students come with a certain defined attitude towards life. The matter of taking them forward rests in our hands. There are times when we need to totally recast their approach even if they try their best to resist.”
On education being seen as a pathway to earn a livelihood, she offers, “The whole idea of education is changing. We need to define its role — is it to mould one’s overall personality or just act as an access to jobs. Roles of families have also changed. Earlier children and parents used to interact much, which helped in students picking up life skills and soft skills. That is also on the decline these days.”
She is also worried about students randomly picking their subjects. “Students need to know the purpose of their education. Many times, they join courses without knowing the objectives of the course or even whether it fits into their aptitude and interests. They need to be better informed. Our mission is to ensure they study with pleasure and not pressure, and have bright futures.”
On what is new at the University, she proudly says that in order to boost entrepreneurship and skills in students, they have started short-term courses in baking, electronic goods maintenance, DTP and more. “This would later help them start their own ventures if they have the adequate skills,” she says. “We want them to be job creators than job seekers,” she adds.
While not attending to her administrative duties, Prof Seetha likes to experiment with cooking and does a bit of reading as well.
— rahul.v@newindianexpress.com