Dixita Deka - K. Sivaramakrishnan Reflection

Dixita Deka

When I received an acceptance email into the Program in Agrarian Studies as a Postdoctoral  Associate at Yale from Prof. Shivi in 2024, I did not read it for a couple of days thinking it was a spam. I could never imagine my work would make it to that prestigious program at Yale about which people only had great things to say. When the news sank in and I finally reached the Friday Colloquium, I understood its value. The way Prof. Shivi and Prof.Wood conducted the colloquium and made people feel seen and heard is quite eventful.

I never attended any colloquium as safe as the Agrarian Studies so far in my life. Everyone would come reading and be respectful of the work under review. The speakers end up getting great and rigorous feedback and mostly would start seeing their work having greater potential than they could ever think of. Prof. Shivi had a way of making everyone speak without fear and hesitation. He shared his knowledge generously with everyone. He was always accessible despite being engaged with so many events and responsibilities at campus.
 
After two months of reaching New Haven, I got news of my mother’s deteriorating health in Guwahati. I had to return to India. When I reached out to Prof.Shivi, he not only helped me plan my travel back home which I was not able to figure out but also constantly checked on me when my mother passed away. The day I went back to Yale and reached the next colloquium, Prof. Shivi walked towards me and welcomed me in Assamese (my native language). I just thought it was extremely rare to find people and safe spaces like that in academia where people would not even get time to grieve. 

Prof. Shivi is renowned for his walks. When I first met him at his office (with two other colleagues), he took us for a walk and started sharing about people we could connect with at Yale. When I reached out to him about returning home mid-term, he took me for a walk and shared how unpredictable things happen in life and how one could deal with it patiently. Days before finishing my fellowship, my colleague and I requested him if we could meet him once. We thought we would get a few moments to say goodbye, but Prof. Shivi took us for another walk, that time to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. It could not have been a better farewell for us. Prof. Shivi’s humility and generosity touched so many of us.
 
When I got the famous Agrarian Studies tractor after my colloquium presentation, I asked Prof. Shivi if it was always the same design. He showed me his with a soft smile. I can only wish the best for Prof. Shivi and pray he gets to do everything he wants to do in the years to come. It is such an honour to know you Prof. Shivi and I hope we can continue to share your values with the people around us.

Dr. Dixita Deka
Guwahati, Assam