Disclaimer: The following interview has been edited for the ease of readers. The responses are not verbatim accounts from the interviewee.

Dr. Kumar Sankar Bhattacharya has been an integral part of BITS Pilani for over ten years as a professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. On hearing about his departure from BITS Pilani, the English Press Club reached out to him for an interview about his experience.

Q. How long have you been in the teaching profession? Have you always taught in the field of humanities?

In 2001, I got my Master’s from Calcutta University. Since then, I have been in the teaching profession. It’s been a pretty long time. I have seen lots of places and met lots of good people. It’s very fulfilling that way. I have completed more than 22 years in academia as of December 2023.

I have always taught in the field of humanities. My Master’s was in English. Then I did my PhD in English from Drew University in New Jersey. It’s a small liberal arts university. I came back to India in 2012 and joined BITS in August 2012. I was teaching in BITS till December 2023. 

Q. How did you decide to pursue English?

In 12th standard, I was studying Science. I wanted to be a doctor, never an engineer, so I never took the engineering entrance exams. Look at that twist of fate, I ended up teaching engineers! 

I was born and raised in Kolkata where the opportunities were limited. It was 1996 and we didn’t have many medical seats. I took the entrance exam and could not crack it. My second choice was always English because I was always into writing, literature, and everything of that sort. 

At that point in time, there were two ways of looking at life. You look at the medical profession, not only for yourself, but so that you can help people. Since it did not click, I never thought of giving it a second try because honestly, I had given it my 100%. There was nothing else I could do. It was not in my hand and therefore, I thought, let’s pursue the second thing I find most interesting. So my Bachelor’s, Master’s, MPhil and PhD were in English. 

If you look at English nowadays as a field, at least for those not in humanities, it means reading English grammar and English literature. However, English is more of a cultural study. How do you look at the culture and what are the different kinds of interpretations you make? When the text was written, it was interpreted in a certain way, because society was like that. But after 100 or 200 years, how do you look at it? How do you interpret classics? In the 21st century, many will have completely different societal norms and expectations. I would say, all of this makes it more of a cultural study. 

When did you join BITS as a professor and what were the first few courses you taught?

I joined BITS on the 1st of August, 2012 and the semester began on either the 2nd or 3rd of August. I started teaching on the 1st of August, 2012. The first two courses I taught were ‘Critical Analysis of Literature and Cinema’ (CALCi) and ‘Technical Report Writing’ (TRW). I was co-teaching CALCi with another senior professor who left for the Goa campus after five years. I took over the course and it became my signature course. 

What was your favourite course that you taught?

The most intense course that I taught was ‘Comparative Indian Literature’ because I brought in a lot of challenging issues, sometimes political. I liked it because students would react to it in different ways. Some would be virulent saying, ‘How could you say this?’, and others would say that this is a Marxist perspective or a feminist perspective. The fascinating thing about BITS is that it is a melting pot of culture. You’ll see people from different kinds of backgrounds come in with either zero exposure or a lot of exposure from conservative or non-conservative families. The same text would generate opposite reactions, and I enjoyed it because this is India, and teaching India to Indians, who represent the problematic nature of Indian society, is fascinating.

I enjoyed it, but it was also emotionally draining because I was a participant. Normally, in the courses, I am much more detached. I teach and watch the students’ reactions, and let them formulate their opinions, only ‘igniting the mind’.

CALCi was fun in that way because I brought in literary texts and films that we discussed. It was much more interesting to see because nobody was bringing their personal baggage. Many of these works were from Europe and other places, so nobody would feel so virulent and defend their own standpoint. This would not be the case for comprehensive Indian literature, where everybody would be opinionated, and rightfully so, because everyone loves their country.

Q. I believe that you have taken the decision to retire from BITS. What led you to take this decision?

Yeah, it’s not retired, I have quit. As you know, I have been in the teaching field since 2001, so I thought of doing something else. I have settled down in the Himalayas. I’m in a small village in a small district called Almora in Uttarakhand. I would be looking for opportunities for social service now and I have a few ideas of my own. Maybe after a few years, they will come to fruition. BITS was extremely nice to me. BITSians are really the best people. But I wanted to have a change in my lifestyle. So that is what brought me here.

There is no retirement because retirement is for people who would not do anything. I would not like to do anything for money, but I would definitely like to do something, because once you work for money you become kind of constricted, like a slave to necessities and circumstances. We’ll see how things pan out. Look at life like a journey, there is no end till the body decays. 

Q. What do you consider your most significant contribution during your tenure at BITS?

I do not look at it that way. There are legendary teachers at BITS, I’ve seen them. I got a lot of love and respect from the students and my colleagues and I’m very indebted for that. At BITS, an Institute of Eminence, I have seen people who have dedicated their lives to teaching. Hence, I do not look at it as if I’ve made some extraordinary contribution. I have consciously built upon the structure that was given to me. There have been a lot of sacrifices my predecessors have made. But that is why BITS is where it is.

I have done my little bit, whatever I could do in my small capacity so that I can ignite the students because the students are brilliant. They need only a little bit of ignition, and then they will do wonders. I have done my bit, a little bit, so that we continue to enhance the standard.

Q. What is your fondest memory of BITS?

Before COVID I would have students coming to my office and visiting my home all the time. I would stay in my office till 8:30 PM or 9 PM to meet everyone. I am still in touch with them and we write to each other occasionally. After COVID, it has changed. 

They brought in a collage of very happy and wonderful people. Some of them would come up with their challenges on the personal front and then the academic front. We would sit down and we would try to figure out the best way forward. Those are my fondest memories of BITS, virtually the entire India sitting in my office, and that’s a privilege. Students would come and draw something on the whiteboard or come to my office and sing, and it was beautiful. BITS is a wonderful community and I would love the future BITSians to be like this. COVID has destroyed it completely and I would really urge the students and the faculty to bring it back and have that kind of fun because those are some of the memories that people would carry. At the end of the day when I talk to an 18-year-old with a dream it actually energises me.

Q. What is your favourite place on campus?

My favourite place has to be all the redis. Before COVID I would go to any redi, sit down with a cup of tea, and immediately be surrounded by a number of students. The culture is changing but I would urge all not to change it. Change is good sometimes, but this shouldn’t change, otherwise, people will be in their isolated zones. The academic pressure is a lot at BITS and that brings in a lot of other challenges like mental issues.

Q. Do you ever plan on coming back to BITS?

I will definitely come back to campus if I get an invitation, but I will not come back to teach. I teach a text called ‘Siddhartha’ by Hermann Hesse. It says when a person is on a journey, he never looks back, so coming back to BITS on the payroll would not be the plan. I would definitely come back to visit or for a series of lectures but not as a professor.

Q. Do you have any final words of advice for your students?

I don’t have any advice as such because I am also on the journey like all of you, just slightly older. The things you are stressed about today, won’t really matter tomorrow. Giving your hundred percent is what matters. Whatever grades come, whatever happens, everything will fall into place. Life is beyond a package. Money will bring you only material happiness and give you a cushion for a few years. Enjoy life as much as you can, enjoy your time, and enjoy the present. You cannot change past regrets because they are gone and the future is uncertain in that way because it is all based on speculation. Focus on the present and be happy. Thousands of people have done this before you, thousands will do it after. You as students should not be overstressed, however, you should be disciplined. Do your work and don’t worry about the result.