Background no bar, professor couple win global acclaim

The journey up to Paris was not without its share of hurdles. At the Rajur village in Ahmednagar where Pawar hails from, the rate of school dropouts was high and the state of English language that was taught in the schools was poor. So, it was nothing less than an achievement when she managed to complete her masters in literature and has now submitted a thesis for doctorate at the University of Pune.

For Kadam, a son of a school peon in Sangamner, education was not easy considering that a reputed school in Pune preferred to admit the son of a big shot over him and he had to return to Sangamner to complete his schooling. Therefore, the MSc and MPhil in Chemistry as well as MBA and PhD in Computer Management that Kadam holds have come in after relentless hard work.

Pawar said she was pleasantly shocked when her paper was accepted and was invited to Paris. “I was happy, but feared travelling abroad alone. That’s when I forced my husband to submit a paper too. Luckily, his paper was selected as well,” she said. Products of a humble rural upbringing, it was their first trip abroad.

“Coming from a Dalit background, this was my contribution towards ensuring that the issues faced by the Indian Dalit woman are given international exposure. The discussions that ensued served to provide Western experts a glimpse into a fragment of the Indian situation,” said Pawar.

The trip made them aware of the stark differences in the cultures of India and France. “Indians, despite their problems, are definitely happier while the French seem to have reached a saturation point in their happiness. Our family culture is a rarity there and is appreciated by most,” said Kadam.

The couple hope that their example sends across the message that an individual’s background is no deterrent for success.