This is my first blog after
completing PhD, so this time I though let’s discuss about PhD. Well my friends,
who are going through PhD studies, do not look for any success tips in this
writing. Then my non PhD friends don’t be scared, it is not an inspiration talk.
I was thinking about this topic from long time, at first I thought the tile
should be ‘the beginning at the end’. Then I realise PhD is not the end and the
next step must be an extension only. After spending so many years with the topic/subjects
during my MPhil & PhD, I cannot even dream about the end. Love never had an
expiry date irrespective of the subject. Then if there is no end, new beginnings
do not exist in this context. Then another
title for this topic came to my mind, such as ‘from caterpillar to butterfly’.
Well I had to discard this title too. As I was going through job applications,
soon I realize may be I’m not a butterfly yet. I may have forgotten the pupa
stage, hope I don’t have to sacrifice my life for silk!
Then with time I realise that the
whole Newcastle-MPhil-PhD period might have taught something else. My
supervisor use to say, whenever you want to start something to move from one
point to another, ask to your previous part what-why-how and ask the same
questions to the next part. Let me introduce you with this theory, whenever you
want to answer a question, difficult or simple, ask or prepare yourself for
what-why-how. What is the question about, why you are going to choose only this
answer and how you are going to reach to the answers? Using this theory I had
survived past six years. Whenever the stay in Newcastle was hard or the complex
issues in the PhD made me rethink about the choices, this theory was the key. I
might have complained about my supervisor’s ignorance many times during past
six years, as she had the answers and she refused to tell me. Now I know, those hard days were essential
for me, at least for the next big issues of life.
Some time it’s hard to find what we
want in life! In case of Indian system we always try to fulfil family’s dream. However
there are some exceptions, passion builds the courage to break all the
boundaries. Those usually take the risk to go beyond everyone’s expectation and
then success was secondary for them. I think over the years those people think
and rethink and then decide about what they want most. Life might give you
choices and then you have to decide, what you want. Once you know what &
why you want, you cannot look back and regret. At some point, you have to be
sure about what you want, not what your family want or what your friends expect
from you.
Previously I was always confused,
confusion about the next step. Then I thought lets apply the research theory. Now
I actually can differentiate different events for life, like what is important
at the moment, why it is so important. May be in many cases I don’t know how I’m
going to achieve or survive though the whole process, but at least I can try.
It is a key which can open all the locks, with this believe, I just try. Always keep faith on your wish. Let the love for
your wishes show the way to the final point. Well I also believe that there is
no final point. As you move, your final point moves too. Always remember love
is strength not weakness. To find the way in difficult situations always ask
yourself, what-why-how, because you and only you have the answers.
