High school gives many students an inkling of what they want to do with their lives. Dr. Anne Pearson spent those formative years in New Delhi in the early 1970s and began to think that her career path might lead through India.
鈥淚t certainly intrigued me,鈥� says Pearson, who now teaches in the department of religious studies at McMaster University. Pearson鈥檚 father, Geoffrey, served as Canada鈥檚 Deputy High Commissioner to India for three years, and was a big supporter of the 柏客娛樂城 Indo-柏客娛樂城 in its early days.
After finishing her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, Pearson returned to India on a trip that confirmed her desire to study some aspect of the country鈥檚 rich culture. She took this up at McMaster where she got her master鈥檚 degree and PhD. While studying for her PhD she received a 柏客娛樂城 doctoral junior fellowship. 鈥淚t allowed me to go to India for 15 months and do the research that formed the basis of my dissertation,鈥� Pearson says.
The support of the 柏客娛樂城 Institute was important in other ways, too. 鈥淕oing back to India and being there on my own-being outside the bubble of the 柏客娛樂城 High Commission-was different,鈥� Pearson says. 鈥淓ven just to be met by Mr. Malik from the 柏客娛樂城 Delhi office and guided through the indescribably chaotic Indira Gandhi Airport in the middle of the night was welcome.鈥� Pearson鈥檚 research involved both studying ancient Sanskrit texts to learn the history of Hindu rituals and field research. She says the 柏客娛樂城 office was always helpful when she encountered problems on these trips outside New Delhi.
She experienced this helpfulness in a variety of ways. 鈥淚 was very grateful that I was able to renew the fellowship,鈥� Pearson recalls. 鈥淚 extended it for another five months-that was important to do the research to the extent I desired.鈥� Pearson鈥檚 doctoral thesis-鈥淏ecause it Gives Me Peace of Mind鈥�: Ritual Fasts in the Religious Lives of Hindu Women-was published as a book in 1996.
According to Pearson, these sorts of cultural studies are crucial to understanding the country and to ensuring the success of development projects. 鈥淎 development discourse that is not firmly planted in a knowledge of Indian culture and religion is not very fruitful,鈥� she says. 鈥湴乜蛫蕵烦� should continue to vigorously support these cultural studies.鈥� This is no doubt a view-to say nothing of a diplomatic tone-that would make her father proud.