Fulbright Magic
Me, faculty and students at Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management School of Law. April 6th, 2023.
When I first received an email from Professor Nalini Bikkina, Director of the School of Social Sciences at GITAM (Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management) inviting me to come speak, I was confused. Why would she want me? How on earth did she find me and know who I was? Where the heck was Visakhapatnam? (and how do you pronounce it?)
It turns out that Professor Nalini is a former Fulbrighter herself, having been awarded the more competitive Indian Fulbright to teach and research at a U.S. university (maybe something like 2,000 applicants more or less). Since she was familiar with the Fulbright program, and had the resources of GITAM behind her, she made sure she checked the Fulbright website every year to check out the awardees and see who she could invite to one of the GITAM campuses.
I was the lucky one this year. We talked on zoom and she relayed the School of Law’s interest in having workshops on research, writing and publishing, as well as the student interest in hearing about access to justice in the United States. Although I wasn’t entirely sure I could be useful (having never done research in Indian law — although it’s true I had published a textbook on legal research and analysis), I agreed to come. Visakhapatnam is in Andhra Pradesh in south India on the Bay of Bengal, and after all, I love the beach.
GITAM law student, me, and Director of the School of Law Professor Anita Rao in front of one of the signs welcoming me to campus.
If you have not visited southern India, you have not experienced true hospitality. I was greeted at the airport by Professor Astle and Ph.D. student Poonam Mishra with a dozen roses. They excitedly brought me back to the GITAM guest house, complete with guest suite that was nicer than many hotels I’ve stayed at. There were signs all around campus welcoming me.
The next day Poonam came to my room to help me put on my sari. It was fun to teach in a sari!
Teaching interactive workshop on research, writing and publishing to GITAM School of Law faculty and students.
Before the sessions began, I was again welcomed to campus by faculty and the Director of the School of Law, Professor Anita Rao, as well as other faculty and administrators. (I think there were more flowers, too). As I began my session by thanking them for the sincere and warm welcome, I actually got a little choked up. The respect shown for guests and teachers here is so special.
Of course there was a wonderful lunch (I thought the appetizers were the lunch so was full by the main course) and at the end of the day the faculty fulfilled my wish to go to the beach.
At lunch. Professor Uma Rao, Director of the School of Law Professor Anita Rao, Director of the School of Social Sciences Nalini Bikkina, Professor Chitra, me, and Professor Astle.
Faculty showing me around the law school (from left to right, forgive me for misspellings: Professor Laxmi, Professor Kiran, Professor Ganesh, Professor Usha, me, Director and Professor Anita, Professor Nalini, Ph.D. student Poonam Mishra, and Professor Chitra.
The next day for some reason I thought I was just speaking to a few interested law students sitting around a table (although no one ever said it would be like this) but instead I spoke to most — if not all — the law students at GITAM in the largest auditorium on campus. There was again a wonderful welcome, flowers, gifts, and a felicitation (expressing thanks and good wishes). The students were wonderful listeners, appreciative, and had great questions.
Me thanking the audience and faculty for the welcome, the flowers, and the gifts.
My visit to GITAM School of Law was a highlight of my time in India. I got to meet the President of the university, the faculty were careful to take good care of me, and taught me about their school, Indian law, teaching, writing and publishing in India, the students were excited and appreciative, and, in the end, I got to ride on a motorcycle. Thanks Astle!
Nothing like riding along the Bay of Bengal on a motorcycle.
I was even featured in the local paper. First time I have been written about in Telugu, one of the main languages (I think) of Andhra Pradesh.
The photo shows Professor Nalini and Director of the School of Law, Professor Anita, presenting me with gifts before I spoke to the law students about access to justice.
Thank you Professor Nalini, former Fulbrighter (and always a Fulbrighter) for helping to create all these moments of Fulbright magic.
