As a follower of PhD comics, I have always wondered at the different roles a PhD student takes. So here is a funny take with the ten incarnations, among the many, of Vishnu.
Matsya - First they gave him the coursework. He completed them. Then the qualifier. He passed them. Then comes the literature review. He digested them. Then the idea and the dissertation. With each task (new environment) he grows (like the Matsya), and in the end ready to contribute something on his own with ideas borrowed from everywhere.
Kurma - The funding agencies have to be churned (the ocean), the professors become the "devas", the univ/admin becomes the asuras (necessary "evil" who want a share), science becomes the churning rod (Mt. Mandara) and the various tools and techniques becomes the rope (Adisesha). Then they look for a solid base. Enter the PhD student who bears the brunt of everything by offering himself as the base.
Varaha - Whether it's for the gaps in the literature review or for the life partner amidst the ruins, it's up to the PhD student to dig deep and bring out the one. And he has to be quick to display it. For someone else might take it (her) and he might have to do the digging all over again.
Nrisimha - He can neither say nobody else has done it (for they will say you forgot to quote "his" work which is also related) nor can he say others have done it (for there is no novelty). It should neither be easy (very limited scope) nor should it be too broad. It is neither a full time job (for he is at a university) nor is he a student (for he gets a stipend and he "works").
Vamana - All he asks for is three things: Funding, Fame (publications) and Free stuff. He then has it all covered ;)
Parashurama - Oh, he can get angry. And when he does it is the generations of undergrads (over the time it takes to finish his PhD) that will inevitably suffer. Grading hundreds of papers that takes him into the wee hours, he slays each one of them. No mercy.
Rama - The favorite student, straight As. Life has been treating him well. And just as the fat offers (corporate) walk in, he rejects them and chooses to do a PhD (vanavasa). Of course, all is well that ends well (the coronation during the doctorate). He will also have his own PhDyayana (the journey of my PhD).
Balarama / Buddha - There is always a question "Do we belong here? Aren't we the odd man out among our friends and relatives?" (much like - what is Balarama or Buddha doing among Vishnu incarnations?)
Krishna - This is tricky. For he is almost never charming to the girls and quickly labeled "too nerdy". His one big discourse does happen during the defense in what can be a battlefield. Alas, Dharma wins.
Kalki / Unknown- For he will always have a hidden dimension/hobby that is rarely revealed. Others have to wait, for the time has not yet come.
P.S - Sorry to all the female PhD students, as I used the male gender through out. It is only to go with the "gender" of Vishnu.
Matsya - First they gave him the coursework. He completed them. Then the qualifier. He passed them. Then comes the literature review. He digested them. Then the idea and the dissertation. With each task (new environment) he grows (like the Matsya), and in the end ready to contribute something on his own with ideas borrowed from everywhere.
Kurma - The funding agencies have to be churned (the ocean), the professors become the "devas", the univ/admin becomes the asuras (necessary "evil" who want a share), science becomes the churning rod (Mt. Mandara) and the various tools and techniques becomes the rope (Adisesha). Then they look for a solid base. Enter the PhD student who bears the brunt of everything by offering himself as the base.
Varaha - Whether it's for the gaps in the literature review or for the life partner amidst the ruins, it's up to the PhD student to dig deep and bring out the one. And he has to be quick to display it. For someone else might take it (her) and he might have to do the digging all over again.
Nrisimha - He can neither say nobody else has done it (for they will say you forgot to quote "his" work which is also related) nor can he say others have done it (for there is no novelty). It should neither be easy (very limited scope) nor should it be too broad. It is neither a full time job (for he is at a university) nor is he a student (for he gets a stipend and he "works").
Vamana - All he asks for is three things: Funding, Fame (publications) and Free stuff. He then has it all covered ;)
Parashurama - Oh, he can get angry. And when he does it is the generations of undergrads (over the time it takes to finish his PhD) that will inevitably suffer. Grading hundreds of papers that takes him into the wee hours, he slays each one of them. No mercy.
Rama - The favorite student, straight As. Life has been treating him well. And just as the fat offers (corporate) walk in, he rejects them and chooses to do a PhD (vanavasa). Of course, all is well that ends well (the coronation during the doctorate). He will also have his own PhDyayana (the journey of my PhD).
Balarama / Buddha - There is always a question "Do we belong here? Aren't we the odd man out among our friends and relatives?" (much like - what is Balarama or Buddha doing among Vishnu incarnations?)
Krishna - This is tricky. For he is almost never charming to the girls and quickly labeled "too nerdy". His one big discourse does happen during the defense in what can be a battlefield. Alas, Dharma wins.
Kalki / Unknown- For he will always have a hidden dimension/hobby that is rarely revealed. Others have to wait, for the time has not yet come.
P.S - Sorry to all the female PhD students, as I used the male gender through out. It is only to go with the "gender" of Vishnu.
