Page 70 - CIJ March 2024 - Digital Edition

My Story

A Legacy

Honoured

Journey from

Learning to

Laughter

by Avril Sule

the Institute did a superlative job in orchestrating
of Hotel this event.
Management – Walking onto the stage, was an
Mumbai (then known
as Catering College) has exhilarating moment… amidst
cheers, clapping and whistling for
been a privilege and provided
he transition from me a strong foundation for a career several moments, I scanned the
receiving ‘The Most in Hospitality Education. I have audience looking at the students
Dedicated Student of thereafter been part of the start-up who were present. Knowing that
The Year 1977 Award’ team of the Sheila Raheja Institute your audience is your legacy is by
Tto being recognized of Hotel Management in Mumbai far more rewarding than the award
as the ‘Pillar of IHM’ has been a before I retired in April 2017. itself. The Chief Guest – Mrs Jai
superlative journey in which the Shree Bhoj was quite amused at the
Despite having received many
Dadar Catering College has played awards, I yearned for the recognition ruckus and said to me, “You seem to
an integral part. from my Alma Mater and when I have been a very popular teacher.”
My career path commenced with retired, I thought that it was perhaps I was thinking that the word
the exceptional ability to apply something that would not happen. ‘unconventional’ would have been
more appropriate.
my knowledge and skills in the This year when I was contacted to
field of education. I acquired a accept the award recognizing me I am forever grateful for having
Post-Diploma in Teacher Training as a ‘Pillar of IHM’, I felt that the inherited some exceptional educator
from IHM-Mumbai in 1981 universe was listening to my heart’s genes and to all the students who
securing the highest marks in the desires. Organized on a spectacular over the years have been the essence
examination. After a brief stint as a scale and implemented in a seamless of my existence. Although I am now
Management Trainee in Ambassador sequence, the Platinum Jubilee retired, I still do some training in
Hotel, I returned to teach at my Event held on 17th February 2024 and out of the country and have been
Alma Mater at the request of the encapsulated the glory of the Dadar invited as a speaker for events and
principal, Ms Thangam Philip (the Catering College and a chance to as a judge for competitions.
pioneer of Hospitality Education mingle with students who are now My current designation is by
in the country). Since then, I have stalwarts in the hospitality industry far the best that I ever had…
spent nearly four decades in the and excelling in other chosen Professional Grandma to Aashrai!
Hospitality Industry educating careers. Many of them shared As my time on this planet comes
young aspirants to the field, memories on how I impacted their closer to the end, I know that when
lives but most of them had funny
training trainers and educators stories to tell relating to my whacky I reach the Pearly Gates and have to
and conducting training for senior sense of humour and some of them justify why I should be allowed in, I
officers in large corporate and remembered me for bailing them have only one thing to say – “I made
government organizations. out of trouble. The Principal, Dr people laugh.” And hopefully they

Having studied and worked at Nisheeth Srivastava, and his team will let me in. CIJ

MARCH 2024•Clean India Journal
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