Living to Learn and Learning to Live: My Journey Across the Continents and Glimpses into My Ancestry

From the caste-like constraints of air force life and other hardships in India to professorial excellence and acclaimed public service in America, Living to Learn and Learning to Live takes readers on a journey that illuminates the nature of being human and the noblest aspirations of spirit. It is an inspiring story of overcoming adversity and striving for excellence, but also of humility, friendship, service, and ultimately, love. Despite numerous barriers and setbacks, Ram Chugh is not deterred from his love of learning, which he parlays into an extraordinary career as an esteemed professor. But his single-minded quest for knowledge and teaching excellence comes at a dire cost, and if he does not alter his nonstop lifestyle, he may lose all that he holds dear. Confronted with his mortality and the insightful advice of a concerned friend, he learns to expand his horizons and focus his energies on the world beyond the classroom. And it is this new, and unexpected, knowledge that sets the tone for the remainder of his remarkable life. About the Author A native of India, Ram Chugh served in the Indian Air Force before joining Panjab University as a Ford Foundation Research Scholar. He later taught at Kurukshetra University before moving to the United States in 1966 to earn his Ph.D. As a professor of economics at the State University of N.Y. College at Potsdam, N.Y., he earned the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and SUNY’s highest honor: a Distinguished Service Professor. After a 32-year career at Potsdam, he moved to Albany, New York, and worked at SUNY System Administration, directing the SUNY Retirees Service Corp. He retired in 2013 after 43 years of service. He strongly believes in using one’s expertise and knowledge to provide solutions to societal challenges. He has received numerous awards and honors for his long, dedicated service to the university and community. He considers himself a lifelong learner and remains active in academic and public service pursuits. He lives with his wife, Seema, in Loudonville, New York, and enjoys spending time with his daughter, Pooja, and his grandchildren.
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