America Calling: A Ph.D.’s Memoir Champions a U.S. Education

I was curious what Dr. Bhandari thought her life would be like had she not studied in the U.S.

“I would likely have been living a fairly predictable and middle-class life in an Indian city like Delhi,” she told me. “I don’t know that I would have tried big and bold things or taken risks in my personal and professional life.”

The most important thing she learned having studied, lived, and worked in the U.S.?

“Education is a powerful tool and setting in which to learn about the world, and through which to expand our minds and challenge our beliefs,” she replied.

Bhandari is an inspiring writer, smoothly transitioning between personal memoir and scholarly clarity that data and research provide. She incorporates statistics and historical research, always enhancing her journey and the reader’s edification with stories and facts. When she relates the results of crunched numbers, she does so as easily as she relates her progress as a student and working immigrant. Thus, she is better able to present truth, conflicts, and trends.

Because of Bhandari’s engaging storytelling, the book will appeal to a readership interested in understanding cultural differences and the power of education. In the end, Bhandari shows that a U.S. education–one of the country’s top exports–is important, worthwhile, and a large part of how interconnected the world has become.

She is the Founder of Rajika Bhandari Advisors, which offers consulting services in evidence-based international education strategy. She also serves as a Senior Advisor to the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. Her books and writings in newspapers and journals emphasize the intersections of migration and culture, and her next book will likely focus on these areas.

Bursting with not only a compelling story but also a wealth of information, America Calling is a timely read in today’s complicated world.

To read this complete article please visit the India Currents here