From Classroom to Career: Alumni Talk

The Department of English and Cultural Studies organized an engaging alumni interaction session with Krishna Pillai on 26 September. A recent graduate of the department, Krishna shared insights from her academic journey and professional experiences after graduation, offering students a valuable perspective on career opportunities, research, and life beyond university.

Krishna currently works as a Research Assistant at IIM Ahmedabad, where she is involved in a range of research projects. During the session, she spoke about her professional responsibilities and the ways in which her academic background has informed her work. She provided students with an understanding of how humanities education can open pathways into research and interdisciplinary professional environments.

A significant part of the interaction focused on Krishna’s experiences with archival research. She discussed her work involving the collection, organization, and preservation of physical materials, documents, and photographs. Her experiences highlighted the importance of careful documentation and contextualization in preserving historical and cultural knowledge. The discussion also introduced students to archival work as a potential area of professional engagement for humanities graduates.

Krishna also shared her experience of visiting an exhibition organized by the India Pharma Archive. The visit offered her an opportunity to gain insights into archival practices and explore the preservation of pharmaceutical history. She reflected on how archival collections can provide valuable perspectives on industries, communities, and social histories. Her experiences demonstrated the relevance of humanities approaches to documentation, cultural preservation, and historical research.

Another important aspect of the session was Krishna’s engagement with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). She spoke about the valuable learning opportunities and exposure that this experience provided. Her engagement with the organization allowed her to understand different social and professional contexts while gaining insights beyond the conventional academic environment.

Krishna also reflected on her experience of attending a session organized by the Malayali community in Ahmedabad. Living and working in a different state provided her with an opportunity to connect with people from her cultural background and develop a sense of community. Her reflections demonstrated the importance of building social and cultural networks while adapting to new professional and geographical environments.

The interaction provided students with practical insights into the transition from university to professional life. Rather than presenting a single career trajectory, Krishna’s experiences demonstrated the diverse possibilities available to students with a humanities background. Her journey from the classroom to research, archival work, community engagement, and interdisciplinary projects illustrated how academic skills can be applied across different professional contexts.

The session also encouraged students to think critically about their own career aspirations and the possibilities that exist beyond conventional career pathways. Krishna’s experiences offered a valuable reminder that skills such as research, documentation, critical thinking, communication, and cultural analysis can contribute meaningfully to a wide range of professional fields.

Overall, the alumni interaction served as a meaningful platform for dialogue between students and an alumnus. It enabled students to learn from Krishna’s experiences, understand the realities of professional life, and gain greater awareness of opportunities in research and archival practices. The session strengthened the connection between the department and its alumni while inspiring students to explore diverse pathways and envision new possibilities for their futures.