Acknowledgements
This work, which in itself experienced adventurous twists and turns along the way, now arrives at a stage of presentation as an outcome of inspiration and support of many academic giants to whom I owe sincere and profound gratitude. First of all, I thank Brill | Sense publishers who selected my manuscript for publication, and gave me a global platform to voice the transformative learning theory through autoethnographic vignettes in front of an international audience. In this regard, I am grateful to Ms. Evelien van der Veer, Ms. Jolanda Karada, and everyone who is involved in designing, typesetting, editing, and production part of this book. I would like to thank the Australia Awards for offering me a full scholarship during my PhD research (2014–2018) in Australia; the research is the primary resource of this book. I am equally thankful to my research participants, the pre-service teachers, and my dear friend Rudra Danai, for regularly remaining connected, and being ready to share learning reflections; their time, effort, and ever-caring support were greatly valued in the completion of this book. I have learnt much about what it means to demonstrate capacity and commitment to engage with an output of this type.
An immense amount of acknowledgement goes to Professor Ken Tobin for every effort in giving me enough creative space to discover my scholarly voice in this present work; such encouragement and illumination about true education have elevated and transformed my academic existence. The thoughtful, friendly and empathic inspiration has become the energy for me throughout. Thank you, Ken for encouraging me to continue my research endeavour further and seeing its potential to evolve in this book form. You always took time from your busy schedule to discuss my academic growth where our friendship has been a sanctuary to renew me every day; this experience has become real-life learning along with my orientation towards the transformative education.
My appreciation goes to Professor Barry Down for supporting me with a belief that I had something worthwhile to contribute to the world of academia. I am equally grateful to Professor Stephen Ritchie for continuous support and direction with contagious sense of humour which will always remain in my episodic as well as semantic memory. My meeting with Dr. Namulundah Florence, a Kenyan born author and American Professor of Education, became an inspirational moment of academic aura; borrowing her words to “keep working for the people you (I) love and care”; these words have energised me to move ahead and write this book. I am equally indebted to Professor Mana Wagley, Professor Steven Witt, Professor David Treagust, Dr. Rekha Koul, Dr. John Fielder, Dr. Michael Seats, Dr. Venkatrao Venkatrao Vishnumolakala, Dr. Libby Lee-Hammond, Dr. Margaret Merga, Dr. Chris Hogan, poet Peter Jeffery, AM, Dr. Liana Christensen, Ms. Jennifer Murphy, Dr. Naif Alsulami, Dr. Neni Mariana, Dr. Megh Raj Dangal, Professor Laxman Gnawali, Professor Bal C. Luitel, and Dr. Mangaratua Simanjorang for their inspiration and support. My sincere thanks also go to my friend Mr. Sanjay Pudasaini for capturing the cover picture and Dr. Krishna Paudel for assisting me in formatting. I want to thank Dr. Mitch Bleier for editorial support as well as being my scholarly, critical friend. I feel I am surrounded by the greatest talents of the present time when such friendships have been a sanctuary to renew me every day.
This is a time, I joyfully remember my loving sisters and wonderful brothers, doting wife, our two sensible boys, my sympathetic relatives and friends who tolerated my absences in many social/cultural events and provided me with moral support while I was busy in my readings, research, and writing. You all have taught me about living a life I seek to recreate each time we meet.
Lastly, I thank everyone whose name I could not address directly, for all the love, guidance and support they gave me in every moment of my life. With you all, the most precious gifts in my life, I am sure that my commitment in education and human service will always energise me to move ahead.