This was the advice Sangeetha received from many of her well-wishers, when she announced her decision to do Ph.D.
Sangeetha decided to approach Dr. Parameswaran and request him to be her guide.
Dr. Parameswaran had a reputation at the national level as a leading scholar in History.
"Since a lot of people doing Ph.D apply to Dr. Parameswaran, requesting him to be their guide, he follows the practice of calling a select few, who have a good academic background, for a personal interview and select his students. Since you have an excellent academic background, you have a good chance of being selected by him" the principal of her college told Sangeetha, encouragingly.
Sangeetha received a call for interview from Parameswaran, within a few days of her sending her application.
After quickly going through Sabgeetha's profile, Parameswaran asked her, "What is the topic you have chosen for research?"
"I propose to do research on 'A Comparative Study of Chola and Pallava cultures.'"
"Interesting. How did you choose this topic?"
"When I visited some temples in Kanchipuram, I learnt that both the Chola kings and the Pallava kings had contributed to the structures of the temples at various times. I saw that elements of the styles and features of both the dynasties in the architecture and the sculptures in the temples. After having a glimpse of some of the features, I developed a desire to make a study comparing and contrasting the cultures of the two dynasties. I look up to you to guide me in understanding the scope for this study and devising an appropriate approach."
"Brilliant! I am impressed by your approach. In general, people who do research with the goal of getting an academic degree, do some superficial research, write something they call thesis and manage to get the degree! But you have decided to link something you have observed, with your academic studies and decided to do research, adopting a profound approach. I should feel proud of being your guide" said Parameswaran.
Sabgeetha was thrilled to hear this effusive praise from a scholar of repute. She noticed that while commending her approach, he had also conveyed his acceptance to be her guide.
"I am grateful to you, sir, for accepting me as your student. It is my good fortune" said Sangeetha, overwhelmed with excitement.
"But, Sangeetha, you have to offer me a Guru Dakshina*" said Parameswaran, smiling.
"What is it, sir?" asked Sangeetha, feeling apprehensive that he was going to ask for money, in return for accepting her as his student.
"There is only one thing that a beautiful woman like you can give to a man!" said Parameswaran, with a smirk.
Sangeetha felt as if a hot vapour was sweeping her body from head to feet. She noticed that he had dropped the "Mrs," while addressing her and begun to address her by her first name.
"What do you mean, sir" asked Sangeetha, finding it difficult to believe that the professor would make such an outrageous demand.
"It is very simple, Sangeetha. I may seek your company now and then and you should readily oblige me."
"It is very simple, Sangeetha. I may seek your company now and then and you should readily oblige me."
"Sir! I am a married woman."
"Yes, of course. You have mentioned it in your profile. Don't worry. No one will come to know about your private encounters with me!"
Sangeetha was so shocked that she didn't know how to respond.
She got up from her seat.
"Just a minute" said Parameswaran.
But Sangeetha ignored him and walked out.
But Sangeetha ignored him and walked out.
Sangeetha did her Ph.D, choosing another professor as her guide. However, the memory of the bitter experience she had with Parameswaran was stuck in her mind like a piece of burning coal, constantly agonizing her.
'Scoundrels like Parameswaran have been freely roaming about in the society, wearing the cloak of respectability. How many women would have succumbed to his pressure, realizing that they had no other alternative and silently suffered the humiliation and the pain!' Sangeetha would often reflect.
She could not reveal to the outside world what Parameswaran demanded of her for consenting to be her guide. But she had a strong urge to expose him.
'Scoundrels like Parameswaran have been freely roaming about in the society, wearing the cloak of respectability. How many women would have succumbed to his pressure, realizing that they had no other alternative and silently suffered the humiliation and the pain!' Sangeetha would often reflect.
She could not reveal to the outside world what Parameswaran demanded of her for consenting to be her guide. But she had a strong urge to expose him.
She had been thinking of a way to expose and humiliate Parameswaran.
After thinking about this repeatedly, an idea occurred to her.
Malini, the Editor of 'Oh Woman,' a journal dedicated to issues relating to women, read the article written by Sangeetha.
"Is this a true story?" Malini asked Sangeetha, after reading the article.
"Yes" said Sangeetha.
"I can publish your article entitled, 'Getting a doctorate - A Woman's Experience,' specifying it as a true incident. But this article doesn't carry the name of either the victim or the perpetrator. What do you expect to gain by getting this article published?"
"I can publish your article entitled, 'Getting a doctorate - A Woman's Experience,' specifying it as a true incident. But this article doesn't carry the name of either the victim or the perpetrator. What do you expect to gain by getting this article published?"
"Madam! As you could have guessed, I am the victim. But as you know, revealing my name would only impact me adversely. If I were to mention the name of the professor, he would deny it. He might also file a defamation suit against you and me. I don't have any evidence to prove my allegation."
"I am aware of the implications of mentioning the names of the victim and the predator, in the article. But I am wondering what good will result, by my publishing this article in our magazine."
"Madam! After reading the article, were you able to guess the name of the professor?" asked Sangeetha.
"Madam! After reading the article, were you able to guess the name of the professor?" asked Sangeetha.
"My guess is that it was Dr. Parameswaran!" said Malini, somewhat reluctantly.
"Correct. But how did you guess the name?"
"From the two things you have said about him. You have written that he is a professor with a reputation at the national level. Secondly, you have described yourself as a student of History. Taking these two details together, his name was the first one that popped out of my mind."
"Just as you were able to guess the identity of the professor, so will your readers be."
"Yes, I think so. At the same time, Parameswaran cannot claim that the article was about him. If he were to say so, it would amount to his admitting his wrongdoing. So, this article will hit him, but he won't be able to hit us back. I will publish the article" said Malini, enthusiastically.
"Thank you, madam" said Sangeetha.
After two weeks, Sangeetha received a phone call from Malini.
"Mrs. Sangeetha! Your article has elicited a lot of response. Many readers have identified the professor referred to in the article as Dr. Parameswaran. Several women affected by him have shared their experiences through letters, emails and phone calls. I understand that the vice-chancellor of the university is also upset. Another surprising information is that the contents of your article have reached many places across the country. Parameswaran had earlier been chosen to preside over the History Researchers' Conference to be held in Delhi next month. Now, there is an official notification that the conference would be presided over by another person, without stating any reason for replacing Parameswaran by the other person. The blow delivered by you has hit Parameswaran very hard. Congratulations."
"Mrs. Sangeetha! Your article has elicited a lot of response. Many readers have identified the professor referred to in the article as Dr. Parameswaran. Several women affected by him have shared their experiences through letters, emails and phone calls. I understand that the vice-chancellor of the university is also upset. Another surprising information is that the contents of your article have reached many places across the country. Parameswaran had earlier been chosen to preside over the History Researchers' Conference to be held in Delhi next month. Now, there is an official notification that the conference would be presided over by another person, without stating any reason for replacing Parameswaran by the other person. The blow delivered by you has hit Parameswaran very hard. Congratulations."
*Guru Dakshina - An offering by way of cash or a service made by a student to his teacher in the traditional Gurukula System that was in vogue in ancient India.
Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue
The Path of Virtue
Chapter 14
Possession of Propriety
Possession of Propriety
Verse 144 (In Tamil)
enaiththuNaiyar Ayinum ennAm thinaith thuNaiyum
thErAn piRan il pugal.
thErAn piRan il pugal.
Meaning:
However great a person may be, what worth is his reputation if, without considering the impropriety of his action, he desires the wife of another?
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'peNNE nI vAzhga' by the same author)
Verse 145 (Soon)
Verse 143
Verse 143
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