What do you think of physics? Most people I know say that it is one of the hardest classes that they had to take at CMU. Other people just loved it. Whatever your impression of physics is, it’s totally cool to think that way—but if physics reminds you of boring people who walk around talking about Einstein’s Relativity and E=mc^2, I beg to differ. You probably haven’t met Dr. Kunal Ghosh.
Dr. Ghosh is the Assistant Head for Undergraduate Affairs of the Physics department at CMU. In Fall 2000, Dr. Ghosh joined CMU as a visiting professor, and in just one year he arrived at the position that he is at now. Over the past summer, Dr. Ghosh taught Physics II for Engineering Students, which I took, and Physics I for Engineering Students. This class was integrated with the Advanced Placement Early Admission program and therefore enrolled both high school students and CMU students. “I didn’t know what to expect of this class,” said Dr. Ghosh, “but the high school students were so sweet!” Dr. Ghosh also teaches the Physics Department Undergraduate Colloquim and serves as the Research Instructor of the Department.
Despite his contributions to the Physics department and fame outside of the department, Dr. Ghosh is a very friendly and cheerful person. Music is something he especially enjoys, and he is currently learning Bangla songs. He also spends time reading and thinking about life questions and enjoys having deep conversations with people on the subject. When asked whether he had any life philosophies that he would like to share, Dr. Ghosh said that he believes everyone is divine and perfect, and that sadness, illness and all unfortunate events are just imperfections we see in this world. He then proceeded to say that his goal in life is to express the perfection inside him and help his students see their perfection through programs such as Big Questions.
One thing special about Dr. Ghosh is that he always seems so happy and ready for a good, long laugh, and this personality easily makes his happiness contagious. He believes that this has something to do with the fact that he has a gift to love. Loving is natural and easy for him, and it always makes him happy to see his friends around and to laugh and have a good time with them. He also believes that the child inside us never really leaves. When Dr. Ghosh told me this, we both laughed. He then made his point, “See? Now we’re laughing, and it is not a chemist and a professor who are laughing; it is the child inside us! And why do you always give me hard questions like this!”
If you have taken Dr. Ghosh’s class, you have probably noticed the high frequency with which he gives examples to present physical concepts. His classes are fun and are probably the only ones where you can integrate an elephant or understand the relationship between electrical current and the ice cream parlor. How did he come up with so many interesting similes and metaphors in class? “It takes a good observer and a passion. You have to be interested in this world and do whatever it takes to reach your goal. If I have to stand on my head for you to understand a concept, I would. Now these examples just come to me naturally.”
When asked about proverbs and sayings that he believes in, Dr. Ghosh said that the saying, “It’s way above my pay scale” is what he lives by. “Who am I to solve other people’s problems? There are other people out there who have the ability to fix it. This reminds me to always be humble.”
He also believes that life in itself is not fair. “Whoever said that life is fair?” he said. When people come to him to complain about things in their lives, Dr. Ghosh will remind them this, and tell them to just do their best and not to worry too much.
Throughout his years at CMU, Dr. Ghosh said that a common and permanent thing he observed in CMU students is that, “They are extremely bright, and they want to and actually enjoy doing hard work. They are also naïve, simple, and idealistic in a good way. It’s a good thing that they’re childlike and I can see their goodness shining through.” They complain about their work a lot, but they actually really enjoy doing their work. He also explains how that in recent years, CMU students have become more and more well rounded, and that he is amazed at how active CMU students are. “They participate in many organizations and run so many events, and this is not just to boost their resumes; they want to make the society a better place.”
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CMU chapter.