Dr. Ranjana Ferrao, an Assistant Professor at V.M. Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar – Goa, India. Born and brought up in Goa, this 41 years old woman is a true inspiration to India’s youth. At the age of 23, she has chosen the teaching profession. She has always been a brilliant student in her academics and only scored the highest marks with Distinction and a State Rank in Goa at her B.Sc, LL.B, LL.M exams, she never planned to be a teacher but fate had it otherwise.
She was asked by her Professor whether or not she was interested in teaching. Dr. Ferrao tells us, “He identified my nature to work hard and research on the point of law.” So, she adhered to her Teacher’s Request. She joined the College of Law for a very small salary as she was not completely qualified under a specially created post called Training and Acclimatization into Prospective Faculty in the year 2004. But, as she likes to say, ” I have learned from my Guru that If it’s not worth putting everything you have got into it, it’s not worth doing it.”
Dr. Ferrao doesn’t come from a very well-to-do family. Her father’s demise has impacted her hugely from an early age; her mother worked hard to ensure she had everything she needed. Hence, after a remarkable journey of brilliant academics, joining at the V.M. Salgaocar College of Law changed her fate in a great way.
Ever since then, she has been passionate about the teaching profession. The care and attention she got from the profession motivated her to stay in that career. Now, she has completed 16 years of dedicated service and has seen many students become successful lawyers, academicians, judges, entrepreneurs.
“Your value is determined by how many and how well you serve”- Dr. Ranjana Ferrao.
She is a firm believer of, “Good things happen at their own natural phase.” And she definitely had her fair share of problems as her journey was not an easy one. She had a Contract post for many years before she got a permanent post. Eventually, she had completed her Ph.D. in Law in record time.
Even after so much struggle, recognition did not emerge overnight! In many cases, people have robbed her of the right she deserved. But it did not stop her. Her continual work efforts had finally paid off! She received her degree for the Ph.D. and her work on the Rights of Children, 2014.
All her life, she believed “The price of excellence is discipline, my focus and disciplined life awarded a few accolades.” She was selected as the State Trainer for the Goa State Legal Services Authority, Goa Institute of Public Administration, and Rural Development. And, she was invited as Speaker at International, National, and National level conferences, seminars, workshops.
An active member of the Internal Complaints Committee constituted under the Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013 in a few colleges in Goa, she is doing it all!
With more than 36 articles in International and national level journals whose circulation is in 200 countries, she is a big name overseas as well. Dr. Ferrao has chaired international and national level conferences authored one book on Disaster Management and held many editorial positions.
From this time onwards, it was the beginning of her wonderful journey ahead. She was invited as a speaker on topics like Intellectual property Rights, Cyber Crimes, Rights of Women, Rights of Children, and International Humanitarian Law. Also, to the Peace Palace, The Hague, the Netherlands, she visited the highest epitome of law, the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the International Criminal Court. Through all her incredible quest, she found her husband nothing but supportive, and to whom she is grateful.
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