Rajani Srivastava
BIO
Assistant Professor in environmental science (India) and mother of two daughters.
Instagram: @rajani6274
Rajani Srivastava
“I was conditioned to believe that I was born to take care of my family and my kids.”
As an Indian woman, I was conditioned to believe that I was born to take care of my family and my kids. People told me that my family is my first priority, not any professional assignment. Growing up, my father had a very low-income job. I wished to continue my convent education but due to financing limitations and promotion of my brother's education, I was forced to leave and attend government school. At this time, my family was very poor, and I had to cycle one hour to get to school.
I completed my school education and went to college and University where I did my master's degree. After that, I got married and within a month, I became pregnant.
At this time I was pursuing my initial lab and field experiments, and it was tough to handle home, my pregnancy and research. But I never gave up - at the last moment, I submitted my PhD and was immediately admitted to the hospital because of complications. I was blessed with a baby girl after major surgery.
Nobody was at home that could help take care of my baby. I wrapped my 3-month-old baby in the baby pouch and left her at my mom’s house so I could go to the lab for my research, and returned in the evening to take my baby and go home to my husband. After that I cooked for everybody and slept late at night, and again the next morning followed the same schedule.
Whenever I came late in the evening, people raised many questions. There was one time, due to blame on my character, I attempted suicide and drunk poison. But I thought about my child, took first aid, was hospitalized and recovered.
Everybody at that time told me constantly that I am not doing my motherhood job properly and I was neglecting my child and family. I was constantly under various pressures.
Life growing up was tough but it was more difficult after motherhood. Still today I am facing many challenges at my workplace. For the last 15 years, I am in contractual teaching, driving 200 kilometers daily, always teaching innovatively, publishing many research papers and presenting work on national and international platforms, but I still face gender disparity and academic negligence.
But in any situation, I have given one hundred percent and never given up on any situation. I think this is my strength.
Another positive thing, I always believe in my God (Bajrangbali, Shree Hanumanji). I found that we just have to do our work continuously, with honesty and sincerity. Sooner or later, society will accept you.
Of course, I faced many challenges that have broken me but I am lucky enough that I have my husband, who understands me and is supported at every step. My PhD supervisor Prof. K.P. Singh sir taught me not only about Ecology (As he is a student of R. Misra, father of Indian Ecology) but also about life. I have one good friend Dr. Kalpana Awasthi (Assistant Professor in Physics), who supported me since my childhood, shared her book, clarified scientific concept, supported financially and morally. My parents also tried to do many things for me but they had their imitations. But, today what I am, just because of their blessings.