'Never Too Late To Learn': Retired Professor Helps 60-Year-Old Student Earn PhD In Entomology
When most people begin to settle into retirement, Dr. Mangala Mukherjee chose instead to reignite the academic dreams of a long-lost student. In a tale that spans decades, dedication, and shared passion, a septuagenerian retired professor Dr. Mukherjee has helped her 60-year-old student, Uday Kotwal, finally fulfill his lifelong aspiration—helping as a guide from his PhD in entomology.
The roots of this story go back to 1991, when Kotwal completed his MSc in Zoology from R.K. Talreja College. Though he nurtured a keen interest in entomology, life had other plans. As the sole breadwinner of his family, he gave up his academic ambitions and joined a bank as a clerk. Over time, through sheer perseverance, Kotwal rose to the position of a bank manager, retiring with honor—but a lingering dream.
Six years ago, long after his retirement, Kotwal decided it was time to return to his passion: butterflies. “The dream I saw in 1991 never really faded,” he said. “It just fluttered quietly in the background, much like the creatures I loved studying.”
In the years between, Kotwal found ways to stay connected to his subject. He wrote newspaper articles on butterflies and their vital role in the ecosystem and even gave talks on All India Radio. “Butterflies are incredibly sensitive indicators of environmental health,” he said. “Even slight ecological changes affect their presence. And just watching their colorful wings dance in the air is a natural stress buster.”
His treks through Badlapur’s natural landscapes weren’t just for leisure—they were quiet research expeditions. “Behind every trek was a silent hope of someday doing a PhD,” he shared.
That dream found direction when he reunited with his former professor, Dr. Mangala Mukherjee. With an MSc, PhD, and DHED to her credit, and decades of teaching and research experience—including guiding ten MPhil and one PhD students—Dr. Mukherjee agreed to guide Kotwal, becoming the second and final PhD student of her career.
“I had retired, but Uday’s passion rekindled something in me,” Dr. Mukherjee said. “It wasn’t just about research. It was about helping a student fulfill a dream buried under responsibility.”
Though they initially hoped to pursue the PhD from their alma mater R.K. Talreja College, they faced procedural roadblocks. The college lacked a registered lab for PhD studies. So they approached Vaze Kelkar College, which had the necessary approvals, and officially began the journey.
Their research focused on the diversity of butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies in the region of the foothills of Matheran, Pavli hills to be precise. Years of documentation and fieldwork followed, resulting in a comprehensive study that finally culminated in Kotwal earning his doctorate.
“Every student deserves a mentor like Dr. Mukherjee,” Kotwal said, emotion brimming in his voice. “She is not just a brilliant academician, but also a compassionate soul who walks with her students, even when the path is long and winding.”
Dr. Mukherjee, now officially retired from academic mentorship, considers Kotwal’s guide to his completion of his PhD as a fitting end to her guiding career. “It was never about age. It was about commitment—to knowledge, to passion, and to each other as teacher and student. It’s never too late to learn, never too late to teach, and never too late to chase the dreams that once had to wait.”
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