Many Indian scholars who embark on a PhD journey may face challenges such as navigating a complex system of fellowships, dealing with exploitation, and encountering a preference for foreign-trained individuals. This article explores the challenges faced by Indian academia and the reasons why some Indian scholars are opting to pursue their PhDs overseas. In the world of academia, the pursuit of a PhD is often seen as the pinnacle of intellectual achievement. However, in India, this journey is fraught with challenges that go beyond the rigors of research. Stories of student exploitation by guides, irregular fellowships, and a preference for foreign-trained individuals over Indian PhDs are all too common. For some, a PhD is seen as a way to prolong their stay in the university campus when job prospects are bleak. However, this is a far cry from the West, where a PhD is a result-oriented program, decently funded, and offers better career opportunities in the private sector. The ...
Exploring the Paradox of Academic Excellence and Real-World Incompetence Unraveling the Dichotomy of Academic Brilliance and Practical Inefficiency Over the years, I have had the privilege of interacting with a diverse array of students, ranging from mature learners, parent-students, to research scholars. These individuals, adept at navigating their professional lives, often exhibit a unique perspective towards education, viewing it as a communal activity or a sacred journey of enlightenment and progress. However, a striking observation that emerges from my interactions with these research scholars and students is their ability to circumvent the conventional education system to achieve their academic goals. This phenomenon is not a reflection of their intellectual prowess but rather an indication of their survival instinct in a system that values degrees over knowledge. For instance, many of these students have been nurtured by 'helicopter paren...