Express news service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The saying âyou never stop learningâ is true in letter and spirit for Thiruvananthapuram Town Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhyay. The avid learner will soon add another feather to his cap as he has laid eyes on an MTech degree.
A BTech graduate in civil engineering, Upadhyay, 52, is pursuing an MBA in finance via distance education from Indira Gandhi National Open University. He is now in the fourth and final semester.
âLearning a new skill maintains engagement,â said the Commissioner.
As part of the MBA course, he is currently working on a project on âLoan Repayment Performance and Debt Collection of Kerala Financial Corporationâ. Upadhyay says he was looking for a new course as he prepares to complete the MBA course in 2022.
âThat’s when I heard about the MTech course offered by the College of Engineering at Thiruvananthapuram. Classes take place in the evening and I can manage them after office hours. It is about equipping yourself with new skills and knowledge, and being in step with the times. Otherwise, you become obsolete, âexplains the senior officer.
He is awaiting official approval from the state government before he can begin his studies. He had recently applied for permission to join MTech’s evening classes, which are scheduled to start later this month. Civil engineering has always been one of his favorites, Upadhyay says.
âI chose civil engineering with the environment as the main subject. In these times of climate change, the subject is very topical. Town planning is entirely dependent on civil engineering. As a public servant, Upadhyay expects the course to give him new perspectives on political issues to help serve society better.
And he’s excited about the prospect of being able to take classes after three decades, and looks forward to interacting and learning from his fellow students. âI will take courses with the younger generation and I will also learn from them,â said the commissioner.
His studies will continue beyond the MTech course, as he also plans to acquire a doctorate. âThe idea is to keep learning and keep abreast of developments. It keeps me alive, âUpadhyay says.