Dr. Esha Chatterjee is a professor in the department of humanities and social sciences at IIT Kanpur. Her specialization lies in the fields of demography, gender, work and family.
I was born and brought up in Kolkata, West Bengal. I finished my schooling from Kendriya Vidyala. Both of my parents were professors at IIM Calcutta. My father’s specialization was operations management and my mother’s specialization was organizational behavior. I always enjoyed math as well as science and took up the science stream in my senior secondary classes.
I was not particularly inclined towards engineering or medicine, but wanted to pursue a field that had a significant mathematical component. I explored Economics on my parents' suggestion. I looked up texts and developed an interest in the subject. I enrolled in Calcutta University where I pursued my bachelor’s in science in Economics. In my undergraduate studies, development economics interested me the most. I pursued my M.A. and M.Phil in economics at Jadavpur University. There, I used to actively participate in behavioral economics labs, and enjoyed doing class projects. During my M.Phil, I stumbled across a research article in health economics. This sparked my interest in that domain. I then decided to pursue a doctorate in the fields of development economics, and health economics.
I was very clear that I wanted to work on health inequalities in India. During my school days, witnessing gender inequalities, particularly in terms of education and health, ignited a passion within me to address these societal issues. I was driven by a desire to understand the reasons behind these disparities and work towards finding solutions. Even in my statement of purpose for applying to graduate schools abroad, I highlighted my dedication to addressing health and education-related inequalities in India. While applying to different departments for further studies, including in the areas of policy and economics, I ultimately found my path in sociology at the University of Maryland. There, I pursued my Masters and Phd in sociology on full scholarship.
My research interests are in the fields of sociology of health, ageing, migration, family and demography of the labor force. One of the research projects that I worked on during my PhD that gained media coverage too, was addressing the issue of low women’s labor force participation in India. In India, unlike developed countries, there is a peculiar trend where an increase in education doesn’t necessarily lead to an increase in labor force participation for women. Factors like job preferences, societal norms, the scarcity of acceptable job opportunities and high levels of gender segregation in white-collar jobs contribute to this phenomenon. I am currently working on a city level survey to understand the needs of older adults and enable building age-friendly cities with a focus on three key aspects namely: i) community and social infrastructure; ii) technological engagement; and iii) healthcare and wellbeing.
I express gratitude to my family's unwavering support. My parents encouraged me during moments of academic struggle. One significant challenge I encountered was the unexpected performance in my mathematics board exam during my school days. Despite excelling in the subject throughout my academic journey, a misreading of a question which led to a waste of time contributing to a poor performance in the exam. My father's support and encouragement were pivotal during this time. He not only reassured me but shared his own stories of overcoming challenges. This experience taught me not to perceive failure as a definitive outcome, and highlighted the importance of having a strong support system.
In my life journey, I've gathered some valuable lessons that I want to share with students. Firstly, I urge you not to overly invest your emotions in one aspect of life. Balance is the key. Embrace persistence and passion, but don't be too hard on yourself. Life is a journey, and setbacks are a part of it.
Follow your interests passionately and maintain discipline along the way. However, it's crucial to understand that it's okay to take breaks and focus on self-love. Striking a balance between being disciplined and knowing when to take time off contributes to long-term success. Remember, success is a marathon, not a sprint.
Let setbacks be lessons, not definitions of your life. Embrace the broader perspective that in the long run most people will succeed, regardless of occasional setbacks and failures. Appreciate the ebb and flow of life, and don't let temporary challenges overshadow your long-term vision. Life is a series of chapters, and each setback is just a turning point towards a new beginning.
Expressing gratitude is essential, and I extend my thanks to my parents, grandmother, partner, my supervisor, teachers, mentors, and friends who provided unconditional support throughout my journey. Each person, at different stages of my life, played a significant role in shaping my experiences. Their presence, encouragement, and understanding have been invaluable, contributing to my personal and academic growth.