Again a student!

My modest effort does make an interesting story. I had wanted to do a PhD during my education phase but then I joined the IAS and was continuously engaged in important assignments In the IAS. I was lucky always in getting the best possible assignments, a Keralite cadre officer could have hoped. In each of the assignments, I tried to make a mark by launching innovative projects in the implementation of which I was intensively involved. Taking a Doctorate would have involved taking a three or four years study leave (which some IAS officers in India had done). So my Doctorate effort had to wait till my later political phase in which last four years I had no worthwhile political assignment. I chose BITS Pilani, because registering in Kerala University would open me to allegations of influence peddling (a normal cynical reaction of some Keralites) and also because BITS is a Technical University suited to my technical background in education.

Even though I stood first in Kerala University in Mechanical Engineering (my academic record seemingly still unbroken), my Degree of BSc Engineering is not adequate for a Doctoral Pursuit. Minimum required is MA or MSc or other Post Graduate qualification. So I decided to register at Annamalai University for their off-campus 2 years course in MA (Sociology). After 2 year of study and writing 10 papers in different disciplines of sociology, I passed with first class and distinction in MA (Sociology) 7 years ago. For anonymity, I wrote the exams at a Centre at Thambaram, in a school. The School Principal recognizing who I was and astonished said ‘Neengal madhya amaichar saar (Central Minister). My god, ithellam ethukku sir.’ (Why you have to do all this). I said continuing education is my passion or words to that effort. So at age 65, I wrote those 10 papers sitting amidst 20 year old Tamil boys and girls. 

On getting MA (Sociology), I applied at BITS Pilani, for their off-campus Doctoral Course for professionals in subjects which are related to their practical experiences. I naturally chose Public Policy and Administration and requested for my doctorate dissertation the topic “Kerala’s future – Towards a new Model of Development’ later on changed by the university To ‘Kerala Model of Development – Critical Analysis and a design for the future’. After 10 semesters of rigorous research and passing different tests conducted by the university for 5 years, I submitted the Thesis on the subject, which was examined by a panel of national and international examiners and then cleared for award of Doctorate. In my research I had interacted with scores of eminent scholars, public men and experts and made extensive use of institutions like Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum and Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi. 

Literally a 7 years quest at my age, MA Sociology plus Doctorate study has come to a successful end.