Dr. B. Sai Venkata Krishna – NPTEL STAR
Dr. B. Sai Venkata Krishna is a sportsman at heart and an academician by profession, having seamlessly woven his passion and profession throughout his life. He completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering and post-graduation in CAD/CAM and holds a doctorate in Composite Materials. Currently serving as Vice Principal of Megha Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women, he is also the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) of the institute’s NPTEL local chapter.
About three years ago, Dr. Krishna was empaneled by the UGC as an IKS Master, a significant achievement that empowered him to spread awareness about the Indian Knowledge System. Since then, he has actively worked to integrate IKS into academic curricula, delivering numerous lectures and keynote addresses at various institutions and organizations, all in line with the NEP 2020 vision.
This visionary’s journey began humbly. Dr. Krishna, who hails from an agrarian background in Hyderabad, still starts his days early. “I used to wake up at 4:30 AM for my studies, and evenings were reserved for cricket,” he recalls. “My core interest was in sports, especially cricket. I represented teams in various state-level competitions and also represented South Zone during my undergraduate and postgraduate studies,” he adds. He believes that balancing sports and academics ultimately shaped his unique approach to learning.
His NPTEL journey began in 2018 after attending a session in Hyderabad. “That was the turning point,” he reflects. Starting with a Leadership course, his involvement quickly grew, leading him to complete 66 NPTEL courses across diverse disciplines. He has since earned his domain certification in Product Design and has four more in the pipeline, each with just one course remaining, which he plans to finish in the upcoming semester.
“The beauty of NPTEL is its freedom; you don’t have to stick to your core domain,” he says proudly. “Other platforms often confine you with expectations to stay in one field. Here, you can explore freely, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”
Dr. Krishna has been recognized as a STAR 22 times, earning awards in nearly every category—missing out on just two. “I’m definitely aiming for NPTEL Superstar and Megastar next,” he smiles. “Those are tough because they require topping multiple courses, but I’ll try my best.”
His dedication is reflected in his daily routine, carving out about 2 to 2.5 hours each day for NPTEL. “I listen to the lectures during my morning walks at times and work on assignments in the evenings”, he shares.
Among his favourite instructors are Prof. Indradeep Singh from IIT Roorkee and Prof. Ramkumar J from IIT Kanpur. “I’ve taken nearly every course offered by Prof. Indradeep. His depth of knowledge is unmatched”, he says. He also candidly admitted to challenges, particularly with courses like ‘Operations Research and Supply Chain Management’ of Prof. Srinivasan from IIT Madras. “Balancing my administrative responsibilities at a college with thousands of students and teachers while simultaneously tackling such demanding coursework hasn’t been easy, but I strive to stay committed.”
Dr. Krishna’s consistent engagement with NPTEL significantly propelled his professional growth.
In 2024, he successfully completed the AICTE PG Certification Program in Data Science from IIT Bhilai. “I genuinely appreciate NPTEL for this,” he shares, “as the courses I completed on the platform greatly assisted me in achieving the certification from IIT Bhilai.”
As an academic leader, he not only advocates for NPTEL but also practices what he preaches. “When students or faculty see me actively learning and certifying, it motivates them too,” he says.
For fellow learners, he advises: “NPTEL offers a wide range of courses across disciplines. This is a platform where you can challenge yourself and learn from the country’s top IIT professors. Don’t do it just for the certification; do it for actual learning. NPTEL isn’t just a platform – it’s a movement transforming how India learns.”
– Written by Asha Thangaraj