Eminence beyond barriers…
AN INTERVIEW WITH Dr. Z.A. Zoya, FORMer PRINCIPAL, GECK
Prof. Dr. Z.A. Zoya completed her B.Sc. Engineering (present day B. Tech) from TKM College of Engineering and joined as a faculty there. Later she joined Kerala Govt service as Assistant Professor, first appointed at GEC Thrissur and served there for nearly 25 years in various capacities. While working there, she pursued M.Tech and Ph.D. through QIP at IIT Madras. It is remarkable that for the Ph.D. Research, she chose practically intensive research on “Titanium Alloy Machining” rather than going for theoretical research.
She further served GEC Kozhikode & Palakkad as Principal and retired from the Government Service in 2013. Post Retirement, she was appointed as Principal of Perumon Engineering College, Kollam ( CAPE Institution) from which she retired in 2022.
In 2018, while she was the Principal, the institution received the MVR Foundation Special Award considering the contributions of the college in the technical education field. In 2022, on Engineers Day she was felicitated by Kerala Kaumudi daily for her continued contributions post retirement in the Academic Sector.
On to the conversation the magazine crew had with her…
Interviewers:
APARNA P (2012 CE FORMER STUDENT EDITOR, 2011)
SHAHIN NAZIR (2009 ME)
MOHAMMED SHAHID K (2007 MEFORMER STUDENT EDITOR)
You were Principal of the Institution at a stage that is very crucial in its history – Building and Inauguration of the new block (Administrative Block) and the first public events of the college happened during your tenure. As we understand, it was not easy to drive through the bottlenecks. Are you able to recollect the challenges?
The Inauguration of the Administrative block was a moment of pride, not just for me, but for the people of the beautiful city of Kozhikode, and the ruling front of that time headed by Shri V.S Achuthanandan.. The event was attended by four cabinet ministers including Education Minister, Shri. M. A. Baby who was from my constituency in Kollam. M.A.Baby in his address mentioned that the Principal received maximum applause from the crowd despite the presence of four cabinet ministers and it was reported in the media. That event was an important milestone in my career as the Principal of the Institution. I received unconditional support from the local bodies,PTA,students and faculty especially, Shri.Pradeep Kumar, the then MLA of Kozhikode & late Shri.M. Bhaskaran, the then Mayor of Kozhikode Corporation. Also, late Mr. Jayanarayanan, the then PTA president, cannot be forgotten.
It is quite surprising to us that you are remembering in detail many people, things and events even after 2 decades. As we understand, the college stays close to you. Would love to hear more.
Yes, that is right. GECK and Perumon Engineering Colleges are two of the Institutions that stay close to my heart because unlike CET and GEC Thrissur, by large the students of GECK and Perumon Engineering College were brilliant but coming from financially not so sound families. At these places, I had many challenges but had successfully overcome that with the support of staff, students, PTA and the authority. Now what is coming to my memory is that GECK was the “First Wifi Campus” among the Government Engineering Colleges in Kerala. Similarly “Motor Show” was organised for the first time in GECK and Perumon during my tenure. All these gave me immense satisfaction, and the enthusiasm of the students in these institutions inspired me very well.
On a personal level, we understand you were the first lady Mechanical Engineer to do a Ph.D from Kerala. This passes a bigger message on women empowerment. Would like to hear more on that. What advice have you got to pass on to the current generation of parents and students in that perspective?
‘Break the Bias’ is the theme of International Women’s Day 2022. But we had started working on it 40 years back(smiles). The ‘Mechanical Engineering’ stream was not taken up based on my interest in the subject, but I always wanted to challenge why the stream was reserved for men. Thanks to my dad – he inspired us kids to choose our own path. At home, we were 5 girls and one boy. I was the eldest. He wanted all of us girls to study and attain positions that are special in their own way. That was quite unusual for a Muslim Family back then. When I hinted to him about my decision to join Mechanical Engineering, his reaction was the best I could have.
My sister Dr. Samitha (Prof.) also took Mechanical Stream along with me in the same class at TKM College of Engineering. We were known as ‘The Mechanical Sisters’ in our College. Recently, she retired as the HOD of the Dept of Mechanical Engineering at CET, Trivandrum.
Yes, I was the first woman to defend a Ph.D. thesis from Kerala in Mechanical Engineering and also the first woman HOD of Mechanical Engineering Department in the prestigious institution CET Trivandrum. I got featured in many newspapers back then, and I feel so happy that it inspired many women to take up the stream and aim at a Ph.D. level. A few of them had even personally intimated me on this. It is unusual that both of us sisters became HOD of Mech Department CET Trivandrum and fortunately our name is appearing in succession in the roll of HOD’s.
(When she tells this with great pride, there is a message for all us, not to shy away from chasing our goals how so ever unconventional it can be in the eyes of the society)
Did you face any kind of bullying from your classmates back then?
No, we didn’t. In fact, they were all really cooperative and helpful. A few faculty members insisted on changing our stream. They were of the opinion that working in shifts in factories might not be suitable for women, and could be a hurdle in their career. But we decided to continue and our decision proved to be right.
At what point did you decide to proceed with an academic career?
Right from the beginning. Even before selecting the Mechanical Engineering Stream, I wanted to end up as an Academician. It was my ambition. And I could accomplish it fully by serving as an Engineering Faculty Dean, Chairperson of UG/PG Board of Studies, Research Council member, Academic Council member in Calicut University. Also served as a senate member of Cochin University.
My term at Kozhikode Engineering College (GECK) provided me with much empowerment and confidence.
Which events do you recollect as the most challenging ones in your career?
The Centralised Allotment Process (CAP) for Admissions to Professional Courses was introduced in the Year 2005. I was given charge to execute and implement the CAP, with the powers of the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations.
The authorities were sceptical whether a lady could manage the first centralised allotment process in KEAM as it was not welcoming among the aspirants. I accepted it as a challenge and took the charge for North Malabar. With the help of my team, and all stakeholders involved, we could overcome all the hurdles, including stiff political opposition. The CAP was executed flawlessly, and I received an appreciation letter directly from the minister. The good part is that it continued in the coming years. And also I was sent to Dubai to manage the KEAM- examination there. The reason behind all the success stories is “team work”.
I have served as Principal in GEC Kozhikode and GEC Palakkad. When I took charge of Principal GEC Kozhikode the college was kept closed in connection with admission of Nirmal Madhav which I could resolve the issue in a very cordial way and reopen the college after 3 months of student strike.The examinations were conducted in time and saved the career of my students without losing an year. When I look back, these two accomplishments are what I value the most in my professional career.
We remember you always as a person who encouraged us to pursue a career in the government sector. What’s the reason?
Yes. I do. Because, the Government sector is a combination of professional career and social service. You can showcase your social commitment when you are in the public sector.
But the private sector has its own advantages.
Yes. You will deliver your maximum efficiency and competency when you are in the private sector. They demand that. It’s good for the industrial and business sectors. I agree.
What have you got to tell the young professionals?
Be it any branch or any field of education but make sure that you work hard. Take challenges and risk, build a good team & move forward. That’s all, everything will come in your line.
What’s your future plan?
I don’t hesitate to serve as an academic Dean if an opportunity strikes. (Laughs)
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We deeply and sincerely wish that our beloved Zoya Mam, is bestowed with the highest positions in the Technical Education Scenario in Kerala.
Dr. Z.A. Zoya is currently living in Thiruvananthapuram with her husband Dr. M.A. Azeez, who retired as the DGM at United India Insurance Co. and is presently, the Joint Vice President of Star Health Trivandrum. She is blessed with her son Zanil working as Environmental Engineer in Canada and daughter, Ciza, an Architect in Canada.