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Woman of many
M
y research is not philosophical, its relevant. It’s real stuff,” says sociologist and anthropologist, Dr Sheetal Bhoola, who, charismatic and passionate, goes by many titles – including academic, radio presenter, master of ceremonies, mother and wife. Her recent nomination as a finalist for the sixth Woman of Stature Awards in Education crystallised all this in what she describes as a humbling and beautiful experience. At the awards ceremony on March 8, she realised that she was actually one of the youngest nominees amongst some stellar women who have made massive contributions to their country. This has inspired her to do even more, including attain her full professorship within the next five years. Raised in Port Elizabeth, Dr Bhoola arrived in Durban at the age of 19. “Both my parents were entrepreneurs and were hardworking, so as I young child, I was taught the value of perseverance, dedication and commitment,” she explains. This was a perfect fit with the world of academia and she began tutoring within the Department of Sociology as a young student. But her real introduction to what was to become her future career came when she was awarded a scholarship to do her master’s degree by three universities
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TALENTS
LA LUCIA’S DR SHEETAL BHOOLA WEARS MANY HATS – SOCIOLOGIST, ANTHROPOLOGIST, ACADEMIC, RADIO PRESENTER, MC, MOTHER AND WIFE – BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST SHE BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF BEING A GOOD HUMANITARIAN, WRITES SHIRLEY LE GUERN
– the University of KwaZuluNatal, the Albert Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany, and the Jawarlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. In 2006 she began lecturing at UKZN as well as doing research. Projects produced at that time included the environmental assessment impact report for the Dube TradePort and King Shaka International Airport. Her PhD followed in 2015. But this came with massive challenges, not least of which was having her first son in 2012 just before she was to begin writing her thesis. Little Pranay was premature and remained in hospital for three months. Today he is a healthy sevenyear-old. A second son followed in 2016, but sadly passed away after just nine days. Despite her heartache and a number of health challenges, she nevertheless continued with her academic career, publishing widely in international peer-reviewed journals as well as contributing to several books. Balancing work and family hasn’t been easy, she admits.
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