Greetings to all my readers!

I hope all of you are keeping warm and eagerly waiting for the spring to show up at Newcastle’s door-steps. So am I (!!!)

Today, I will tell you a story, a true story about me and how I came to study sociology. It was nearly six years ago, in my hometown – Kolkata (Wes Bengal, India). As every other young person of my age, I need to get into an university to complete my undergraduate degree. However, things are a little different in India. Most universities, especially the reputed ones, often take entrance exams to select the brightest students to be admitted to their university. Subjects of your interest, you chose for yourself. Nearly six years ago, I gave 2 such entrance exams for one of the most reputed institution in my hometown. The first one being English and the second Sociology. To be completely honest with you, I was not interested in Sociology, never! But more in doing English honours. After giving both the exams, I was confident that I would definitely get a chance to do English honours. I was drowned in so much confidence that I never gave a second thought of doing Sociology. But I guess, there were other plans for me. Unfortunately, as fate brings, I got sociology honours rather than English! I was not happy. In-fact, I was very unhappy. When my neighbours heard the news they said: “What will you do by studying sociology? Does this subject have a future?” Most of them made me look like a failure and a silly person who has no intellectual capability. I went to the university of-course and started studying Sociology. My parents supported me, but was sneered by my neighbours. The sneering continued for some time and so did my studies in Sociology, then one day I realized, one should not study subjects just by their market value, rather by what the subject has to offer the person studying it! In India, a great value is given to learning English or Science subjects such as Medicine, Engineering, Biology and so one. In comparison to these, Sociology was a new born baby in India. Very few people studied it. Hence, it was considered a weak and a ‘women’s subject’. However, its true capabilities — of what it has to offer to others were only open to those who wishes to understand and study what Sociology has to offer. It was that day I realized that  ignorance towards a particular subject or biasses for one, something that I cannot change. I completed my degree after 3 years in Sociology honours, came second in the state of West Bengal and stood second in the university. In those past 3 years as an undergraduate student, I worked hard to understand the intricacies and complexities of what the subject had to offer. It was not an easy task. But I did it. In 2011 I came to UK to pursue higher education in Sociology and now I am here, at Newcastle University, as a PhD student in Sociology, writing a blog for all you lovely people out there! It so happened that history repeated itself once again! On 5th of February, 2014, the Newcastle University had organised a PG open day for all national and international students to come and pursue their dreams at this prestigious university. I, ofcourse as a PG student ambassador (representing ‘Sociology’) was once again faced with this question from a number of students: “What does Sociology have to offer me to establish my future career?” and here is the honest answer I gave (in a customer friendly way, with a sweet smile on my face): “I can tell you what Sociology consists of – It is not just the study of society, it is the process of understanding the human life and the world they live in – their society. I can answer different questions and complexities of what the subject deals with, but I cannot tell you if it is the right subject to help you build your career. Study the subject that shook your very existence and from there you will build your own career”.