Dr. Preetha Badi is the former Head of the Department of Biochemistry at SAFI Institute of Advanced Study. She also heads the Women’s Wing of the Central government’s Open Source Drug Discovery project. As she leaves SIAS campus, NIMMI BASKARAN engages her in a lengthy conversation for Campus Now blog. Excerpts:
You did your graduation and masters from Devi Ahilya University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. What are the differences when one compares the higher education sector in Kerala with that of other states?
Definitely there is a big difference; higher education in Kerala is lagging far behind as compared to other states. I completed B.Sc (Microbiology) and then M.Sc (Biochemistry) in 1998, so these subjects were there much before than they were even introduced here. Professors there were very well-versed in their respective subjects, stress was more on gaining in-depth knowledge, understanding the basics not cramming to just pass exams, I remember their teaching methodology even now. Making the students understand the subject is of utmost importance, this makes them fall in love with the subject and then the rest they will themselves do.
What may be the reason behind the lack of such a competent higher educational atmosphere in Kerala?
One main fault I have found is in the basic education itself, it’s incomplete and incompetent. If basics are fuzzy, it will make things worse when you are coming to degree level, where learning is more advanced. Here, the students just see the course as something to pass the examination, not their fault, they are taught like that. In Kerala, what I have heard is only the government school teachers impart proper basic education, that is teach the fundamentals. Other schools are just places of fierce competition to score the best grades.
Do you mean to say that the English medium schools in Kerala are useless?
Not entirely, as English medium schools are there in the government sector too. Making the students get the basics is very important. As I am not educated here I don’t know what the actual situation really is. If you see the past records of competitive exams, students from Malayalam medium and from government schools are more in number.
It means the problem is not in the medium but in the teaching methods.
You have been one of the best teachers this campus has ever seen, according to scores of students and your colleagues. Did your teaching career start in SIAS?
No. While I was doing my Ph.D, I taught Plus Two students in Queens College, Indore (M.P.), there I used to teach Biotechnology. Later, I worked in Calicut SDS Memorial Home Science College for one year, as a Food Biochemistry lecturer. Thereafter, I joined SIAS on June 4, 2008. It has been more than three and half years, now.
What made you to select SIAS?
It’s not a question of selection, the first five years after marriage was completely devoted to kids, at that time my priority was looking after my family, I believe unless you are a good mother you can never be a good teacher. The next five years were spent in balancing family and pursuing doctorate. I completed my Ph.D in 2007, the kids were grown up and the time was apt for a job, applied in SAFI in response to the advertisement in 2008 and got the job.That’s it.
You are an active leader of the Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) project of the Central government. The current research, as far as I know, is to discover drugs for Tuberculosis. Is the mission going to be successful soon? Are you optimistic or skeptical?
Yes, I want to be optimistic about it because nobody except OSDD is at least trying to find a cure for tuberculosis. I believe its possible to find a drug as the work has started from the basic genomics level and the direction of the research is right. There has to be a wonder drug for TB which the community will discover sooner or later. I’m not skeptical at this point of time.
However, the public, by and large, seems to be quite unaware of the OSDD mission. How can we spread awareness among the people?
By organizing seminars, symposiums, classes etc. When I initially joined OSDD, we went in and around Calicut conducting seminars at colleges like Devakiyamma College, Farook College etc. Sri Buddha College, Alappuzha is also involved in OSDD projects. Under the auspices of CSIR, large number of seminars have been organised all around Kerala and also around the country. I think people are more aware about this dreaded disease now than in the past.
Is it just an urban project? Are such studies being conducted in rural area, too?
Many of the participants working here are from rural area. When in future the drug is developed it will be more beneficial and affordable to the poor people as it will be free from Intellectual Property Rights etc. (as developed by open community).
Is OSDD working on any other lethal diseases apart from TB?
Cancer has been talked about. But I am not sure. Prime priority is to complete the TB project. They are planning to find drugs for malaria too. Other details are awaited.
There are other forms of treatments, like Pranic healing, which offer complete cure of diseases. How far they are true? What is your assessment, as a scientist?
It’s totally an individualistic approach. I and my family take homeopathic medicines; allopathy from my view is for emergency purposes. I believe allopathic drugs are harmful; I am yet to see a medicine which is free of side effects. I feel homeopathy is the best as it is a type of holistic medicine which is not based on treating the disease in the person but treating the person in disease. I have no in-depth idea about the effect of other forms you mentioned. If it works for certain people then it’s fine for them. Whatever the form of treatment, your belief and faith in that is more important.
You say allopathy is harmful. But OSDD works towards an allopathic solution to TB, right?
Yes, because, till now no other stream has complete cure for TB. The current four medicines available for TB have severe side effects. So, we are looking to discover a drug which is free of toxic side effects, micro quantities would be enough and that which does not have to be consumed for a long duration favoring patient compliance.
What is your concept about popular science writing? People today feel it a bit absurd to read a scientific journal?
What you have said is true. When I see a scientific journal and a general article I prefer reading the general article. Scientific journal becomes boring to the common readers because of the technical terminologies. But for those who are from the field this is a necessity. Structure and profile of scientific writing need to be changed before taking it to common man. Instead of details it can be limited to the crux and result of the work, which will be more informative to the common reader.
Kerala is a state that claims 100% literacy. What do you think of the work culture of Keralites?
I came to Kerala after my marriage and now I am more so a permanent resident here. It seems Keralites’ attitude is impossible to change. Even after so many years of Independence, this is one state where we have frequent
bandhs,
hartals and strikes. We don’t have a work culture to boast of, but the same people when they go outside Kerala give their 100%. Strange it seems but that is what I saw at OSDD, too.
We have propagated OSDD Women Scientist Forum, you can work even from home, with a computer and internet connection it’s a virtual laboratory. But nobody is taking serious interest. At other places, people would have jumped at such opportunities, given that it is an online job. Even though we have 100% literacy, basic knowledge and attitude is seriously lacking.
One of the problems with the college education in Kerala, perhaps, is the issue of poor communication skills in English.
We preach but we do not practice. Students imitate teachers, their role models but what if the teachers are not up to the mark? Teachers should have good command over the language and the confidence to speak in front of an audience. We have to teach and guide the students to strengthen their vocabulary and continuously communicate with them in English and show them its importance. Those who are genuinely interested in building a career should develop their English-speaking skills.
What is your proposal of programmes to be initiated in SIAS?
SIAS lacks proper research base. There is too much talk and emphasis on research work but getting it translated into real work at the ground level is too slow. Research should be there in every department and it should be properly co-ordinated. The basic problems should be solved prima facie. We lost a lot of time because of such basic problems, that too at a very crucial juncture. The future of any Institute lies in research. I and Dr Sheeba have completed a book chapter (for an invited review journal) of about 50 pages on anti-tubercular phyto- molecules. But, it seems to have no significance; here people do not understand what scientific research is. I honestly feel the absence of a decision-making authority with a scientific background, for the speedy progress of R.
Any institute is known by the faculty it has. Emphasis should be on getting good teachers and once you get them they should be retained. Investment should not only be in infrastructure and consumables but also on hiring good faculties preferably with a Ph.D background, but it should be noted that having a NET or Ph.D is also not an absolute indicator of his / her being a good teacher.
What is your advice to your students?
Learn to love your subject, then passing exams won’t be a problem. Be fully committed and dedicated to your studies and work. Develop all round personality, master languages as well as develop good command over English. Give importance to research. Don’t be limited by the boundary of departments, feel free to know and understand inter-departmental subjects and activities. Always talk looking into the eyes of the person, this builds self-confidence and reflects inner truth, set a goal - work towards it.
I can go on and on, all my students are very dear to me, I know they will be in touch with me through out so the remaining advices I can dispense at that time, for time being ‘All the best and do good’.
So, why did you decide to leave SIAS?
The main reason for leaving SIAS is travelling problems: changing three buses, four hours of daily travelling, coupled with teaching and round the clock research work. It is too exhaustive and discouraging because these very efforts are not getting translated into its real worth. This made me review my priorities. My three years of teaching here has shown me that students are weak in their basics. I have plans to start my own study center. My entire focus is on imparting basic knowledge. The aim is now contributing to the society. I feel my knowledge and exposure could be utilized for the development of the student community with whom I can so effortlessly relate, at the same time, I can also assist my husband in script writing, to be connected to creative work is rewarding in itself.
I learnt that your husband is a script writer. How long he has been working in the film industry?
My husband, Mr. Anil Kunhappan, has worked as an assistant director in five films. Now he is working on his own script. He is a B.E Mechanical Engineer from BITS, Bhilai, has set up his own company and was concentrating on business, but his underlying passion has always been movies. He always wanted to follow his passion but when you have family to take care of, it’s a risky decision to make but now the choice is made. We love watching movies of all languages. That gives a lot of exposure. I always tell my students that exposure is important. Come out of the well called Kerala and see the world, its one life we all get.
