I am somewhat clearer about my future plans and the way I would like to head after working with my neurosurgery department and doing work on the "tethered spinal cord for about two and a half years now - the paper should finally be sent to a journal for publication (it was adjudged to be amongst the 20 best projects in India in the field of medicine by KVPY, New Delhi) and after working on a paper on meningiomas with the neurosurgery department of Lokamnya Tilak Hospital I have briefly seen the world of research as it stands today in our country… and I wasn’t very pleased because my paper on the tethered spinal cord was a retrospective analysis and my findings were very similar to international work in this field. My mentor consoled me saying that the first project need not be novel and this is exactly what research is.

I have also worked on a two-month stint with the Cancer research Institute, Mumbai on "Transgenics" and I presented my paper in the London International Youth Science Forum in August 2002.

One of the most fundamental conclusions I have reached is that we are extremely fund strapped and that in order to do quality work in the pioneering field of research we need to have a well-equipped lab, good contacts overseas and a network of like minded individual apart from a source of constant funding.

I am keen to set up a base in India and conduct work here. But I realize that it is imperative for me gain experience by working with a premier institute abroad which would give me a firm base and keep me abreast with the latest developments (apart from ensuring that I can get the right contacts)

Accordingly I am planning to give my GRE early next year(I enter third year in the month of December) and since the scores are valid for three years I can invest my time seeking more experience in the field of research.

As for the constant funding , I am interested in utilizing my basic medical skills and starting a medical venture which should hopefully fructify to supply me with the money I need(I believe that management skills would be a must for the day to day affairs for I do not visualize myself treating patients at this point of time)

Well, I am sure you would like to ask me why on earth am I so intent on setting up my own base. Instead it would be easy to join a reputed lab and assist in the ongoing projects.

The reasons are manifold

1) I would like to commission my own projects. Its simply because I have so many ideas which I am unable to execute even today (courtesy lots of factors- the prime one being lack of time and the ominous exams looming over the head of medical students)

2) I would like to be a job provider and do quality work for the country, which is one of the major factors which would compel me to return to India.

3) I believe that India offers loads of opportunities and it is about time that our generation taps its potential

4) This reason is based on emotional ties. Murali, I believe that what I am today is due to my parents and my country and its time I should consider using my capabilities for the benefit of the nation (I am quite aware that I shall have to counter lots of resistance along the way. But I am prepared)

Since what I seek is quite a lot. Let me be candid about the way I intend to achieve it. I would like to apply abroad and gain the research know how for which i should apply to a university which would enable me to gather general information rather than delve into a specialized stream at the onset (I am not keen on working to obtain a degree but rather making the most of my stay abroad)

I hope I have made myself amply clear about what I have in mind, can you kindly offer your views on this and hopefully guide me.

Thanking you

nishaki mehta