Mythili Rajiva

“At a certain point in one’s life, there develops a tendency to view the past through rose coloured glasses, forgetting all the struggles and hard times. As Tennessee Williams says, ‘memory takes a lot of poetic license. It omits some details; others are exaggerated…for memory is seated predominantly in the heart.’ With this caveat in mind, when I look back on my years as a doctoral student in the Carleton Sociology/Anthropology department, I remember them as some of the happiest years of my adult life. I was in a large and vibrant department that actually included graduate students in its governance; I was surrounded by exceptional scholars and teachers, as well as many bright, talented fellow students, some of whom are still in my life 2 decades later. In particular, as a young woman of colour trying to find her footing in white academia (and it was even whiter in the 90s than it is now), I was fortunate enough to have the support of professors like Wally Clement, Janet Siltanen and, especially, the late Alan Hunt – all of whom made me feel like I deserved to be there. Finally, I had the privilege of being supervised by Bruce Curtis, a brilliant scholar and teacher. Those of us who took Bruce’s courses may remember that he was a tough marker and a rigorous thinker, who did not suffer fools gladly. But boy, could he teach. Now, after knowing Bruce for the last 25 years, my respect for him is only superseded by my deep affection.
In conclusion, anyone lucky enough to do their graduate work in one of the most highly respected programs in Canada, will get an outstanding education. Most of the professors that I knew have retired or passed away, but I’m certain that the current generation of faculty carries on the tradition of intellectual rigour, mentorship and conviviality that I experienced during my time there.”