Highlights:
- Gopika Bhasi was awarded the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship, worth $200,000, in February 2020
- Ms Bhasi had to wait more than two years before she could come to Australia and commence her research on honeybee protection
- She hopes to leave a lasting legacy for other international students
At first, it was all Bollywood glitz for Gopika Kottantharyayil Bhasi.
In February 2020, Ms Bhasi received a scholarship worth $200,000 named after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
After accepting the award directly from 'King Khan' himself, the biological scientist from India was expecting to reach Melbourne within a few weeks and commence her dream research on honeybees at La Trobe University.
However, what followed was a two-year-long wait punctuated by uncertainty and frustrating questions.
“I was worried about what would happen to this scholarship,” Ms Bhasi told SBS Malayalam after touching down in Melbourne late last week.
She said she feels relieved and excited now that the day has finally come for her to start the research.
It was not a short period, two prime years of my academic career.
“While many other international students started their courses online, as a researcher it was not possible. I had to be physically present on campus.”
Ms Bhasi said she is now trying to acclimatise to the Melbourne weather and finish her university orientation before starting her research.
Gopika Bhasi (centre) with La Trobe University chancellor John Brumby AO and other officials at the campus Source: Supplied
“It feels nice to be on campus with a scholarship named after Shah Rukh Khan. The university is offering great support to me, helping me settle and organising other essentials – something a normal international student would not get otherwise.”
Finding opportunities amid the uncertainty
The Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD scholarship was announced in 2019 when the university awarded the Bollywood icon an honorary degree, a Doctor of Letters, to recognise his wide-ranging humanitarian work, which includes establishing the Meer Foundation to support and empower women who have survived acid attacks in India.
“This research scholarship aims to deliver a life-changing opportunity for an aspiring female researcher from India to make a meaningful impact in the world,” La Trobe University said at that time.
Ms Bhasi, who loves farming and elephants, was chosen for the scholarship from more than 800 applications.
She said the name and fame attached to the scholarship had heaped extra pressure on her over the last two years.
“At first everyone was congratulating me and I honestly felt like a celebrity in my hometown. There were billboards all around my house congratulating my achievement.”
She was invited by the Chief Justice of the High Court in her home state, Kerala, to attend the official Women’s Day function.
La Trobe is the first Australian University to award Mr Khan with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) Source: Supplied
“But Australia and India closed their borders soon after and I had to cancel all my plans,” Ms Bhasi said.
The congratulations soon became questions – everyone started asking me why I was not going to Australia and whether I was going at all. It was very frustrating.
However, her dedication and determination shone through, and she endeavored to help other students wanting to study overseas.
“My parents and cousins have taught me to share my learnings with others. So, I thought, why couldn’t I help others to chase their dreams?”
She started coaching English to aspiring international students in her home state and helping them find the right path.
“If I could get such a scholarship and chase my dreams in Australia, others also can. So, I started helping those who needed it,” Ms Bhasi said.
These two years have helped me to become an entrepreneur, in fact.
She is proud that many of the other students she has helped have already gone abroad and started their own courses.
“Yes, they flew before me, but I am happy for them,” she said.
'Want to leave a mark'
After a delay of two years, Gopika Bhasi will soon join Professor Travis Beddoe’s research team in the Agriculture BioSolutions Laboratory at the Bundoora campus of La Trobe University.
Her team will endeavour to discover new techniques to protect the world’s honeybee population from viruses, pollutants and declining diversity in flora.
Ms Bhasi said she understands that the scholarship comes with a huge responsibility.
“It is my passion to work in the area of agriculture and animal welfare, but moreover, I want to do something useful to others as well,” she said.
“I don’t want to just live, study and go back, there should be a meaning to life. I have to leave a mark that I did live here.”
Professor Richard Speed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global & Regional) at La Trobe University, told SBS Malayalam, “We were thrilled to welcome Ms Bhasi to our Melbourne campus two years after she received her scholarship in Mumbai.”
He added that Ms Bhasi’s arrival “sends a really positive message” to other international students who are still seeking to come to Australia.
“The number of new international students joining us at La Trobe this year is more than 1,000, well above our expectations for post-pandemic numbers. This is almost double the number of international students that commenced in early 2021,” he said.
Waiting to see King Khan again
When awarding the scholarship to Ms Bhasi in 2020, Shah Rukh Khan had offered to meet her again at the La Trobe University campus when he visits.
“It was supposed to happen during the 2020 T20 World Cup, but as the World Cup is coming back this year, I am looking forward to it,” she said.
“It is not about meeting a celebrity; it is about meeting one of the best human beings I know. I am waiting for that.”
