From Shanghumugham Beach, Trivandrum to Hawk Ridge Drive, US

About the author:  Pranav Prakash is a student pursuing his research in religion at Iowa University, United States. He did his B.A (Honours) in English Literature at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. He has won many a recognition and awards, one of them being the Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Award in 2007.
This article reflects Pranav’s thoughts on his transfer from one form of academia into another, as he transcends the boundaries of distance in the pursuit of his academic interests.

It was an unusually dark night. For last few days, it had rained heavily. Sitting alone on the Shanghumugham beach, I wondered what my life had in store for me. The monsoon had certainly excited the Arabian sea. As if it were seeking new horizons, the sea waves revolted violently against its coast. And my spirits were terribly low. It was yet another exhausting day.

I was tired of producing fake documents for procuring the membership of different libraries. I was weary of seeking the support of remote acquaintances for getting access to archival collections. I liked reading good literature, but I did not have enough money to buy those books. And I hated it most when I had to ask the elders in my family for money. What fumed me most was when most people, who learnt that I was pursuing Sanskrit, vernacular languages and religion, would look at me questioningly and mockingly, as if I have convinced myself of wrong virtues. I looked at the dark sky above. It was without stars. Somehow I felt as if I were lonely, homeless and spiritless.

Fours months later, I witness yet another dark night. The moon presents itself, in spite of the cloudy sky. My apartment is located on the top of a hill in Iowa City. I sit idle in my room and I look outside of my window. I am again reminded of the night I spent at Shanghumugham. What has really changed since then? It is certainly easier to get the membership of libraries and procure books now. Most librarians here welcome its readers. If the books are unavailable, the librarian either procures it from other libraries in the country or buys it for me. The archives are easily accessible. Since I joined the university on a fellowship, my financial conditions too are secure. These are certainly welcome changes in my life.
But does it make my academic life better? Is one to treasure an academic life merely because one has access to more books and richer libraries? Is an academic life only about books and manuscripts? After all, an academic life is as much a social event as a Church mass or a Hindu pûja. An academy invites participation of individuals who are interested either in sharing their knowledge or seeking it. Therefore, it is the ‘knowledge-sharing community’ of students and teachers that makes an academic life vibrant and exciting. It is the nature of exchanges between students and teachers that determines the quality of an academic life. And I realise that I have had very insightful and informed exchanges with my professors here. They are ever willing and interested in my academic ventures. But my experiences are only mine!

After all, there are always some students in all academic institutes who find their professors uninspiring, and all institutes have their share of bad students as well. For me, however, my professors have been truly inspiring. And it is owing to their meaningful exchanges, that even when a dark, lonely night looms outside my window, I am not without spirits. I gaze out again, and I see the flock of clouds spreading gently across the horizon.

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