Mother, daughter get their doctorates together
NEWDELHI: Mala Dutta, 56, achieved her dream of receiving a PHD degree on Friday, 34 years after she stepped out of college. What made it a doubly memorable occasion was that her 28-year-old daughter, Shreya Mishra, was with her to pick up her own doctoral degree the same day after they completed their PHD programmes together—something both had worked for.
Officials at the University of Delhi said it was first time that a mother-daughter duo had completed their doctoral programme together from the institution although there have been similar cases at the postgraduate level. They missed attending the convocation last year because it had been scheduled to take place a day after Shreya’s wedding.
Datta, an Indian Economic Service officer working with the defence ministry, said she had always wanted to do her PHD after completing her Master’s in economics from the Delhi School of Economics in 1985. “I had to take a break from work in 2012 when my younger daughter had her board exams. That was the time when I registered for PHD. I then took study leave and worked seriously on completing the degree,” she said. Her daughter Mishra, a consultant at World Bank, registered for her own PHD, in psychology, two years later.
“After I registered,we realised that we can complete it together and make it the most remarkable moment . Though our subjects were totally different, I started seeking guidance from my mother and worked harder to complete it within three years,” Mishra said. The mother and daughter finally managed to submit their theses and attend their oral exams last year.