Journey with T&F

Sushmita Das
Managing Editor, Peer Review, Production

This is my 8th year in Taylor and Francis Group and I was the sole member of the Journals Peer Review team in 2011. Currently, we are a team of five members and we undertake quality checks for Journal articles for both Indian and International journals. The team has processed +40000 articles since its inception, responded to numerous queries from authors, editors, journal administrators etc., and worked on various projects. We were part of many workshops and seminars and we also conducted some. We have been applauded by senior, colleagues, Editors and Authors for our service and prompt response times.

This team has expanded over the years and last year with the addition of Journal Production and Reviewer selection team, the team has grown to fourteen members.

Working in Taylor & Francis has been one of the rewarding phases of my career. This has largely been made possible by the company’s warm and vibrant culture of diligent hard work, and goodwill amongst colleagues.

Baaton Baaton Mein...

With Sushmita Das

If you could live anywhere on this planet and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live?
I would love to go back and live in some remote, pristine place of Arunachal Pradesh, the place where I was born. The group would be my immediate family.

If you could choose an imaginary friend, who would you choose and why?
Imaginary or real, I would choose my husband, he is my best friend

If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?
People say I do not look my age, so no choices there

What are your 5 favorite foods?
I like Indian home cooked food, specially the non veg which I cook on my own. My favorite is Hilsa fish curry in mustard sous. I prefer hot saucy “Indian Chinese” when it’s raining outside.

If you were to change your name, what name would you adopt going forward? Why?
I like my current name; it means somebody with a beautiful smile

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?
An oasis resort, family and loads of fun

If you could only choose one vacation destination where would you pick and why?
I like the pristine scenic beauty of Arunachal Pradesh. Walking around the paddy fields, fishing in the mountain streams and trekking used to be so much fun.

If you could choose one hobby that now seems out of your reach either financially or time-wise, what hobby would you take up and why

My hobby has been gardening and I wish to own an orchard someday 

Baaton Baaton Mein...

With Anand Goyal

If you could live anywhere on this planet and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live? Tell the group about your choice.
In a small town of Orissa where I have river to take a swim and a forest to roam about 
If you could choose an imaginary friend, who would you choose and why? 
I will have to seek permission from my wife to allow me to choose imaginary friend
If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why? 
18 to 25, when life was simpler and I could take risks and experiment!
If you could be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play? 
Gabbar Singh in Sholay

What are your 5 favorite foods? 
Dalma, Rice, berries, Aloo Chop and Pitha an Oriya dish 
If you were to change your name, what name would you adopt going forward? Why? 
I am happy with my name as it symbolizes happiness 

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?  
Sufficient quantity of water, food and camels 
What item that you don't have already, would you most like to own? 
A furnished old age home
If you could only choose one vacation destination where would you pick and why? 
Puri 
If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would the slogan be? (Examples: "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow, we all die." "Bite off more than you can chew." " There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.") 
Live and let live

If you could meet any living person for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why?  
JRD Tata, because I'd love to understand how he created his business empire
If you could choose one hobby that now seems out of your reach either financially or time-wise, what hobby would you take up and why? 
To play flute 

Creative Corner - Robinson Raju

Composition

(on the day when facts will have no implicit meaning and music is no more mere vibrations)

vain thoughts

tumble about

neural affinities

charge opposite

forth and back

cortically swum

whispered with each-

the -other

mumbled mysteries

free radicals proclaimed

memories fecund forlorn 

within gamuts of wheels

where time is lost

& space unfound

yoked in infinity 

on packaged pages

of bound curation

published

recited

cited

sung

begun

in

vain

Out of the Cubicle Performer

Prakash Sachan, Customer Experience Executive, Journals

“Prakash has been an active member of the journals and online resources team ever since he joined T&F Group. His customer focused approach helped both sales team and external customers. Prakash has contributed  in launching, specialized usage training sessions both on-site and off-site aimed at increasing product awareness and usage of our digital resources.. All these sessions were engaging, and useful for end users of T&F’s resources. Prakash is working closely with sales team, helping them with usage building denials data on regular basis. Which is helping sales to gain new customers and sustain existing users. At Bangladesh, he worked with various universities to get recommendations for our Archives; he had also helped in guiding the universities in India for selecting TandF as library resource for the ESS consortium. As inside sales and customer experience executive, his job is to keep the customer engaged and user aware of  TandF digital products and enhancements.”

- Onkar Verma, Manager, Customer Service and Sales Support, Journals

Out of the Cubicle Performer - Anju Agrawal

Anju Agrawal, Assistant Manager, Human Resources

Anju joined in April last year and is about to complete a year with Taylor & Francis. She brings with her an experience of working with different online systems, and more importantly a practical and realistic way of looking at situations. We have valued her efforts in streamlining processes, working on backend operational systems and overall support. She has been closely working with different departments and understanding and helping staff with recruitment, onboarding and performance issues. I appreciate her maturity and sensitivity in dealing with difficult circumstances. She is great fun too, and is my go-to person for help on phone and gadget queries.

I wish her the very best for her journey ahead with T&F.

-Anjali Maggon

Manager, Human Resources

Out of the Box Performer - Oonati Bhola

Oonati Bhola, Assistant Manager, Executive / Administration

"Oonati in her role as Assistant Manager – Administration, has brought in tremendous amount of effectiveness and dedication to her work. She has always ensured efficient daily functioning of the office and had brought in visible changes to the office environment.

She adds a personal touch to the work she does and has carefully thought out detailing to things – such as placing paper napkins on cafeteria tables and the beautiful flowers at the reception – is much appreciated by all. The colleagues who have travelled for work in the last few months would agree to her efficiency in arranging everything and confirming/reconfirming to the last minute of travel. Her hospitality towards guests is highly acknowledged. Oonati makes sure to utilize her experience in coming up with resourceful solutions and approaches all tasks that come her way with the same fervor and commitment. She is extremely friendly and positive towards colleagues." - Anand Goyal, Head of Finance and Operations

Baaton Baaton Mein..

With Anjali Madan

If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?
Go back to being a 1-year old whose sole aim in life is to smile and sleep
If you could be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play?
Maria in The Sound of Music

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?
Good food, books, and a nice bed
If you could only choose one vacation destination where would you pick and why?
Disney Land because it is Disney Land

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would the slogan be?
Find happiness in your own company

If you could meet any living person for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why?
Brien Weiss, the famous hypnotherapist. I wish to discuss with him his work and experience
If you could choose one hobby that now seems out of your reach either financially or time-wise, what hobby would you take up and why?
I would want to do many: learn Madhubani, resume my piano lessons, take up a foreign language, etc etc.

Ashish Purwar on benefits of cycling

I was a fitness freak from the beginning of my college days and I was regular to gym. However, eventually after joining job, I gradually stopped most of my physical activities. Back in 2014, I was diagnosed with high level of triglycerides. This made me re-start my fitness regime. But this time gym was not a feasible option because of hectic schedule. Cycling rescued me, and I joined Noida cycling club, and since then I cycle to keep myself fit.

Benefits of cycling cannot be explained in a small article but broadly speaking, it’s the best cardio exercise. It improves joint mobility; increases muscle strength and flexibility, decreases stress levels etc. The list is huge. As far as environment is concerned, it’s the only form of exercise where you save not only environment, but also your money. Instead of fuel you burn your fat. So dual benefits.

Till now I have rode around 7000 KMs which is something around one round trip from Srinagar to Kanyakumari. I am an admin of Noida cycling club which is the biggest cycling club of North India. My longest ride till now was 110 KMs, which was at one go. I have organized many cycling workshops and events for kids and adults of which our office - Cyclothon is an example.

Every form of exercise is good for health but other forms like gym and running can get monotonous. Cycling is an interesting exercise as you can keep visiting different places of interest. It’s even better if you ride in group. It feels more like a friends outing rather than exercising. Also the best part is that you can have a guilt free second breakfast! My co riders include people from age between 11 years to 82 years, so age is not a barrier!

Read more about benefits of cycling here 

Baaton baaton mein- Arijit

Arijit Khasnobis, Senior Publishing Manager

Journey with T&F

I started at Taylor & Francis in 2009, and it's been eight years of working alongside talented and exciting colleagues in Europa and the wider company. There's been a lot to learn! In these years I've seen the company grow and grow, with processes and systems evolving and improving all the time. The move to the new offices was a big and positive change! 

T&F's employee-friendliness and apolitical working culture are to be cherished. I've enjoyed the challenge of new responsibilities and the freedom to decide how to get the job done. Every November, when we complete Europa's annual publishing cycle, is a milestone. With so many bright and eager people pulling in the same direction across global office locations, there is lots to learn, many ideas to exchange, and diverse cultures to share. It's been an incredible eight years!

Let’s know him better!

If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?

Anywhere in the teens would be fine. You can get away with almost anything at that age!       

If you could be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play?

Batman. Am a terrible actor so it’d have to be a movie in which the face is covered most of the time    

What are your 5 favorite foods?

• Tiger prawns in a coconut curry 
• Galouti kebabs from Aminabad
• Steak with lots of mash and greens
• Hot gulab jamuns in vanilla ice cream
• India Pale Ale, to wash it all down.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?

• A Kindle full of favourite reads
• Lots of cold lager, and 
• Bear Grylls to take care of the logistics of survival and an eventual escape. 

What item that you don't have already, would you most like to own?

A shotgun. Would be very handy in Delhi traffic.

If you could only choose one vacation destination where would you pick and why?
Jamaica, with a Test match going on. A cricketing holiday in the West Indies is very much on the to-do list. 

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would the slogan be?

Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

If you could meet any living person for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why?

Donald Trump, just for a chance to discover what really goes on in his mind.