Ladyspeak: Miss Marple, anyone?

V. SIVAPRIYA is a practicing Forensic Scientist, with the State Forensic Department of Tamil Nadu.

THE works of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie have fascinated many and I had often imagined donning their roles. It was a dream come true, when I joined M.Sc., in Forensic Sciences after graduating in Botany, and securing the first rank from Madras University.

Everything was smooth sailing until a couple of months before my final examinations. An incident occurred, that sends shivers up my spine even today. The nightmare started when I met with an accident in which I lost the ring finger of my right hand due to faulty bus handles. Thanks to support from the media and my department, the faulty bus handles were permanently rectified. The hospital bed became my study as I was undergoing finger- grafting operations. I was later discharged with a wobbling grafted finger and a bigger bandage to support it, just a fortnight before my exams. For me, the world had come to a grinding halt, as I could not even hold the pen straight. My mind was filled with doubts about my future. Like a kindergarten child I had to practice writing all over again. Sheer will power and a determination to fight against all odds helped me top the university. Those moments of happiness still linger in my mind and till today I believe in success achieved through hard work.

After passing the exams, I had two options, to pursue higher studies or take up a job as a Forensic Scientist. Coming from a middle class family where higher studies were not the ideal option for a girl of marriageable age, I was forced to choose the latter.

Forensic Sciences is a unique field. This is a branch of science, which helps the investigating official and judiciary to spot the criminal with the help of scientific analysis of various evidences.

In this competitive and male dominated field you have be a cut above the rest. A thorough professionalism, innovative thinking, a highly analytical mind and complete dedication is what is required. Despite using protective gear a forensic scientist is exposed to a lot of hazardous toxic and highly infective evidence materials. Utmost care is required in handling these items so that the evidence does not lose its value. A forensic scientist has to appear in the court of law to give evidence whenever there are judicial summons.

An interesting incident I recall was when I was airlifted to Palali at Sri Lanka in a transport plane along with cages of chicken and bags of vegetables to depose at IPKF Court Martial. I was cross-examined for more than three hours non-stop by a professional lawyer. I was the only lady in the war camp and I fondly remember the hospitality extended by the IPKF during my short stay, with the background noise of gunshots and bombs.

Visiting a ghastly scene of crime, sight of blood soaked clothes or histories of cruel murders no longer induce the sense of fear in me because they are a part of my job. It is satisfying to work in the field that puts your education to maximum use. I take pride in being part of an organisation that helps in upholding law and truth. It is a tight ropewalk for any woman professional to do justice to both home and work, but somehow I do manage the balancing act! My only regret is that I don't get enough time to devote to my hobbies - classical music and Bharathnatyam.After a sojourn in worldly pleasures, to hone my brains and not be left behind, I have now enrolled for my Ph.D, and am trying to set an example for my young daughter that learning knows no age limit. Seeing me studying, the little brat for a change browses through her books at least for a while, forgetting the cartoons, coke and pizzas!