So here you are. The final year. Allegedly. Not quite the end - just close enough that you can see it, smell it, and lose sleep over it. If the first , second , third  and fourth years were about learning how to survive academia, this year is about learning how to wrap things up without actually being done. You are no longer exploring freely, but you are not finished either. You exist in a strange superposition: simultaneously productive and behind, confident and deeply un

So you've made it through the first , second  and third  years of your Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics (in India)? That’s no small feat. If this were a video game, you’d now be in the advanced levels, no longer a mere apprentice but not quite the final boss either. But unlike the previous years, where survival meant dodging existential crises, coursework nightmares, and the discovery that every problem you could think of had already been solved decades ago, this year feels...dif

So you're here after completing your first year of Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics (in India) and   your second year of Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics (in India) ? Bravo! What's more - you now actually know what you're going to do over the next few years. With your thesis proposal in more-or-less a shape, and concrete ideas starting to develop, this is going to be an exciting year; a very different one too, with its own set of quirks and challenges. What would feel really strange

...especially when you really gave in some effort. Take this from someone who is known for tardiness and often has low expectations....

Congratulations on completing your first year of Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics (in India) . If you are like I was at this stage of life, you are probably all fired up, excited, beaming with enthusiam and passion, and can't wait to embark on "real" research projects. If you are wondering why, it's less to do with the fact that you will now get to live your dream(s), and more to do with the relief obtained by the realization that you are now free of any and every conventional pa

Ever dreamt of doing a Ph.D.? No? Me too. I did however dream of doing fundamental research. In today's world, until you go through the conventional "academic path", you would not be taken seriously. This is a problem. Not to say that it doesn't have its advantages, but we can argue on that another day. Anyhow, this "path" begins with a Ph.D. degree. However, there are stringent pre-requisites to get into one (will perhaps write about it in another post). So you somehow land

Eight months. That's how long it's been since the virus commenced its sweet & gentle life in this world. Seven months. That's how long...

Welcome to my website! Looks like I've made the ultimate narcissistic dream come true with a website of one's own. You probably came from...