Bhopal | December 21, 2025: A rare academic coincidence will unfold at Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU), Bhopal, on December 22, 2025, when a married academic couple will defend their doctoral theses on the same day.
Aboli Niphadkar-Mishra and Ajay Kumar Mishra, both Assistant Professors based in Pune, were admitted to the PhD programme in the same academic cycle (December 2021) and have been supervised by the same guide, Dr. Rachna Chaturvedi. Aboli’s viva is scheduled at 11:30 am, followed by Ajay’s at 12:30 pm.
Aboli’s research, “Women Entrepreneurs – Use of Digital Marketing Strategies: Impact on Business Performance with Special Reference to Pune,” examines how women-led MSMEs in Pune leverage digital marketing tools and strategies to grow their businesses. Her work highlights the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, including limited resources, access to technology, and strategic knowledge, and provides evidence-based recommendations for effective digital engagement.
Ajay’s thesis, “Critical Analysis of Digital Marketing Strategies in Educational Hubs with Special Reference to Pune,” investigates how educational institutions in Pune have adopted digital marketing to enhance visibility, attract students, and engage stakeholders. His research analyzes the effectiveness of various online strategies, comparing outcomes across different types of institutions.
Speaking about the milestone, Aboli said,
"Pursuing a PhD simultaneously helped us stay motivated and disciplined. While our research areas were distinct, the shared academic journey strengthened our commitment to research and teaching."
Ajay added,
"Having the same guide and being part of the same doctoral cycle created a structured environment, but the coincidence of defending on the same day was unexpected and deeply meaningful for us."
Married on December 25, 2014, the couple will complete 11 years of marriage this month. Academic peers note that instances where a married couple is admitted in the same PhD cycle, supervised by the same guide, and defends on the same day at the same university are extremely rare in India.
Despite defending their theses in Bhopal, both scholars are professionally based in Pune as Assistant Professors at Pimpri-Chinchwad University, where they actively engage in teaching, research, and mentoring. They also jointly run Globalize Skills Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing digital skills training to underprivileged students, and Web Gurukul IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a digital marketing consultancy serving national and international clients. Additionally, both have participated in international skill development programs, enhancing cross-border academic and practical expertise.
This unique shared PhD defence highlights not only their personal dedication but also the increasing role of digital skills and marketing research in Pune’s entrepreneurial and educational landscapes. Such rare academic milestones underscore the evolving opportunities for scholars balancing professional, entrepreneurial, and research commitments.
