Highlights
- Four-year scholarship was announced by La Trobe University while awarding honorary Degree to Shah Rukh Khan
- Gopika Bhasi will join the La Trobe team to research protection of the honey bee population
- She wants to return to India after completing her research and help the Indian farming sector
Gopika Kottantharayil Bhasi was just an average student in her high school, and when she had to take a year and a half-long break from studies to support her family through tough times, friends and relatives suggested that she shelve her dreams.
But she didn’t.
She stands vindicated now after winning the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship, worth $200,000 (AUD), to research protection of honey bee population worldwide.
“My parents always encouraged me to chase my dreams,” Gopika told SBS Malayalam from Mumbai, after receiving the scholarship from Bollywood’s King Khan.
“When relatives and friends advised me to find a small job and get married, it was my parents who stood by me to follow my research dreams. My father is still recovering from his heart bypass surgery, but he wanted me to go overseas and study.”
La Trobe is the first Australian University to award Mr Khan with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) Source: Supplied
The 25-year old Zoology graduate from Kerala was chosen from more than 800 aspiring female Masters graduates from India. The award ceremony in Mumbai was attended by La Trobe Chancellor, John Brumby AO.
"To make a meaningful impact”
The Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD scholarship was announced last year when the Bollywood icon was awarded an honorary degree, a Doctor of Letters, to recognise his wide-ranging humanitarian work, including establishing the Meer Foundation to support and empower women who have survived acid attacks in India, according to La Trobe University.
“This research scholarship aims to deliver a life-changing opportunity for an aspiring female researcher from India to make a meaningful impact in the world,” says a statement by La Trobe University.
Gopika didn’t hide her excitement.
“I am still in shock. I can’t believe that I got this from Shah Rukh Khan,” she said.
He offered to meet me in Melbourne campus when he visits there next year. I am already looking forward to it.
After awarding the scholarship, Shah Rukh Khan praised Gopika for her passion to find scientific solutions to challenges facing the world.
“I admire Gopika’s dedication and determination. This scholarship will enable her to travel to La Trobe in Melbourne, Australia, where she will pursue her dreams of helping to improve India’s agriculture sector. I wish her well,” Mr Khan said.
Source: Supplied
Gopika will travel to Australia in the second half of March to join the University’s research team.
“Gopika will be joining La Trobe’s research team who are discovering new techniques to protect the world’s honey bee population from viruses, pollutants and declining diversity in flora,” the University said in its statement.
“Gopika will research a field-deployable diagnostic test for honey bee viruses and with the aim of developing therapies to aid honey bee health.”
La Trobe University Chancellor John Brumby AO said the University looked forward to welcoming Gopika.
What would have helped this zoology graduate to stand out among the 800 odd applications? Gopika is not sure yet.
“My father says it could be my career graph. I was just an average student in my school, scoring just 70% in the 10th class and 74% in 12th. I was bad in mathematics, so I chose Zoology as I come from a family where livestock has so much priority.
“However in my bachelors I scored 90% and in the masters 91% with a university rank. This upward career graph would have helped me.”
Love for farm and elephants
“My family comes from a farming background,” says Gopika.
Even when her grandparents and parents took up other professions and businesses, the family kept their farms in a small village in the south Indian state of Kerala.
“That has helped me to develop a love for farms and animals. I was doing research on captive elephants in Kerala.”
But when her father had to go for an open heart surgery and mother had to stay in the hospital with him for a long period, Gopika gave up her studies mid-way and took responsibility for her two young sisters and ageing grandmother.
Source: Supplied
“Any girl would have looked for a local job and marriage, but my parents supported me. That was my strength.”
After completing the research in La Trobe University, Gopika doesn’t want to become an Australian resident or citizen.
I have to work in Australia for a few years. I want to learn how the system works there, and bring those learning back to India.
“Countries like India have to develop the farming sector. If I can help a bit, that is my dream,” says Gopika.
