On my terms

“My journey defies the notion that getting married early and having familial responsibilities, hinders a woman’s academic aspirations. Hailing from Bihar where girls usually are married off quite early, I was no exception. I got married right after my high school and gave birth to my daughter during the first semester of my BTech. She is now twelve years old. However none of this stopped me from completing my BTech, followed by MTech from Mumbai and eventually pursuing a PhD.

I am the first girl in my family to have completed such a high degree in education. Initially I had no clue what a PhD was because there was no one to guide me in this direction. But I loved studying and since my parents never discouraged me from pursuing higher education, I thought of giving research a try. I wanted to set an example that women were no less than their male counterparts in any sphere of life. My mother-in-law has been the backbone of my journey, she took care of my family and motivated me during difficult times when I felt I should quit PhD and return back home. As compared to many other people complaining of unsupportive in-laws, my mother-in-law takes pride in the fact that her daughter-in-law is a scientist.

When I moved to Mumbai for my Master’s, my husband and daughter tagged along. But when I failed to secure an on-campus accommodation during my PhD, daily commute became a hassle and with my husband’s…