Peder Gedda
The literary production of the earliest manuals of Sikh religious etiquette in the 18th century
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I felt that I wanted to further explore the topic I was interested in, and the only way to do that was to study it in grad school. What directed me towards grad school was never career considerations/planning but pure, condensed interest. Also, I have to write to live, so the prospect of sharpening my writing skills was crucial for me. Finally, I firmly believe that life is defined not by the amount of times one breathes but how many times one is left breathless. I wanted more of such moments.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
My choice was easy; my field is very small and the best scholar according to me, without any doubt or equivocation, was at the Department of Asian Studies at UBC. I met Professor Anne Murphy in India in 2010, and realized quickly that she was the person I most of all wanted to guide me for my degree. I consider myself very lucky indeed to have such an advisor, and that is part of my motivation for working as hard as possible. I want to do this privilege justice, and I think that hard work is the best way to go about that.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
Apart from being guided by Professor Murphy, the program offers the ability to receive proficiency in both languages and the theoretical literature needed to write a high level dissertation. The language training in particular has been extremely impressive, and even though it takes lots of work to be able to fulfill the requirements, it's beyond useful.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The best surprise about life in Vancouver to me is that it's relatively easy to combine a meaningful life outside grad school with the high demands of the PhD program. I firmly believe that one must have both in order to stay sane.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
Three things stand out for me. The first is to sharpen and perfect my writing, which is of tremendous value to me not only for reasons of paper writing but also at the purely personal level. This goes hand in hand with doing the research, which is heavily based on translation which I truly find stimulating. Finally, teaching is wonderful! I have really been privileged with meeting bright and hard working undergraduates who are beyond impressive.
What do you see as your biggest challenge(s) in your future career?
The academic job market seems a bit unsteady so to be fair, I don't know exactly what specific challenges I will face once I'm done with my dissertation. The general ones however are producing a solid dissertation and getting some articles published.
How do you feel your program is preparing you for those challenges?
My program in general, and my advisor in particular, have both prepared me for facing those challenges in as constructive a way as possible. The dual project of writing an excellent dissertation and writing articles for publication has been part of the conversation since my first day at UBC.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
Some aspects of the training I received in Sweden were good, for example I've mostly written my papers in English since an early age. Also, being close to my academic mentor and understanding that this is crucial for doing high level academic work was very beneficial when I got to UBC. Finally, I spent a year in India after completing my master's degree, which was eye opening for me. It sparked my interest and fueled my determination.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
Singing, weight lifting, hikes and all activities that guarantee lots of laughter, no matter what they might be.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Don't enter grad school for any other reason than interest and interest only. The amount of work you will have to do is sometimes very taxing, so genuine interest is the best antidote to burning out. Also, iron sharpens iron so make sure you work with people who share your interests and drive. Finally, resist boredom by all means necessary.