Kunjpura 1967: Living as a VSO in India

Wanting a taste of another world and an experience of teaching science, Keith Ross (1963, Metallurgy) applied to do Voluntary Service Overseas after finishing his degree in Metallurgy in Oxford. Voluntary it was not; they were paid a basic teacher’s salary. Service, certainly; but what service could an untrained student provide in an English medium school in India? Besides trying to help the students think about science – difficult when they were learning in a foreign language – Keith Ross enjoyed imparting extra-curricular activities in the Sainik School.

Kunjpura 1967: Living as a VSO in India recounts the author’s experience of travelling around India, making formative connections, and deciding to pursue a career in science teaching.