Clearing competitive exams or even pursuing a PhD can some times fail to elicit financial success in India. A recent social media post has sparked debate about the topic after it was revealed that a doctorate student at IIT Delhi was earning Rs 35,000 per month — despite clearing tough exams like JEE and GATE.
“Why does our system reward mediocrity in the form of money and genius with just survival? PhD students are not ordinary students, they’re teachers, creators, and moulders of the future. But they’re being ignored. Passion shouldn’t have to cost poverty,” the LinkedIn user said while outlining the plight of his friend.
Rehan Akhtar wrote that his friend had cracked highly competitive exams, cleared the PhD interview and was now contributing to cutting-edge research in his field while also teaching undergraduate students. He had also reviewed over a hundred academic papers and published his own work. Despite all his efforts, the scholar was currently earning a stipend of Rs 35,000 per month while working on artificial intelligence.
The LinkedIn post noted that the scholar was finding it hard to manage his daily expenses and family responsibilities due to the situation.
“He struggles to pay rent or support his family. Meanwhile, a graduate from a lesser-known college, with basic skills, earns double his stipend and lives far more comfortably…To all the researchers silently grinding: your work matters. You matter. It’s time the system showed it,” he added.
The post has struck a chord with many on social media with other users — especially IIT aluni and current PhD scholars — sharing similar experiences. Others however insisted that he should have opted for alternative career tracks or picked up ‘side-hustles’ in order to sustain himself. Some users noted that it was unfair to compare PhD students on a stipend to full time employees who were working a formal job.