In a touching tribute to her doctoral supervisor, Professor Priya Gopal reveals how mentorship can shape an academic career far beyond the typical thesis years. What began as a student-teacher relationship at Cornell University in 1994 has blossomed into decades of intellectual inspiration that continues to inform her work today.

Gopal's academic journey represents the beautiful intersection of diverse intellectual traditions. Fresh from India's prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, she sought out her future mentor, affectionately known as BJ, who had been recommended to her as the "Nigerian Marxist" at Cornell. This cross-cultural academic partnership would prove transformative.

The seminars and discussions introduced Gopal to a rich tapestry of African and postcolonial writers, including celebrated authors like Wole Soyinka, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, and Ken Saro-Wiwa. These classes opened windows to liberationist thinking and diverse perspectives on democracy and social transformation. Even when interrupted by her supervisor's illness—which he fortunately overcame—the intellectual momentum continued.

Inspired by scholar Aijaz Ahmad's call to take non-Western societies' agency seriously, Gopal crafted her dissertation around the Progressive Writers Association, a group of dissident Indian writers who viewed independence not as an ending but as a beginning. These visionary thinkers, mostly Muslim intellectuals, believed literature and drama could catalyze radical social transformation within newly independent nations. They championed progressive changes in family structures and gender relationships, demonstrating that decolonization offered opportunities for comprehensive societal renewal.

After moving to Cambridge, Gopal's research evolved organically. Her 2009 involvement in British public discussions about empire led her to explore dissent within the metropole itself. The result was her acclaimed book "Insurgent Empire," which showcased how British critics of empire were influenced by anticolonial resistance—a concept she termed "reverse tutelage." This groundbreaking perspective highlighted the reciprocal nature of intellectual exchange across cultures.

The Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall movements on South African campuses in the 2010s sparked renewed global conversations about curriculum diversification and institutional change. These student-led initiatives inspired similar discussions at European universities, encouraging institutions to acknowledge colonial histories and embrace non-Western materials in their syllabi.

Throughout her career, Gopal has witnessed publishing houses and universities gradually awakening to debates that African scholars like Ngũgĩ had pioneered decades earlier at Makerere University. While some institutions approached curriculum reform cautiously, the broader movement represents meaningful progress toward intellectual inclusivity.

Gopal's story illuminates the enduring power of mentorship and cross-cultural academic collaboration. Her supervisor's influence, combined with exposure to diverse intellectual traditions, enabled her to contribute meaningfully to ongoing conversations about democracy, literature, and social transformation. The legacy of their discussions continues to bear fruit, demonstrating how thoughtful education can create ripples of positive change across generations and continents.

This celebration of mentorship reminds us that education's greatest gift is not just knowledge transfer but the inspiration to think critically and compassionately about creating more equitable societies.