Education Leaders | Top Interviews

The conversation about mental health is not merely a matter of sympathy, but of evidence, opines Edinbox Editorial Head, Nibedita Speaks. During an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Dr. Sumita on synthesis of science and sensitivity she brings together the scientific precision of neuroscience and the empathetic depth of therapy.

Dr. Sumita, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Neuroscientist (PhD, Postdoc), MA Clinical Psychology. She's rewritten the rules on how to "heal" today. She applied her research in her new practice where her integrated holistic approach combines Clinical Hypnotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and body-based regulation techniques, working with individuals and couples through emotional barriers, anxiety, burnout, and relational disconnection.

While speaking on mental illness illnesses that are not just psychological, but are deeply rooted in the biology of the brain's functioning, Dr Sumita stressed on disorders such as depression and anxiety. According to Dr. Sumita, it develops out of imbalances of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, and altered activity in regions of the brain such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Explaining Burnout, she reflects chronic stress that dysregulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to cortisol imbalances and neuroinflammation. Understanding these mechanisms, she asserts, dispels stigma and allows for whole-person, mind-body interventions.

In the years to come, Dr. Sumita predicts we shall be living in the age of "precision mental health" as neuroimaging, genetics, and computational modeling come together to help tailor treatments for brain profiles. She mentions the promise of non-invasive brain-stimulating methods like TMS and tDCS, and the therapeutic implications of psychedelic-assisted therapy and gut–brain axis research. Artificial intelligence, she says, will soon be assisting early diagnosis and tailored treatment, long before symptoms become overwhelming.

Trauma and stress, Dr. Sumita goes on to say, neurologically rewire brain structure. "The amygdala fires too much, the prefrontal cortex loses control, and the hippocampus, which handles memory and context, gets smaller," she says. This rewiring disables individuals into hypervigilance and exhaustion cycles. Early trauma-informed therapies, mindfulness, and compassionate relationships can, however, rewire neural equilibrium and facilitate healing through neuroplasticity—the brain's capacity to rewire itself. Each repetition lays down new neural pathways for new practice, behavior, or thought, which will ultimately overwrite maladaptive patterns. "Healing is not fixing the broken," she underscores. "It's retraining the brain for new sensations of safety, connection, and calmness.".

Lifestyle, in turn, influences the brain directly and dramatically, states Dr. Sumita. "Sleep, diet, exercise, and mindfulness are the most accessible types of brain medicine," she adds. Adequate sleep clears the body of metabolic toxins, diet affects the gut–brain axis through microbiome activity, exercise spurs neurogenesis, and mindfulness aids emotional regulation and grey matter development. Put together, these become habits that yield increased emotional resilience and mental clarity.

Blending psychotherapy with neuroscience, she says, makes therapy more like an art with a biological basis. "If we understand how emotions are controlled in the nervous system, then we can use breath, body awareness, and cognitive reappraisal to aim at specific neural circuits," she says. Other integrative practices such as meditation and yoga work along with these interventions by modulating the autonomic nervous system and enhancing vagal tone.

Debunking popular myths, Dr. Sumita explains that mental illness is not a "broken brain." The brain, however, continues to be strong and self-healing throughout life. She also warns against dependence on willpower because emotional distress is complex—biological, psychological, and social. "Mental wellness isn't about controlling the mind," she reinforces. "It's about caring for the whole system—brain, body, and environment."

Even as technology and AI can aid in mental health—via mood monitoring, biofeedback, and stress detection—Dr. Sumita maintains that contact with another human being cannot be replaced. "Technology should supplement, not substitute, compassion and presence," she maintains. The future, she predicts, will belong to hybrids that incorporate digital assistance with compassionate care.

To stressed-out students and young professionals, Dr. Sumita invites to her rehabilitation center Ananta Alaya. She reminds us with a simple yet potent message: "Rest is not laziness—it's neural maintenance." She prescribes regular sleep, digital detoxes, exercise, and real human contact, citing that resilience develops from recovery and rest, not relentless work.

As a strong sympathizer, Dr. Sumita sees more uses of integrative neuroscience that integrates psychology, physiology, and contemplative science. Preventive psychiatry, she foresees, will increasingly be coupled with brain-based diagnosis and nutrition, behavioral guidance, and mindfulness. On the horizon are new fields like neuroaesthetics, gut–brain medicine, and meditation biofeedback, which are already on the horizon for broadening the definition of wellness. "Ultimately," she summarizes, "the brain doesn't heal by itself—it heals through connection, environment, and meaning. True mental wellness begins when we can learn to live in sync with all three.".

Rehabilitation vs. Preventive / Transformative Retreats

It’s important to clarify how what Dr Sumita’s venture offers are different from rehabilitation or mental health clinics.

Ananta Alaya retreat is not a substitute for rehabilitation or crisis intervention. Rather, it is a preventive / regenerative space: a place to intervene early, before patterns become entrenched, and to integrate body, mind, soul in an aligned space.

Team edinbox reached out to Dr. Janardhan G Shetty, principal of RRIMS and RRIAS. He exemplified a modern approach to management education, one that balances rigorous academics with real-world skills, ethics, and global exposure.As the global economy is evolving rapidly, business schools are not just a place for learning but hubs for nurturing the next generation of leaders, citizens, innovators, and entrepreneurs. He shared that through the innovative programs, RR Institutions shape future-ready leaders who are equipped to make a positive impact across industries and beyond India. Understand it all in his words. Continue reading. 

Q: Dr. Shetty, how do the RR Institute of Management Studies (RRIMS) and RR Institute of Advanced Studies (RRIAS) respond to the evolving role of business schools in today's dynamic global economy?

Business schools have gone beyond merely offering technical skills such as how to read a balance sheet and supply chain management. At RRIMS and RRIAS, we are concerned with creating leaders who are capable of managing change management, sustainability, and multifaceted problems. Our programme incorporates leadership education with other core areas encompassing data analytics, logistics, healthcare management, BFSI, entrepreneurship, transnational strategy. This equips our students to handle complex business issues in a global and socially conscious manner.

What makes the curriculum at RRIAS and RRIMS stand out in terms of academic innovation and practical learning? 

Business schools in RR Institutions are no longer focused solely on producing graduates who can read balance sheets and manage supply chains. While those skills remain crucial, modern curriculum of RRIAS & RRIMS emphasize leadership, change management, sustainability, and multiplicity.

RR Institute of Advanced Studies and RR Institute of Management Studies are setting the standard with curriculum that blend rigorous academics with real-life application. Courses in data analytics, logistics and supply chain management, healthcare management, BFSI Management, entrepreneurship, and transnational strategy prepare students to solve complex business problems while considering the broader social and ecological impact.

Q: How are students taught at RRIAS & RRIMS? What sets RRIAS & RRIMS apart is its commitment to real-life learning? 

Case studies, consultation, capstone projects, internships, and global immersion programs help students solicit theoretical knowledge in an applied environment. At our institutions, for example, the use of virtual clinical simulation and start-up studios encourages students to think like entrepreneurs from day one.

Additionally, we now integrate technology into the curriculum, offering courses on artificial intelligence, blockchain, AI & ML, Ethical hacking & Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Data Science, SAP, Python, Project Management Professional, Sustainability & Ethics and fintech to stay ahead of industry trends.

Q: How are RRIAS and RRIMS helping build Universal Network? 

Our Business schools-RRIAS & RRIMS  provide a gateway to a global network of professionals, alumni, faculty, and corporate partners. Students gain access to career opportunities, mentorship, and collaborations that span across borders and industries. This network often proves as valuable as the education itself, opening doors to CXO roles, start-up capital, or global initiatives.

Moreover, the diversity within RR Institutions students’  community, often made up of students from dozens of states of India and professional backgrounds, cultivates a culture of inclusive leadership and global mindedness.

Q: What career opportunities and growth can students expect after graduating from RRIMS and RRIAS? 

Our mission is to make sure investment on your education should pay off quickly. Our MBA and degree graduates frequently land roles in marketing, supply chain specialist, Project management specialist, consulting, finance, tech, and entrepreneurship, with competitive salaries and accelerated career progression. Beyond compensation, we provide invaluable and excellent experience like personal growth, broader worldviews, and lifelong networks.

Q: How is Campus Life? What is different about the campus? 

Spread across 27 acres green campus RR Institutions stands tall from the last 32 successful academic years-catering to education needs of technical, management & commerce, medical, para-medical, pharmacy, nursing, polytechnic and pre-university courses from UKG to PhD. We are evolving to meet the demands of a dynamic, interconnected world by providing great campus life. By combining academic excellence with global perspective and ethical leadership, they are equipping students not just to succeed in business, but to shape the future of it.

JEE Advanced process, issues, and quotas explained with emphasis on the cutthroat competition and changing admission parameters in IITs.

Year by year, JEE Advanced raises more questions than the scores. In 2025, 54,378 candidates cleared JEE Advanced, but with just 18,160 seats available, almost 36,000 were left stranded even after "success." Cut-off is determined through subject-wise as well as aggregate marks, then ranking all-India. But a difference between an 18,000th rank holder and a 30,000th rank holder could boil down to a few marks, highlighting just how tight the margins are.

Each year, JEE Advanced raises more questions than the outcome. In 2025, 54,378 students passed JEE Advanced, but with just 18,160 seats available, almost 36,000 were left stranded in spite of "success." It is cut-off through subject-wise and aggregate marks, topped off by an all-India ranking. But the difference between an 18,000th rank holder and a 30,000th rank holder could be a matter of a few marks, highlighting just how razor-thin the margins are.

Clearing JEE Advanced doesn’t necessarily get one a seat elsewhere, contrary to JEE Main, which directs students to NITs and state institutions. For many, it’s either a seat in an IIT, another attempt, or grudgingly settling for other options such as BITS, DTU, or private institutions.

Coming close but not making it

Seventeen-year-old Swaraj Prakhar recently cleared JEE Mains and is now preparing to reappear for the Advanced exam. "Back in my time at the peak, I used to study nearly 10 hours a day," Swaraj said. "The toughest part was the second screening test, the Advanced. I used to do a lot of rehearsing or solving JEE questions during free periods in school. Managing time was difficult, and abstaining from sports or social life was even more challenging. But that discipline enabled me to arrive here."

In spite of this, exam pressure took its toll. "I had hoped for 99 percentile, but panic resulted in idiotic errors," he explained. For Advanced, he has now turned his attention to conceptual clarity and depth of problems, along with fighting the psychological burden of performance.

Currently Swaraj holds a B.Sc. (Hons) seat at IIT Guwahati but has opted for a partial drop to reattempt JEE and BITSAT. “If not engineering, I’d consider law, but my priority is being in an environment of bright, ambitious minds. IIT is about more than academics, it’s exposure and growth,” he said.

Encouragement from teachers, friends, and relatives keeps him at ground zero. "I used to cry a lot sometimes, but I understood to accept the reality and study harder. I had a teacher say to me once, 'Everyone walks at their own pace,' and I never forgot it."

Even though he cleared JEE Advanced in 2025, 21-year-old Harshit Panda did not decide to go to an IIT. Instead, he took up B.Tech Computer Science in Delhi Technological University (DTU), over the brand value of IIT. "The fierce battle for IIT seats is largely driven by a lack of awareness and the common obsession with the IIT brand, which is pursued more for seeking parents' approval than enthusiasm.". Most students find themselves spending their most valuable years in this competition, forfeiting opportunities best suited for their abilities and development," he added.

While considering the reforms, he referred to IIT Madras' Online BSc as a model worth following. "If other IITs have similar flexible programs, particularly in software and computer science, it would enable a broader talent pool while retaining the rigor and exposure associated with IITs. That's a change that could transform IITs from being elite gatekeepers to broad-based enablers of talent," he said.

To the 36,000 aspirants who qualify through JEE Advanced every year but fail to get a seat, Harshit gives a reality check: "IIT is not a silver bullet to success—it's just a head start, and even that is subject to what you do when you're there. Institutions such as NITs and DTU provide great opportunities. With steady effort and intelligent networking, you can compete with or even beat many IIT graduates in the long run."

The rationale of the Advanced

The reasoning behind the Advanced Coach Chaitanya Rastogi puts it, "Mains shows who has studied; Advanced shows who can adapt under pressure." But as professors point out, India's concept of "merit" continues to overlook creativity, curiosity, and diversity, and the bottleneck remains.

For Chaitanya Rastogi, better known as Chaitanya Sir, who has tutored thousands of IIT and NEET candidates, the IIT selection process is not merely stringent but aimed at sifting talent in layers. "JEE Main and Advanced are two different type of exams. Mains examines basic subject knowledge, but Advanced is a second grinding; it seeks to find out how well a student can apply knowledge under immense pressure," he explained.

Almost 15 lakh students take JEE Main every year, and almost 2.2 lakh make it through to JEE Advanced. But only around 17,000 eventually reach an IIT seat. "That second sieve is required," opined Rastogi. "Mains can identify those who studied well, but Advanced can identify who can think quickly, respond to unexpected situations, and create solutions."

He identified how the exam structure itself requires something beyond memory. "Advanced papers are mixed bags, with lots of multiple-response and application-based questions. Students have to sit through two long papers in one day. That's where analytical ability, endurance, and pressure-driven decision-making get tried out."

For Rastogi, that two-stage filtering is what imbues IIT graduates with their international advantage. "IIT is not testing knowledge; it's testing speed, resilience, clear thinking, and problem-solving. That's why even overseas, IITs are valued much more than the majority of Indian institutes. The second churning guarantees only the most resilient to stay alive."

A major reason for three times the number of individuals being reported as having passed Advanced as there are seats available in IIT is the numerous admission quotas. Test creators account for it to create a much larger pool for Advanced so they can identify candidates to fill seats under the quotas.

Out of the combined 17,740 seats in 23 IITs, the General Quota takes up 40.5%, with 6,819 general vacant seats and 356 for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) gets 10% of seats, including 1,694 general and 86 EWS-PwD seats. The OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes–Non-Creamy Layer) quota takes up 27%, including 4,558 general and 231 PwD seats. In the case of the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, 15% are reserved seats that include 2,532 general and 132 PwD seats. In contrast, Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates are allocated 7.5%, where 1,276 general and 56 PwD seats are offered.

Moreover, a horizontal reservation of 5% is also made within each category for PwD candidates. Supernumerary seats with 20% reservation for women are added to promote gender diversity. Two seats are reserved by each IIT for Defense Services candidates under preferential allotment.

Experts point out that in IIT admissions, a fraction of a mark can be the deciding factor. "Yes, even 0.1 mark matters. The same score can correspond to many different ranks," an IIT professor explained.

With lakhs of students vying for limited seats, entrance tests are not merely qualification examinations but effectively elimination exams. Since the last four years, female applicants have been made part of the joint ranking process, although supernumerary seats continue to provide greater chances to women in IITs. The dynamic system is also a mirror of the fierceness of competition as well as the attempts to create diversity at India's premier engineering schools.

Until 2020, there were different merit lists for women candidates, which enabled them to attain Computer Science in IITs with comparatively lower ranks. "Previously, girls' ranks used to be calculated separately. Until 2020, a boy would need to score in the top 100 in order to obtain Computer Science, whereas a girl could obtain the same course with a rank within 500," the professor stated.

A professor from an SSB-awarded IIT showed why pressure around admissions in JEE and IIT keeps intensifying, generating one of the world's most challenging academic bottlenecks. "The problem is not investment or infrastructure alone. We saw newer IITs of Goa, Dharwad, Jammu established over 15 years ago. But they have not yet achieved the position of the old five IITs.". This shows that it is not just about building campuses and pumping funds. What we need is a supportive environment: good labs, energetic culture, good mentorship," he said.

The field of biotechnology is transforming faster than ever and India is making remarkable strides because of the visionary innovators like Dr. Jiku Jose. As the Founder and CEO of Scire Science, Dr. Jose is at the forefront of pioneering bio ink and 3D bioprinting technology. This field holds the promise of revolutionizing healthcare in our country and beyond, reducing animal testing, and one day, even creating artificial organs. In an exclusive interview with nationally awarded journalist, Nibedita Sen, Edinbox’s editorial head, Dr. Jose shares her journey, the science behind Bio Ink, and her vision for transforming medical research and treatment. 

Q. What exactly is BioInk?

Bioink is the material we use in 3D bioprinting. To explain simply, it is like the extracellular matrix, the natural substance that binds cells together. Until recently, we were importing bio ink into India. We are proud to be the pioneer manufacturer of indigenous bio ink in the country.

Q. What impact does bioink have on healthcare?

Bio ink helps us build tissue structures, which is actually very important for doing research in tissue engineering as well as regenerative medicine. In the future, we can say that we can eliminate the use of animals in research study. While it might not replace animals entirely, bio ink can minimize animal sacrifice in experiments.

Q. How can students learn about this technology?

Several workshops are being organized, and some institutions have dedicated labs for this technology. We also conduct training at our own laboratory. Students interested can visit our website to join these workshops and learn more.

Q. Has your team started working on human applications, or is the research still at the experimental level with animals or AI?

Our work so far has been with animals such as rats and mice because regulations for human applications do not yet exist. Once the policies are in place by regulators in various countries, human studies can begin. We have published research papers on animal models already.

Q. Are you the only entrepreneur working in this field globally?

While India is still developing this technology, other countries like Israel and a few more are also involved in 3D organ printing. Globally, the field is emerging and still in the early stages. So, we are among the very few pioneering entrepreneurs working on this technology.

Q. Can you give us some insight into what exactly you do and about your organization?

Our company is named Scire Science. We specialize in 3D bioprinting and biomaterials research. The core interest driving us is the potential applications in healthcare. Currently, patients often face long waiting times for organ donations, such as kidney donations. This wait can be life-threatening. Our main goal is to minimize this wait time by creating organs artificially. That was the vision that inspired us to enter this field. While countries like Israel are also making strides in creating whole organs, the field remains at a nascent stage worldwide. In India, there are several institutions actively researching and advancing this technology. Many major institutions are developing new technologies, which can then be translated to create commercially viable solutions. We believe this will help improve and expand healthcare options in the near future.

This interview reveals the work of Dr. Jiku Jose in bio ink and 3D bioprinting is a pioneering effort to show the increasing contribution of India into the sector of biomedical innovation worldwide. Her idea to minimize animal testing and even create artificial organs shows a ray of hope, a promising future in healthcare and medical research.

From his childhood days in the rural fringes of Sangli to being an internationally published scholar, VG Vaze College's Mulund-based professor Dr Suresh S Shendage has always held a faith in commitment towards education, which has paid him back with the 'Ideal Teacher – Urban' award conferred by the University of Mumbai. Shendage is being felicitated today, along with other faculty members on the university's Kalina campus.

Shendage realized he had to be a teacher right from childhood days when he went to a one-teacher primary school near Sangli. Being the most intelligent student of Std III, Shendage was compelled to teach younger children single-handedly. Shendage even began teaching his own peers for a few hours in Std IV. Subsequently, he got his MSc in Chemistry and BEd from Kolhapur and moved to Mumbai for education. Now, he is a research mentor and department head of Chemistry at VG Vaze College.

Wherever he happens to be in classrooms, Shendage is a firm believer in the method of enquiry-based and interactive learning. In a conversation with mid-day, he explained, "I tend to start with splitting the students into groups, assigning each group a topic, and asking them to present it to their peers under my guidance. The audience throws their questions at the presenters, and the entire class becomes involved."

While teaching Analytical Chemistry to his higher-level students, Shendage believes technical subjects cannot be "siloed" (entwined) from everyday life in society. "When a noodle firm came under fire for dubious ingredients in 2015, I brought the case to my class.". My students told me about how you would have to go about sampling the noodles, what tools you'd have to utilize to find out about what's inside, and how you'd make a decision. It's wonderful that we can learn that chemistry is involved in our lives, beginning from when we brush our teeth up to when we sleep," said Shendage.

Aside from the active support from the college, Shendage also arranges quiz competitions and research conference presentation slots for his undergraduate students as well. So far, Shendage has 32 published articles, many of which have attained an Impact Factor of 9-9.5. He is also a board of studies member of a few other city colleges and the NEP Nodal Officer of his own college, helping in designing assessment patterns and value education curriculum under NEP.

University of Mumbai Outstanding College Awards (Urban and Rural Divisions) for 2023-24 and 2024-25 and the Ideal Principal and Ideal Teacher awards at college and university division levels, Savitribai Phule Ideal Teacher Award for women and meritorious non-teaching staff award will be distributed at the Kalina campus today.

Ex-bureaucrat Amit Khare, who was notorious for his short stint in the National Education Policy and the 'fodder scam,' is now voted as the Secretary to newly elected Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan for a term of three years.

Amit Khare, who is a former bureaucrat, has been appointed Secretary to the new Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan. The appointment committee of the Cabinet gave the clearance for three years. The contract appointment with the grade and pay scale of a Secretary has been made as per the official order as issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Khare has held a number of key roles in his entire career. He has held the posts of Secretary for Information & Broadcasting, Secretary for School Education and Literacy, and Secretary for Higher Education in the central administration. Besides holding a role in the education sector as well as information, Khare is also known to have exposed the 'fodder scam' of Bihar.

Khare's education

Khare is post-graduate in Business Administration from IIM Ahmedabad and a St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumnus. He has done schooling in 1977 from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Hinoo.

New Vice President – C. P. Radhakrishnan

Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan was sworn into office as India's 15th Vice President on Friday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu swore him in office during a ceremony in the presence of high-ranking government officials. Radhakrishnan was the NDA nominee, polled 452 votes in the Sept 9 election to defeat Opposition nominee B. Sudershan Reddy, who got 300 votes. He was the Governor of Maharashtra before he was nominated.