PhD at 50 and above- My thoughts on Possibilities of survival

I finished my Doctorate (so-called Ph.D.) in 2022 at 50 and worked as a faculty in two universities, one deemed to be a university in the central north part of India and the other, a renowned private university in the Southwest Bay part of India.

It looks like I am renewing my life, but that is far from the truth. Renewing happens only when the nation's system is free from corruption, unpredictable delays, mismanagement, and unnecessary changes, but with the current situation, changes happening through out at macroscopic levels and many microeconomy survivals finding it difficult, it is a distant vision.

First of all, Was I sane, starting my Ph.D. (at that time FPM) which was a more friendly titular program) in supposed to be one of India's premier institutes., maybe to some extent. Otherwise, I would not have sat and stayed, studied full time in a research institute filled up with geek's perplexities and painstaking even during COVID-19, completing my thesis in a completely new subject, Game theory after the institute acquired a new status, abolishing old FPM program and following a new doctorate degree structure which was mostlt on publishing and administrative duties rather than on research. Fortunately, during my short study as a scholar in one of Canada's leading institutes, I was given support given by renowned professors of that institute, that helped me in getting some  understanding about a completely new subject and further with blessings of my  Institute's supervisor, I was fortunate enough to complete my defense and get convocated from a  premiere Institute at age of 50 in 2022.

Despite these odds and madness faced during these years, I had a chance to work in two leading universities post my Ph.D, and yet struggling to survive in a tough world full of unpredictable changes and growing of AI perplexities.

How I wished Things had gone, just like in 2016, much before I Joined Ph.D. and was just a postgraduate science student earning a decent salary package in corporate.

Despite these changes and difficulties, it is difficult to give up, as my friends push my persistence in going on and on to make my academic journey more meaningful not only for myself but for the world and nature and environment as well as my surroundings., though most of them are quite youthful and young in age.

Currently, I have a few years planned in making coffee,  writing, consulting and the hope in business of coffeee book publishing. In case it doesn't work, then for my survival, I intend to continue to dwelve in academic research and teaching and help the future generation and their families to flourish. 

Finally, If only I had known Ph.D keeps one away from being consistent in earnings, then I wouldn't have embarked on this tedious and mentally straining journey of nearly 6 years that had not only cost me but also my family a lot of time, energy, and stress. Further, I would have kept continuing on my corporate journey which was more lucrative though not as engaging  and satisfying postmy Ph.D

Dr. SenthilKumar A

B.E.(Mechanical Eng), M.S(Industrial Eng),                                                                                  PhD (Operations Mgmt. & Quantitative Tech)