हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए क्लिक करें
“Teaching is not a typical profession where your only aim is good salary, career, advancement”- Prof. Malabika Sarkar
Professor Malabika Sarkar, who served as Vice-Chancellor of two of India’s most prominent universities—Ashoka University and Presidency University—has consistently excelled in her academic field, both as a student and as a professor. Today, Professor Sarkar has two books to her credit: Cosmos and Character in Paradise Lost and Monet’s Savile.
While talking to Professor Malabika Sarkar about her life, education, and career, we would like to bring some inspiration from her journey to those students who are thinking about their future after the crucial turning point of their class 12th examinations.
Tell us about your family and education.
My father was one of the best doctors in India. He was the first neurologist, and he ensured that the house was filled with beautiful books. So, from a young age, I had a passion for reading and learning. My mother was also very talented in music and was a very good professional singer. I inherited this interest in music; I learned to play two instruments, had a beautiful garden at home, and grew up in a house full of books—such was my childhood. I remember that during my school days, I used to read so much literature that my teachers used to joke that they would not take the class, but Malabika would. Because I was curious to study further, I chose English Literature as my undergraduate major.
I studied at Presidency College, India’s oldest and most prestigious university, and then went on to Cambridge University. There, I realized that what I had learned at Presidency College was so valuable that it opened me up to international recognition. It was then that I discovered that literature and education were a great fit for me. At that time, there weren’t as many career options for women as there are today. The knowledge I gained at Presidency College, the company of the best professors, and learning from them were invaluable. All of this gave me a strong foundation, and when I went to Cambridge University, my inquisitive nature knew no bounds. I read and learned about a wide range of topics; it is crucial for any student not to limit themselves to a single subject but to embrace a multidisciplinary approach—taking an interest in and studying other subjects alongside their own.
What are the challenges of being a professor, and how do you enjoy it?
The most challenging part of my career was when I was an assistant professor at a university. I was only 30 years old at the time, and the Governor of West Bengal—who didn’t even know me—appointed me to the highest position on the Executive Council because he had heard I was a democratic person and trusted me. When I went there, I was the only woman. Everyone else was men who expected me to just sit there and have some coffee, but I stood up for my rights. I called right as right and wrong as wrong, and in this way, I was always successful in my field of work.
As for the happiest moments, they were the times I spent with my students; as a university professor, being in constant contact with young people makes me feel young too. Today, some of my students are professors at Oxford and Cambridge. It is heartening when they meet me while traveling and tell me they hold senior positions in major international companies. Teaching is not a typical profession where your only aim is a good salary or career advancement. As educators, our responsibility is to inspire young people, mentor them, and prepare them for even greater achievements. I am incredibly proud of my profession.
What should be done to achieve success?
I learned many valuable things, but one thing that will always be a crucial part of success is mutual respect. I want today’s students to learn this along with their academics and skills. Respect for others helps us become better people. Furthermore, moving forward requires everyone’s support and teamwork.
What is the difference between yesterday and today for girls?
I think girls are in a much better place today because, apart from studies, there are so many options. If you look at women’s cricket or women’s football—played at stadiums like Wembley—it shows tremendous progress. The entire stadium was filled with people cheering for the women playing there. I think women’s sports have made great strides, and the workplace has opened up many more options for women than ever before. Whether it is corporate careers, advertising, journalism, science, or banking, many more fields are now open.
To help students focus on their goals, I always tell them the story of athlete Roger Bannister. When Bannister entered the field, he didn’t look left or right; he focused solely on running straight and breaking the four-minute record. Similarly, students should focus solely on their goals, not on what others are doing or what others are saying.
— Rajni Prasad