Blessed Moments Today! ❤️

Three Inspirational Moments Today | PhD Viva @ Providence!

#wednesdaymusings

#heartwarming

Ms. Jasmine | Mr. Lenin | Ms. Dh***

Early morning sharp at 6.15 the train chugged into Mettupalayam Railway Station.

The candidate's husband and her father warmly received me at the Railway Station. We then proceeded to have a cup of coffee, and then started the journey of 40 kms comprising of 14 hairpin bends and almost an 80 minute-journey!

It was so delightful to drive through the delectable mountains on either side, and the sun's rays for once, so gently shining on you, in this part of Tamil Nadu.

The salubrious guest house that they'd booked for me was so cozy and so invigorating!

The only little adventurous kinda bit about this lovely place was, when Dr. Beulah later on told me that this was the same place where a leopard had strayed a few months ago, on 13th November 2023, and it had attacked a few people as well! 

It seems the leopard frequents the place every now and then]. You see, this is that very moment when your heart stops right on its tracks for a perfect jiffy – say a fraction of a second – before it could be assuaged back to normalcy-mode again! 😊

Had hot bhooris to beat the cold weather, [for breakfast] in their Dining Hall, and then Dr. Gladys and her husband arrived in time to take me to the grand ol' College – the College that is celebrating its diamond jubilee shortly - Providence College for Women (Autonomous), Coonoor!

The students, faculty and the PhD candidate's near and dear had filled up the Auditorium well before the start of the viva voce.

Then, the candidate Ms. Jasmine Joy defended her thesis for around 30 minutes, which was followed by me reading out the questions given by the Foreign Examiner and I gave my own questions for her, as well!

One question that I asked her, since she had worked on Culinary Literature, was –

Food is considered an integral part of one’s cultural heritage, in fact, a way of life that is unique to a particular region, a particular culture, etc., that is passed down from generation to generation. So when you argue that, ‘every human individual shares a common table to dine together without being biased of any egocentric convictions’, don’t you think it compromises greatly on one’s own culture and traditions?

And the candidate gave quite a convincing answer!

A part answer of what she said –

Well, this study foregrounds the view of commensality that emphasizes on inclusiveness and acceptance through the sharing of food. In this regard, food is the chief source that coordinates and brings people of different societies together through the means of dining and sharing of food. The study highlights on how Harris uses food as a medium of communication between communities. The chapter also reveals the importance of commensality where it connects people from different spheres together where there is sharing of food, love and fellowship.

Then, Faculty members and others gathered also asked very pertinent questions to the candidate and she answered them all, convincingly.

After that, I read out both the reports, followed by the momentous occasion that the candidate was eagerly waiting for!

That bated-breath moment when you attain a higher honorific that bestows on you a heightened sense of achievement, that so gracefully and so elegantly tags on to you for the rest of your sweet life! 😊

And so – Said I -  

I hereby recommend Ms. Jasmine for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Presenting Dr. Jasmine Joy, ladies and Gentlemen!

Ms. Oops… Dr. Jasmine Joy was visibly moved. And so was her guide! And so were her parents! And so were the rapt audience who'd gathered.

She then proceeded to thank everyone who had worked hard to earn her this blessed honorific – Dr. Jasmine Joy!

Then, at the same venue, we all proceeded to have a good many photos to cherish the momentous occasion for posterity!

Post-Viva, when we had a coffee time with the Principal and the Faculty, I'd invited Mr. Lenin Mark, who's currently Principal of our MCC-Kotagiri College, Kotagiri, to come and have a discussion with the Principal and the Faculty of Providence College for Women to think of ways in which we can partner with them.

Lenin lovingly obliged me, and he came in no time.

I introduced Mr. Lenin Mark to the august audience, saying -

Lenin is our student from the 2004-2007 batch.

He was the only student who had received a real gold pen as a token of appreciation from his proud teacher (yes! a proud me!) 😊 - for not missing even one of his classes!

Now, we, his teachers are so happy to see him as Principal of MCC-Kotagiri Community College.

So proud of you, dear Lenin. Keep up the good work.

Now, even as I am on my journey by train, a few of us fellow passengers in our coupe,  are having a lovely time of conversation! 😊

One among us here is a Chef in a famous hotel, the other is a banker, and the third is a young navy personnel, sharing the coupe with us!

The vibrant young girl – who is with the Indian navy, - told us that she was getting back home after a hectic work routine, to spend time with her parents in Goa.

When one among my fellow passengers, curious, asked her,

‘So when are you going to get married?’

‘Don’t know’! she said, trying to hide her embarrassment at the question!

Then, still curious, he asked her the next question –

‘What kind of life partner do you look out for in life? Since you said that your work involves a lot of shuttling places?’

She replied,

‘That’s one reason I look out for my partner only from the army or the navy! Since the ordinary civilian guy won’t be able to understand my life at all! Once we are married also, we won’t be thinking of staying together. That’s because he will be posted in one place, while I will be in another place!’

When our fellow passenger again asked her, 

‘But then, don’t you think, your family life will take a backseat? At the expense of duty?’

She replied, so confident, cool and composed –

‘Service First! Family comes next for me!’, Sir!

Deep from within my heart, I could feel my entire body mind and soul giving a royal salute to this young navy personnel.

She added to say, ‘My father just retired from the Navy after 30 years of dedicated service, and I’m so proud I’ve taken the mantle from him!’

I was so happy that she used the words, 

‘Service First’! 

I wish and pray and sincerely hope that a thousand Ms. Dh*****s emerge from our lovely nation, where people dedicate their life and time to ‘Service’, and not merely to the call of ‘Duty’!

An inspirational that I was waiting to share it for all of us, dear readers! 

I’m sure with such committed youngsters in ‘Service to our Nation’ we are sure to march ahead  with boldness and conviction towards becoming a self-sufficient super power in every way!

Gave me a little thought to ponder as well!

We who do our daily routines, if we have the concept of ‘Service’ in mind, in our own little ways –

Be it -

A Service of ‘Writing’,

A Service of ‘Singing’,

A Service of Sharing our Ideas and Thoughts,

A Service of Helping the Weak,

A Service of Standing up to injustice,

A Service of making someone happy today,

I’m sure our life will also be of ‘Service’ to our Nation, in our own little ways!

PS: Although the young vibrant navy personnel replied gracefully to this prying question on her personal choices and personal life, like, ‘When are you getting married?’, I personally feel that, this type of question, could be avoided for sake of propriety!

You may want to read more on this topic, [on this burden of mine!], on our past post HERE!