Literary love

“Out of the 40 students chosen for direct admission to the higher secondary section of our school based on our test results, I alone chose the path of Arts, while 39 of my peers followed the well-trodden route of Science. My school was so startled by my unconventional choice that they called my father to confirm there hadn’t been a mistake. My decision left him bewildered and concerned, and it took him a considerable time to reconcile with it.

From a young age, literature has been my sanctuary. I would often lose myself in storybooks, stealthily hidden beneath my school textbooks. Though I was unsure of pursuing literature as a career, I harbored a steadfast aspiration to attain the highest academic degree. Encouraged by my English teachers, my interest in literature blossomed.

It was the dynamic research environment at JNU that profoundly shaped my academic inclinations. I had considered JNU out of my reach, but securing a place for Master’s there as well as excelling as a gold medalist during my Bachelor’s boosted my confidence and reassured my father that my pursuit of literature was a sound decision.

My fascination with “gender and sexuality” studies, rooted in my early and instinctive feminism, led me to my PhD research. I explore female adultery narratives in post-globalization South Asia, examining legal complications and the impact on traditional ideals of marriage and domesticity. This subject often scandalizes some of my family members, who question its practicality. Initially, I too wondered about the utility of my research. However, my supervisor enlightened me that literature offers an imaginative space to envision societal changes, a purpose in itself.

I firmly believe our education system needs to better inform society about the essence of a PhD – its process and its potential. Pursuing a PhD should stem from genuine passion, not as a mere postponement of employment. Our choices must reflect our true interests, allowing us to contribute meaningfully to the tapestry of knowledge.”

-Ananya Sarkar, PhD in English Literature, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Interviewed and written by Payel Das