“My family story is one of intergenerational struggle that goes far beyond a ‘famous’ last name”
Encounter: Nikhita Obeegadoo – Assistant Professor, University of Chicago
* ‘I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of speaking truth to power. We should all have the right to express ourselves’
* ‘Choosing a life in the political limelight is to choose to be constantly criticized, no matter what one does (or does not do)’
Despite her young age, Nikhita Obeegadoo has already had a distinguished academic career, with a journey that has taken her from the halls of Stanford and Harvard to her current role as an Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies at the University of Chicago. Nikhita’s path is remarkable not just for her academic achievements, but also for the way she has woven together her love for literature and her multicultural Mauritian heritage into a career that spans continents and disciplines.
In this interview, Nikhita reflects on the experiences that have shaped her, from writing novels as a child to dealing with the complexities of identity in a multicultural society. She discusses the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career in the humanities, the insights gained from teaching and researching in diverse cultural contexts, and her vision for how Mauritius can become a global hub for interdisciplinary studies. Her story is one of passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to understanding the world through the power of language and literature. Read on as we delve into Nikhita Obeegadoo’s journey and her thoughts on the broader issues of identity, culture, and the global relevance of Mauritian perspectives.
Mauritius Times: You have had an impressive academic journey at a young age, indicating that there is indeed more to you than being “more than just my father’s daughter,” as you mentioned in an article in the local press a few years back. Can you share your journey from Stanford and Harvard universities to your current role as an Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies at the University of Chicago and tell us what motivated you to pursue this career path?
Nikhita Obeegadoo: Literature is truly my first love: I did not so much “choose” it as fall in love with it as a child, and that love has been sustaining me ever since. I have savoured listening to stories as far back as I remember, and at the age of 8, I was already writing my own fiction and poetry. I wrote my first two novels at the ages of 12 and 13.
In Mauritian society, this was paradoxically very much appreciated as a hobby but questioned as a potential career path. People warmly encouraged me to write but also harshly chastised me: “Bé litératir, ki to pu fer ek sa?” At school, subjects were divided into neat streams (natural sciences, social sciences, languages), and there was a strong sense that “smart” students study science, while languages and literature were considered a kind of “lesser” option.
I was confused not just by the hierarchy but also by the compartmentalization of knowledge: Why could someone not love both physics and literature? I took Maths, Chemistry, and Physics for my A-levels to complement my love for literature. Then, when I obtained a scholarship to Stanford University, I fully explored all the intellectual options available to me by completing a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Comparative Literature.
When I was 21, I obtained a Harvard Presidential Fellowship for a fully funded PhD at Harvard University, where I specialized in contemporary literatures of the Indian Ocean and Caribbean. As an Assistant Professor, first at the University of British Columbia and now at the University of Chicago, my role is to teach undergraduate and graduate courses on the contemporary literatures and cultures of the Global South, including the Indian Ocean.
I also receive research support for travel to conferences and fieldwork, which have taken me from the mountains of Peru to the deserts of Morocco. I am passionate about the magic of stories in all their forms, and what they tell us about the people and societies they emanate from.
* Your CV mentions your interests in Indian Ocean literature, African and South Asian literatures; you are also fluent in multiple languages, including French, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Mauritian Creole. How did your diverse interests and language proficiency come about, and have they enhanced your research and teaching experiences?
To be honest, my biggest linguistic advantage is being Mauritian! We Mauritians often grow up learning and speaking multiple languages – in my case, Mauritian Creole, English, French, and Hindi – so switching between them becomes as natural as breathing. While this might seem like a mundane aspect of life on the island, it can feel like a superpower when you’re abroad!
Additionally, when I moved to California at the age of 17, I heard Spanish being spoken everywhere and decided to learn the language to engage with Mexican and Latin American diasporas in the region.Read More… Become a Subscriber
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 23 August 2024
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