"Mine was the first professorship in Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College in the English department,” Dr Shernaz Cama told Parsiana on August 21, 2024. She taught English literature at Delhi University’s (DU) LSR College for Women and is director of Parzor. "It was after many years that DU finally accepted the position of professor at colleges…Till recently only people at the departments of the University could become professors…The teachers’ demand for the grade to be given in colleges of DU went on for a long time… Finally the University allowed it.”
"Celebrating”Prof Shernaz Cama
She was speaking to us about her appointment as professor the previous day. She reminisced that she was given her first job in DU on August 20, 1983. "Exactly 41 years later, as a special honor the DU committee held my professorship interview so that I could retire on August 21, 2024 holding the highest academic position available in the University.” Cama said she is "very grateful to Dr Suman Sharma, LSR principal who planned and ensured the whole honor.” She explained that the appointment was a validation of her love for generations of students, sometimes mother and daughter, whom she has taught and mentored in the Greek and Indian epics of Homer and Vyasa, William Blake and other poets.
The newly minted professor took us through the various stages of her 41-year-career. "The first assignment was in LSR, my old college, where I did my masters in arts tutorials… Then I went away for my doctorate work under Prof Mary Boyce and Dr Kathleen Raine in the UK… DU gave my degree but research was in the UK at the British Museum’s department of prints and drawings; British Library; Royal Academy; Royal Society; Tate Gallery and Manchester University, with Prof John Hinnells.”
Boyce was professor emeritus at the School for Oriental and African Studies at London University. Raine was founder director TEMENOS Academy which offers education in philosophy and the arts. The latter was "known to me from my meetings with her in India… She was a great Blake expert from Cambridge who was also a famous poet and knew Piloo Nanavutty Jungalwalla from their days together at Cambridge. Both were friends of the great Nobel Prize winner poet W. B. Yeats of Ireland.
"On my return I got a permanent (tenured) position (not easy then or now) at Jesus & Mary College where I taught for over 10 years… Bad health and surgery required a break from work and I resigned… Got back to reasonable health and returned to LSR where I have been since!”
Cama stated that her students, past and present, celebrated her promotion with handmade cards and other mementos.