It's International Men's Day (IMD) on 19th November, and in keeping with this year's theme "Celebrating Men and Boys", we're celebrating the men who work and study in our school. Sourav Bhattacharjee is an Assistant Professor at the School and has worked here since 2014. Sourav wears many hats at the school, he lectures in Anatomy, engages in research activities (including supervising research students), an Undergraduate Research Coordinator, and is the stage I MVB Coordinator.
Maturity has allowed Sourav to see the importance of looking after his health, he says, "it is a personal responsibility". He lives with diabetes and hypertension and takes medication daily for these conditions. Reflecting this, he says, "there is also a mental trauma associated with it, and coping with that, especially under a demanding academic scene, is not easy.", he knows that, "For me it has been pretty much a struggle with no place for complacency, and taking care of my health is paramount to exist and advance in both my private life and career".
He acknowledges the difficulties associated with modern living, and says, "Unfortunately, we now live in a world full of shrill, lies, fakery, injustice, hypocrisy, and violence". He advises young men to "identify the traps of these times, and safeguard themselves." as well as to respect themselves, their time, and to leave as soon as they feel unwelcome. "Finally, respect your father as he is the only man in this world who is genuinely happy to see you become more successful than him", he concludes.
Sourav has “been fortunate enough to work with some of the best supervisors. There were times when I disagreed with them, and that happens in academia. However, my respect for them remains uneroded, and they remain my role models”.
His role models in Anatomy include, Prof D. Ceri Davies from Cambridge University, (Late) Prof Tommy McGiddy, Dr Michael (Mick) Dore, and Dr David Kilroy. He also acknowledges Vet School colleagues, Prof Simon More, Prof David Brayden, and Prof Alan Baird.
Sourav recognises the importance of IMD because, " because men matter, and they have made a lot of positive contributions" and "it is a day to reassert the identity of a man shaped in my mind through the values passed on to me by my parents—strong in mind and body, kind, respectful, patriot, valiant, and willing to take a stance for the ignored and oppressed".
Thanks so much to Sourav for sharing his story with us.