Prachi Mehta - Session 01, 2023-05-25

Prachi Mehta talks about her early years, from childhood to her Master’s in Life sciences. She did her schooling from Amulakh Vidyalaya (today: Shree Amulakh Amichand Bhimji Vividhlakshi Vidyalaya), her 11th and 12th (called junior college in the state of Maharashtra), and her BSc in Life Sciences degree from Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai and her Master’s in Life Sciences degree from Mumbai University.

Her family moved to Mumbai from Karachi due to the India-Pakistan partition. She recounts her family’s cultural influences on her interests and early experiences in Mumbai that led to a career in wildlife. Her father was an IAS officer and her mother was a homemaker, and she lived in a joint family. She notes that she was always interested in nature and that on family holidays, the natural world was what often fascinated her.

She speaks about the role of nature clubs and birdwatching at Ruia College and the astronomy club at St. Xavier’s College Mumbai in fostering her interest in science and nature. Her interest in birdwatching and activities with the nature club led her to apply for a PhD at the Wildlife Institute of India once she finished her master’s degree in the mid-1990s. (00:00:54) Early life in Mumbai, family culture, and first interest in science

(00:04:55) College life at Ruia College, Mumbai, nature clubs, astronomy interests, the role of the family in supporting nature activities

[Archivist’s Note: Mehta refers to her college simply as Ruia College. The college’s official name is Ramnarain Ruia College. The division of the college that enrolls, teaches, and administrates the 11th and 12th standard curriculum—from where Mehta studied in those two years—is called Ramnivas Ruia Junior College.]

(00:09:54) Reasons to pursue higher education in life sciences and birdwatching, and setting up Prithvi Nature Club

[Archivist’s Note: Mehta refers to Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The park has gone through several name changes. In 1974 with was called Krishnagiri National Park and later renamed to Borivali National Park. It was renamed Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 1981 in memory of Sanjay Gandhi, the son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.]

(00:15:00) Application for a project on Giant Squirrels by Renee Borges; relationship with Renee Borges, project,

(00:17:07) Successful application for PhD at Wildlife Institute for India, applying for a PhD

(00:20:30) College influences led to a pursuit of the life sciences and nature

(00:21:47) Childhood interest in science and wildlife; the trip to the USA

(00:24:27) School experiences that led to an interest in wildlife; aptitude test in school

(00:26:30) Family holidays to Matheran and recollections around nature on those holidays

(00:27:20) Family, education, and cultural influences. School, languages and thinking in languages, library, pets at home, mother’s heritage, monsoon birdwatching

[Archivist’s Note: Mehta refers to her school name as Amulakh Vidyalaya. The school’s name as of 2024 is Shree Amulakh Amichand Bhimji Vividhlakshi Vidyalaya]

(00:36:03) Personal interests, education, and career goals: Childhood aspirations of pursuing a career at NASA and an Archeology, influences of magazines such as National Geographic and Frontline.

(00:38:30) Interest in astronomy, aspirations of joining NASA, dislike for Maths.

(00:41:56) Volunteering at WWF, BNHS All India Camp [00:44:11-00:48:24 - Restricted Access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in for details]

(00:47:02) Career path and experiences in wildlife conservation

(00:51:56) PhD project topic on forestry management at Wildlife Institute of India, and the process of getting selected for the PhD