Statement of Purpose

To,
The Visa Officer
Canada Consulate
Subject: Submission of Study Permit Application
Introduction
I am Poonam, bearer of Passport No: Z6140359 and resident of India. I am attaching this Statement of
Purpose to explain my intent to pursue Master of Arts in Migration and Diaspora Studies at the Carleton
University, Canada, and apply for a Canadian Study Permit Visa. This statement highlights my academic,
professional, and financial qualifications that make me an ideal candidate for study in Canada.
Family Background
I come from an educated and progressing family where my father, Mr. Prabir Kumar Das, recently retired
from the post of Business Director (till March 2022) in a multinational corporation called BASF. He is now
working as a Consultant in the same company. My mother, Mrs.Hena Das, is a housewife. My elder sister,
Pooja Das, is a Category Manager in Tata Cliq and married to Ekwinder Singh Saini, who is a Tech Lead at
Karza Technologies.
My childhood is filled with stories of post-independence divided India from my grandparents. The stories of
the struggle for independence, the price citizens of India paid for their independence, the patriotism of
freedom fighters, and the horrific incidents of hatred and crime between Hindus and Muslims during
partition. These stories were etched in my grandparent's hearts, who lost their fortune and legacy during the
partition when they forcefully migrated to India for their safety. Listening to their stories intrigued me to
find answers tothe bloodshed. I was inclined toward sociology and political history. Thus, I began my search
for hidden truths resulting ina deep interest in violence-led Diaspora and migration during partition and wars
in human history. It has become my aim in life to research and shed light on the lives of immigrants, their
challenges, and life after migration which brings me to pursue Master of Arts in Migration and Diaspora
Studies in Canada.
Academic Background
Pursuing my undergraduate study forBA in Social Science was driven by my utmost love for sociology and
history. I have always maintained overall academic standards and secured 68.2% and 82.7% in the SSLC
and HSC Examinations and a 7.12 CGPA (Ten-point scale) in Bachelor of Arts. During my under-
graduation, I did a research paper on Ethical Dilemma in Medical Sphere- A Case of Euthanasia" and
presented it at Manipal University of Humanities and Philosophy. My extensive research revealed the case
of patients in a vegetative state and being a Pro-choice advocator. I second the notion that human euthanasia
should be allowed in extreme cases.
Further to gain research experience, I interned at NGO: ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy),
where I got an opportunity to interact with nomadic communities living in Sabarkantha District.
Understanding their lifestyle and learning their history revealed their poor economic, social and political
status in a state like Gujrat (one of the developed states of India). It was a depressing yet eye-opening
experience that inspired me to continue on my path to research migration and the life of immigrants.
However, the founder of the NGO, Ms. Shabnam Hashmi, gave direction to my research and propelled me to
do fieldwork on the lives of women and other genders - as history, which we study in books, is written by
powerful men who can change the narrative.Therefore, I decided to take a detour and enrolled in MA in
Women Studies to satiate my curious mind and give voice to lost voices and lives. During my MA, I chose
my dissertation on "Silent Voices of Women: Narratives of Refugees from East Pakistan," where I
researched the socio-political conditions in 1945-47 and learned about the loss of lives, family and property
during the partition and migration of 14.5 million people including Hindus and Muslims.
It was nothing less than a genocide that led to get a further understanding of violence led migration, and
soon I got an opportunity to intern with the Department of Communication atUniversité du Québec à
Montréal (UQAM)on the topic of “Understanding the Sense of Belongingness of South Asian Immigrants
and Refugees in Park Extension, Montreal" and found similarities with my dissertation topic. I worked as
research assistant – intern from Jan 2017 to March 2017. During my internship under the tutelage of Prof.
Yanick Farmer (Principal Investigator), I learned and applied various data collection methods, transcription
and translation techniques that came in handy while researching for my dissertation. By the end of my final
year, professors accessed my paper and interviewed me, and I graduated with a 7.72 GPA.

I also gave TOEFLibt recently and scored 93 (R-22, L-27, S-22, W-22)

Work Experience
After completing post-graduation in 2017, I was eager to work as a professor of sociology and applied to
many colleges. However, I had to redirect the field to content writing as there weren't any vacancies for the
position or I was 'too young' for the job. However, I got my first job as an Academic Manager at the Ohio
State University. Besides proofreading university newsletters, I wrote grants proposals for the India-US
partnership and networked with international students and professors. In my four-year professional stint, I
worked in several companies as a content writer and strategist. Content writing, especially for Educational-
technology companies, requires a lot intense and in-depth research (both qualitative and quantitative) in a
vast area of an academic topics including political science and Sociology. Hence, igniting the old interest of
studying and understanding migration. My interest got solidified to intent when I wrote on a very
controversial yet important topic,'No Scheduled Tribe/Scheduled Caste Faculty in IIM A, B, C.'ST/SCare
officially designated groups of people and among the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups in India.
These disadvantaged group of people include both indigenous and nomadic tribes.
Due to my varied work experience, I meet and laisoned with researchers, academicians, and prolific writers.
This further funnelled my interest in pursuing my research and go back to academics, so I decided to pursue
MA in Migration and Diaspora Studies course at Carleton University.
Why did I opt for Canada instead of India?
My internship as a research intern with UQAM University in 2017 led to understanding how migrantshave
created a life in Canada. It intrigued me to research their level of establishment and quality of life as Migrant
Workers in Canada, which forms the basis of pursuing an MA in Canada. Also, it is a known fact that
Canada is a multicultural country just like India and a popular destination for the Asian population to study,
work and settle, especially in Ontario. Studying in Canada is a well-thought decision. It is an ideal place to
sample diversified data, network with people from multiple backgrounds, and conduct fieldwork
understanding the challenges and psychology of immigrants, their lifestyles, and experiences. Another factor
that made me confident about studying in Canada is their education system. Working with Prof Yanic
Farmer, professor and researcher at UQAM, Canada,was a learning experience that assured me that studying
in Canada with modern amenities and resources, cutting-edge data collection, and analytical tools will cover
every aspect of my research and develop a strong dissertation. Therefore, I decided to study in Canada to
augment my knowledge and develop a strong foundation for Ph.D.
Also, I would like to shed light over the fact, that interest of my study is hyper-specialised. Very few
universities all over the world has course such as Master of Arts in Migration and Diaspora Studies.
Why did I opt for Master of Arts in Migration and Diaspora Studies at Carleton University?
I am looking forward to pursuingan MA in Migration and Diaspora Studies. It will equip me with tools and
methods to collect sensitive data while networking and interacting with migrants and diaspora communities
that hold the key to migration patterns and transnational settlement. During the program, I will learn to
conduct solid research and develop socio-political structures and barriers surrounding migrants, which will
help develop policies and constituents to uplift their status. Many migrants in India, Canada, and other
countries live a desolate life with diaspora identities that can work against them. My research and advanced
studies in this field will help bring their issues tothe forefront and take a step ahead to resolve them. The
interactive program gives me a choice to choose my courses, and I am looking forward to learning Canadian
Studies, Communications, Cultural Mediations, International Affairs, Migration, and Diaspora Studies,
Political Science, Public Policy and Administration, Religion, Sociology, and Social Work to gain advanced
knowledge. Also, the experiential learning and Co-operative Education placement will give me real-time
experience interacting with the academic veterans and field researchers, which will help me become a better
researcher and understand the ground-level realities.
Talking about Carleton University, I decided to make it my sanctuary for various reasons. It is a research-
oriented course, and the university is renowned for its ethical and groundbreaking findings. Arthur Kroeger
College is popular for competitive admissions and has experienced researchers and professors with practical
pedagogical infrastructure aiding students in developing and researching their theories and hypothesis. I am
also looking forward to engaging and participating actively in The Migration and Diaspora Student
Society,which conductsan annual research conference where I can present my research work and participate
in literary events and research studies while networking with like-minded students and professionals.
Financial Details
My family supports my goal to pursue post-graduation and research on migrants and is sponsoring my
education and living expenses. I am applying via Non-SDS Category and will pay my Tuition fees by
July, 2022. To cover my living expense in Canada for the first year, I have opened a GIC account in
Bank of Nova Scotia and deposited CAD 10,000. My father is my major sponsor, and his annual income
is INR 1.2 Cr (CAD 200,000 approx.), and has enough savings over the years that will be used to pay
my tuition and living expenses. I have attached the GIC certificate, Fathers' ITR (Income Tax Returns),
Bank statement, in the visa application file.

Apart from that, I have worked for 5+ years, and accumulated a wealth through savings of INR 7 Lac
(CAD 11,660). Which, I also plan to use in case the need arises.

Career and Life Goals

After graduating from such a competitive program, I would like to return to India because my research area
is Migrants of India during the partition and its impact on women and other genders. I aim to pursue a post-
doctorate after the master's program and work as a social science professor in India. The research and data
collection methods I will learn during the program and resources collected during studies and co-op tenure
will aid in continuing my research in India while inspiring Indian Students to join such a sensitive project. I
aim to apply tothe University of Mumbai for the position of professor in social science or as a researcher to
contribute to the existing literature on mass migration during partition. I believe that still there are facts
buried and communities that lost their identity that deserves recognition and better life in India. Although
my first plan is to work as a social science professor and researcher, if I don't get a job at the university
where I want to work, I will join Foreign Regional Registration Offices with UNHCR (United Nations
High Commission for Refugees) in India. Therefore, it is an idea for my career growth to return to India and
continue my research.
I also intend to live with my family as we are each other's support. Also, my parents progressing towards
retirement and old age will need my physical presence to meet their needs, and I want to be actively part of
their life, assisting them in makingtheir best surrounded by family and friends. I also want to add here that I
want to get married and settle in India with someone who shares similar interests, so my return to India is
imperative after learning the advanced tools, critical methods of research, and data collection.
Declaration
Closing my thoughts, I request the admission board to accept my application as I am earnestly looking
forward to learning the advanced techniques and philosophies to accelerate my career. I acknowledge that I
have read, understand, and will abide by the laws of studying in Canada. Therefore, I request you to grant
me a student visa to fulfil my short-term goal of attaining specialization and my long-term goal of working
as a social science professor and research associate.

Thank you
Poonam Das
Email Id: poonam1993das@gmail.com