(The new generation Karbi academicians are doing their best to achieve their goals and at the same time bring laurel for the tribe and land. The success achieved by every person of the hill districts of Assam serves as a big inspiration and motivation to thousands of others who are following them. In this issue, we will know about the life of Dr. Robinson Timung, a young scientist, who through his hard work and perseverance had made his family and the entire Karbi society proud.)
TDE: Tell us about your early life (date of birth, place of birth, parents and siblings).
RT: I am Robinson Timung, Son of Shri. Hemai Timung and Smt. Kareng Ronghangpi. I was born on 1st April, 1987 at Ambinong, Hamren, West Karbi Anglong, Assam. We are three Brothers (Dr. Robertson Timung and Rupom Timung) and two sisters (Dr. Rosely Timungpi and Roshmi Timungpi).
TDE: Tell us about your early education (up to college level).
RT: I did my schooling at Don Bosco School, Hamren and passed my matriculation in 2004. I completed my higher secondary (Science) from Cotton College, Guwahati which I completed in 2006. On qualifying for the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) in 2006, I chose Chemical Engineering for my Bachelor of Engineering (B.E) at Assam Engineering College, Guwahati and completed my B.E in 2010. Later, I qualified for the Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers (GATE) with good scores and rankings, securing the options of choosing among IITs. I chose the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur for my Master of Technology in Chemical Engineering, which I completed in 2012. Further, I did my Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and obtained my Doctorate degree in 2021.
TDE: What was your aim in life as a young student? What were your hobbies then?
RT: My hobbies include listening to melodious and rhythmic music. I love gymming, swimming and playing other sports like football, Cricket, Water Polo etc. Well, about my aim: during my schooling, whenever I was asked about my aim, I recall mentioning; I want to become an Engineer/Scientist and fortunately I had achieved both. Upon getting the results of being selected as a Scientist in the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), I received a call from my school classmate Mr. Indrosing Timung, congratulating me and stating that I use to mention wanting to become a Scientist and finally I had achieved it. I also remember mentioning my aim that, I wanted to travel the whole world, which indeed is quite impossible but effort is still on.
Since childhood, I wanted to explore the sky and sea/ocean, which fortunately I got to experience a little. Last year I was on 5 days-4 nights Lakshadweep tour with my wife (Mrs. Anupoma Beypi, who was at that time carrying our son Shri. Abor Timung) to 3 Islands (Minicoy, Kalpeni and Kavaratti) and travelled in a cruise/ship for 4 nights in the sea, which indeed was one of the memorable experiences I had. Previously in 2017, I was on a Europe tour to Sofia (Bulgaria), Athens (Greece) and Vienna (Austria). Likewise, my next target is to travel around corners of India and my small targets keep on updating and changing.
TDE: How did you decide to go for Ph.D.?
RT: Well, I always wanted to achieve the highest academic degree and also desire to write my honorific as Dr. I am an adventurous person, always like to learn new things and explore new places. Likewise, I wanted to explore the difficulties and opportunities while and after doing PhD. I believe learning should not be stopped at any stage. We should always keep on updating and upgrading ourselves.
TDE: When did you begin working in Daman? How did you get the opportunity?
RT: I was selected through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi for the post of Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Government Polytechnic Daman in October 2016. I joined on 23rd March 2017 and have completed my 06 years of service in the Department.
TDE: Tell us about your experiences of working in the union territory of Daman? What differences do you see in the educational system in Karbi Anglong and Daman?
RT: It was really a good experience working as a lecturer in Daman. Besides teaching of Chemical Engineering Subjects for Diploma Courses, I was also given several responsibilities (such as: Institutional responsibilities: Chief Academic Coordinator, Assistant University (GTU) Coordinator, Anti-Ragging Squad Member, SC/ST committee member, Energy Club Co-ordinator, Academic Audit member and NBA co-ordinator; Departmental duties: Preparation of Departmental Newsletter, Academic Calendar, Mid-semester exam coordinator, Industrial Visit organizer and Project Evaluation Committee member); and Other duties: Mentor (allotted School: Government High School-Pariyari, Daman), which has helped me in my gradual and continuous growth for my career. I have observed that all schools and colleges in Daman are well equipped with proper benches, desks, whiteboard, teaching aids like smart TV, projector etc. in which all the necessary concepts is shown as videos which keeps the students engaged and concentrated helping them to learn, remember, understand, analyze, apply, evaluate and create. But I have seen lack in infrastructure in schools and colleges in Assam, especially Karbi Anglong. The most important difference is that the domicile students of the U.T., i.e. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, are given 100 % reservations for admissions in professional courses (Engineering and Medical), which means until all the domicile students who have applied for the courses are given admissions, the students from other states and U.T.’s will not be considered. Even in Job opportunities in the U.T., in the written exams conducted, mostly MCQs, 20 extra marks will be provided to Domicile candidates who have qualified the cut-off, mostly getting them at the Top of the merit list for the job and eventually making them secure the job.
TDE: As a Scientist, what are your areas of specialization?
RT: My specialization and areas of interest are on Bio-Energy (like the production of Ethanol, methanol, biogas etc.) and Bio-products (like Furfural, HMF, levulinic acid etc.). I work on the Process Design and optimization of the process. I usually use a technique such as Response surface methodology, central composite design, Box Behnken design, Taguchi etc. for the optimization. I have also developed interest in process like distillation, Solvent extraction, Isolation and downstream process. Recently I am working on Green Technologies like Subcritical water, Supercritical fluid extraction, Ionic Liquids and Supported Liquid Membrane.
TDE: How do you want to use your scientific knowledge to serve society?
RT: Karbi Anglong and nearby regions being bestowed with an abundance of material resources like coal, petroleum, natural Gas, Minerals, Tea as well as aromatic and Medicinal plants, I have a plan for setting up a pilot or unit operation plants, and also I would provide the necessary technical and scientific knowledge to anyone who is interested to focus on the areas. I am even ready to collaborate with determined and dedicated individuals or groups with quality projects, associated with good vision and well-organised mission. I would like to contribute everything up to my capabilities for the betterment of the community and society.
TDE: Are Karbi students getting enough scopes to study Science?
RT: I believe, the colleges in Karbi Anglong providing science stream are not well equipped and not as par with even the average level colleges of Assam. Also, most of the Karbi students come from poor families and hence they are not able to go to good colleges outside Karbi Anglong for their higher studies. I believe that Education has not been given much and necessary importance in Karbi Anglong. The matriculation and Gunotsav results in Assam provide the necessary statistics, as Karbi Anglong has been continuously placed at the bottom of the rankings among the Districts in Assam.
TDE: What according to you are the major reasons keeping away Karbi students from studying Science?
RT: Studying science needs practical knowledge and exposure which requires proper infrastructure and facilities. I believe that the lack of teaching aids and school infrastructure has discouraged Karbi students from learning science. The introduction of smart classrooms and smart TV’s in schools could help the students to build their interest in learning science and eventually encourage them to pursue their higher studies in areas of science.
TDE: Do you believe that support from family plays a big role in the success of a person? Why?
RT: I believe that parents and family support play a vital role in the success of an individual. Their continuous moral and emotional support is necessary during the time when we are feeling low or sad. A good, loving, caring and affectionate experience can totally change an individual mood, attitude and perspective of life.
TDE: On joining CSIR-NEIST, what will be your roles and responsibilities?
RT: I am an engineer and scientist in the field of chemical engineering, I will be working in process optimization, process design, and product development for translational research.
TDE: As we have seen you have been selected as a Scientist in an open category, so what was the pressure to compete?
RT:Well, the competition was tough, since there was only one open category post and 20 candidates were shortlisted for interviews from all over India as well as abroad. But this was not the first time I was competing at the national level. Previously in my UPSC selection for the post of lecturer, my ranking was above OBC’s and other categories. I only give my best and the rest is history.
TDE: What will be your message to the youths of Karbi Hills districts who are still confused about their vision in life?
RT: I would like to request all the youths of Karbi Anglong to be more responsible and give more importance to gaining knowledge through education. Education is the only means which will help us balance things out and make decisions that interest everyone in society. I believe Education is the only key to opportunities and development. And there are no limits to opportunities through education. But we all have to keep in mind that there is no shortcut to success, everyone has to work hard for becoming successful. Most noteworthy, nothing can stop a highly educated individual to get good opportunities in life. Also, I would like to request all youth to not restrict themselves only in Karbi Anglong or Assam. Come out, see the world, come back and give back to the community and society.