An Indian PhD Story - Of Time and Travails

All scientists who attain a PhD are proud of their degree, because through this course they have gained rightful entry to an academic elite side. 

Is it elite by any standards? Lets have a look at the brighter and darker side of it.

Do you have a PhD, but sometimes feel like a failure? – This happens because of the disconnect between our expectations and the reality of life post-PhD.

By building up the higher education systems, most countries economic growth rise, because they see educated workers as a key to it. But do the science PhD graduates get a chance to take full advantage of their qualification. People who have trained up to be a researcher end up taking the wrath, because industrial sector are not interested in them and due to the number of lessening number of academic jobs. In India alone, the number of PhD graduates coming out is huge and most of them end up unemployed. They feel that spending years to secure this high level qualification end up in securing the wrong job in hand, whether it is worth it or not. 

Academic Institutions prefer fresh and young bachelor’s graduates who can be trained on the job. Industrial sector on the other hand prefer master’s graduates for their job. There are very very few positions / placements for the elite people to join and work. It is very hard to find a match between a postdoc position and company to settle into. Now where do people who qualify more than them (read elite) stand, literally at home or no place to go. Unemployed PhD graduates are more in number compared to their Bachelor’s and Master’s counterparts. (You have a doubt, go on taking a survey with the awarded number of doctorates in natural sciences cropping year and year and their current position.)

By the time they come out (read graduated), most of the desired positions are already filled in due to the desired time period/duration, therefore they end up in technological services, and the rest in positions they are not proud of to shout. Not all end up earning a living from what they have been trained in. Therefore, universities should experiment in PhD programmes that better prepare graduate students for careers outside academia. Not knowing this/ By knowing this fully well, some superiors are trying to strike a gold/platinum in churning out more number of PhD students year after year to withstand their ego among their colleagues.

A survey has shown that PhD holders were not always more satisfied with their jobs than those without the degree, nor were they earning substantially more. Science and Technology Advancement is what takes a country’s pride and economic growth forward, but the latter’s pace with that of its PhD numbers is not kept up and many with doctorates end up taking jobs below their level of expertise.

Let me ask, how many of the churned out PhD graduates have a coveted post at a top university or research institution for a postdoc position in their own country or other country per se.

LESS.

Well, one should then see a PhD not just as a mastery of a discipline, but also training of the mind to survive in the world. If they later get a chance to master their hard earned skills, perfect, else, they can use their skills into a new region/area and add value. Due to this very reason, the poor job market has discouraged some potential students from embarking on science PhDs.

Common problems-

Even the selection of a rightful candidate for PhD is based on caste/sects of superiors in some places. They always go through super-lows and blows to get into the elite. Some do not get materials on time, common lab facilities, and end up loosing years to get the result without support from their superiors. They bygone life’s many crucial situations unattended to achieve it. Some sweep floors, some sleep with, also to attain it. Not by choice, but without choice. Some loose their honey, some do not even get money (read common funding like fellowship). Some step back, some get stabbed on the back in the process. Such is their fate. To earn the “D”, him/her gets belittled not only among superiors but in society too. Most of them fall out to fake promises, lend by people with fake smiles. Comments made by our peers or family about our ‘failure’ to find a permanent academic post can feel hurtful, demeaning or patronising. And in the end even if you are victorious, it is only a pyrrhic victory. 

A Poem on PhD by Mary Lewis

I stood and looked out to sea,
I said ‘Hey Sea, you look at me’.
I have my boat of inspiration, my bravery,
My curiosity and I will conquer thee.

I paddled out with oars and glee.
It was pure excitement that was carrying me.
Day turned to night, night turned to day,
I knew exactly what I would say.

The waves crashed, my oars broke.
But I stood firm, I would not choke,
Just rest a while.
Maintain that smile.

I lay a drift, with no oars to row.
How to get to shore, I just didn’t know.
The sea was harsh, my boat would sink.
I needed to take some time to think.
My bravery had turned to stone.
As now I felt all alone.

Drowning in the big blue sea
Wondering ‘Where is me?’
I look around and all I see
Are words and words that float by me.
Like fish, quotes pop up from out the sea.
A distant light shine’s- ‘Is that for me?’

I gathered the words.
I built a raft.
That one star chapter.
The ‘good final draft’.
On my raft I began to float
Gathering more words onto my boat.
I saw the light upon the shore.
Scared and alone I was no more.

The words were too many for my small raft.
More was needed for me to craft.
But the light it faded far away.
In the big blue sea I must stay.
More rafts I built,
To make sense of this world.

Took time to think
But I did not sink.
So here I sit in my PhD boat.
Where I must learn to bob and float.
But the shining light that guides you in, it fades so fast.
I hang on to the thought that one day, this will be my past.
I stand and look out to sea,
I say ‘Hey Sea, you look at me’.
I will conquer thee.

Live n Let Live

I really don't understand why Indians have such incredible guilt associations with finding a new partner after a relationship or marriage fails. It's almost as if they either berate for being selfish, greedy or wanton for wanting to move on and find happiness in the arms of another person.
A relationship is an attempt at finding someone who enhances your life, environment and personality and brings joy and stability. sometimes, we pick the wrong person and sometimes, the person was right for the time, but currently isn't an appropriate life companion for the road ahead. relationships are organic like plants. If a plant dies, it doesn't mean you won't plant a new one and simply let your garden become barren and console yourself with the memory of what was. the pursuit of happiness is neither a crime nor immoral.
People often withdraw from seeking new partners because of the fear of being judged and criticised and deny themselves the right to find a great life companion. if you don't want another partner, or feel you aren't ready for another partner, then its fine. but if you are basing the decision on "what is acceptable to others" and "what will people think", know one thing - it is you who wake up lonely and sleep lonely.The people who intimidate you into singledom, all have partners whom they go back home to every night. Everyone has the right to a happy ending.

The above words are definitely not mine, nor would i say that i support it or not support it. This blog is a remainder, just in case if you are fearing to go ahead in a new relationship afraid of what others would think of you.
Life goes on even after death of past.

Primal Fear

Mankind will intentionally destroy the environment that sustains them. Beasts would never do so for they realize they need the environment for future generations. Mankind do kill other humans, sometimes for no reason at all. Meat eating beasts kill out of fear, protection of their young, and if meat eaters for food. 

The penchant for subterfuge and opposable thumbs most men have superior mental faculties than the rest of the animal kingdom but as a result of the conscience that comes with this higher reasoning ability, man is the only creature on earth that truly struggles with rationalizing our purpose here on earth. But we are alike in almost every other way. Not much these days, unfortunately, but for those of us that are different we are able to use our consciousness to reason and empathize etc, thus creating a huge spectrum of emotions and a thought system that make our lives a little less dull than the poor old beast, but a whole lot more complicated and at times inconvenient ;) 

 The only difference between the two is that man possesses a soul that eventually must face its Creator. Man is accountable for all it does on the earth below. Many would argue that man and beast should be seen on the same level, as equals and co-habitants of creation.  While the scriptures certainly acknowledge the cohabitation aspects of life between man and beast, the roles they play are clearly different. Eating, sleeping, mating and defending are 4 activities common to both man and animals. It is only 'dharma', that makes a human being special. Without dharma, man is no better than an animal.

It doesn't end here, more to come.

A poem on Man Vs Beast I read:

I woke up at the crack of dawn
Beheld a creature from the great beyond
I prayed to God "please save my soul"
I tried to escape but could not let go
From the foot of my bed

The sun's rays began to hit my eye
I knew this was it, I was to die
In my own bedroom I could not escape
From the monster who was about to seal my fate
But somehow I must be strong
I
Then I arose and gasped for air
Breathing heavily the monster disappeared
I sighed with relief I needn't fear
It was just me, looking in the mirror
Go figure