Saturday, February 21, 2009

Sometimes Winning is Everything...

The real research is one which springs from your real life observations of small things. And how those small things relate to a bigger philosophical endeavor. Research is neither for earning money, nor for being famous neither about merely being sincere at work. Unless there is a high level motivation to relate your work to the bigger picture of the society, please don't consider this line of thinking!

I am a newbie in this never-ending run for getting better, precisely called PhD - with an experience of about 3.5 years, where your sole job is to do "path-breaking research". I am yet to make a mark in the sands of time with my work, but I have learnt one thing clearly, that unless you can convince yourself why you are doing what you are doing, there's no point carrying over a hollow endeavor. You need to be as much convinced about your work as you can explain it to a stranger you meet in the subway one fine morning, and after listening to you, he or she would be ready to think that your work is going to be the technology which would redefine the world tomorrow!

Success I believe is bound to come that way; should you culture this passion. And also, PhD is not another degree. It is about living your life all over again, in a new light, and where you see your work getting inter-twined as a fine thread in the numerous strands coloring our daily world. Right from sipping a cup of coffee sitting at a cafe, to your turning off the night lamp before going to sleep, you should be able to reflect on your research problem in some manner or the other, in some nook and corner of your life.

Research is an alter-life, and PhD a road you tread to reach that goal called excellence. It transcends all boundaries; all you care for thereafter is the well-being of one and all, even the strangers you meet everyday in the subway...

PS: This post is precisely meant for those of the readers who think they might consider doing PhD at some point of time. Or for those of us who are new to this world called 'research'. Question your instincts before you take the leap. Bring out the creative artist in you even if you have an engineering background - trust me, all it takes to do good research is a innovative eager mind, and a desire to better yourself everyday!

I would like to conclude with a few lines from the title song of SRK's movie 'Chak de India':

Sometimes winning is everything...

As a researcher, this needs to be your sole aim in life; winning being bettering yourself every morning you wake up, and then using your better self to contribute something meaningful to the world. Because as they say, winning is not about competing with someone, but with your inner self...


1 comment:

Akshay_P said...

I need help ... I am already lost in the sands of time :(.. nt sure where I am heading, why I am heading in that direction !! thanks to Mr. Obama, I might havta end up doing a PhD , help me :( :(

Does it count that I have a passion to create an iphone :( ... and I ended up doing an MS in EE and now a PhD .. helppppppppp !!!