Interview with Meenakshi Pahuja
Meenakshi Pahuja is a swimmer of international repute. An academician by profession, she has been always passionate about swimming. We are delighted to carry a special feature on her today. Vartika
-Meenakshi Yadav and Zara Davina Mann
“I’m a woman,
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”
These lines by Maya Angelou is what struck me when I spoke to Ms. Meenakshi Pahuja, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Lady Shri Ram College. Her love for the college and the sports cannot be denied if we see the phenomenal amount of work she has done for college in the past 13 years. On being asked about her work experience in college Ms. Pahuja proudly tells us about the positive changes that the college has undergone. From cemented courts and ordinary equipments to the synthetic courts equipped with best technologies and world class sports gear the LSR sports infrastructure has seen a long way. Apart from the infrastructure, the college under the guidance of Ms Pahuja has supported its sportspersons in many more ways than one. It was due to the efforts of Ms. Meenakshi Pahuja and the college that benefits like refreshments, special training and proper kits were given to the sportspersons.
As an assistant professor of the Department of Physical Education she initiated a short term certificate course on Sports Journalism giving a chance to the students to explore newer options. The Physical Education Department has managed to increase awareness about health and fitness in college which has resulted in a large increase of participation in sports. The Annual Run which is an intra college event has a tremendous participation and the Dr. Bharat Ram Sports Meet which is an inter college event is witness to the best talents the colleges in and around Delhi University has. She believes that the founders of the college has a vision to make Sports and Physical Education an integral part of college and that the health and fitness of the girls are taken care of. On being asked about the future plans for the sports and the department, very excitedly she told about the progressive plans like getting an electronic shooting range and updating the gym equipments. Her vision for the department does not stop here; she aspires to do much more like expanding the course by incorporating more papers and having a laboratory to encourage a practical based knowledge.
Ms. Meenkashi Pahuja has not left any stone unturned when it comes to her passion for Swimming. Her ability to manage her work and yet take out time from her busy schedule to swim and fulfill her dreams is commendable. At the tender age of two, Pahuja started swimming and was Delhi’s best swimmer when she was just nine years old. Her first National medal was at nine where she went on to play the SAF. She was the only Indian woman swimmer to win a medal for the country in 1996 at the 10th Asia Pacific held at South Korea. During her college days she won 18 medals at the Inter University level.
Like every swimmer, she too had the dream of swimming open waters and The English Channel. To complete this dream there was a lot of hard work involved. Since Delhi does not have the water conditions required for The English Channel, she would spend eight to ten hours during the weekends practicing and also four to five hours during the weekdays, whenever time permitted. She also successfully swam the Manhattan Swim before The English Channel. She had tried to swim The English Channel once before in 2008 but could not complete it due to health reasons, but this did not let her morale down and infact encouraged her to train harder. In July 2014, she again went for the English Channel Swim and this time she performed much better. Unfortunately she fell short of two miles from the France coast. The above mentioned achievements have resulted her name being placed in the Limca Book of Records for holding national records.
After achieving so much in life Meenakshi Pahuja gives her parents the credit behind all her success and achievements. It was her mother that has supported and encouraged her in all walks of life be it academically, professionally or personally. Talking to her has made me realize that Meenakshi Pahuja is one phenomenal woman who is born to conquer the waters.
