The writer is trying to save the sole of "Ph.D", it looks like this is a desperate attempt to regain the perception a Ph.D had. If left alone the market value of a Ph.D has a risk of falling to a lowest lever ever.
It all started with outsourcing industry. We, the young India went through lot of phases and had to learn lot of new things with this outsourcing industry and finally lost innocence. One important thing we learned was firing an employee. Ask any HR guy and he'll tell you that firing a Ph.D guy was a hardest thing just because of the hype and perception around the degree. All my life I have not seen a worthy Ph.D scholar, including some in my close family circles. I have known some friends who pursued Ph.D just because they had no other choice. These are the guys who could not get a job and to retain the visa status they went for Ph.D. I have also known some colleagues who would never revile that they are Ph.D so that they can keep the expectations low. May be, I might have interacted with very few people but I don't think that I have an adverse selection. I would say, let the market forces decide the value of a Ph.D
RE:Come out of the colonial thinking.
by Kittappa on Jan 18, 2008 07:00 PM Permalink
you are a frog in the well. Of course there are PhDs that have not done much great work more so in India. However, PhDs dominate in a country like the US. DO you know that GOOGLE, for example, is driven by PhDs? Just google and find out. Also, almost every area that you can think of in the present age has significant contribution from the PhDs
RE:Come out of the colonial thinking.
by Munish Oberoi on Jan 18, 2008 07:03 PM Permalink
Boss I know it all about google and so on, having done my phd from stanford.
RE:Come out of the colonial thinking.
by Joseph Abraham on Jan 18, 2008 07:23 PM Permalink
Mukesh ji. It is not necessary that a PhD has to do Post doc to ''contribute'' to the body of scientific knowledge. You are completely ignoring the possibilities of PhD. a phd from Standford doesnt mean that you are the best. you are just like any other PhDs
RE:Come out of the colonial thinking.
by Munish Oberoi on Jan 18, 2008 06:52 PM Permalink
In India 90% fo the Ph.Ds are done to get a JOB. Whereas the real aim of a Ph.D. should be to "SIGNIFICANTLY" extend the frontiers of human knowledge.
Tell me how many of the hundreds of Ph.D theses coming out of India every year are REALLY aimed at "SIGNIFICANTLY" extending the frontiers of human knowledge?
Most of these Ph.Ds are what are known in the post-doctoral circles as - ghas-phus Ph.Ds - you mix a few leaves/chemicals and you have a Ph.D thesis cooked up by your guide.
Tell me of the several hundred Ph.D. scholars coming out every year in India how many really do their Ph.D. to really discover/invent someting new or significantly extent the frontiers of human knowledge, don't most of them do it for getting a JOB?
How many of these Ph.Ds then go on to do any meaningful contribution to the body of scientific knowledge as post doctoral fellows?
