Prof Bansal’s administrative journey began with boy’s hostel wardenship at an age 28 years at the Halls of Residence. He became an Associate Director at the BBA Program, Faculty of Commerce, The M.S. University of Vadodara. In his role as an Associate Director, Prof Bansal was able to build the program and to gain visibility at State Level. Prof Bansal, inherited an almost defunct Center of Adult Education which he helped to revive and make it self sustainable. Within a short span he became the Head of Department of Cooperative Management and Rural Studies at the Faculty of Commerce.
Prof Bansal set up the international office (OIA) at the M. S. University of Baroda. In true sense he worked relentlessly with perseverance to fulfil the dream of establishing the University on the global map. Under his leadership and constant effort, the University had active academic collaborations with reputed academic institutions and universities abroad. He successfully initiated policies and activities for the smooth functioning of the exchange programs. He started the Student Internship Program for the first time at OIA and also opened doors of European Union Funding Programs to the staff and students of the university. He made The MSU Baroda a part of four prestigious European Union Erasmus Programs. Even in his health condition he made sure that MSU Baroda gets the ENPRENDIA Project. Besides, getting Erasmus GATE, Erasmus EUPHRATES, Erasmus Plus KA 107 and Erasmus Plus ENPREND. Prof Bansal, was instrumental in setting up Centre for Urban Studies at the university actively working together with University of Leicester, UK and British Council.
Prof Sharad became the Dean, Faculty of Commerce in the year 2014, and was able to contribute by developing infrastructure for the faculty and also helped to raise the bar in terms of building a strong image of the Commerce in the eyes of general public. He also held important positions at the University as a Senate member, foreign students’ advisor and was a member of important National level committees.
Even while at the University, Prof Bansal was sensitive to issues around him for the city of Vadodara and continued to contribute in different ways. He always thought of new ideas and liked to take new initiatives as a challenge. Few people know but he was very sensitive to street children and always wanted to do something to help them. He always had this urge to do something meaningful for the benefit of the city. Prof. Bansal had a very pleasant personality with a positive attitude and loved old rock music from the seventies, like Steely Dan and Pink Floyd including Sufi songs.
In his memory we have attempted to create an informal forum based called “SHaR” wherein we hope to bring diversity together with sensitivity for the benefit of the people of Vadodara.
