Interview Summary
Rohini Godbole discusses her childhood and early life, growing up in Deolali and Pune. She talks about her family’s financial and educational background. She shares her mother’s academic aspirations and struggles to fulfil her education while managing their home.
She shares memories of schooling, participation in debates, competitions, extempore and inclination to mathematics, sanskrit and science. She credits her mentors for guiding her toward a science scholarship, their efforts in helping her become familiar with English. She reflects on the importance of having had teachers who were open to feedback.
She talks about her parents’ role in creating an intellectually stimulating environment at home, influence of Pune’s cultural environment and the differences in India when she was born and 75 years after Independence.
(00:00:00) Family background, financial struggles and sacrifices
(00:10:01) Mother’s journey of pursuing BA externally while managing family; emphasis on education in family despite financial constraints
(00:13:21) Schooling in Pune; mother’s contribution, early academic challenges and subsequent excellence
(00:18:44) Participation in debates, competitions, giving speeches, school rules and culture
(00:22:05) Mother’s pursuit of external M.A., intellectual discussions at home, parents support
(00:28:46) Mentorship to obtain science scholarship in 7th grade, essay writing
(00:32:55) Learning English through cataloging and reading literature
(00:34:47) Reading about life of scientists; peek into logical thinking; family discussions on science
(00:40:22) Mother’s participation in tutoring hostellers, and in school activities; winning science prize in 11th grade
(00:40:22) Mother pursuing B.Ed at the age of 43 and teaching; indirect influences of mother’s personality
(00:45:19) Godbole’s essay critique leading to school’s curriculum reforms; openness of Principal; some humbling experiences in school
(00:53:09) Schooling years as rich and rewarding. Involvement in arguments and debates about independent India’s stance and journey; early thoughts on career
(00:58:14) Pune’s cultural environment and influence on Godbole’s worldview; more about parents’ ideologies
[01:04:29 – 01:04:42 - Restricted Access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in for details]
(01:06:00) Reflections on describing herself as being born 5 years after independence
(01:13:25) Engagement with diverse political perspectives and reflections on India’s journey
(01:16:57) Parents as first teachers and mentors
Dates
- Creation: 2023-03-02
Creator
- Deepika S (Interviewer, Person)
- Godbole, Rohini (Interviewee, Person)
- Samyamee Sreevathsa (Processing Archivist, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Level of Access: Open/Online
Biography
Rohini Godbole (12 November 1952 – 25 October 2024) was an Indian physicist and a Professor at the Centre for High Energy Physics at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where she worked for over 25 years. She completed her Master’s degree in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and her PhD from Stony Brook University, USA, in 1979.
She primarily worked in particle physics, with her research interests including Nucleon Structure functions, Physics beyond Standard Model, Quantum Chromodynamics, the Higgs Boson, Supersymmetry, collider phenomenology, Photon interactions, Linear Collider Physics, String theory and experimental physics. For her contributions to science, Godbole was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, in January 2019. In 2021, she was honored with the Ordre National du Mérite (National Order of Merit) for fostering Indo-French scientific collaboration. She was also elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in 2010 for her efforts in advancing science in developing countries.
Extent
78 Minutes
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Archives at NCBS Repository
National Centre for Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Bangalore Karnataka 560065 India
+9180 6717 6010
+9180 6717 6011
archives@ncbs.res.in