Una, June 15- Taking a new initiative in the field of education, Professor Simmi Agnihotri Foundation has started the Excellence Award in the name of Professor Simmi. Participating in its first edition, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri honored meritorious children in Haroli on Sunday.
Let us tell you, Professor Dr. Simmi Agnihotri, who left a deep mark on the global educational horizon, was not only a learned educationist, but also a lively thinker, an inspiring personality and a sensitive sociologist, whose scholarship, vision and sensitivity left an impact from Himachal to international forums.
Born in Mandi in the year 1968, Simmi ji was curious, studious and spontaneous since childhood. Along with the playfulness of childhood, she also had an extraordinary intellectual depth. She obtained a PhD degree at a young age and started teaching as an Assistant Professor in Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla in 1998.
Her personality was multi-faceted, she was actively present in every field, be it class, stage, literature, art or social service. She had a deep interest in sports, drama, music and poetry. Her warm bonding with students and her guidance made her very dear to her.
As a senior professor of the Department of Public Administration at HPU, she not only made an outstanding contribution in teaching, but also guided more than 25 students for research degrees like PhD and M.Phil. Her research vision was broad and socially concerned. She did deep and original work on topics like tribal empowerment, gender equality, human resource development, local governance and rural employment.
She has 14 international research papers, 13 international presentations, participation in 7 national-international seminars, 2 research books and 2 academic treatises to her credit. Her research was presented at global forums like Japan, Turkey, Paris, Spain and Portugal and her research work, especially on the Pangi and Pangwala tribes, was appreciated in the field of policy making.
In the year 2023, she was awarded the International Best Teacher Award by the Transformation Technology Foundation of Indonesia and the Most Remarkable Educator and Inspiring Global Researcher Award by the International Achievers Awards organization based in Vietnam. Even after her death, the Indonesian organization awarded her a posthumous Certificate of Recognition as a tribute.
She passed away on 9 February 2024, but in her 56-year life journey, Professor Simmi has established such a bright tradition of creation, service and values, which will continue to guide generations.