Dr. Amitbodh Upadhyay – NPTEL STAR
Let us meet Dr. Amitbodh Upadhyay, a man born and brought up in a family deeply entrenched in academics. His father was a History professor, and his siblings hold doctoral degrees in History and Marketing. His wife is also a Chemistry Professor. “Teaching runs in the family,” he says with pride.
An eminent professor in the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Upadhyay brings about 23 years of experience in teaching and industry since 2002. In a college meeting, a secretary’s motivation spurred him to establish an NPTEL Local Chapter, beginning his journey with NPTEL. He was appointed as an SPOC, and wishing to lead by example, he enrolled in his first course, Analytical Chemistry by Dr Roy of IIT Kanpur. “I passed with some 57%, but it was a start,” he laughs. Upon seeing his students excel with gold medals, he felt motivated to take learning more seriously.
Fast forward to today, he has completed over 60+ NPTEL courses across technical and non-technical domains.
But it didn’t just stop with learning and certifications. As the in-charge and coordinator of his college’s WWF-registered Nature Club, he uses the insights gained from NPTEL’s environment courses to guide and motivate students confidently in sustainability initiatives.
Building on insights gained from an NPTEL course on patents, a student team under him developed a hybrid vehicle prototype. They later established a start-up through their college’s incubation center and successfully launched the model.
Here, Dr. Upadhyay lauds NPTEL’s contribution to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, calling it a truly Swadeshi initiative with a global outlook.
Dr. Upadhyay credits NPTEL not just for knowledge but also for the mindset it has instilled in him. One of his favourite learnings came from a soft skills course by Prof. T. Ravichandran of IIT Kanpur, where he encountered the concept of a growth mindset. “It wasn’t new to me, but it helped me articulate what I’ve believed all along”, he says. “I also learnt about active listening, which I now practice in all my interactions”.
Despite his packed schedule – juggling teaching, serving as an exam superintendent, and coordinating the nature club and techfest – he carves out time for personal learning. He uses the NPTEL app to study during commutes and often discusses course content with his wife, ensuring he makes the most of his free time at home. From being the sole course-taker in 2017, he’s since inspired many others across various departments to enroll in NPTEL courses. Several faculty members in his college have even become NPTEL STARS themselves. “We now motivate students by saying: ‘If we can do it, so can you,'” he shares.
His dedication has earned him the nickname “NPTEL Sir” among students and colleagues. His efforts have also been featured in Doordarshan and local newspapers. Recognized as an NPTEL STAR 19 times, he now has his eyes all set on becoming an NPTEL Champion.
For other aspiring learners, Dr Upadhyay has simple advice – “Adopt a growth mindset. Be an active learner. Do at least 2 courses each semester. Do a mix of both technical and non-technical courses as often as you can. NPTEL is an ocean of knowledge, where different rivers (IITs) converge. Make the most out of it”.
As a flagbearer of NPTEL on campus and beyond, Dr. Upadhyay stands tall as an inspiration, reminding us that knowledge isn’t just acquired, but shared, lived, and celebrated.
– Written by Asha Thangaraj