Photo Courtesy: Nikita Gautam

Sudarshan Guruacharya has been teaching the course of Harvard CS-50 to the students of DWIT. He is a very interesting and intelligent man. Talking about his qualifications, he has completed his BE in Electronics and Communication from Pulchowk Engineering College, Lalitpur, Nepal. After having completed his engineering from IOE (Institute of Engineering), he worked as a Computer Graphics and Introduction to Computers teacher in Apex College for one and half year. Later, he applied to AIT (Asian Institute of Technology), Thailand for pursuing Masters in Telecommunication Engineering. Furthermore, he completed his PhD on the same domain from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

DWIT News Team had a short interview with Guruacharya. Here’s what we got to know:

1. They say that there are two types of people – the ‘Big Picture People’ and the ‘Detail Oriented People.’ In which category do you think you fit in and why?

I think I come under ‘Detail Oriented People’ category because I like to enjoy where I am and the present condition that I am living in. Like big picture people, I don’t plan for future since doing so will be vague. The aims and objectives will stay blurred. Basically, future is very uncertain and we can just make a projectile of future. For me, I just like to enjoy today and I am satisfied with what I have gained, except education. Since education can never end, it is like horizon; the more I try to go near it seems far. The best thing seems to be to apply greedy algorithm and do the best thing while we still can. 2. Why did you choose Telecommunication Engineering for your Masters out of the different available domains under Electronics and Communication?

In Bachelors, we should study different subjects, but when we study Masters we should choose a certain topic, study about it and get into its details. I chose Telecommunication since it was interesting for me and a hot topic during my time.  At that time, Telecommunication hadn’t developed so far as you see now.

3. Since you have dedicated much of your life to learning, which dimension of study do you prefer the most any why?

I usually prefer things that are more Mathematics in nature. There isn’t anything specific that I can choose but I do like Mathematics. I was interested in Mathematics from beginning but actually I understood true Mathematics in PhD level, I found that the way I was studying Mathematics wasn’t appropriate. So now, I would prefer anything related to Mathematics rather than some specific subject. 4. Did you get scholarship for your Masters and PhD level study abroad? If yes, AIT and Nangyang Technological University are very recognized universities. How did you get scholarship? Any tips? Is being studious enough?

 Yes, I did get scholarship for Masters and PhD level study abroad otherwise, as we all know, for any Nepali to go abroad and study there without any scholarship is nearly impossible. Actually I have been studying in scholarship since my Bachelor’s level.

 Talking about how I got scholarship, I think it was my luck and my hard work as well. I got scholarship in AIT due to my project about Fussy Logic. If you can do something better and stand out from crowd, it’ll be easy for you to get scholarship in reputed universities abroad. A professor from Nangyang University had come to AIT to present his research on Application of Game Theory in Communication and luckily I was also interested to do my Master thesis on the same topic. I asked him many questions that I was curious to know about, and being impressed from that, after his presentation, he asked me if I was interested to do PhD and work with him. As I was also thinking to do PhD, my luck favored me and I got scholarship in Nangyang University.

Some tips that I would like to share are:

• In higher level of studies try to distinguish yourself, try to do something out of your course and just be innovative.

• Try to do research in new things and develop new ideas.

• Keep yourself updated with the environment.

Being studious does count, but it isn’t enough to be better than others. In books, you will find the things that are already done and been discovered. You should keep yourself updated and try to invent new things. Just sticking with your course curriculum isn’t sufficient nowadays.

5. What difference did you find between studying abroad and in Nepal?

In Nepal, though we are studying in university, it feels like studying in school. Normally, foreign universities are very huge and in the same level, we can find many people studying different courses; there is a different type of environment. There aren’t many colleges abroad; there are big universities instead and everyone studies there. But in Nepal, there is more number of colleges and only few universities. The way of teaching is also different there; their main focus is in assignments. For example, in Nepal, it is asked, “Describe the different Newton’s Law of Motion.” But in developed foreign countries, though the theory part is also important, however, if you can solve a numerical problem using the Laws of Motion, then the teacher knows that you have understood all the Laws. You don’t need to explain the theory part. 6. Since you have done PhD you must have written many papers. Which do you think was the most significant? Why? Actually, I have written seven papers till now, and among them the most significant is “Hierarchical Competition in Femtocell-Based Cellular Networks” since it was reviewed many times and by many people. It was a new concept at that time and it was the first paper to be published on the topic, so everybody was interested in it. 7. Have you done any job as such? Have you been exposed to working experience or is research itself your work? If yes, why research and why not other work? What inclined you towards the research field?

Talking about job, I haven’t done any official job as such but I have taught in some of the colleges as I am teaching in DWIT now. Yes, research itself is my field of interest and work. I like to introduce new things that people still don’t know about. You can say it as my work or hobby, but I like to research and invent new things.

8. What risks have you faced during work? How did you overcome them?

It has its own rewards and challenges while working in any field.  As my work is to research, it takes time. Further, we also don’t get the desired result and while working abroad I feel lonely and depressed sometimes. To overcome that I try to relax, have fun and be in regular touch with friends and family. 9. What are your future plans?

In few months, I am going to Canada for one year long stay to do my Post Doctoral Research on 5G Cellular Communication. My main goal is to work in R&D (Research and Development) industry rather than academics.

10. What message do you want to give to DWITians?

I would just like to say “Be Good Do Good”. Rather than just studying your course material, try to explore more, education doesn’t have a limit. Develop a set of skills that you can sell later. All in all, explore more and learn more!