A Pillar of Apnapan and Academic Excellence: Farewell to Prof. (Dr.) Anju Vali Tikoo

# Context and event On 25 September 2026 the Moot Court Hall at Umang Bhawan hosted a Farewell-cum-Welcome arranged by the Faculty of Law Alumni Association. The ceremony honored outgoing Dean Prof. (Dr.) Anju Vali Tikoo and introduced Prof. Raman Mittal as the incoming Dean.

# From student to dean: a personal arc Prof. Tikoo traced her connection with the Faculty back to 1982, when she joined as a student, and 1989, when she joined the Faculty as a young teacher. She described herself initially as reserved and recounted small personal milestones that reflected how her relationship with the campus deepened over decades.

# What she values about the Faculty

# Style of leadership and relationship with students

An exchange during the ceremony illustrated a continuing openness: a student volunteer asked what she still sought to achieve, a question she said she was still considering.

# Transition to the new Dean Prof. Tikoo introduced Prof. Raman Mittal as her "anuj," a younger colleague stepping into the Dean's office. She asked students to extend the same openness and trust to him that they had offered her and noted his willingness to listen and act.

Prof. Mittal's remarks were brief and self-effacing. He acknowledged that much of what had been built—most notably the Alumni Association—was Prof. Tikoo's work. He characterized his contribution as intention rather than accomplishment and recited a short poem titled "Forest Trail," using the metaphor of existing paths that guide later travelers.

# What she promised going forward Prof. Tikoo made concrete commitments: she will remain in the same Faculty building for one more year and be available to students on the second floor. She urged students to continue seeking guidance and to accept the continuing cycle of institutional leadership. She used the image of waves: one wave rises and recedes, making way for the next, to describe continuity rather than an ending.

# Practical takeaways for students and staff

• The Faculty's everyday strength lies in relationships across economic, linguistic, and regional differences.

# Closing note The ceremony combined personal reminiscence, practical advice about sustaining a diverse academic community, and a clear handover of responsibilities to the next generation of Faculty leadership.